by Rebecca Pugh
Chapter Four
Maria had loved her first shift in Harriet’s Place. She’d worked through the afternoon which hadn’t been too bad, but Harriet had forewarned that as summer progressed and the hotter weather arrived, she’d quickly change her mind about that. Still, as it was, the few nerves she’d woken up with had quickly dissipated and she’d found her feet in no time at all. She’d felt useful and needed. Sure, she may have only been wiping down tables alongside serving drinks and snacks, but being on the move and introducing herself to some of the café’s regulars had made her feel upbeat and energetic, as if she were already a part of the community. She’d almost felt sad when she’d untied her apron at the end of her shift and handed it back to Harriet. It hung in the kitchen, just beside the door, with a notebook and pen in the front pocket. Although it was silly, Maria felt that no one would ever understand the importance of simply having an apron. It was ludicrous, she knew, but either way, the thought of it waiting for her to slip it back on was a wonderful one.
After her shift in the café, she knew that she couldn’t put off painting the cottage any longer, and so she wandered into a small homeware store in town and popped a few tins of paint and paintbrushes into the trolley. She’d never realised before then just how many options a person planning to partake in a spot of decorating would be faced with. In the aisle, she’d wandered up and down, unable to make a decision. Until, eventually, she thought about the cottage and exactly what she was trying to achieve with the colours she chose.
Once back at the cottage, laden down with tins of paint and other bits and pieces she’d thought she would need, she decided to begin in the kitchen first. After a quick shower, she pulled her hair up into a messy ponytail and tugged on an old shirt stained with paint from when she’d spent the afternoon with Kelly and Kayleigh finger-painting. The memory of that afternoon, with the sun spilling in through the windows, caused a smile to surface on her face.
The thought of her beautiful nieces tugged at her heartstrings. She missed them terribly, and suddenly hated the distance between them, but she knew that taking up Geraldine’s offer and coming to the cottage had been the right thing to do. She had, quite honestly, been spinning in a downward spiral. What would she have achieved by staying in the place she and Mike had spent the entirety of their relationship? Everywhere she’d have turned, memories would have lain in waiting, ready to pounce out at her, hitting right where it hurt. No, coming to Daffodil Lane was the best thing she could have possibly done for herself, and if it meant that she had to spend a while away from her family, then so be it. It wasn’t that they weren’t her priority – because they were, all of them. But for the first time in a long while, Maria needed to take care of herself. Perhaps it may have looked selfish to some, but she didn’t care. She believed that a person knew themselves better than anyone else, and if that person felt that they needed some time-out to pull themselves back together then so be it.
As she sorted through the tins of paint and organised them into groups she’d use for each room, Maria thought of the house she and Mike had shared. Looking back now, she couldn’t understand what she’d ever liked about it, even with its huge garden and neatly decorated, impressively large rooms. It was nice, and very presentable, but it had never felt like it had a personality of its own, which she felt like the cottage did have, and a lot of it. Her old house was like a shell, with all of the necessary bits and bobs inside, but nothing more than that. The view she’d been offered when she’d glanced out of the bedroom window was a cluster of neighbouring homes and cars, either constantly thrumming up and down the road, or parked frustratingly neatly alongside clipped lawns and tended flowerbeds. It had been too perfect, Maria realised now, and anything like that often turned out too good to be true, or so she’d come to learn.
In contrast, when she looked out of the window of the cottage, she either glimpsed the pretty-as-a-picture street outside, birds hopping about in gardens, or out back, the green rolling fields that went on for miles and miles, continuing on into the far-off distance. She knew already which one she preferred. It didn’t take a genius to guess. The more time she was spending there, the more she was beginning to realise how strikingly different it was to her old place, and how much more pleasing it was too. The huge, open fields and the fresh, flower-scented air, not forgetting the constant movement and sound of nature, were things she wasn’t sure how she’d managed to get by without before. It was certainly growing on her, and strangely, the area soothed her in a way she’d never experienced before. Of course, she knew that real life was still happening all around her while here. She had no doubt that people went about their daily business just as they had done back home, but it was different somehow. Laid-back, unhurried and gentler. The kind of life Maria had always been hoping for.
As she stood in the middle of the kitchen and looked around the room, she wasn’t sure of where to begin. The bizarre thing was that she felt more than capable of handling what lay ahead, and that wasn’t a feeling she’d felt very often. The reins of her life had always been in Mike’s capable hands. Anything even slightly taxing, he’d taken over without even considering her capabilities. With a renewed determination, Maria picked up the roller sat in a tray of smooth, duck-egg blue paint on the kitchen table and set to work. She’d be damned if the first thing she tackled wasn’t going to be those grey, miserable walls that she passed by each and every morning. Granted, they didn’t put too much of a dampener on her mood, but they didn’t fit in. They didn’t show the cottage at its best and a place like this deserved to be shown off. What the cottage needed more than anything was brightening up, and that’s exactly what she planned to do.
Almost three hours later, Maria stopped painting and glanced around the kitchen from her position. She was standing on the kitchen chair which had helped her greatly in reaching those tricky heights and corners. She scrutinised her work and wondered how she had only managed to get this far in so much time. Was she working in slow-motion or something? And it wasn’t like the kitchen was very big either, so she couldn’t use the size of the room as an excuse. She hopped down off the chair, returned the roller to its tray and poured herself a glass of chilled white wine, taking a quick sip, before she continued.
She felt as if she hadn’t got anywhere, but she had to admit, as she surveyed the stretch of wall she had painted, it already looked a million times better. She’d bought a gloss for the skirting boards and window sills too, just to add a little shine and extra brightness, and as she imagined the finished kitchen in her mind, she knew it was going to look wonderful. She had to keep in mind that this time next year, people would be staying here in order to take a break from real life, and because of that, she needed to create a haven of sorts, somewhere that managed to put people’s minds at ease and allowed them to relax completely.
The duck-egg blue was a smooth colour that brought to mind blue skies, calm seas and sailing boats. There was nothing chaotic about it, which was exactly what she’d been hoping to achieve. A colour that didn’t distract but carried you off into a dreamland when you looked at it. She smiled and knew she’d picked very well indeed.
Maria leant against the counter as she felt herself beginning to tire. Her arms were aching from the constant stretching and reaching with the roller, and she had a feeling she wouldn’t last much longer at all. Still, she supposed even a little progress was better than no progress at all. In fact, seeing as she had the whole day to herself tomorrow, she would call it a night once she’d finished the glass of wine and take herself to bed.
There was no rush in completing the kitchen, although she did plan to have at least that room finished before the family came round to visit, which she couldn’t wait for. It felt like it had been months since she’d seen them. What she wanted more than anything was for them to be impressed with what she’d managed to achieve on her own, without the help of anybody else. Yes, it was just a bit of painting but, in her mind, it was an accomplishment too. She wan
ted Geraldine to enter the cottage once Maria had gone, and look about herself in disbelief. With that image in her head, Maria finished up with the glass and put away the painting tools, before heading to bed.
She rose really early the next morning and got straight back to work, not wanting to waste any time. The sooner the kitchen was finished, the better. After a cup of strong coffee, she flicked on the old radio she’d found in the conservatory and popped it onto the counter before she threw herself into the painting once more. The morning rolled by as Maria sang along to the tunes playing, lifting her mood and filling her with a sense of freedom. A knock on the door made her clamber down the stepladder and go to see who it was. She brushed the stray hairs that escaped from the ponytail away from her face and wondered who was knocking. She wasn’t expecting any visitors. She sincerely hoped that the family hadn’t planned a surprise visit. As lovely as it would be to see them all, she was not exactly dressed for the occasion. She felt a dried patch of paint on her cheek and tried to scratch it away quickly with her fingernail before opening the door.
When she did, she was surprised to find Harriet and Millie, along with little Susie, all stood on the doorstep.
‘Oh! Hello, everyone,’ she smiled, trying not to look too taken aback. ‘This is a pleasant surprise. What’s going on?’ The friendly faces looking at her expectantly warmed her heart. It was bizarre how quickly she’d grown fond of them, except for little Susie who she hadn’t had the chance to meet properly yet. Susie stared up at her now, eyes narrowed as if trying to figure out if she’d seen Maria before. She was the spitting image of Millie, only a smaller version.
‘We’re heading up to Meadow Farm,’ explained Millie with a smile, trying to keep hold of Susie’s hand who, it seemed, was prepared to tug her mother’s arm completely free from her body if that was what it took to get away. She was rather strong for such a little person. Maria tried not to laugh at her enthusiasm to break free. ‘Susie likes to see the animals, plus the weather’s top-notch so it’d be silly not to make the most of it. Harriet’s going to collect her eggs for the café so we thought, “let’s see what Maria’s doing today”.’
Harriet smiled. ‘Only if you’re not busy of course. We know you’re decorating the cottage too. It’s no bother if you can’t tag along.’
‘Pigs!’ yelled Susie, still trying to break free from her mother’s grasp, rocking Millie from side to side.
‘We’d really love it if you could join us?’ Millie asked, a little desperately.
Maria nodded. What the hell! She’d made more progress with the painting than she’d thought she would that morning, so why not take a stroll through the sunshine with her new friends? It was the perfect way to spend her Sunday, and a trip to Meadow Farm sounded delightful too. After all, she couldn’t spend all day stuck inside the cottage when the weather was as perfect as it was. It would be a sin to do so.
‘Sure, okay. Give me ten minutes to get dressed and I’ll be right with you. Come inside and wait, make yourselves comfy.’ She stepped aside to let them in and then hurried up the stairs after showing them to the conservatory. Harriet admired the room before settling down on one of the cosy wicker chairs, while Millie panicked about Susie causing havoc. ‘I’ll be really quick, I promise,’ Maria assured her. She dashed upstairs and into her temporary bedroom. She felt overjoyed by the fact that they’d thought of her. How had she managed to meet these wonderful women when everything else had seemed to be going so drastically wrong in her life? She was grateful, and looking forward to spending more time with them, even if that time was spent on a farm.
As she got dressed, Maria realised that she was quite excited herself about seeing the animals and taking a good look around the farm. The last time she’d visited a farm was when she’d been about seven. Rob had been too young to recall much about the trip now, but Maria could clearly remember a goat trying to chew on the sleeve of her jacket. She’d shrieked in terror when she’d realised the goat wasn’t going to let go, enjoying its chomping as much as it was, and they’d gone home shortly after, Ellen apologising profusely to the other children who had watched Maria screaming, resulting in their own fright. She smiled at the memory as she pulled on a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt. She redid her hair after checking for any stray flecks of paint, fluffed up her new fringe with her fingers, added a tiny smidge of lip-gloss just for good measure and then hurried back down the stairs to regroup with the others.
‘Ready!’ she announced when she arrived in the doorway, hands on her hips. She’d slipped on a flimsy pair of white pumps, but passed on a jacket, seeing as it was so lovely outside.
‘Oh thank God.’ Millie rushed out of the room, shaking her head. ‘Susie decided she wanted to be a windmill. Not a good idea. Did you know there are antiques on the windowsill in there?’ Maria eyed the tiny ornaments lined up beneath the window while Millie led her mischievous daughter back down the hall and outside. Maria and Harriet followed her as they shared an amused smile.
*
‘Meadow Farm has been around for years,’ explained Harriet, as the four of them traipsed up the lane. Maria marvelled at how fit Harriet was. She was already completely out of breath, but the intense heat from the sun didn’t help matters. She peered up at the cloudless blue sky and wished for a single cloud to pass over for just a moment, to give them all some reprieve. ‘I know Mr and Mrs Harlow very well. In fact, Mr Harlow was best friends with my late husband. They often spent afternoons golfing together and I lost count of how many times we were invited here for Sunday lunch – which was spectacular, by the way. She’s a wonderful cook. They truly are the loveliest people I’ve met. You’re going to love them.’
Maria smiled. ‘They sound great, Harriet. I bet this place holds some fond memories for you then, what with visiting with Peter?’
‘It certainly does.’ Harriet smiled, eyes twinkling.
Millie was sweating beside them, grumbling to herself about the heat. The sun was steadily making its way higher into the sky. ‘Bloody hell. I’d forgotten how long and steep this hill is. Not long now, thankfully. I’m not cut out for countryside treks. Much longer and I’ll be a puddle on the ground.’
‘Roof!’ shouted Susie, and pointed up ahead. Sure enough, Maria spotted the roof of what looked like an impressive home not too far away. They were almost there, thank God. She was dying for a drink, and a break from all of the walking. She had to agree with Millie. She wasn’t cut out for this either.
‘Yes! Well done baby, that’s a roof. You’re so clever.’ Millie kissed Susie on the head and the little girl giggled. She looked exactly like Millie. Same shaped face, same dazzling green eyes and the same thick, golden hair. Susie’s had been styled into two plaits either side of her head. She looked like a cherub with her apple-round cheeks and cheeky smile. Maria wondered what her young nieces were up to today. No doubt Rob and Rosanna had something nice planned. They always did. Back home, she’d tagged along with any activities they did, and they hadn’t minded. She’d been bored back at the house. Mike had worked most weekends, and now she knew why.
‘We’re here,’ Millie cheered, pausing to get her breath back. She panted for a few moments and then wiped the sweat from off her brow.
They’d arrived at a wide wooden gate which separated the farmhouse and the land surrounding it from the lane they’d been walking along. Harriet slipped inside and beckoned for the others to follow.
‘Don’t worry,’ she said, when she saw that Maria was lingering uncertainly on the other side. ‘It’s not trespassing. They love visitors and you’d be surprised by how many parents bring their children up here to take a look around and see the animals. It’s a day out for most people. Some of them will even bring a picnic, would you believe?’
Maria smiled gratefully, slipped through and followed Harriet up the gravelly drive towards the house, which only seemed to grow in size and impressiveness the closer they got to it.
It was charming, in an idyllic, un-kept
sort of way. The exterior was crumbly stone and the windows a little dirty but it was nothing that a quick clean wouldn’t fix. It oozed character and history and in the darker, gloomier weather, Maria reckoned it could have been the setting of a spooky film. But here, in the bright sunshine, it looked like the perfect family home. As they approached the door, Maria caught the faint whiff of hay and manure in the air. She tried her best not to wrinkle her nose at the smell. Millie saw her and laughed lightly.
‘Stinks, right? When you live here permanently, you get used to it.’
Harriet knocked on the door and a few seconds later was greeted with a warm hug and beatific smile from the woman who answered it. Maria guessed this was Mrs Harlow. She was a small but well-built woman, with a messy bun and a clear complexion. The fresh air, although slightly tainted, clearly worked well with her skin. After introducing herself to Maria, she invited them all into the home and they followed her through to the kitchen. ‘Please, call me Emma,’ she sang, seemingly chuffed to have some company.
‘Join us for brunch! There’s enough to go around. Edward’s over with the cows this morning so you won’t get a chance to see him, I’m afraid. Still, it’s always nice to welcome any newcomers,’ she added, directing this last comment at Maria.
‘Oh, Emma, brunch would be wonderful.’ Harriet beckoned for them all to take a chair. ‘Thank you. Come on everyone, let’s take a seat and join these lovely people for brunch.’
Maria seemed to be the only one who felt uncomfortable with doing so but she took a seat anyway, not wanting to appear rude by saying no. Everyone else seemed incredibly comfortable with the invitation, so she supposed she should follow their lead, even if she had only just met the woman.
It was only once she’d taken a seat at the large oak dining table sat in the centre of the rustic kitchen that she realised another person was in the room with them. How had she missed his presence? When he turned to say hello to them all she realised it was Brad, who Millie had told her about the other night, outside the pub. Of course, she realised, feeling stupid. Millie had mentioned that he resided at Meadow Farm. Why hadn’t she put two and two together? She swallowed nervously and looked anywhere but at him.