The Little Cottage on the Hill

by Emma Davies

  There was silence for a minute or so. Maddie couldn’t think of a single thing to say. She was about to make some banal reference to the weather when Seth got up again.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘You probably wanted to be on your own.’

  ‘No.’ Her reply was immediate. ‘Don’t go, please. It’s just that I don’t know what to say to you, Seth. I feel closed off, like there’s some invisible barrier between us, and try as I might I can’t get over it, or around it, or under it for that matter… and it’s driving me mad! I know you feel let down, betrayed even, but no one feels it as much as I do, Seth.’

  She dropped her head. ‘Sorry, I promised myself I wouldn’t get angry, but I feel so responsible for everything that’s happened here. You have no idea what that guilt feels like.’

  His eyes reached hers, tired, but filled with pain at her words. ‘I’ve lived with it every single day since Jen died, Maddie. Guilt because she got ill and I didn’t. Guilt because I couldn’t be the one to save her. Guilt because I couldn’t find anyone else to save her, and guilt because in my desperation to keep her alive I know she suffered.’

  Even in the pale morning light she could see his face drain of colour.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ he said again. ‘I thought I was ready for all this… whatever this is, you and me…’ He trailed off.

  Maddie held out her hand, entwining her fingers with his and pulling him back down onto the bench.

  ‘No one can ever change how you feel about Jen, not me nor anyone else. I don’t know why we would want to. But one thing I do know, is that for you to love her as much as you do, Jen must have been a very special person, and there’s no way she’d want you to feel like this. It’s not your love that’s tethering you to the past, Seth, it’s your guilt, and you have nothing to feel guilty for.’

  ‘She used to waggle her finger at me,’ he said softly, giving a rueful smile. ‘Even when she knew she was going to die and it was no longer a hypothetical scenario, she still made me promise to move on with my life, to let her go…’

  ‘And wouldn’t you want the same for her if the situation was reversed?’

  He smiled. ‘No, she was always a better person than me. I think I’d haunt the living daylights out of anyone who tried to love her.’

  ‘I don’t think she’s haunting me though, Seth… This was her home, and she loved it every bit as much as you do.’

  She looked up at him, wondering whether to go on.

  ‘When I cleared out the office a few weeks ago, just before I first found out about Joy and her paintings, I came to sit in the garden… I felt like I was dreaming, a strange sensation, but as if every part of me was suddenly connected with every part of Joy’s Acre. It made me realise how much I loved it here and how much I wanted to be a part of things. I felt… comforted, accepted – loved even. I never realised at the time, but perhaps that was part of Jen’s blessing, Joy’s too; a message to look after this place, make it the very best it can be, in both their names.’

  ‘I’ve behaved appallingly over the last couple of days…’

  ‘No, you haven’t. You need to be sure that what you’re doing is the right thing and I would expect nothing less from you. I don’t know what there is between us either, Seth, but whatever it is I don’t want it to end. Your friendship means too much to me.’

  His fingers moved over hers. ‘I think it’s gone way beyond that, don’t you…?’

  * * *

  The memory of his kiss was still causing Maddie’s cheeks to burn as they filed into the auction room several hours later. One kiss that had changed two worlds in an instant. She smiled to herself, feeling the nerves bubble in her stomach, nerves that were no longer simply due to the sale of Joy’s painting. She deliberately positioned herself so that she wouldn’t be sitting next to Seth. There would be no way she would get through this if he were by her side.

  It seemed to take an interminably long amount of time before their lot came up. Maddie’s heart was going like the clappers.

  Clara slipped her hand in Maddie’s and gave it a squeeze.

  ‘I’ve no idea what happens now,’ she whispered. ‘But whatever does will be the right thing, I’m sure of it.’

  She had only just finished speaking when the auctioneer’s voice boomed in Maddie’s ear.

  ‘And who’s going to start the bidding for me, shall we say three thousand pounds?’

  She stared at Clara. ‘Jeez…’ she muttered.

  There was silence in the room.

  ‘Two thousand pounds,’ the auctioneer stated. ‘Who’ll give me two?’

  Still silence.

  ‘Come on, ladies and gentlemen. Who’s going to start me off? This is a rare piece, one of only four thought to be in existence…’ The auctioneer leaned over to a colleague. ‘I have a telephone bidder,’ he said. ‘One thousand pounds… One thousand pounds I’m bid.’

  Maddie’s head shot up as she dug her fingernails into the palm of her hand. It wasn’t enough. It was nowhere near enough.

  She almost missed the briefest of nods from the auctioneer. ‘Fifteen hundred I’m bid, who’ll make it two?’

  From that moment, her head ping-ponged from side to side as she sought to keep up with the placement of bids. In less than a minute the bidding had jumped to nine thousand pounds…

  ‘I have ten on the telephone. Do I see eleven?’ He nodded. ‘Eleven I’m bid, thank you…’

  She almost couldn’t bear to listen. Everything was riding on this. At fifteen thousand pounds she honestly thought she might pass out. She stared at a spot on the wall.

  ‘I’ll take a half then… eighteen and half, the bid’s against you, sir?’

  Maddie craned her neck…

  ‘Thank you. Do I hear nineteen?… On the telephone… and a half…?’

  The air seemed to ring with silence.

  ‘Nineteen I’m bid, do I hear nineteen and a half…? Are we all done at nineteen?’ The auctioneer’s eyes scoured the sale room. ‘I’m selling at nineteen…’

  Maddie couldn’t hold her breath for very much longer. Nineteen thousand pounds!

  The gavel banged down. ‘Sold to the telephone bidder at nineteen thousand pounds… Next up is lot number forty-three…’

  She felt like she was at sea, floating, riding enormous waves that buoyed her up and down. They were making her feel slightly sick. Maddie closed her eyes, waiting for her blood pressure to return to normal. They had done it. Oh God, they had done it…

  * * *

  How Seth drove them home was beyond Maddie; she had no recollection of the journey at all. It wasn’t until they were standing in the yard and she saw Seth hugging Clara in excitement that she began to take in her surroundings. Clara pulled away as Trixie came running out the house to meet them, and then it was her turn as Seth’s arms went around her, lifting her off the ground and spinning her round. As yet there was no sign of Tom.

  ‘Thank you, thank you,’ breathed Seth in her ear.

  She pulled from his grip. ‘What do you mean, thank you?’ she urged. ‘What’s it got to do with me?’

  Seth stared at her, puzzled. ‘You’re the only one with any sense around here. If it wasn’t for you, we’d all still be sitting round the table staring at our plans. Instead, we’re inches away from realising our dream.’ He kissed her again, an excited kiss, a chaste kiss. ‘Nineteen thousand pounds, Maddie!’

  She swallowed. It was a huge amount of money. It would make all the difference… She lifted her head, suddenly understanding what it would mean for all of them. She flung her arms back around Seth, nearly knocking him off balance, and then she kissed him, and it wasn’t chaste at all…

  Clara gave a low whistle.

  ‘Maddie Porter!’ she exclaimed, and then, ‘About bloody time too!’ She put her arms around them both.

  ‘Kettle’s on!’ squealed Trixie, coming to join in the group hug. ‘Although we should probably be drinking champagne.’

  ‘Then I really w
ould fall over.’ Maddie laughed. ‘I hope there’s some biscuits somewhere; I couldn’t eat any lunch and now I’m starving.’

  ‘White chocolate and raspberry, or orange and lemon?’ Trixie replied. ‘What? You didn’t honestly think I was going to sit here and twiddle my thumbs, did you? It was agony. I had to do something to occupy my hands.’

  ‘Now that’s my kind of friend,’ said Clara.

  They were well into their third cookie each by the time a loud horn sounded in the yard. Seth shot up from his chair.

  ‘Just wait till I tell Tom,’ he said. ‘Cover your ears though, ladies, he’ll turn the air blue.’

  ‘I wonder if he got the job?’ said Clara to no one in particular.

  ‘I wonder…’ echoed Maddie innocently, winking at Clara behind Seth’s back.

  Trixie gave her a puzzled look. ‘What are you two up to?’ she asked. ‘Don’t tell me this job was another of Tom’s concerted efforts to acquire a little love action?’

  Clara snorted with laughter. ‘No, nothing like that. You’ll see…’

  ‘What?’ asked Trixie, frowning. ‘Oh, that’s not fair, tell me.’

  Maddie could see Seth and Tom in the yard, slapping each other’s backs. ‘You might as well,’ she said. ‘She’s going to find out soon enough anyway.’

  Trixie’s head was swivelling between the pair of them.

  ‘Only that Tom hasn’t really been to see anyone about a thatching job today, Trixie. That was just a ruse to get him out of the way.’ She tapped the side of her nose. ‘He’s been on a secret mission instead…’

  Maddie grinned at her. ‘And you’re just about to find out what…’

  Tom’s smiling face greeted them as he came through the door with Seth. ‘Well blimey, that was a result and a half, wasn’t it?’

  ‘I’ll say,’ agreed Clara.

  Maddie eyed him up and down.

  He made to sit at the table and then jumped up again. ‘Oh bugger, I’ve left something in my truck. Pour us a coffee, Maddie love, my mouth’s really dry for some reason. Back in a minute.’

  Clara looked at Seth. ‘Well that was rather restrained for Tom,’ she said.

  ‘Hmm, maybe… I think it’s just a bit hard to take in, that’s all. I mean it is, isn’t it?’

  Maddie nodded slowly. ‘Yep,’ she said. ‘It certainly is.’ Out of the corner of her eye she could see Tom hurtling across the yard… and back again.

  She got up to pour him a cup of coffee like he’d asked, and was just adding two spoonfuls of sugar to the mug when she heard the front door bang. Tom’s voice floated through the kitchen doorway.

  ‘Where do you want this picture, Maddie?’ he called.

  Her back was still to the door as she replied, ‘Just pop it on the hook in the hall please. Thanks Tom.’

  It was almost as if Tom’s words were dropped into a pond – she could feel the ripples spreading out across the room. And then a screeching noise as Seth’s chair scraped across the floor. She turned slowly.

  When he came back into the room, Seth was holding Joy’s painting in his hands. He looked up at her.

  ‘How the hell…?’

  ‘I couldn’t bear to lose it,’ she said simply. ‘It belongs here.’

  ‘But…’

  Clara dragged a bemused Trixie from the room, as together with Tom the three of them left.

  Seth was still looking at her, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. ‘I don’t understand…’

  Maddie smiled. ‘It’s really very simple. I bought Joy’s painting this afternoon. So now it’s ours.’

  ‘But the money?’

  ‘I think I mentioned it before; I had a pay-off from my previous company—’ She stopped suddenly when she realised what she’d said. ‘Ah, that wasn’t exactly what you meant, was it? But yes, the money I paid is yours… For Joy’s Acre, to do with as you please.’

  Seth paled, and swallowed, looking horrified.

  ‘You can’t have,’ he managed. ‘Maddie, I can’t let you do this…’

  ‘What are you going to do, buy it back off me?’ She smiled again. ‘I’m sorry, the painting’s not for sale.’

  They stared at one another.

  ‘I can’t believe you’ve done this, Maddie, I… don’t know what to say.’ He took a step closer.

  ‘Well, it’s really very simple…’

  ‘Is it?’

  ‘Oh yes.’ And she took a step closer too. ‘You see, you were absolutely right about me. I didn’t know who I was before I came here. I’d pretended to be something I’m not for so long that I’d honestly started to believe it.’

  She cocked her head on one side. ‘And then again, perhaps I did know who I was, but I was scared – afraid to show the real me in case I didn’t fit in. But here… here it’s all so different. Here things matter, people matter, and they’re prepared to stand up for what they believe in… and so am I.’

  She held his look. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what I was planning, but I know you would have tried to talk me out of it, and I couldn’t let that happen.’

  ‘But you’ve put yourself through hell the last couple of weeks. Why did you do that, when once we decided that the painting had to be sold you could have just bought it?’

  Maddie shook her head. ‘No, I couldn’t,’ she said. ‘Because whatever happened, I needed to be sure that the painting sold for the best price it possibly could. The only way it could do that was at auction. It was a risk – I could have lost the painting – but one I had to take. If I lost, then Joy’s Acre would still have ended up with as much money as possible, and if I won…’

  ‘But it cost you more money!’

  She dipped her head. ‘I know, Seth, but it was worth it. I’ve honestly never been so sure about anything in my life before.’

  ‘No?’

  ‘No,’ she said, swallowing.

  The corners of Seth’s mouth were beginning to turn upwards.

  ‘And this certainty,’ he said. ‘Does it extend to other things as well…? Other people?’

  ‘Oh, it does.’

  ‘Well that could be a bit of a problem…’

  Maddie gave him a puzzled look.

  ‘I’m your boss…’

  ‘Yes, you are,’ she murmured. Her face now only inches from his. ‘You could sack me?’

  ‘What, again? Miss Porter, your employment record is a downright disgrace…’

  ‘Yes, it is,’ she said, as his lips finally met hers.

  She was just sinking into the most exquisite feeling when Seth suddenly broke away. She looked up, startled.

  He still held the painting in his hand. ‘Let me just put this somewhere safe,’ he said, laying the picture down on the table, ‘so that I can do this properly…’ Both arms drew her in close. ‘Now where was I…?’ he murmured.

  Seconds later there was a shriek from down the hallway.

  ‘Honestly?’ muttered Seth, smiling. ‘Again? I really am going to have to talk to Clara about her appalling sense of timing.’

  ‘I suppose we’d better see what the problem is,’ said Maddie, grinning. ‘Just in case it’s something as important as last time…’

  The kitchen door flew open.

  Clara and Trixie stood there, both doing a remarkable impression of the Cheshire Cat.

  Clara slapped her forehead. ‘I’ve done it again, haven’t I?’ she said. ‘But I’m sorry, this really couldn’t wait.’

  ‘We’ve had an email!’ squealed Trixie. ‘From a lady who wants to rent the gardener’s cottage!’

  ‘She’s a musician,’ put in Clara. ‘And she doesn’t just want to rent the cottage, she wants to rent it for six weeks!’

  Maddie stared at Seth. ‘Did you hear that, she’s a musician… and she’s coming for virtually the whole summer. It’s happening just the way you said it would…’

  ‘On today of all days…’ He turned away to look at the painting on the table.

  ‘Yes,’ murmured Maddie. ‘It’
s almost as if they knew; like they’ve given us their blessing.’

  Seth pulled away from Maddie, his eyes shining. ‘Where’s Tom?’

  ‘Emailing the lady back,’ replied Clara. ‘She wants some peace and quiet apparently to finish a composition she’s working on. And with his knowledge of music he’s the perfect person to see if she has any particular requirements in that regard.’

  Seth laughed. ‘Yeah, I bet he is!’ He swung around to look at Maddie, his eyes bright and shining. ‘You know what this means, don’t you…?’ he asked. The others exchanged glances. ‘Joy’s Acre is now officially open for business!’

  He opened his arms so that Clara and Trixie could join them in a group hug. They clung together, jumping up and down, everybody kissing everybody else. Maddie thought her heart was going to burst with joy.

  It was Clara who pulled away first, but not before whispering a soft thank you in Maddie’s ear. She straightened up, pulling at Trixie’s arm.

  ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Let’s go and see what Tom’s found out.’

  She gave Maddie and Seth a knowing look.

  ‘Great idea!’ said Seth as they both reached the door. ‘Keep us posted… in a few minutes.’

  Clara looked back and grinned, taking the hint.

  Seth caught Maddie’s hand. ‘Oh and Clara?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Close the door…’

  THE END

  * * *

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  * * *

  Sometimes you’ve got to run away to find yourself…

  * * *

  Twenty-four-year-old Lucy needs a fresh start. Forever single and frustrated with her studies she gives up everything to run a little library in the leafy village of Tilley Moreton.

  * * *