‘Right.’ Brooke’s face contorted with confusion again. ‘Shall we go and see if we can sign up some more adoptees?’ Brooke asked, seeming to want to get away from the subject.
‘Sure,’ Pippa replied.
The crowd was thinning slightly, but there were still plenty of people milling around.
‘Hey, that man looks a bit lost,’ Brooke said, pointing to an older man standing on his own.
‘What are we waiting for?’ Pippa giggled, feeling some of Brooke’s confidence rubbing off on her.
‘Hey, I’m Brooke Walker and this is Pippa Singer,’ Brooke said.
‘William.’
They both looked at him but he wasn’t offering anything else.
‘Silly question, but are you in the market for a dog?’ Pippa asked.
‘Well, yes. I’m on my own, you see, so I could do with a bit of company. I saw this day advertised and thought maybe a dog and me, we could do each other a favour.’
‘You know, having a dog is like having family,’ Brooke said. ‘I mean, you can’t beat it. They’re such great companions.’
‘Right, well that’s what I want.’ William started to look animated.
‘Let me take you to Connor and we can see what kind of dog would suit you. I’d say a Labrador myself, but you know, I’m not the expert.’
Pippa watched them walk off, marvelling yet again. She certainly sounded like an expert and Pippa would put money on the fact that William would re-home a dog, she thought, smiling to herself.
‘Penny for them.’ Hector reappeared.
‘Just thinking how Brooke should work here; she’s amazingly at home.’
‘You know, part of that is that Brooke is quite the woman. She’s definitely got balls, that’s for sure, and part of it’s Meadowbrook – you know, how it draws us all in,’ Hector replied, draping an arm around Pippa’s shoulders.
Pippa felt an involuntary shiver. He was right, that was what Meadowbrook did.
‘I can’t believe how well we’ve done,’ Connor said later as they said goodbye to the last of the visitors and it was just the family, Hector and Brooke left, along with the sanctuary staff.
‘Right, I have some champagne chilling, to thank you all for your hard work,’ Harriet said, and she and Freddie started serving drinks. ‘We couldn’t have done it without any of you.’
‘I reckon we might re-home about ten dogs after today,’ Ginny, Connor’s right hand woman at the sanctuary, said, beaming.Ginny always cried when animals arrived, but she also cried tears of happiness when they were re-homed.
‘At least,’ Mike added.
There was a round of applause, started by the volunteer group who looked after the dogs.
‘I had a couple of enquiries about cats, as well,’ Clive said, ‘even though we weren’t doing a cat day. I still showed them, of course.’
‘I’m so proud of Harriet for pulling this off.’ Connor grabbed her, hugged her and gave her a kiss.
They raised their glasses. ‘To Harriet,’ everyone said.
‘Thank you, although I don’t deserve the credit for this. However, I must dash as I need to see my baby and to be honest, if he goes to sleep soon I’ll be joining him.’ She drained her glass and kissed everyone goodbye.
‘Well, I’d invite everyone to my house for drinks but I know the hotel’s full,’ Gus said.
‘Yes, which means I ought to get up there and make sure everything’s all right,’ Pippa smiled.
She was planning on checking everyone before leaving Freddie in charge and then spending the rest of the evening with Gemma.
‘We’ll have our normal family meal at The Parker’s tomorrow, though?’ Amanda said. The family went to the pub for supper every Sunday.
‘It’s a date,’ Freddie said. ‘And Hector and Brooke will join us, right?’ he added.
‘Will you?’ Gus asked.
He was saying earlier how he’d hardly seen Hector since he’d been here and also how nice it would be to get to know Brooke, seeing as she was so interested in the gardens. The gardening club all raved about her.
‘If that’s all right?’ Brooke asked.
‘Of course, Brooke, great. We’d better go. Amanda, Fleur, stop trying to sneak drinks in, we’re going now,’ Gus barked.
‘Great. I’ll see you, Aunt Pip, Uncle Fred. Everyone else.’ Fleur winked; she had half a bottle of champagne concealed under her jacket.
Pippa laughed at her niece, who’d undoubtedly get caught and have another tiff with her dad, as they set off back to the house. Gemma linked her arm as Freddie, Hector and Brooke strode ahead.
‘Right, once you’ve sorted the guests out, we have a date with the Internet,’ Gemma grinned.
‘Oh goodness, we might need a few more glasses of wine before that.’
‘What are you guys talking about?’ Brooke asked as she hung back and fell into step with them.
‘We’re going to try to get Pippa a man via the Internet,’ Gemma explained.
‘Really? I thought you’d have men falling at your feet,’ Brooke said sweetly.
‘She does, but seeing as she only meets hotel guests, family, staff and the villagers there’s not much for her to choose from, so we thought we might widen the search,’ Gemma explained.
‘Oh God, I’m regretting agreeing to this already and we haven’t even started,’ Pippa groaned.
‘I know this might be rude, but can I join you? I’m missing my girlfriends and this sounds like fun,’ Brooke asked shyly.
‘Sure, the more the merrier,’ Pippa said. ‘It’ll be like a girls’ night.’
‘Oh my goodness! that has to be a hairpiece,’ Pippa exclaimed.
Gemma and Brooke laughed. The three of them were holed up in the snug, the one room in the hotel that wasn’t available to hotel guests. It was the smallest room in the house, with an open fire, two large sofas and a TV but little else. It was what Pippa used to call the ‘cosy room’. She often spent time in there in the evenings when her apartment felt too claustrophobic.
The rest of the guests were all in tonight. Some were in the bar, others in the drawing room, drinking, or playing games, chatting. Everyone was happy and Freddie and the staff had it all under control. So Pippa, Gemma and Brooke had come into the snug with a couple of bottles of wine and Pippa’s laptop.
‘What about this one? He says he’s thirty but that photo was definitely taken a couple of decades ago.’ Brooke pointed at a man in a black-and-white photo with curly dark hair and wearing an aviator jacket.
‘Right, and no men with pictures of themselves topless need apply,’ Pippa added as they scrolled through.
‘OK, so forget that for now, we need to do your profile,’ Gemma said. ‘First, choose a picture.’
‘Do I really have to do this?’ Pippa groaned.
‘Yes, you do. Brooke, what do you think of this picture?’
They looked at the screen. It was a picture of Pippa at Gus’s and Amanda’s wedding. She was laughing at something.
‘Wow, you look so beautiful,’ Brooke said genuinely. ‘That was when you and Freddie got together, wasn’t it?’ she turned to Gemma.
‘Yes, it was, and I was so happy.’
‘When Freddie told me he said it in such a way there’s no doubt the guy is crazy about you.’
‘Really?’
Gemma flushed with happiness and Pippa relaxed. It seems she was wrong about Brooke liking Freddie – she’d misjudged her, or what she’d said, it seemed.
‘You think that photo’s really OK?’
Pippa never liked photos of herself. She’d been told she was pretty for most of her life, doll-like, blonde, delicate, but she didn’t always see it. She was just her. It wasn’t false modesty; she actually had a hard time accepting compliments. Maybe that was what drew her to Mark. He’d always preferred to criticise her rather than compliment. She bit back those thoughts. She probably needed counselling rather than Internet dating.
‘My God, Pippa, I d
on’t think you realise how good you look,’ Brooke pushed.
Pippa was touched.
‘Right, so I’m setting that as your profile. Now to your description.’ Gemma had commandeered the laptop and wasn’t letting Pippa anywhere near it.
‘Divorced thirty-two-year-old. Runs a hotel with her family. Otherwise quite dull,’ Pippa said.
‘Do you have self-esteem issues?’ Brooke asked, pointing her wine glass at her.
‘Yes, she does, which is crazy as she’s amazing,’ Gemma replied.
‘But I understand, I do, too. I went to therapy for it. I mean, everyone in the States does, right? So I found I had family issues and you know…’
‘What family issues?’ Gemma asked.
‘I didn’t always have the greatest relationship with my parents and now I barely have one with my mom. She’s not happy about me being here … I’m an only child, so I don’t have brothers or sisters. I guess I always felt a bit like I didn’t know who I was or where I belonged.’
‘Oh God, I understand that,’ Gemma said excitedly. ‘I know it’s not the same, but my dad left me when I was a baby. My mum followed a few years later and my nan brought me up. We were very close, my nan and I, but I always felt rejected by my parents and then my nan died just over a year ago.’
‘That’s so sad, but I understand the rejection thing more than you could ever know,’ Brooke said.
‘Why?’ Pippa asked, feeling as if they were finally getting beneath Brooke’s surface.
‘Oh, it’s probably textbook, although my parents didn’t split up and they gave me a real nice life, but they didn’t ever really seem to know what to do with me. It’s hard to explain.’ Brooke looked thoughtful.
‘You should try,’ Pippa pushed.
‘Oh, Gemma, I forgot to say,’ Brooke said, changing the subject. ‘Do you fancy going for a run tomorrow morning? Show me some of the good routes around the place. I’ve been dying to run around the estate but I’m terrified of getting lost.’
‘I’d love to, definitely. But now we need to go back to finding Pippa a date.’
‘Great, I thought you’d forgotten,’ Pippa said as she refilled all the wine glasses and prepared to finish her profile.
‘Oh no, you’re not getting away with it that easily. Pippa, you’re the most amazing woman I know and you need to get yourself out there,’ Gemma said.
‘It’s hard, I guess, being divorced so young,’ Brooke said.
‘Surely you’re not?’ Pippa was horrified at the idea.
‘No, but I had this high school sweetheart and our families thought we should get married. When we broke up, it wasn’t pretty. Even though he cheated on me, and we needed to go our separate ways, I mean the relationship had run its course. I think I was only with him to try to get my parents’ approval.’
Brooke sounded sad and Pippa finally felt that she was getting to know her – very slowly and not that easily but a little bit, at least.
‘And since then?’ Pippa asked.
‘Well, there have been a few men. I went out with this older guy and you know, he was so together and stuff, but after a few months I found out he was actually married,’ Brooke said.
‘No way! That happened to me, didn’t it, Gemma?’ Pippa said.
‘Really?’ Brooke asked.
‘Yes, his name was Edward. Oh God, just thinking about him still makes me cringe.’
‘Me, too! I felt so guilty, although I had no idea, and then angry.’
‘Exactly,’ Pippa grinned.
‘Ughh, men! Sometimes I do wonder why we still even give them a chance but we do,’ Brooke laughed.
‘So are you looking for love?’ Gemma asked.
‘I’m looking for me first,’ Brooke replied quietly.
Chapter Eleven
‘Where are you off to?’ Hector asked as Pippa stood by the back door, about to go out.
‘I’m going to the sanctuary. I need to check on the ponies and the office. Harriet’s finally taking a day off.’
‘She is?’ Hector sounded surprised. He knew Harriet well.
‘Well, a day might be a stretch. She’s got to take Toby to the health visitor for his weight check and then she’s going to a class, baby massage or something, which is apparently now compulsory for parents. Now he’s over four months old she said she needs to get him socialising with other babies. Probably part of her plan to ensure he’s a genius without any social awkwardness.’
‘The kid doesn’t stand a chance! He’ll be running the country one day.’
‘Oh no!’ Pippa laughed. ‘They’ve got far loftier ambitions for him than just PM. Anyway, how’s the book?’
Hector had been holed up the last couple of days. He needed to send part of his book to his publisher and to give him credit, he did work incredibly hard when he needed to. He’d barely left his room, all the staff vying to take him room service.
‘I’m relieved that half of it’s now with the publisher. I normally prefer to finish the whole thing before they see any of it, but they need to start planning the marketing and now I feel that I’m on the home straight, in any case.’
‘Does that mean you’ll be leaving us early?’
Pippa had to admit she was getting used to having him around again; although it did sometimes make her forget that Meadowbrook was a hotel, especially when he and Brooke were the only guests.
‘No, I have more writing, then editing. I’d like to stay for the whole three months. Do you fancy some company?’
‘Sure.’ They both wrapped themselves up in coats and scarfs then made their way out and down to the sanctuary.
‘I’m so glad the dog adoption went well,’ Hector said as they strode together. ‘And dinner the other night in The Parker’s Arms was fun.’
‘It was, and you were a great help at adoption day, charming the women.’
‘I think you rather charmed the men, actually, Pippa. They’d have re-homed the scary cows if you’d asked them to.’
‘Ha, you flatter me too much.’ Pippa felt her cheeks turning slightly pink. ‘How are you getting on with Brooke?’ she asked instead.
‘She’s great. So American, but I like her though; it feels as if she belongs here. But the other night at dinner she seemed to be a bit … I don’t know, almost sad at times.’
‘Funny, isn’t it? How people come to Meadowbrook and if they stay longer than a week, they automatically seem to become part of it. But Brooke’s a strange one.’
Pippa stopped. It was true, Meadowbrook had a way of making everyone seem like they belonged there.
‘How do you mean?’ Hector steered her out of the way of a muddy patch and Pippa almost stumbled into him.
‘She opens up – you know, the other night she was talking about her family and how she didn’t have the best relationship with her parents – but at dinner last night she sort of clammed up. And I asked her yesterday how her run with Gemma was, and she just said fine and went up to her room. When I asked if I could get her anything she cut me off again. No explanation. It’s like one minute she’s friendly and the next she wants to be left alone.’
‘I haven’t seen that side of her. I know she was quiet at dinner, but all you Singers together can be a bit intimidating. There again, she’s always open with me. I wonder what Harriet makes of her?’ Hector said.
‘Why, because Harriet’s always so wise?’ Pippa asked.
‘No, because she’s always so suspicious,’ Hector laughed.
‘I think it might be because she’s grieving for her father. She doesn’t like to talk about him, that’s for sure.’
‘But then Brooke, if her father’s just died and if she had a complicated relationship with him, that makes sense, doesn’t it?’ Hector almost read her thoughts.
‘Yes. We’ll have to be extra sensitive with her. Maybe if you asked her out on a date she’d open up.’
‘Pippa Singer, are you trying to pimp me out? Honestly, I thought you knew by now I only have eyes f
or one woman and that’s you.’ Hector stood and stared intensely at her.
Pippa felt her cheeks reddening again.
‘For God’s sake! Stop all that nonsense or I’ll make you muck out the pigs.’
‘Oh, and talk of the devil,’ Hector said, ignoring her last comment as Brooke, holding onto two dog leads, waved at them from where she was walking with other dog-walking volunteers.
‘Harry said she was helping with the dog walking. Goodness, she really is getting stuck in, isn’t she?’ Pippa said.
‘Hey, guys.’ Brooke bounded over. ‘I’ve just been taken for a walk by these two.’
Pippa leant down and petted the dogs. ‘It’s so good of you to help out,’ she said.
‘No, I love it. I miss my doggies back home; it’s the thing that makes me most homesick, so getting to walk them makes up for it a bit. I’m also going to groom them when we get back. Connor said I could help out with that if I wanted.’
‘I’m sure Connor’s over the moon to have your help,’ Hector said.
‘Sure. Whoops, I’d better go; they’re not happy to stand still.’
After untangling herself from the dog leads that had wrapped around her legs, she headed off. Pippa couldn’t help but think how at home she seemed and although that was nice, it sort of surprised her a bit. But she wasn’t sure why.
Pippa enjoyed being at the sanctuary and Hector kept her entertained. He was quite nervous around some of the animals, for someone normally brimming with confidence, and although he didn’t mind the tiny ponies or Gerald, he steered clear of the pigs. When they went to the office to check if anyone needed help, Ginny offered to make them coffee. In reality, she’d really offered Hector but had to make a cup for Pippa, too.
‘Mike’s with one of the men from the open day who’s come to collect Lucky,’ Ginny gushed, fluttering her eyelashes at Hector.
‘Finally, he gets to live up to his name,’ Hector replied with a wink.
Pippa rolled her eyes but no one was paying her any attention so no one noticed.
‘Ah, so Brooke did work her magic, then?’ Pippa said.
Lucky was a collie who’d been subjected to an ordeal with fireworks and hated noise. Another sad story.
The Ticket to Happiness Page 10