New Hope for the Little Cornish Farmhouse

by Nancy Barone

  ‘Hm,’ he said, pulling a croissant apart. ‘Speaking of characters, I was thinking about your female lead.’

  ‘Stella?’

  ‘Yeah. I think the best scenes are when we see her vulnerability. We should show more of her in her weaker moments.’

  ‘You mean when she breaks down and cries while vacuuming under the bed?’

  ‘Yeah. And also, I’d show how she could’ve been more understanding towards Bill.’

  I felt my teeth grinding. Here we go again. ‘Oh?’

  ‘Yeah. I also want some scenes to depict his struggle. Make him seem much less of a jerk. You know, show the temptation to not drink, the pain he goes through…’

  This was not good. If I showed Bill as a nice guy, the viewer would want Stella to give him another chance. I didn’t want to give him another chance. He’d had more than enough, and had wasted every single one of them.

  ‘Not a good idea, Luke…’

  ‘Oh come on. Have a heart, Stella.’

  ‘I do have a heart. I don’t want— What did you just call me?’

  Luke grinned. An open-mouthed, I’ve got perfect teeth grin. ‘Stella. You and Stella are one. But it’s great. I’ll be Bill, and we can recite the arguments and—’

  I huffed. ‘This isn’t going to work, Luke.’

  ‘Of course it is. All you have to do is try a bit harder.’

  ‘You sound like my husband.’

  ‘Exactly, you see?’

  ‘No, I mean, this male point of view. I know I agreed to it, but it’s just not going to work. Hollywood will hate it.’

  ‘Bull. Hollywood loves stories about break-ups. Think Kramer vs. Kramer, and The War of the Roses.’

  He didn’t mean the one between the Lancasters and the Yorks, but a much bloodier one, that is, the movie where Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner meet, fall in love and, many tears later, end up dead. Sad, but a great movie.

  ‘Don’t you see?’ he persisted. ‘This is a good thing. Male versus female. Husband versus wife. In most divorces, is there anyone who is actually always right about everything?’

  ‘I’m not even going to answer that,’ I muttered. ‘It just doesn’t feel right, in this case.’

  ‘But you’re missing the point. It will be good to hear his side of the story.’

  ‘How is that a good thing?’ I asked. Phil had been the source of our problems, not me. I hadn’t been the one to make this big mess that was our lives now. If anything, I was still mopping up after him after him. And thanks to this once-in-a-lifetime chance I finally could hope in succeeding. ‘Luke, Bill is the villain in this story, and justifying his actions will only make him more human and… no. I can’t.’

  I was seriously doubting the outcome of this project, but I had to tread carefully, because if we reached a stalemate, we were in big trouble. And so were my finances and the very fate of my family. How to explain it to him that there was no room for a stinking mess of a man’s point of view in my story, without losing this contract, our meal ticket, for the rest of our lives? All I had was reasoning. If only I could make him understand how strongly I felt.

  ‘We are on polar opposite sides, Luke,’ I said in all honesty. ‘It’s not your fault, but maybe I didn’t make myself clear. It’s my fault…’

  He looked up at me, beaming. ‘There’s my girl. That’s the attitude Stella should have.’

  I swear I almost fainted. ‘What?’

  ‘Admitting she isn’t always right is the first step towards a sort of understanding. Only then will they be able to communicate.’

  No, no, no! This was all wrong. He’d misunderstood. Completely. How to get out of this?

  Luckily, there was a knock at the front door, which opened a crack. ‘Nina? You guys in?’

  Luke turned to look at me as the door widened. It was Jack. Jack, I suddenly remembered, come to take us to Predannack Wollas for a picnic, scheduled weeks ago. How many things had changed in such a short time!

  ‘Shit!’ I swore as I jumped up from the table.

  He stepped into the room and made a weird face. ‘Well, nice to see you too.’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Jack, I completely forgot to tell them, what with Luke arriving and all.’

  Silence. Dead silence for a minute. Then Jack spoke.

  ‘Jack Marrak. I’ve seen all of your movies.’

  After a moment, Luke rose to his feet and shook his hand. ‘Gee, thanks, man.’

  Why did I expect Jack to reply with something like: I didn’t say I liked them? Because the air was definitely strange.

  I cleared my throat. ‘The kids are upstairs. I’ll go get them. Jack, pour yourself some coffee, and there’s croissants. Chloe!’ I called as I raced up the stairs. ‘Ben!’

  Shit. How could I have forgotten something so important? And what about Jessica? Surely Luke wouldn’t let a complete stranger take his one and only daughter onto the edge of a cliff?

  I found the three of them listening to music in Chloe’s room, Ben happily swiping away at titles on Spotify.

  ‘Guys, so sorry, I forgot to mention Jack was coming by to go on a picnic at Predannack Wollas.’

  ‘Cool!’ Ben and Chloe chimed. Now, while Ben loved the outdoors, give Chloe her mobile and that was all she needed. While she’d usually much rather stay home and chat with her friends all day, when Jack was involved, she always agreed readily.

  ‘Who’s Jack?’ Jessica asked.

  ‘Only the coolest bloke you’ll ever meet!’ Ben said, scrambling to his feet.

  ‘Mum, can Jess come?’ Chloe asked.

  ‘We’ll have to ask her father, but—’

  ‘You guys coming down or what?’ Jack called from the bottom of the stairs.

  ‘Grab your rucksacks,’ I said and turned back downstairs to find Jack and Luke in complete silence. You could hear a pin drop. It wasn’t going very well, and yet, they had a lot in common. Both successful in their own way, both young and handsome. They should get along like a house on fire, right?

  Luke was packing up his laptop. ‘Where are you going?’ I asked, although it was obvious. These two did not like each other.

  ‘You go, Nina. The kids have been looking forward to this all week,’ Luke said.

  ‘Indeed they have,’ came Jack’s voice. What had I missed, exactly?

  ‘We’re going back to the inn for today,’ Luke informed me. ‘But we’ll see you tomorrow.’

  ‘But Mum, Jess wants to come,’ Chloe reminded me.

  Luke turned to his daughter, caressing her cheek. ‘Another time, sweetheart.’

  My eyes pleadingly swung to Jack’s.

  He cleared his throat. ‘You should all come,’ he said. ‘Really, Luke, I’ve got food for an army, and an eight-seater. Some fresh air would do us all some good.’

  Bless his soul.

  ‘Oh, Dad, can we, please?’ Jess said.

  Luke’s face softened, but not completely. ‘Thanks, Jack. We accept. But I’ll follow you in my rental.’

  What was it with male pride and all?

  Jack shrugged his shoulders and as the kids cheered, I went to get some extra drinks and snacks for all. Or maybe I should have got some tranquilising darts?

  *

  There was a definite sense of… differences between Jack and Luke. Luke, dressed in linen Bermuda shorts and a light blue cotton shirt and looking like he had come straight from his California beach house, watched his footing, as he was wearing expensive leather loafers, not quite ideal for negotiating these rugged coastal paths. Luke was born for luxury, I realised, while Jack was just as at ease with his head and arms reaching inside a broken tractor, studying how to repair it.

  Luke kept Jess firmly by the hand, wary of the terrain. I reached out and took Jess’s other hand and we ambled along the clifftops.

  Jack, on the other hand, had an innate confidence and was comfortable in his walking boots and jeans, easily piggybacking Ben who shrieked in pure delight over his shoulder, his strong hands aro
und my son’s chubby ankles. It was such a beautiful picture against the Cornish sunset: a little boy laughing without a care in the world, knowing he was safe and loved in those strong hands.

  To me, laughing and being silly were better than a romance. I didn’t even remember what it was like to be this carefree. Finally everything was going our way.

  When we found our favourite spot, just by the stone National Trust location marker, we sat down to a meal of British staple foods such as pasties, Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, meat pies and Marmite sandwiches that Luke marvelled about graciously. It had been a long walk and we were content to sit back and watch the children play.

  Luke’s eyes always darted to Jess, and I could tell he was making huge sacrifices to not jump up every time Jess moved. It was a relief to see how thoughtful Chloe was around Jessica, and how she was always on guard lest she tripped over something. This new friendship could do Chloe wonders, because Jessica was a gem of a girl – sweet, polite, and undemanding. She never spoke inconsiderately and always ate everything she was offered with gusto and grace. She was a true testament to Luke’s parenting skills.

  Jack, who seemed to have read my mind, turned to him, somewhat less glacial than earlier. ‘Your daughter is a lovely girl. You’ve done a great job with her.’

  Luke’s face lit up. ‘Thanks, man. Have you got any kids yourself?’

  Jack’s face sobered ever so slightly. ‘No.’

  ‘Are you planning on having any?’

  Jack took a long swig of his coffee as Luke’s eyes swung to mine in question. I raised my eyebrows up at him and shrugged imperceptibly. How was I supposed to know the answer to that question? He was as closed up as a lobster on that front.

  ‘If the right girl comes by,’ Jack answered, staring down into his mug. And that was the end of that conversation.

  On the way back, we stopped off at Luke’s inn and he came up to Jack’s window.

  ‘Jess and I had a great day, Jack. Thanks. Thanks to all of you.’

  Jack shrugged. ‘No biggie. I’m picking apples later this week if anyone’s interested.’

  Luke’s arm came around his daughter’s shoulders. ‘Would you like that, sweetheart?’

  ‘Oh, yes, Daddy, please!’

  Jack grinned. ‘Okay then. See you guys?’

  ‘Yay!’ the kids all cried to one another as we drove away.

  But then in his 4x4, Jack’s mood changed. Not that you would know by his cool exterior.

  ‘You all right?’ I asked.

  ‘Yep. Did you have a good time?’

  ‘I had a great time, Jack, and it’s all thanks to you. You sure know how to entertain the kids.’

  Something had definitely changed, and by the time we got back to the house, I still had no idea what it was. Was he bothered that the kids were spending so much time with another male role model? But he needn’t have worried. They loved him dearly. We all did. So that needed to be sorted out pronto.

  ‘Don’t forget breakfast tomorrow, Jack,’ I reminded him as we pulled up in front of the house. ‘I’m making blueberry pancakes, your favourite.’

  He ruffled the kids’ hair with a smile as they got out, then he turned to me as I swung out, closing the door.

  ‘Thanks, but no thanks. You and Luke have a lot of work to do and so do I. My orchards and pumpkin crops wait for no one. Plus later I’m meeting someone.’

  ‘Are you sure? What about after that? We could all have Saturday brunch together.’

  ‘Another time, Nina, but thanks. I’ll see you.’

  I stepped away from the Jeep. ‘Okay, then. Thanks again, Jack. Take care.’

  He smiled, and I inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t angry with me. But for some reason, I figured I’d done something wrong.

  20

  The English Patient

  A few days later, after a hearty breakfast, Chloe and Ben took Jessica round to Jack’s as agreed. I refilled our coffee mugs and took them to the dining table so Luke and I could get to work. I needed to get him out of his Your Character Bill Is A Saint mode.

  ‘Thanks, Nina. So tell me,’ Luke said as we sank into our working seats. ‘Does Stella marry Aidan the vet straightaway, or should we give her some fun with Dylan the playboy first?’

  I frowned. ‘Another man? No. Stella’s not like that.’ Just like I wasn’t.

  ‘Why not?’ he wanted to know.

  I shrugged. ‘Because I don’t want to complicate things.’

  He grinned. ‘You don’t think Stella should have a bit of naughty fun?’

  I sat back. ‘You mean…? No. This is not about… sex. This is about her journey.’

  ‘Exactly. There should be a bit of spice – a change in her life.’

  ‘There is. It ends well, which is more than I can say for the real world.’

  ‘What a bitter concept you have of life, Nina. Life can be fantastic if you let it.’

  ‘Yeah, well maybe I’d have a sweeter concept if I lived in a glass mansion with a view of the Pacific Ocean.’ I bit my lip. ‘I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I know you’ve had your share of pain with the divorce and worries with Jess and th—’

  ‘Nina, it’s fine. I understand you, and you understand me. We’re good.’

  I studied him. ‘Okay,’ I said, relieved. The last thing I wanted to do was offend anyone, or, as it were, bite the hand that fed.

  ‘But I still think that Stella deserves to have some fun before settling down,’ he insisted.

  Fun. Ha. I tried to forge my face into a neutral expression, but I could feel the muscles around my eyes and cheeks tense. I wondered if Stella had enough stamina or sense of adventure to play the field. I certainly had not. When we’d drained our mugs once more, I got up to take them to the sink.

  ‘Let me do this,’ he said, rising. ‘You sit down and relax.’

  ‘Oh. Okay, thank you.’ I watched while Luke washed and dried and even put away the last of the breakfast dishes. Apart from Jack, I had never seen any man scrub the dishes in this kitchen sink, least of all Phil.

  But that was about all that Luke and Jack had in common. Where Luke was always clad in baby blues and whites, and poised like the model that he had been, Jack was scruffy and scarred in his collection of jeans and T-shirts from all the rock concerts he’d been to, his beauty hidden by an eternal five o’clock shadow on a good day. Where Luke was classy, with leather-strapped watches and belts, Jack never even wore a watch as he’d once caught it in the tractor door and had been dragged a few yards across the field before he’d managed to free himself. Also, Luke was eloquent – a born entertainer – while Jack was content listening. Plus, Luke looked at ease in the kitchen, while Jack couldn’t boil an egg.

  ‘You’re mighty handy around the kitchen,’ I mused.

  He grinned. ‘I needed to be, after Lauren left. Not that she was much of a homemaker, really.’ He held out a plate of biscuits and I shook my head. He picked one for himself and bit into it thoughtfully. ‘But what about you and Lumber Jack over there,’ Luke asked. ‘What’s the deal?’

  ‘Jack? I told you. He’s my friend, and an excellent pumpkin and apple grower. His cider is unrivalled in the county. He and Phil had barely spoken two words when we moved in, and were not very fond of each other, but then again, none of the villagers ever liked Phil.’

  ‘Well, if he’s anything like Bill in the script, I don’t doubt it at all.’

  Was Bill like Phil? And was I like Stella? Phil and I were Bill and Stella, no doubt about it. But legally, if Phil ever found out? I’d be in Shitsville.

  ‘Luckily Stella is like you,’ he said.

  ‘Yeah?’ I said. I was beginning to wonder whether Luke would finally see my side of the story, and how wronged Stella had been by her husband, rather than the other way around. Maybe that was it. If Luke met Phil, he’d understand where I was coming from and stop badgering me about poor, wronged, bloody Bill.

  ‘Yeah,’ he said, lowering his voice and lean
ing in with that cocky smile. ‘A cool exterior, hiding a pressure cooker of pent-up passion just dying to get out.’

  His eyes bored into mine, and I could see they were a darker blue than usual. I swallowed. If I didn’t know any better I’d think he was seriously flirting with me.

  ‘I’ve seen the way he looks at you,’ he said and I stopped.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Jack.’

  ‘No, I told you. Jack and I are just friends. The best of friends, even, but nothing more. Besides, he’s seeing someone else, I think.’

  ‘Okay, if you say so.’

  ‘I say so. Now let’s get back to Stella.’

  ‘Yes, let’s get back to Stella and her thwarted libido.’

  ‘Stop it, Luke, and get serious. We have work to do.’

  He gave me a mock military salute as he reached over the counter behind him and grabbed a peach, of which he took a big bite. ‘Want some?’ he asked, pushing it towards me.

  My throat suddenly went very dry.

  ‘No thanks. Concentrate now, please.’

  *

  When the kids returned, I noticed that Jessica was looking a bit off.

  ‘Are you feeling hot, Jessica?’ I asked, checking her pulse and feeling her forehead. She had a fever, but I also recognised other unmistakeable symptoms.

  ‘Yuh…’ she murmured.

  ‘All right, follow me,’ I ordered and headed upstairs. ‘Put her in Chloe’s bed, will you?’ I said to Luke and he bent over and tucked her in, bringing the covers to her chin.

  ‘She doesn’t look right – I’m worried, Nina,’ he whispered to me.

  ‘Don’t be,’ I assured him. ‘All she needs is some rest. That’s chickenpox.’

  Luke’s eyebrows shot into his hairline. ‘Chickenpox?’

  ‘Yep,’ I said as Chloe jumped back into bed, making a fuss of her, something I hadn’t seen since Ben had fallen off the swings at the village gardens and broken his collarbone. ‘Let her sleep for now. I’ll call the doctor in the meantime.’

  He glanced at me, then leaned over Jessica again to kiss her on the forehead. ‘Sleep, pumpkin. I’ll be right downstairs if you need me, okay?’

  Jessica nodded and rolled over and closed her eyes.