Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange

by Jenny Kane

  ‘They haven’t mentioned staying. I just want everything to look perfect while they’re here. Is that daft?’ Tina reached for a pile of pillow cases, passing two to Helen.

  ‘Not at all. And it makes it look as if you hoped they’d stay. That can’t be a bad thing, can it?’

  ‘True. Although whether they’ll come round to our way of thinking about the wedding venue…’

  Helen sighed. ‘Look, Tina, this is your home and Sam’s home. It’s also your wedding day. That makes it your choice. I know tradition can be hard to budge in ancestral families, but it isn’t as if Sam’s the heir to the estate – so stand firm. You’re feeling guilty, but you haven’t done anything wrong.’

  ‘It’s obvious I’m feeling guilty about holding out for what I want, then?’

  ‘Not to anyone who doesn’t know you.’ Helen gave her a kind smile. ‘It’s allowed, you know, for the bride to have what she wants on her wedding day. Sam’s parents know that. They’re just battling with their expectations.’

  ‘You may be right.’

  ‘I am right.’ Helen plumped the last pillow into a fresh case and went to open the window. ‘It’s stuffy today. I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a burst of spring sunshine.’

  ‘That would be good this weekend. Mill Grange looks even more beautiful when the sun shines.’

  ‘Umm.’ Helen mumbled her agreement as she spotted Tom and Sam heading towards the walled garden. Her insides gave an involuntary clench at the sight of her boyfriend.

  Why haven’t I told Sam and Tina I’m not leaving?

  As if reading her friend’s mind, Tina said, ‘Sam told me he’d asked you if you’d like to stay. I don’t want to hassle you or anything, but the tenth of April is less than a week away and—’

  ‘And you could do with knowing if you’re going to be another member of staff down when the place reopens on the twentieth.’ Helen dug her hands deep into her jeans pockets. ‘I should have said before, I’m sorry. It’s just, I’m—’

  ‘Spending a lot of time thinking about a tall slim archaeologist with piercing green eyes?’ For a split-second Helen thought about denying it, but then realised there was no point. Tina wouldn’t be fooled. If Thea was there, the two of them would probably be plying her with scones and portable thumbscrews, in a kindly, but unstoppable hunt for information about her love life.

  ‘Perhaps.’

  ‘You two have obviously been getting closer. You’d have to be blind not to notice the glances that pass between you when you think no one’s looking.’

  ‘I suspected you’d guessed.’ Helen kept her gaze fixed on the garden. The men had disappeared from view, but she could see the impressive sweep of the garden as it blended with the woodland, and beyond into the heart of Exmoor. ‘At first we weren’t ready to share, and then we thought we should tell Dylan first.’

  ‘Of course you should. I won’t say anything. How long have you been a couple now, if you don’t mind me asking?’

  ‘Thirteen days.’ As Helen spoke, the words unlucky for some, taunted her thoughts.

  ‘And now his son is moving in, and you have a job to go back to and everything is moving just a bit too fast.’

  ‘Yes.’ Helen turned around. ‘How did you know?’

  ‘It was all rather a whirlwind with me and Sam. I knew what I wanted to do, but wasn’t sure I was ready, or if it was the right thing to do.’

  ‘That’s it, you see.’ Helen was amazed. ‘Two weeks ago, I was just an archaeologist who fancied a nice man, but never thought anything would happen. And as I was leaving soon anyway… But then…’

  ‘Then Tom realised he felt the same and now you’re torn.’

  ‘I really want to stay, but it just isn’t that straightforward.’

  ‘Because of the job in Bath or because of Dylan?’

  Helen shrugged. ‘Both.’

  ‘Look, why don’t we work and talk. Being busy often helps put things in perspective.’

  Helen laughed. ‘And there’s heaps to do and no time for moping?’

  Tina grinned. ‘There’s that as well.’

  *

  Tom threw the chickens a generous handful of pepper slices before joining Sam in front of the greenhouse.

  ‘Tell me honestly, do you think the two of us can do this?’ Sam studied the old structure, its glass panes gone, its framework intact, but battered by years of neglect, it still held a gothic beauty.

  ‘I’d be lying if I claimed to know the answer to that, although I’m more than willing to have a go.’ Tom passed Sam a list of the supplies they’d need to renovate the greenhouse. ‘I got all the information you asked for, and this is what we’d need if we did the job ourselves. But I’ll be honest, mate, I can’t see how we’d ever manage to do it up without Tina noticing.’

  ‘Maybe I should just do it up a bit and string up some fairy lights for the big day as Tina suggested in the first place?’

  Tom checked back over his figures. ‘The cheapest quote I found you wasn’t cheap – if someone else did the work, that is. It would take him a week – if not more. I’m sorry, Sam, but unless you can take Tina away on holiday for a fortnight, this is one secret that would leak out in seconds.’

  ‘As opposed to the secret that you and Helen are now a couple, you mean?’

  ‘What?’ Tom dug his hands deep into his pockets. ‘Not as subtle as we thought then?’

  ‘Nope.’ Sam winked. ‘I’m pleased for you.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Not sure if he should ask again, but asking anyway, Tom said, ‘Did you think about inviting Helen to stay on?’

  Surprised Tom didn’t know about him asking Helen, and remembering his promise to say nothing, Sam felt rather awkward. ‘It’s a question of finances, Tom. But I do intend to discuss the matter with Helen before she goes. I’m sorry I can’t promise more.’

  *

  ‘Pros and cons then.’

  Helen threw Tina a couple of toilet rolls to put on the cistern of the main bathroom. ‘Are you reducing my love life to a list?’

  ‘Two lists actually.’

  ‘Right.’ As she hung fresh towels on the rail by the claw toed bath, Helen licked her lips. ‘Pros are easy. Tom is a good man. I feel great when we’re together and I love his son very much.’

  ‘And he loves you. Tom, I mean. Dylan has always adored you. But his dad loves you.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And you love him.’

  ‘I think so. Yes.’

  Tina kept her tone matter of fact, knowing that was how Helen would prefer thing. ‘And you have similar interests and enough differences to keep things fresh.’

  Helen couldn’t help but smile. ‘It sounds as if you’ve made this inventory before.’

  ‘Once or twice.’ Tina grabbed another handful of towels as she followed Helen to the next bathroom. ‘And the cons?’

  ‘I love this job, but I love the one in Bath too and…’

  ‘It pays a lot better and you have a home there.’

  ‘Sorry, but yes.’

  ‘No need to be sorry. So, do you want to go back to the Baths or stay working here? If you can answer that, then you’ll be halfway there.’

  ‘That’s just it though, Tina,’ Helen added a toilet roll to the empty dispenser, ‘I can’t answer that because it is so connected with Tom. Bath is a two-hour drive from here, so we couldn’t see each other every day, or even every week as I often work weekends in Bath. Then there’s Dylan; I adore him, but Tom and I would never have time alone if I were to move back to Bath. Our relationship could simply fizzle out.’

  ‘At the risk of stating the obvious, then why not stay?’

  ‘Because…’ Helen paused, her hand on the side of the roll-top bath as she tried to form her fragmented thoughts into words. ‘Because if it went wrong with Tom, I’d have nowhere to go and no job to go back to. And because I’m scared.’

  Tina put down her pile of towels and moved to Helen’s side. ‘Of course you’re scared. Yo
u’re in love, and the thought of not being in love again is horrid. Suddenly life feels different. You feel different! Inside I mean. And you really want to eat chocolate, but maybe you shouldn’t because you might not fit into your jeans next week and all that crap. Yes?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘So, whatever happens, whether you stay or go, you’ll lose out on something, but if you want to give a future with Tom a chance, then you should.’

  ‘But I can only do that if I stay.’

  ‘No. You can do that whatever happens. It’ll just be easier if you stay.’

  Twenty-six

  Friday April 3rd

  The four security vans circled on the far side of the dig site as if they were cowboys arriving on a ranch.

  Thea watched them vie for the best parking spot as she paused in the act of directing the tucking up of the dolphin mosaic under a series of tarpaulins. Flexing her back, she gave her team of helpers leave to grab a drink from the catering truck. The sun was beating down on their back and shoulders, and although it was only April, summer felt as if it had arrived in the Cotswolds via an accelerated fast track scheme.

  She could see Shaun and the AA in conversation with Julian over by the truck which doubled as the show’s technical hub. The discussion didn’t look heated, yet she couldn’t help but feel a prickle of suspicion as she saw Julian’s arms gesticulating all over the place.

  Glad they were to head back to Mill Grange soon, Thea wiped her forehead with her arm. The open land, on which the villa had been built, had neither shade nor shelter. While that gave her another insight into why the original owner positioned his home in such a suntrap, it didn’t help her or her colleagues as they laboured in the stunning early spring sunshine.

  Deciding to take a break herself, Thea headed to the refreshment van. Borrowing a tray, and collecting five cups of lemonade, she strolled over to the men, wondering if she was finally about to learn what Julian was up to. Whatever it was, Thea had a feeling they’d all be wishing that she was bringing them something far stronger than fizzy pop.

  ‘Thea! And drinks. How thoughtful.’ Julian beamed as he took his lemonade. ‘How is putting the mosaic to bed going?’

  ‘We’re almost there. I’d like to add one more layer of covers, just to be on the safe side.’ She gestured to the security team who were now queuing for drinks. ‘They do know how important the site is, don’t they?’

  ‘I only employ the best.’ Julian’s smile became condescending. ‘Which is why I employ you.’ His focus remained on Thea for a split second, before he swept an arm around the group, as if to indicate his last remark was levelled at all of them.

  Not giving anyone time to comment, Julian went on, ‘The site will close completely when the light fails tonight. I’d like you, Shaun and Thea, to do a piece to camera as that happens.’

  ‘Good idea.’ Thea was surprised to hear Shaun agreeing with Julian. ‘That’s an angle we’ve never covered before. It will give our viewers something a little different.’

  ‘Thank you, Shaun.’ Julian flicked through the file he held, before pulling out a sheet upon which he’d scribbled some notes. ‘Here’s a rough idea of what I thought you could say.’

  Thea wrapped her arm around Shaun’s waist as they read from the script outline. It only took a quick scan of the sheet to see that she had very little to say. To her relief, Shaun was going to be in the driving seat for this piece to camera.

  Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick? Perhaps Julian was talking about another show entirely on the phone?

  ‘And you’d like this to form the episode’s closing address?’ Shaun asked as he reread the outline.

  ‘With some additional words added in by your good self,’ Julian said. ‘That’s only a hasty jotting of ideas.’

  Thea didn’t miss the looks the AA gave each other at Julian’s unusually deferential tone.

  ‘Thanks, Julian.’ Shaun hooked a pen out of his pocket and turned to Thea. ‘We’d better get this sorted and practiced.’

  ‘Good idea,’ she downed her lemonade and held up the empty cup, ‘but I think I’ll get us some refills first.’

  Ajay picked up the other empty cups and the tray. ‘I’ll come with you. It’s hot in the truck, and we need to get packed up too.’

  As they strolled over to the catering van, tagging onto the short queue of security men and archaeologists, Ajay asked, ‘I take it Shaun had the most to say in the closing speech?’

  ‘Which is how it should be.’

  ‘But not how it’s been for the remainder of the episode.’ Ajay’s eyes narrowed as he looked back to where Julian was sitting. ‘It’s been you all the way. Why’s he suddenly changed tack?’

  ‘I don’t know, but I’m glad.’ Reassured to hear Ajay voice her own thoughts, but not wanting to fan the flames of his gossipy imagination, Thea added, ‘It’s Shaun’s show. The viewers would be disappointed if he wasn’t heading it.’

  ‘Umm.’

  ‘That was a loaded “umm”.’

  ‘I wish I could shift the feeling that our producer is up to something. Ever since that dinner we had, he’s been acting as if he knows something we don’t. It makes me uncomfortable.’

  Part of the phone conversation Thea had overheard flashed through her mind. ‘A shake up of the team is inevitable. If we want to be seen to be keeping up, then we need someone at the helm of the ship who is professional and likeable and, let’s be honest, easy on the eye.’

  Ajay shuffled forward as they got closer to the front of the queue, his voice little more than a whisper. ‘It might just be that he’s a game player. Someone who likes to make people think he knows more than they do.’

  ‘That would certainly fit his persona.’ Thea sighed. ‘Perhaps it’s alright though. For the past few days, he’s been less, what’s the word?’

  ‘Creepy?’

  ‘I was thinking, “in your face”.’

  ‘A much more professional way of putting it.’ Ajay grinned. As Thea reached her turn in the queue, he changed the subject. ‘So, you’re Mill Grange bound, then? Swapping one Roman excavation for another.’

  ‘Yep.’ Thea looked back to where Julian was now tapping furiously at his laptop. ‘I can’t wait.’

  *

  The villa was swathed in a sea of blue. The heavy-duty tarpaulins, weighted down and neatly pegged in place, covered all but one last trench on the far right of the site. Here, three archaeologists swept away the final dustpans of loose earth as Shaun and Thea got ready to do their last piece to camera before Easter.

  ‘It’s looks so peaceful.’ Thea surveyed the scene as the tarpaulins rippled gently in the soft breeze. ‘Hard to imagine that there’s thousands of years of history hidden beneath.’

  Shaun slipped a hand into hers. ‘I haven’t seen a site put to bed like this for a long time.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘We don’t normally get breaks in the middle of a dig. We plough on through, Easter break or no Easter break. At least that’s one thing we can thank Julian for.’

  *

  Thea turned the lock in her camper’s door and picked up her rucksack and laptop case, ready to head across the grass to where Shaun had parked his car. She could see him throwing his own stuff into the boot as he chatted to Andy.

  ‘Thea, I’m glad I caught you.’

  ‘Julian! You made me jump.’ Thea automatically took a step backwards as the producer appeared from around the side of the campervan, making her wonder how long he’d been stood there.

  ‘Sorry, Thea. I needed a quick word before we go our separate ways.’

  ‘Sure.’ Hoping she sounded less uneasy than she was, Thea pointed towards the car park. ‘Shall we walk and talk?’

  ‘Here would be better.’ Julian tilted his head. ‘I’m going to pop back to the site to have a final chat with the security team before I go.’

  ‘Right.’ Thea hugged her laptop to her chest. ‘How can I help?’

  ‘Just wanted yo
u to know that the broadcast you did to the local news team went down very well with the chaps at head office.’

  ‘Oh, thanks.’

  Julian twisted his stance so he could follow the line of Thea’s gaze, towards Shaun. ‘Yes. Very well indeed. They congratulated me on getting you in action on a wider stage.’

  Thea stiffened as Julian’s phone conversation ran through her head once more. ‘… they will soon be seen in action on a wider stage…’

  Julian kept his eyes on Shaun and Andy as he added, ‘They were so impressed in fact, that they asked me to enquire if you’d ever considered doing more presenting?’

  ‘Me?’ Thea palms were suddenly sweaty. ‘Phil asked me if I’d like to do more, and I’m here, doing just that. But beyond this, no, not really.’

  ‘Nonetheless, I’d like you to think about it.’ Julian turned to face the path back to the excavation. ‘But, for now, keep this conversation to yourself.’

  ‘Not tell Shaun, you mean?’ Thea frowned.

  ‘The conversation I had with the television company was confidential. I’d ask you to respect that.’

  ‘Well I—’

  ‘When you get back next week for the final mosaic shots, I’d like a meeting. Just us, please. To discuss where your career could go from here.’

  ‘But I already have a good career.’

  ‘So do I, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have better ones.’

  Twenty-seven

  Saturday April 4th

  The aroma of strong fresh coffee teased Thea’s senses as she sat across the immaculately set breakfast table from Shaun. Tucked into the hotel’s bay window, they looked out over a pristine garden as a smartly aproned waitress delivered a mountain of croissants and Danish pastries.

  ‘Is that a camomile lawn, do you think?’ Thea poured some more coffee as she relaxed in her snugly padded wicker seat.

  ‘I wouldn’t be at all surprised.’

  Thea watched a robin hop territorially around the nearest section of flower bed. ‘I’m so glad we booked a night here on the way home. It’s so peaceful.’