The noise of the siren decided for her and she settled anxiously into the chair at the side of the Aga to await Leo’s return. She couldn’t leave the farm until she knew he was home safe. And there was still that unfinished conversation – she needed to know what Leo had been about to say to her.
Finding the remote control for the small TV Leo had placed on one of the dresser shelves, Katie started to flick through the channels before remembering Mattie didn’t know where she was.
Pressing Mattie’s home number on the mobile, she listened to the ringing tone. Perhaps Mattie and Henri weren’t back from Slapton yet. She was about to switch off when a breathless Mattie answered.
‘Katie, where are you? Is Bert with you?’
‘Yes, Bert’s with me up at Leo’s place. Any idea where this fire is? Is it a bad one?’
‘We haven’t been back from Slapton long so no idea at the moment. There’s lots of smoke down here and various roads are closed. Shouldn’t think Leo will be back for a long time.’
‘Oh,’ Katie said, expelling a long breath.
‘It’s chaos down here. You’re best off out of it staying up there,’ Mattie said. ‘We’ll see you in the morning. Bye. Got to go – Henri is trying to tell me something.’ The dial tone buzzed in Katie’s ear as Mattie hung up.
The phrase ‘You’re best off out of it’ and the way Mattie’d hung up so quickly, jarred with Katie. A sudden icy fear gripped her. Had Mattie deliberately avoided telling her exactly where the fire was raging?
It couldn’t possibly be A Good Yarn on fire, could it?
If only she’d left earlier and braved the walk down to town. Now it was pitch black outside and the thought of walking down the country lane and Weeke Hill was truly scary, even with Bert at her side. But she had to know where the fire was. She couldn’t just stay up here and wait.
Reaching for her coat and Bert’s lead, Katie’s hand brushed against the board where Leo kept all his house and farm keys. Of course! Her car was in the barn. How stupid of her not to remember. She’d drive down and see for herself what was going on.
Five minutes later and Katie was on her way to town. The closer she got, the stronger the smell of smoke became. Past Warfleet, round the bend, up the slight hill ready towards the turning into Above Town and Mattie’s cottage, Katie saw great clouds of smoke billowing in the night sky above the river.
Flashing blue lights and a policeman barring her way forced her to slam the brakes on before she could take the left fork.
‘Sorry, miss, town’s closed on account of the fire,’ the policeman told her as she wound the window down. ‘I’m afraid you’ll have to turn around.’
‘But I live in Above Town.’
The policeman shook his head. ‘No traffic and no people until the fire is definitely under control. You’ll have to turn round,’ he repeated.
‘Where is the fire?’ Katie asked, hoping against hope it would be at the far end of town. But the policeman confirmed her fears.
‘Down by the Lower Ferry.’
‘What? My shop is down there!’
‘I’m sorry, miss, but I can’t let you through.’
‘Do you know exactly which building’s burning?’ Katie asked desperately.
The policeman shook his head. ‘Sorry.’
Frustrated, Katie slumped back against her seat. There was nothing for it but to go back to Leo’s and wait. She turned the car and began to make her way back to the farm.
Once back at the farm, Katie couldn’t settle but if she was going to spend the night in the farmhouse she’d need to find somewhere to sleep.
Feeling guilty, like an uninvited guest, Katie made her way upstairs to explore Leo’s home. She pushed open the first door she came to. Leo’s bedroom. The neatly made bed – the only piece of furniture in the room – was placed facing the curtainless window overlooking the sea. An open door on the far right wall gave a glimpse of the black and white tiles in the en-suite bathroom.
The next room was empty. Had Leo furnished only one bedroom? Katie sincerely hoped that wasn’t the case – she didn’t fancy crashing out on Leo’s bed. The next door she tried opened on to a book-lined study complete with desk and computer and file boxes of what Katie took to be the farms accounts. She moved into the room to take a closer look at a collage of photos above the desk.
Mainly before and after photos of the modernization Leo had done at the farm, there were also a couple of him and his brother Joshua larking around on the river and a family group taken on holiday somewhere.
Tucked into the collage frame at the bottom was another photo which surprised Katie with its presence but made her smile as she read the inscription scrawled across the bottom, before she turned and left the study.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she opened the door of the last room and discovered what was clearly a guest room with its pretty floral wallpaper and curtains and, importantly, a made-up bed. She would sleep in there tonight.
Back downstairs, she put the kettle on the Aga, found the cafetière and spooned some coffee in. While she was waiting for the kettle to boil she took the lasagne out of the bottom oven. It would spoil if it spent any more time in there. Best to reheat it when Leo got home.
Restlessly she took her phone out of her bag. Phoning Lara would pass some time. But it went straight to voice message so she left it. Maybe Lara would see a missed call message anyway and phone her.
Sipping her drink and half-heartedly watching an episode of some costume drama, Katie wondered about the fire and how long it would be before Leo came home. At midnight, she finally gave up waiting and – leaving the lights on in the kitchen – went to bed.
Taking off her shoes and jeans, Katie slipped under the duvet and settled down with little hope of sleeping. But the rhythmic one, two, three light from the lighthouse at Start Point flashing across the window every ten seconds was strangely soothing and she was asleep within minutes.
Three hours later, Bert – sleeping at the foot of the bed – gave a low-throated warning growl that woke Katie with a start. Her head spun for a few seconds before she remembered where she was. Leo must finally be home. Quickly she reached for her jeans and pulled them on.
Downstairs Leo was leaning against the Aga, the strain of the last hours showing clearly on his face.
‘You OK?’ Katie asked.
‘Been better but nothing a few hours’ sleep won’t sort out.’ Leo flexed his shoulders tiredly.
‘It was a bad fire, wasn’t it?’ Katie said.
‘Big and bad enough, though not in the league of the one that raged through the medieval buildings a few years ago, thank God. That was terrible. The whole town was in shock for weeks afterwards.’
‘Is A Good Yarn still standing?’ Katie asked in trepidation.
Leo glanced at her sharply. ‘How do you know where the fire was?’
‘I drove down. The police wouldn’t let me through even though I told them who I was.’
‘Whole area was cordoned off,’ Leo said. ‘Standard procedure.’
‘Well, is it? Still standing?’ Katie said.
Leo nodded. ‘Yes. The fire started two buildings down from A Good Yarn,’ He said quietly. ‘We managed to get it under control before it reached the shop. The Old Salt House has suffered more. The top floor of A Good Yarn has suffered some minor fire damage but it could have been a lot worse. Good job you decided to walk up and stay here this evening.’
Katie stared at him. Oh. My. God. She could have been trapped in the flat by the fire.
Leo rubbed his eyes wearily.
‘Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee? Glass of wine? Heat up some lasagne for you?’ Aware that she was babbling with relief, she said, ‘I’m sorry. It’s your house. Your kitchen. Not my place to offer.’
‘Actually, Katie, all I really want is my bed,’ Leo said.
‘Of course,’ Katie said quickly. ‘I’m sorry. I’ll see you at breakfast,’ she added. ‘Goodnight.’ She turned to
leave the kitchen.
‘Goodnight. Katie?’ Leo said, switching off the lights and preparing to follow her upstairs. ‘Have to say I didn’t expect to find you still here but thanks for staying.’
‘Hope you don’t mind.’
Leo shook his head. ‘Course not. It’s nice to come home to you,’ and he smiled at her. ‘Where are you sleeping?’
‘The guest bedroom,’ Katie said hurriedly. ‘I didn’t want to take your bed. I figured you were going to need it when you got back.’
As Leo looked at her intently, Katie cursed the flush that she could feel spreading across her face.
TWENTY-THREE
The smell of bacon woke Katie a few hours later. A quick splash of water on her face in the small en-suite shower room revived her but left her wishing for a toothbrush as she made her way downstairs.
‘Morning. How do you like your eggs?’ Leo asked.
‘Umm, I’m really sorry but I don’t eat breakfast,’ Katie said. ‘Just coffee will be fine and then I must go. Need to shower and change and get down to the shop. See for myself what the damage is.’
‘At least have some toast with the coffee,’ Leo said. ‘I’ll run you down to Mattie’s and wait while you get ready and we’ll go down to the shop together.’
‘I’d be grateful for a lift back to town but you don’t have to wait,’ Katie said, helping herself to a coffee from the cafetière.
Leo shrugged. ‘We’ll see how you feel when we get to Mattie’s.’
Katie put her coffee down on the table. ‘Actually, can we forget coffee and breakfast please and just get down there now?’
Leo looked at her and sighed. ‘OK. Let’s go.’
Katie was silent as they drove down into town. What state was A Good Yarn going to be in? Leo’s reassurances in the past had always played things down. His ‘They’ve messed things up a bit’ had failed totally to prepare her for what she found after the break-in. Was he doing the same with the ‘minor’ damage he’d mentioned last night?
Leo dropped her at Mattie’s. ‘I’ll find somewhere to park and see you at the shop. OK? Don’t worry. It’s going to be all right.’
Mattie and Henri met her on the doorstep of the cottage.
‘Ah good, you’re back,’ Mattie said. ‘We’re just going to walk down to the shop and see the damage in daylight. Bert can stay here.’
Despite the wind blowing in off the river, the air still smelled smoky as they walked down into Fairfax Place and along Lower Street. Apart from that acrid smell, everything seemed normal with people going about their daily business.
Leo joined them as they reached the ferry slipway. ‘Katie, remember it’s mainly superficial damage. I’m afraid the worse of it will be upstairs in the attic room. The shop itself should be relatively unscathed.’
Leo’s reassurance did nothing to lessen Katie’s shock at her first sighting of the fire-damaged buildings. The Old Salt House, the empty building next door but one to A Good Yarn, had clearly taken the brunt of the fire. Its stone facade was blackened, the top-floor windows had been blown out and there was a large hole in the roof by the chimney stack. Debris littered the cordoned-off pavement in front of it.
Although A Good Yarn had escaped major damage, looking up at the blackened roofs Katie could see where the fire had reached.
‘There was a bit of a north-easterly wind last night, which blew the sparks across,’ Leo said, following her gaze. ‘Luckily we managed to stop it spreading. There’s some smoke damage up there, though.’
The lower floors appeared to be unscathed although the stone facade was blackened with soot and a wooden window-sill on the top floor appeared to be scorched.
‘We know the fire started in the Old Salt House,’ Leo said. ‘Probably ancient wiring – although foul play hasn’t been totally ruled out yet. Won’t know for sure until the reports are in.’
‘Those properties have been empty for ages, though,’ Mattie said. ‘Ever since the auction a couple of years ago when that development company bought both of them. Wanted A Good Yarn too but I didn’t like the sound of them so I turned their offer down. Much to Ron’s annoyance.’
‘Lake and Bidder Property Developments?’ Leo said.
‘That’s them,’ Mattie said. ‘Think they thought by adopting a couple of significant local names, everyone would warm to them.’
‘Can we go in?’ Katie said. ‘See what it’s like inside. Decide whether I can open up today – or whether I have to organize yet another major cleaning-up operation.’
She sighed. ‘You know, sometimes I feel as though me and A Good Yarn are jinxed. This is the third time something has happened. Maybe you should sell it, Mattie.’
‘Nonsense,’ Mattie said briskly. ‘No such thing as being jinxed. Things happen because they happen.’
‘Or because somebody makes them,’ Katie said quietly. ‘Look who’s over there in the pub doorway. Ron.’
As Mattie, Leo and Henri turned to look, Ron raised his hand and gave them a mock salute before walking quickly up the slope towards Newcomen Road and disappearing.
As Leo had promised, the shop itself was undamaged. It just needed a thorough airing to get rid of the smell, and the outside of the smoke-blackened windows to be cleaned. The apartment upstairs, though, was in a sorry state from smoke and water damage. Katie had a quick look and closed the connecting door. There was no way she could face it right now. It would have to wait until after Worldwide Knit in Public day.
Mattie and Leo were on their own when she got back downstairs. ‘Where’s Henri?’
‘Gone off to have coffee with Noah Snr,’ Mattie said. ‘And then he’s going back to the cottage to keep Bert company. How’s the flat?’
‘The damage could be worse but it’s going to take some time to clean,’ Katie said, sighing. ‘Mattie, I hate to ask, but can I move back in for a few days?’
‘You don’t have to ask, you silly girl,’ Mattie said. ‘Of course you can.’
‘I’ve got to get back to the farm. Expecting a delivery of grain,’ Leo said. ‘I’ll try to come back down later to give you a hand.’
Mattie volunteered to stay on and man the till in case there were any customers, while Katie got to grips with airing everything and cleaning the windows.
Henri turned up with some sandwiches for lunch but left again soon afterwards.
‘Don’t you want to go to and keep him company?’ Katie said.
Mattie shook her head. ‘He’s planning to work on his laptop for the afternoon. Making arrangements for when he leaves next week.’
Katie glanced across at her.
‘You’re really fond of Henri, aren’t you?’
Mattie nodded. ‘I’m going to miss him when he leaves, that’s for sure.’
‘He’ll be back,’ Katie said. ‘He’s told me he likes this area and plans to explore more of it – with you of course. You could always visit him in France.’
Mattie fiddled with the basket of knitted flowers on the counter. ‘He wants me to go to Paris with him. Says everyone should go to Paris at least once in their lives.’
‘Mattie, you must go. You’ve been tied to this place for so long, you deserve to enjoy yourself,’ Katie said. ‘To have a friend like Henri to show you his Paris – it’ll be wonderful.’
Mattie sighed. ‘I know you’re right but….’
‘But what?’
Mattie shook her head. ‘I can’t get used to the idea I’m free to do what I want to these days and …’ she hesitated.
Katie looked at her questioningly. ‘And?’
‘It’s years since I’ve had a special friend like Henri,’ Mattie said quietly. ‘I can’t help worrying I’ll inadvertently spoil things by not being the kind of well-educated and travelled woman he’s used to. I’m a bit of a country bumpkin really. Maybe he’ll decide when he goes home the distance between us is too much.’
‘Mattie, stop it!’ Katie ordered. ‘It’s obvious that Henri likes you just as you a
re. If you’re meant to stay in touch when he leaves, you will. You’re worrying unnecessarily about things that haven’t happened.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Mattie said.
‘You know I am. Now what?’ Katie said as Mattie shook her head again.
‘I’d forgotten about Bert. He’ll be a problem if I go gallivanting off to Paris.’
‘Bert is not a problem – and you know it,’ Katie said laughing. ‘He’s as much at home down here these days as he is in your cottage. Right, the windows look OK. Are you all right staying for another half an hour? I could do with getting wool and stuff ready for Worldwide Knit in Public Day.’
Mattie looked at her watch. ‘Need to leave in an hour. Leo’s joining us for supper tonight and I want to do something special. You’ll eat with us, won’t you, now you’re moving back in? You haven’t got other plans?’
‘No, no plans. I’ll be there tonight,’ Katie said. Maybe tonight would be the night she and Leo finally had their delayed talk.
TWENTY-FOUR
The evening before Worldwide Knit in Public Day all fourteen club members turned up to hear about the final preparations for the big day. Several of them had got sponsors and were hoping to raise some money for a local hospice and asked if they could put a charity collecting box on the stall.
‘I’m hoping some of you will find different places around town to knit in,’ Katie said. ‘Coronation Park, the Boat Float, Bayards Cove, the library. Anywhere public where you can sit and knit!’
The following discussion over the best places to sit and knit was loud. ‘I can’t do it on my own,’ one of them said. ‘I’d feel silly sitting there knitting. People might stare. I need company.’
‘I’ll be in Avenue Gardens all day with table and chairs, and extra needles and wool in case people want to join in,’ Katie said. ‘So we’ll make that HQ for the day. You can stay there or wander off to a seat by the Boat Float or wherever you feel happy. We just have to pray it doesn’t rain. Now, has everyone got enough wool for a marathon knitting session?’
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