by Heidi Swain
‘If you’re talking about Holly,’ I told her honestly, ‘I haven’t seen her for ages, and I can’t vouch for Harriet, of course, but I haven’t heard talk of her at all.’
I couldn’t help thinking what a relief it was that things on the Holly front had quietened down. I wasn’t sure I could have coped with my paranoia about her being back in Wynbridge on top of everything else that had happened. I suddenly realised that the gift of the dolly tubs along with Holly’s adamant confirmation that she no longer had designs on Jake really couldn’t have been more fortuitously timed.
‘Although,’ I added, thinking it was best to be completely open with Jessica, ‘that could all change in a few days if Annie agrees to my new plan.’
‘Oh!’ squealed Jess, ignoring my admission that this idea of mine would mean crossing swords with Holly again. ‘What new plan is this then? I’m intrigued. First the May Fair and now this! Come on, spill the beans!’
I could have bitten my tongue off for letting my guard down. Both Jake and Annie had been most insistent that they wanted to keep the farm’s current ailing fortunes strictly private and, for the sake of wanting to get back into Jess’s good books and tell her the truth, I’d got carried away. Of all the people too! Jess was as sensitive as a springer spaniel’s nose in an airport when it came to winkling out secrets.
‘Jess,’ I said apologetically, ‘I’m sorry but I really can’t say anything else. However,’ I added, hoping that offering her a consolation bone would throw her off the scent for a while, ‘I promise that as soon as I can talk about it, you’ll be the first to know.’
‘Oh, all right,’ she said sulkily, ‘you promise?’
‘I promise.’
‘Well, just be warned,’ she said, sounding somewhat mollified, ‘if it really has got something to do with Holly, then watch your back, front and everything in between because I still don’t trust her as far as I can throw her.’
‘OK,’ I said, ‘if what I’m planning ends up throwing us together,’ knowing full well that it would, ‘then I’ll be on my guard.’
I wanted to add that if Jake and Harriet had moved on and that if I could tolerate knowing Holly was around, dolly tubs or no dolly tubs, then perhaps it was time Jessica moved on too, but I didn’t. I was so relieved to have my friend back finally that I didn’t want to upset the apple cart again.
‘So,’ I said instead, ‘how are the plans for the wedding coming along?’
By the time we had finished discussing the merits of roses versus lilies and Henry’s dubious musical entertainment suggestions for the reception, half the morning had gone and I was seriously behind with my chores.
I had just finished obsessively checking on the hens and was heading down to the stable when Holly herself, as sleek as the 4x4 she drove, pulled into the yard. I thanked my lucky stars that she’d turned up after my conversation with Jessica.
‘Hello, Holly,’ I said politely, ignoring the urge to check my watch, ‘have you come to admire your dolly tubs?’
‘My what?’ she said, with a frown.
‘The tubs,’ I said again, this time pointing towards the porch. ‘Don’t they look stunning?’
‘Oh, yes,’ she said, throwing them a fleeting glance, ‘yes, great.’
She had barely noticed the beautiful display and on closer inspection I could see her hands were shaking slightly and she looked tired and pale, nothing at all like her usually cool and composed self.
‘Are you all right?’ I asked, concerned that she was going to keel over and that, unlike Jessica, I didn’t have the first aid skills to aid her recovery. ‘Holly?’
‘Yes,’ she said, ‘yes?’
‘I asked if you were feeling all right. You look a bit peaky.’
She nodded distractedly and I encouraged her to get to the point.
‘So, what can I do for you?’
‘I was just wondering how Annie is,’ she said, a definite wobble in her voice.
‘Oh good grief,’ I groaned, ‘news really does travel fast around here, doesn’t it?’
I hoped the residents of Wynbridge weren’t all thinking that the ‘wet behind the ears incomer’ was responsible for what had happened.
‘Did you hear about it in the pub?’
‘Something like that,’ she said impatiently. ‘So, how is she?’
I really couldn’t understand Holly’s concern. According to what I’d been told, she and Annie barely tolerated one another. However, I told her as much as I knew and she seemed somewhat reassured.
‘I was worried,’ she said by way of explanation when she realised I was confused by her questioning. ‘I might not get on with her, but I did live here after all and I wouldn’t want to think she had been badly hurt, or hurt at all for that matter.’
That was fair enough, I guessed, and decided to put her apparently genuine sincerity down to her recently transformed personality. Secretly I had everything crossed that now she had all the details she would head back to town and defend me to the regulars in The Mermaid at least.
‘Look, Holly,’ I said, when she made no attempt to say anything else or climb back in the driver’s seat, but instead stood rooted to the spot looking blank. ‘I hope you don’t think I’m being rude, but I really need to get on. You’re more than welcome to come with me,’ I added so she wouldn’t think I was trying to get rid of her, ‘but I do need to see to Pip and feed the geese.’
I said the last chore with a little shudder, but Holly didn’t even flinch at the mention of the geese. Then I remembered that Jake had told me how little she had to do with the actual nuts and bolts of running Skylark Farm and I realised she was probably completely unaware of what a menace they were.
‘No, it’s OK,’ she said, finally retracing her steps to the safety of her plush leather interior. ‘I didn’t mean to hold you up. I just wanted to check that everything was OK. Bye.’
Leaving a cloud of dust behind her, and me feeling more confused than ever, she blazed a trail back towards the gate and was gone.
‘So,’ I said when Jake arrived back later that day, ‘how’s Annie? When’s the hospital going to let her home and what did the bank say?’
‘What have you done to your hand?’ Jake frowned, ignoring my barrage of questions and honing in on my heavily plastered fingers.
‘I haven’t done anything,’ I told him sheepishly, ‘it was the geese.’
‘They pecked you when you fed them?’
‘No,’ I said, stuffing my hand in my trouser pocket to try to divert his attention.
‘What then?’ he asked, biting his lip.
I was annoyed to see the trace of amusement dancing in his eyes and felt even more determined not to tell him what had happened. Why should I be the one to furnish him with his daily dose of a good belly laugh? However, if I wanted my questions answered, which of course I did, then I didn’t see that I had much choice.
‘I filled the feeder first,’ I told him, keen to let him know that I had done everything as he had instructed. ‘Just like you do,’ I added for good measure, ‘then, when I had a clear view of the gate, I let them out.’
‘Go on,’ smiled Jake.
‘Oh, all right,’ I snapped. ‘To cut a rather long, but I daresay hilarious, story short they out-flapped me to the gate and I caught my hand on a sharp piece of wire as I tried to vault over without opening it.’
‘Ouch,’ said Jake, trying to smother his grin with concern.
‘Yes,’ I scowled in warning, ‘Ouch is one way of putting it.’
I didn’t add that as I had touched down on the other side of the gate I’d caught my feet (for once not in their wellies) in the bucket of cold water I’d run for Pip and ended up slipping over and soaking both my feet and my legs.
‘Did you clean the cut properly?’ Jake asked, now sounding serious.
‘Of course,’ I nodded, crossing the fingers on my injury-free hand and hoping that the cursory wipe with the kitchen roll was enough to stave off anything
nasty.
‘Come on then,’ he said, ‘let’s get a drink and I’ll fill you in on everything.’
The upshot of Jake’s trip to Wynbridge was that Annie was coming home the following day with strict instructions to sit still and behave. The bank thought the Piggy Plan was an excellent idea and had, in theory, even agreed to wait it out for us to make a dent in the overdraft, and approved a small loan to help with the initial set up costs.
I drained my glass of elderflower cordial, feeling relieved that life at the farm was getting back on track. It had been a traumatic and tempestuous couple of days, well, twenty-four hours really, and even though in reality it wasn’t as long as it felt, I was pleased we had turned such a positive corner.
Even Patricia seemed almost back to her old self. The wound on her back, now bathed and scrutinised, was more of a graze than a gaping gash and I was pleased I could return her to Annie almost as good as new.
‘And what about your idea?’ wheedled Jake. ‘You still haven’t told me what you’ve got planned.’
‘All in good time,’ I told him as I refilled our glasses. ‘I’ll talk to Annie as soon as she’s settled and we’ll take it from there.’
‘You,’ said Jake, sliding off his chair and heading towards me on his knees, ‘are a tease.’
‘No I’m not,’ I giggled, squirming in my seat before he’d even reached me. ‘I just don’t want to get your hopes up in case Annie says it’s a no-go.’
‘Do you think she might?’
‘I don’t know,’ I said, ‘and you can stop fishing for details because I’m not going to tell you anything.’
‘Really?’ he said as he lightly placed his hands on my knees.
‘Really!’ I laughed and tried to brush him off.
‘Fair enough,’ he shrugged, moving closer and pulling me off my chair and into his arms. ‘Now,’ he said, ‘let’s see if you’ll be more willing to talk about what you want to do tonight, shall we?’
‘Tonight?’
‘Well, think about it,’ he said, wrapping his arms tighter around me, ‘Annie is safe and sound in hospital and we have the whole place to ourselves.’
‘You didn’t mention that last night,’ I reminded him.
‘Well, I was worried then, wasn’t I?’ he said, lowering his head to kiss my neck and ears.
‘What, about Annie, you mean?’ I asked, closing my eyes and savouring every sensation his tender touch aroused.
‘Yes,’ he said, then added with a wicked grin, ‘but tonight I’m feeling deliciously carefree.’
Chapter 32
The old farm truck wasn’t designed with passenger comfort in mind and squeezing three into the cab was really out of the question. So, early the next morning, Jake set off alone again, only this time with the promise of returning with Annie. Although I was nervous about seeing her I was pleased she was coming back so soon. The place just didn’t seem right without her. I missed her, and although a part of me did feel incredibly guilty about not visiting her, I simply didn’t think I could cope with the sight of her in a hospital bed being told what to do (irrespective of whether or not she chose to do it).
I spent much of the morning flitting about the house and Annie’s little garden checking everything was shipshape for her return. The bedrooms all had clean linen and vases of fresh flowers and the fridge and pantry were stuffed with enough supplies to see us through a zombie apocalypse. As the time wore on even the dogs seemed to pick up on the atmosphere and it became increasingly difficult to keep Patricia confined to her barracks.
‘Not much longer,’ I told her soothingly, ‘I promise.’ She eyed me beadily and I swear I heard her huff.
Finally, just as the clock in the kitchen struck eleven I heard the truck pull up close to the porch.
‘Can you give us a hand?’ Jake called through the open door.
He sounded flustered and impatient and I braced myself for what was to follow.
‘I can manage!’ was Annie’s testy response. To my ears her voice sounded reedy and thin. ‘You stay where you are, Amber.’
I hopped from foot to foot, unsure of what to do. I didn’t want to leave Jake to struggle, but I didn’t want to upset Annie either. I couldn’t imagine she thought there was anything worse in the entire world than being beholden to or needing help from anyone.
After what felt like hours rather than a couple of minutes I heard the truck doors slam shut and a shuffling of feet in the porch.
‘Here you are, you stubborn old bugger,’ said Jake, his tone softer than his words suggested, ‘back where you belong.’
I rushed forward and had my first glimpse of the woman who had changed my life in the space of just a couple of months and tried not to gasp in shock. She had looked ashen when I last saw her, being transferred to the back of the ambulance, but now, despite the fact that her demeanour was the same, she certainly didn’t look anything like her old self. I was appalled to discover that she appeared tiny, frail and not at all sure that she could trust her feet to take her where she wanted to go. Her complexion was pale, waxy almost, her eyes dull and the skin on the back of her hands, as I took them in my own, felt paper thin and dry.
‘Welcome home,’ I croaked, my voice barely making it out of my throat and betraying my vain attempt to sound as if nothing had changed when one further glance at Annie reminded me that so much had. ‘We’ve really missed you.’
Annie nodded but didn’t say anything and I felt a wave of heat course through my body and land in my face flushing my neck and cheeks until they burnt. Jake, Jessica and even Harriet had gone out of their way to reassure me that Annie didn’t blame me for what had happened, but her silence seemed to be suggesting that was not the case at all.
Slowly and carefully I walked her across the kitchen to her favourite chair next to the range and gradually lowered her into it. I took a step back and only then realised why she hadn’t answered. Thick, heavy tears rolled silently down her cheeks and I rushed forward with my handkerchief, desperate to stem the flow.
‘Thank you, dear girl,’ she said kindly, taking my hand and this time gripping it with the little strength she had. ‘I shouldn’t be crying. It makes my head thump, but it’s such a relief to be home.’
‘How is your head?’ Jake asked, dumping Annie’s few things from the hospital on the table. ‘Apart from the throbbing, I mean. The consultant did say it might feel a bit uncomfortable after the journey home, didn’t he?’
‘It’s all right,’ said Annie. ‘Not really any worse than before. Do you know,’ she said, turning her eyes back to me, ‘they glued it back together?’
I felt my squeamish stomach roll at the thought.
‘Who would have thought it,’ she smiled, a twinkle of the old mischief lighting up her periwinkle eyes, ‘who would have thought that I’d end up like old Humpty Dumpty?’
‘Not quite,’ laughed Jake. ‘If you remember, all the King’s horses and all the King’s men couldn’t put him back together again, whereas you,’ he smiled and kissed Annie’s hand, ‘are almost as good as new. And talking of eggs, don’t you have something for Annie, Amber?’
‘Of course!’ I said, suddenly remembering. ‘Close your eyes and hold out your hands.’
‘I hope it’s a cup of tea,’ said Annie, ‘I’m absolutely parched.’
Jake threw me a glance, a concerned frown knitting his brows.
‘You only had a cup of tea before we left the hospital,’ he said, ‘not that I begrudge you another one, of course,’ he added.
‘Oh, I didn’t drink that,’ said Annie, ‘I haven’t had a cup since I left here.’
‘What?’ said Jake. ‘Why ever not?’
‘Two reasons,’ said Annie in a sing-song voice. ‘Firstly it tastes like muck, and secondly, according to the man in the bed next to me they put drugs in it.’
‘Drugs?’
‘Yes,’ she said conspiratorially, ‘to keep everyone quiet.’
Jake didn’t bother arguing bu
t looked at me, rolled his eyes and reached for the teapot.
‘That explains a lot,’ he said in a hushed tone.
‘What do you mean?’ I whispered back.
‘The state of her skin and the tears,’ he hissed.
I shook my head still not understanding.
‘She’s dehydrated,’ he said. ‘You wait, by this time tomorrow, with her system swimming in her body weight of tea, she’ll be back to her old self.’
‘Well, I hope so,’ I said, throwing her a quick glance, ‘it will be nice to have the old Annie back.’
‘What are you two whispering about?’ Annie’s voice suddenly boomed out making us both jump.
‘There you are,’ Jake grinned as if that proved it, ‘just the thought of a cup of tea and she’s coming back to us! Are you going to fill us in on where you stashed all the cups you didn’t drink?’
‘Never you mind,’ said Annie mysteriously.
‘Have you still got your eyes closed?’ I asked her, already feeling far better than I had ten minutes ago.
‘Yes,’ she snapped, ‘I’ll be asleep at this rate.’
Jake laid an old towel on Annie’s lap and I collected Patricia from the pantry whispering sweet nothings into where I guessed her ears were and begging her to be quiet. Seemingly aware of the importance of the occasion she played her part admirably and allowed herself to be transported with the minimum amount of fuss from her box to her mistress’s lap.
‘There,’ I said with a relieved sigh as Annie’s hands wrapped around the old bird, who immediately settled contentedly on the towel and readied herself for the fuss and attention that would follow.
Slowly Annie opened her eyes and Patricia closed hers, each revelling in the moment of joyful reunion.
‘She was under the hedge,’ I explained, a lump the size of a golf ball lodging itself in my throat. ‘Bella found her,’ I added with a nod to the dogs who, unusually subdued, had settled at Annie’s feet awaiting their share of her attention. ‘I never left that gate open,’ I blurted out before I could check myself. ‘When Jake and I left here it was bolted shut. I know it was.’
All morning I’d been telling myself that I wouldn’t mention it, that it didn’t matter because Jake had told me that Annie already knew, but seeing her so fragile and frail as a result of what had happened had sent my plan out of the window and it was impossible not to say anything.