‘It’s your fault she bought it in the first place, so I charge you with getting it off her head,’ Pippa challenged.
‘I tried to talk her out of it,’ Gemma protested, but she conceded defeat.
‘Edie,’ Gemma said gently.
Pippa was right behind her, pushing her forwards, as close as they could get to Edie without losing an eye.
‘Yes, love.’ Edie sprung round, knocking a glass out of Gerry’s hand.
One of the waitresses rushed to clear it up.
‘You’ll need to take your hat off in here,’ Gemma said gently.
‘But why, it’s such a lovely hat,’ she replied as Gwen ducked to get past her.
‘It really is but, Edie, it’s so crowded in here, and hot. I don’t want the feathers to wilt,’ she added as a second thought.
Pippa beamed with pride – the woman was good with problem-solving.
‘You think they might wilt?’
‘Yes, in the heat and with all these people … If you give it to me I’ll put it somewhere safe,’ Gemma finished.
‘OK,’ Edie replied uncertainly and Gemma quickly took the hat before she changed her mind.
It was put safely in the office and Pippa finally felt they could enjoy the party without fear of a guest being killed by a hat.
Pippa was helping Freddie to sort out the music, when Gus blustered up.
‘I hope you know my daughter’s being corrupted by that boy,’ he said.
Pippa glanced over to where Fleur, Alfie and Hayley were sat around a table with Gerry; they appeared to be playing cards.
‘What, Gerry?’ Freddie asked.
‘No, Fred, of course not. He’s corrupting Gerry, too. They’re gambling.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Pippa asked, amused.
She’d deduced that if anyone was a bad influence in their relationship, it was Fleur. She was up to her usual tricks of sneaking drinks and as far as Pippa could tell, Alfie was trying to get her to behave.
‘They’re playing cards,’ Gus replied.
‘Bloody hell, Gus, at least they’re not having sex!’ Freddie said.
‘Don’t say that word.’ Gus put his hands over his ears.
‘What are you lot talking about?’ Harriet asked as she arrived clutching Toby’s baby monitor.
‘Fleur and Alfie,’ Pippa said.
‘He’s sensible, she’s not. If I were his parents, I’d be more worried than you are, Gus,’ Harriet observed.
‘But he’s a boy!’ Gus still wouldn’t let go of his outrage.
‘They’re playing rummy with Gerry, Gus, it could hardly get more chaste than that. Pippa, you might want to go and see Brooke, I think she’s a bit drunk.’
‘Is she all right?’
‘I’m not sure. Rose told me that she was talking to her about tracing her family but then she started crying.’
‘Did you try to see if she was all right?’ Pippa asked. ‘You know, find out what’s wrong?’
‘No, ’course not, I came to get you. After all, you’re much better at this sort of thing and anyway, I want a drink.’ Harriet smiled and moved on.
Pippa shook her head and went to find Brooke. She glanced at the clock, which showed it wasn’t quite 6 p.m. yet – she had a feeling it was going to be a long night.
Brooke was standing outside at the back of the house. They’d opened up one of the patio doors in the bar as it was getting very warm, despite it being fairly nippy outside.
‘Aren’t you cold?’ Pippa asked.
‘No, I’m fiiine.’
‘Are you?’ Pippa reached out and touched Brooke’s arm.
‘Yessssh.’ Her voice was slurred. ‘Look, I just had a feeew too many glasshes of champagne. I think my glassssh kept getting topped up without me noticing.’
‘I know, I think I might have drunk more than I thought, too! I’m a little tipsy myself,’ Pippa lied. She’d barely had time to drink, she was so busy trying to keep the guests in line.
‘I guessh I was feeling a bit homesick; you know, it’s hard sometimes.’
‘I know, and you can go home anytime you want. If you want to go back early that’s fine, I’m happy to give you a refund, although we’ll miss you,’ she added quickly, not wanting Brooke to feel that she was trying to get rid of her.
‘No, I can’t go home, you don’t understand.’ She looked at the floor.
‘Then tell me.’
‘I can’t, I just can’t.’ Brooke’s voice was full of pleading.
Pippa wondered if she was going to cry. She was going to try to find out more, when Hector rushed out.
‘You’re wanted inside. The morris dancers are about to do their special Toby dance,’ he announced.
‘What’s morris dancing?’ Brooke asked, seeming to pull herself together.
‘Oh my, you mean you don’t know?’ Hector said. ‘You’re about to see one of England’s finest traditions.’
‘Not sure I’d go that far,’ Pippa cut in. ‘Brooke, the vicar’s also the head of the local morris dancers and they perform at all the Meadowbrook events.’
‘I’m so confused,’ Brooke said.
‘And in a minute you’ll be even more so,’ Hector said as he took both their arms and led them inside.
‘Hector, shut up,’ Pippa said.
‘Am I even drunker than I first thought?’ Brooke asked as she sat with Pippa and Gemma as the dance came to a close.
It was certainly one of their more enthusiastic performances, with bells, sticks and handkerchiefs galore. They hadn’t dropped as many things as usual either, to be fair.
‘No, that really just happened,’ Gemma said.
‘It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before,’ Brooke said. ‘But I kinda liked it.’
‘You’ve now had the full Meadowbrook experience: the animals, this house, our family, the gardening club and now the morris dancers,’ Pippa giggled.
‘You never know what’s happening next in this place,’ Brooke said.
‘You really don’t. When I first came here I so wanted to be a part of Meadowbrook.’ A wistful look passed over Gemma’s face. ‘I didn’t realise that I was a part of it all along,’ she finished.
‘Really, that’s how you felt?’ Pippa gave her a hug. ‘And now you’re family,’ she said. ‘And, Brooke, I know you might be a bit homesick, but while you’re here, and we want you to stay as long as you want, I want you to feel that this is your home, too.’
Brooke looked tearful and just nodded.
‘Oh, God, you girls aren’t being soppy, are you?’ Freddie asked as he and Hector appeared.
‘Right, Hector, take Pippa and Gemma over for a dance and Brooke, Edie’s insisting on having one of your skinny cocktails, so I need you to help me make it,’ Freddie said.
‘You see, totally at home! We’ve got you working here and you’re paying for the privilege,’ Pippa laughed.
‘Ah, welcome to that particular club,’ Hector finished as Brooke happily went with Freddie to make more cocktails, her earlier upset forgotten and replaced by a smile.
Chapter Seventeen
‘What do you mean?’ Pippa asked, her brow furrowed.
‘I mean,’ Gus said, ‘that Brooke has booked a private art lesson with me and I wasn’t sure about payment as normally we do this through the hotel. But we’re having it now, the lesson, I mean, so I needed to check.’
‘Why on earth has she decided to do this?’
‘I don’t know, do I? I mean, if she wants to do an art lesson then surely it’s not for me to question why. She just asked me if I’d teach her, as she’s always loved painting but has never really been sure where to start.’
Pippa felt a bit sorry for Gus. She was still feeling a little out of sorts towards Brooke, although she wasn’t sure why. Well actually, if she was being honest with herself, she was. Since the christening Brooke had spent a couple of hours with Gwen baking vegan cakes. Then she’d spent ages with Harriet, not only helping with
the dogs, but also learning more about the sanctuary, and she’d even babysat Toby! Pippa couldn’t believe Harriet when she’d told her that and apparently, Toby loved her. Was there nothing this woman couldn’t do? Then she’d spent time coming up with new cocktails with Freddie. So why did it bother her so much?
As much as she fought against it, Pippa couldn’t help feeling a little bit jealous. She was always hearing how wonderful Brooke was these days and she wasn’t part of it. She knew she was being silly, but as she was busy with the hotel it felt a bit like she was totally out of the Singer loop. Pippa liked to know everything going on at Meadowbrook and she felt left out.
Brooke ran a few times a week with Gemma, who’d become a huge fan, and even Hector took post-writing walks with her on a regular basis, gushing about how fun she was to be around. Was she jealous? Probably. Pippa was a sweet, friendly, welcoming person, but she was also quite sensitive and for some reason this hurt her. Even though she told herself she was being silly and totally irrational. After all, it was good that Brooke was getting involved while she was here.
‘Right, well, are you happy to do a painting lesson? I mean, you have time?’
‘Of course and I love doing them,’ Gus beamed.
‘Then why don’t you do one for free this time? Brooke’s spent a huge amount of money at the hotel.’
Pippa tried to sound magnanimous. After all, this was Pippa’s issue, not Brooke’s, who’d done nothing wrong. She knew she had to stop her ridiculous thoughts.
‘I’m fine with that.’
‘Perfect.’ Pippa had an idea. ‘Oh! and Gus?’
‘Yes?’
‘While you’re alone with her, see if you can find out what’s going on with her father’s family. Her father came from this area, but she hasn’t tried to track down any relatives yet. I’m just a bit mystified about it.’
Pippa knew suspicion wasn’t a good look but, actually, after Brooke’s tears at the christening, she was more concerned than suspicious. Although it still didn’t exactly add up, she was worried that Brooke was more distressed than she thought.
‘God, you know, sometimes you sound so like Harriet.’
Gus’s brows seemed to knot with confusion and Pippa wasn’t sure that was exactly meant as a compliment.
‘I’m teaching her painting, not interrogating her! Remember, Brooke lost her father and she’s grieving, Pip, and we all remember how strange and alien that can be. I feel for her, she’s obviously a bit lost, but I can understand her need to get away. And perhaps having some loose connection to the UK just gave her a place to run to.’
Gus looked earnest and Pippa knew he was right. She was probably the one overthinking everything, as usual.
‘I know it makes sense. We all wanted to run away when Daddy died, didn’t we? Only he stuck us here and wouldn’t let us. But, Gus, I’m not trying to be like Harriet. I don’t think there’s anything untoward going on but I’m worried about her. She might be more fragile than we think.’
‘OK, OK, I can check she’s all right, if that really is what you mean?’
Gus looked stern and Pippa nodded.
‘But remember, Brooke’s an only child and having a difficult time, so I think she just wanted, or perhaps needed, to get away. Now she has, she doesn’t quite seem to know what to do with herself, or her time. We need to be there for her if she needs us, that’s what we do,’ Gus continued.
‘And that’s what I’ve been trying to say,’ Pippa shrugged. Or it’s what she should have been trying to say, at least.
‘Hi, Hector. Do you fancy coming down to the sanctuary?’ Pippa asked once Gus and Brooke had gone to the summerhouse for her painting lesson. Feeling skittish, Pippa actually craved some stable company.
‘Of course, whatever for?’
‘I’m going to collect Toby for a couple of hours. Honestly, since these baby groups Harriet’s like a different person. She lets me get my hands on her son far more,’ Pippa giggled.
Harriet had stopped trying to be supermum and doing everything herself, finally letting people help her, much to the delight of Gwen, Connor and Pippa. Although she still texted every five minutes to check he was all right when she wasn’t with him, it was progress.
‘Can I help babysit my godson, then?’
‘That’s why I came to find you. I thought we’d go for a walk and then he can come up to the hotel. The handful of guests we have are all occupied and anyway, we can always take him into the snug. But don’t you have to work?’
‘I, Pippa Singer, am ahead of my word count, so I can give myself the rest of the day off. And getting to spend time with you is an added bonus.’
‘Oh, stop it, Hector, you’re such a dork.’ She punched his arm. ‘Come on, if we don’t hurry, Harriet might change her mind.’
‘Well, don’t you both look the perfect family with my son,’ Harriet teased as both Pippa and Hector pushed the pram together.
Pippa poked her tongue out at her. Childish yes, but sometimes with her older sister she felt that the annoying little sister role never quite left her. Hector blushed, Pippa noticed, and rolled her eyes.
‘Right, in that case we’re going to take him for a walk into the village and see how many comments we get about what a handsome family we make,’ Hector joked.
‘Although he definitely looks more like Connor than you, Hector, which is a good thing, by the way,’ Harriet said.
‘He looks like a baby to me,’ Hector replied.
‘Anyway, if I really am entrusting my son to you, then I need to get some work done. I’ve got to do the budgets for the sanctuary and the hotel; they seem to come around far too quickly.’
‘And Brooke’s having a painting lesson with Gus,’ Pippa said casually as she started to turn away, unsure why she was telling Harriet this.
‘Oh, good, it might take some of her nerves away – you know, now she’s traced her father’s family to Bristol. She’s getting closer, but it must be a bit nerve-wracking for her.’
‘Bristol?’ Pippa scratched her head. Brooke hadn’t actually told Pippa that she’d started looking into finding her family.
‘Yes, and as Bristol’s a big place, she’s been feeling a little overwhelmed as to where to start searching. I suggested she start on the Internet, but apparently the Walker family name is fairly common in the area. I’m not sure what her next move is because, quite frankly, it’s none of our business. Although I have offered to help her, not that I have much time, and she said she’d probably take me up on that offer soon,’ said Harriet, filling her in.
Pippa hadn’t heard any of this, but then perhaps Brooke felt she could confide in Harriet more easily. She shook her head. No, Pippa was the one people talked to. Harriet scared people. Pippa felt even more keenly that she was missing out.
‘I guess,’ Pippa said at length, ‘that I’m not used to feeling left out.’ Saying it out loud might help her make sense of it, she thought.
‘I thought as much,’ Hector said. ‘And I don’t think you can see it that way. From my point of view, Freddie and Brooke both like making cocktails; she was telling us how she worked in all these fancy LA bars a while back. And she and Gemma like running. She misses her family dogs at home, which bonds her to Harriet. Then there’s Gus with the gardens and Gwen with her baking. Full credit to her, she’s learning something to keep her busy while she doesn’t have a job, or many friends around her,’ Hector explained rationally.
‘So, basically, I don’t have anything in common with her,’ Pippa said.
‘Of course you do, or you probably do, but you run the hotel and as far as Brooke’s concerned, that’s where she’s staying. She can’t exactly get involved with running it with you, can she?’ Hector continued, making perfect sense.
‘No, but that brings me back to what I’ve been feeling lately. I have the hotel but nothing else.’
‘You do, you have your family, friends, me, but the hotel’s your thing, your focus, the way my book is mine. I
think you might be projecting your feelings on to Brooke.’
‘Bloody hell, I need to get a hobby,’ Pippa said, her mind starting to tick over. ‘I’ve got it. I’ll ask Brooke to do some exercise stuff with me. They say it’s good for mental health, after all.’
Hector’s eyes couldn’t hide the horror. ‘You hate exercise.’
‘Yoga, I might not hate yoga. I did it once and it was a bit boring but I could give it a go, and Brooke loves yoga. Perhaps I could find a decent yoga class for us to go to together. It’ll stop me going potty about her if I spend a bit of time with her.’ To Pippa, it made perfect sense.
‘Right.’ Hector shuffled awkwardly. ‘You know, that wasn’t what I meant.’
But Pippa had stopped listening to him. She couldn’t bear to think she wasn’t popular. She knew that probably said a lot about her ego, but she was fragile, she’d been hurt in the past and she’d lost a lot of friends when she’d married her now ex-husband, so it was understandable, wasn’t it? She felt lonely; she was only human. A human with so much going for her that she felt guilty even to think that there was something missing in her life, but there was. She craved friendship, approval, people. Even as a small child, she’d never liked the feeling of being left out. It scared her how needy being left out made her feel and with Brooke she could sense that immature, childish emotion returning. She knew she needed to grow up, to be an adult, but in many ways Pippa knew she was still that scared child who missed the mum she never knew. The one who worried that her siblings would leave, which they eventually did, and then even her father, the one person she’d always relied on, left her.
‘Come on, let’s go back to the house,’ Pippa suggested.
They found themselves passing the summerhouse and as Toby slept on, Pippa and Hector paused. Brooke, hair loosely tied back, was wearing one of the oversized shirts that Gus kept for lessons. As Gus stood near her, she was behind an easel, paintbrush in hand, her tongue clamped between her lips in concentration. On the canvas, a small splash of colour was taking shape. Actually, from where they stood, it looked good. Then Gus said something and Brooke laughed, her face lighting up as she did so. Hector looked at Pippa for a few minutes.
The Ticket to Happiness Page 15