Always and Forever at Glendale Hall

by Victoria Walters

I looked at the room and tried to picture it the way I would have it if I wasn’t moving on after the summer. But the image wouldn’t come. That helped. If I couldn’t picture a place that I wanted to stay, then it surely meant I should keep on moving. If I ever felt like I had found a place to make my own, then that would be the time to stop. I couldn’t help but hope I might find it soon. It had been so long since I left my family home when I was eighteen, and that had been the last place I had actually called home. Everywhere else was just a place to stay. And Glendale Hall would be the same.

  Shaking my head, I changed into my running gear. I’d finished Beth’s tasks and I had an hour before I needed to get ready for dinner so I wanted to go for a run to clear my head and the remnants of last night away.

  As I walked towards the landing, Beth suddenly came up the stairs. She was beaming. ‘Anna! The drawing room looks amazing! I don’t even think my mother will find any fault with it.’

  I relaxed at her praise. I couldn’t help but want her to be pleased with my work. Brodie’s words came back from last night. Despite what I said to his face, I didn’t want to embarrass him, or myself either. Yes, I’d be moving on quickly but I was willing to earn my wage fairly while I was here. ‘I’m pleased. I’ve done all the beds too so thought I’d go for a quick run before dinner. If that’s okay?’

  ‘Of course. Once you finish the list, your time is your own. You’ll still join us for the barbeque, right? Drew makes a mean spare rib and Emily is making homemade burgers.’

  ‘I’m happy to help too,’ I insisted.

  She waved a hand as she started to walk past me. ‘We had it all planned before you came. You can just relax, although I might get you to help with the potato salad. Apparently I don’t use enough mayo in mine, so my daughter tells me.’ She rolled her eyes as she headed off to her bedroom. I chuckled and carried on downstairs. Beth had a good sense of humour, which I appreciated. A boss you could laugh with was worth a lot, I had found.

  I opened the door and smiled to see the warm late-afternoon sunshine greet me. I needed this after a day of cleaning. I headed out of the gate and hesitated. I was about to turn into the countryside but then changed my mind and turned towards the village. I really didn’t want to bump into any farmers with tractors today – they would definitely spoil my good mood.

  Chapter Eleven

  ‘How are you feeling, or should I not ask?’ Brodie asked when he found me in the kitchen later. He and Emily had arrived at the Hall with Iona, who was asleep in her pushchair. Drew already had the barbeque in full swing and Izzy, Beth, Caroline and John were outside getting the picnic table ready for our meal. Sally had walked through the garden from her cottage and was pouring out drinks for everyone. I was mixing up a potato salad, the only thing they’d let me help with.

  I turned around, ready to snap, but his eyes were twinkling and he smiled, so he seemed to have decided to give me a pass on last night. ‘I’ve just been for a run. You should come with me one day, make sure you don’t get a beer belly like Dad,’ I replied, picking up the bowl.

  ‘You can grate cheese on this stomach,’ he said, patting his white shirt.

  ‘Only cottage cheese,’ I said, following him outside.

  ‘Em, please tell my darling sister that I don’t need to go running, she seems to think I have a beer belly coming on.’

  Emily laughed as she parked Iona in a shady spot. ‘I don’t think you have a beer belly. A cake belly on the other hand…’

  I giggled as Brodie protested loudly. ‘Here’s the potato salad,’ I said, adding it to the array of dishes on the table. I did wonder how they weren’t all suffering with beer bellies when I saw all the food laid out though. Sally passed me a fruity-looking drink, but when I tasted it it was pretty strong on the alcohol front. Maybe I needn’t have worried about being caught drinking, after all. We all sat down as Drew served up the cooked meats. He had barbequed some veggie burgers for me, which was pretty thoughtful, actually.

  ‘So, was Beth a slave driver today then?’ Emily asked me, giving her friend a grin to let her know it was just a joke. She was having elderflower cordial again, along with Izzy, the rest of us drinking the cocktail Sally had made. It was refreshing on such a beautiful evening.

  ‘Her list was fine,’ I replied. ‘I even got in a run before dinner.’

  ‘It’s all about the lists with Beth,’ Emily said, fondly. ‘Speaking of, how are the three weddings coming along? Not far off the first one now.’

  Helping myself to salad and French bread, I listened as Beth chatted about the weddings. Not only was she planning Heather’s wedding to Rory, which was at a castle somewhere, but another two, which would be taking place here at the Hall. The ceremonies would use the gazebo down by the stream and then there would be marquees in the garden for the receptions.

  I looked out at the grounds beyond the table. Despite not ever fantasising about a wedding myself, I could see the attraction in having one here. The garden was really pretty, especially in the sunshine. I had to concede that the countryside did have some plus points over the city.

  ‘But before the weddings, Heather is going to kidnap Anna on Friday,’ Beth said, putting a big dollop of potato salad on her plate.

  ‘I didn’t know Heather was a kidnapper on the side,’ Brodie joked.

  ‘She has an influencer coming to stay to review the farm as a retreat, so they need Anna’s cooking skills,’ Beth explained.

  ‘I am apparently in high demand,’ I added, dryly. ‘I’m meeting Heather tomorrow to agree the menu so she can buy everything I’ll need.’ I had started drafting it after looking at the Instagram reviewer’s feed to see what kind of food she seemed to like. I was excited to cook for someone who appreciated good food and for the money, much less so about spending the weekend on an isolated farm where the only person I knew was Cameron. But I was sure that I could avoid him and just focus on cooking.

  ‘Well, I’m sure Heather will appreciate the help,’ Brodie said, smiling approvingly at me.

  ‘And is paying me double,’ I said, unable to resist. He rolled his eyes. ‘I was going to ask… Do any of you go to the pub quiz at the Glendale Arms?’ I said, remembering Adam’s invitation. They all looked at one another. ‘Am I missing something?’ I couldn’t help feel annoyed by in-jokes sometimes. I knew it was because I had never stayed rooted anywhere to have in-jokes with people, but it was still annoying, and always made me feel like the outsider I would forever be.

  ‘We go every month,’ Beth explained. ‘It gets pretty competitive. Especially between us and the Fraser Farm team. We had to spilt into two groups last year as there were too many of us, and now it can get really heated. You want to join us? It’s on this Wednesday.’

  I smiled. ‘I might just do that. And if there’s a music round, I’m on it.’

  ‘It changes each month, so could well be. Last month, Fraser Farm beat us, so we need to sharpen up.’ She gave the others a hard stare.

  ‘What do you win?’

  ‘Pride,’ Beth said at the same time that Emily replied with, ‘A free meal.’ I couldn’t help but laugh. It definitely seemed like Beth took this very seriously. I had to go just to witness her there. I pulled my phone out to tell Adam I’d be there and even had a team to join.

  ‘Someone back in Glasgow you miss?’ Emily asked me with a smile.

  I shook my head. ‘Actually, someone I met in Glendale. He’ll be at the pub quiz too. Plays on the local football team.’

  Brodie nodded. ‘Their team gets very rowdy at the quiz. They never win.’

  I had a thought. ‘What about Cameron then? Does he play on their team or for Fraser Farm?’

  ‘Fraser Farm. Heather persuaded him to join when she realised their team severely lacked sports knowledge. I wouldn’t put it past her to have made it a requirement when he took the job,’ Beth said. I couldn’t tell if she was joking or not. ‘John has us covered for that, luckily. I have a feeling this is going to be our month now.’<
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  Drew lifted up his glass of beer. ‘Cheers to that.’

  I smiled, agreeing silently that it would be enjoyable to beat Cameron.

  * * *

  I drove Beth’s car to Fraser Farm the following day after I had given the kitchen a really good clean post-breakfast. Beth had walked into the village to work at the Glendale Hall shop, which sold things grown on the estate, knick-knacks and souvenirs she said, so was happy for me to have the car for the morning. I put on the satnav and drove the twenty minutes down winding country lanes to reach the farm, set back behind large gates which were open for me. I drove up the gravel drive, more like a track, passed a paddock with two horses in then pulled up to the low red-brick building, which was surrounded by hills rising up in the distance. I could see cows grazing up there, almost touching the sky, it seemed, as they chewed on lush green grass. Heather rounded the farmhouse as I parked, with her little boy hurrying behind her, both in wellies, a black-and-white dog at her heels. ‘Welcome to the madhouse,’ Heather greeted me, cheerfully, as I climbed out of the car. Like everyone around here, it seemed, Beth had a jeep-style car and it wasn’t easy for someone as short as me to get in and out of. I made a little jump and closed the door, turning to face her.

  ‘Got to be honest, this is my first time on a farm,’ I said, looking around. Behind them there were a couple of barns and I could make out some chickens wandering around, pigs in an enclosure to the side, and in the distance some goats.

  ‘First of many, I’m sure, now that you’re in Glendale. And you’ll be spending all weekend at Hilltop. Right, come on, Harry, let’s take Anna inside and get meal-planning.’ She took her little boy’s hand and led the way into the kitchen, which we came into through the back door. It was very much country-style, with an Aga like at the Hall. It was smaller though and had a lived-in, cosy feel to it. ‘Please say you need a coffee because I’m dying for one?’

  ‘Definitely. So, how long have you lived here?’

  ‘Over two years now,’ she said, lifting her son into a highchair and fixing us all drinks. ‘I moved in once I became pregnant with this one, and it’s been a challenge I don’t mind admitting. But, I don’t know, at Christmas it all just fell into place and I realised how much I love it here. That’s when we bought the farm next door, Hilltop, and we’ve been renovating it and getting things ready for the first retreat this week. It seems to be going really well but I am nervous about this reviewer coming at the weekend. I want her to think it’s worthwhile promoting, you know?’

  I nodded. ‘Of course. I’m happy to help on the food front. I once helped one of the restaurants I worked in serve a food critic for a newspaper. We weren’t supposed to know… but someone recognised him. To say there was panic behind the scenes is an understatement but we got a great review.’ I smiled as she came over with two coffees for us and a juice for Harry. She sat down with us with a contented sigh, as if she’d been on her feet all morning, which I realised she likely had. ‘I think if we can make her feel like she’s at her second home then she’ll love it.’

  ‘That is definitely the idea. That’s really what I wanted to do when I decided to start the retreats – give people who don’t have time for themselves a chance to recharge, you know? Let them breathe in some good old Scottish air, turn their phones off and be with nature, things they probably don’t ever do.’

  I nodded. ‘Sounds like something people would enjoy.’ I would be nervous of all that peace and quiet and time to think though. I hoped there would be too much to do at Hilltop while I was there for that to be the case for me. ‘I suggest, then, we go for simple food, almost rustic. Just great flavours, local dishes and fresh, organic ingredients. Was that what you had in mind?’

  ‘That would be great. We already offer that for breakfast – the food is either from our farm or our shop, all local, and all seasonal and the bread from Emily’s, of course. So, yes, keep along those lines.’

  I pulled out my notebook with my ideas written inside. ‘I looked at her Instagram account and she likes pretty places and pretty dishes. Her aesthetic is very pink and girly so I need to try to make the food as good as possible so she will want to take photos of it. I liked the idea of this dessert as I can sprinkle flowers on it…’ I showed her my ideas on my phone. ‘And that will go really well with the lamb for main and this starter for her first meal on the Friday night. Then, as you say, the usual breakfast and the Saturday night…’ I ran through my plans for that. ‘And then we offer an extra special Sunday brunch with pancakes, piled high with toppings. I think she’d enjoy that?’

  Heather was beaming now. ‘Anna, this all looks so incredible. Are you sure you can manage? It’s a lot of work just making it for her, I know. Though Cameron will be on hand to help.’

  I ignored that comment. ‘It’ll be fine. I’ve made it all before, so we don’t need to worry about anything not working. Better to be safe than sorry, I think. I’ll enjoy it.’

  ‘Well, I’m really grateful. I’ll go to the shops later and get everything you need. I’m going to put you in the farmhouse with Chloe. Cameron’s cottage isn’t far if you need anything. Does that sound okay? And I’m planning to come on Saturday night so I can help and we can all eat together if she’s happy with that?’ I passed her a shopping list. ‘I can’t believe how lucky we are to have you here.’

  I was surprised. I didn’t think anyone had ever said that before. ‘I really didn’t think I’d be cooking this summer, just cleaning the Hall so I’m pleased.’ Even if I was going to be on a farm with Cameron. Maybe he’d warm up in his own surroundings. And hopefully this Chloe would be fun. She did post a lot of cocktail photos on Instagram, I had noted.

  ‘It’s all worked out perfectly then.’ She clapped her hands together. ‘I love it when a plan comes together. Right, I need to pop over to Hilltop and then hit the shops. Beth is coming over tonight for some wedding planning. I knew my best friend was bossy but I thought it was the brides that were meant to be demanding, not the planners.’

  I laughed, standing up. ‘I’ll let you get on. I don’t envy you planning a wedding, I think I’d end up eloping if I ever wanted to get married.’ I wrinkled my face, I couldn’t help it. I really didn’t get the whole marriage and babies thing. I looked at Harry and I thought he was cute but I felt no maternal stirrings of my own.

  She smiled. ‘We are getting married in the place my mum always wanted to. She’s no longer here so it felt right. I think you just have to go with what works for you as a couple. Hopefully your future groom will feel the same.’

  ‘Believe me, I’m not looking for one,’ I said as she showed me out. ‘I much prefer to be footloose and fancy free.’

  ‘Brodie said you loved to travel around. Never found anywhere you want to plant roots yet?’

  I shrugged. ‘Maybe I never will.’

  She glanced back at Harry, who was playing with a toy truck at his highchair. ‘Depends if you find people that you don’t want to leave behind, I suppose. I always think of Harry and Rory and my dad as my home, you know? Right, see you Friday, and thank you so much again – you really are a lifesaver.’

  I left her waving from the doorstep as I walked back to Beth’s car. I envied how settled she was here as much as I felt like I’d never want a life like this. I wasn’t sure which feeling was the strongest though.

  Chapter Twelve

  I had slept at the Hall for four nights when we all walked to the Glendale Arms on Wednesday evening. I was sleeping a little better now, slowly getting used to how quiet it was in the house at night, and waking up to only the sound of birdsong. The evening was cloudy but not too chilly so I’d put on jeans and a black shirt, letting my pink hair down loose over my shoulders, and wearing ankle boots on my feet. Beth, Drew, Caroline and John were with me. The quiz was over-eighteens only, so Izzy was back at the Hall with Sally, who had walked over from her cottage to spend the evening with her and look after baby Iona too. Brodie and Emily had come to the Hall to dr
op Iona off so were walking to the pub with us.

  Although Beth’s tasks were always achievable, the Hall was huge, which meant after my morning runs, I worked most of the day and then had to make dinner. So I was tired and keen to escape the house for the evening. I hadn’t been out since Sunday, which was pretty tame by my standards so I was in need of some fun.

  ‘So, you’re our music expert, I hear?’ Drew asked me as we reached the village.

  ‘I do like my music trivia. I love going to gigs and I especially love seventies music and rock bands. My dad used to take me along to shows when I was little, he played guitar for a local band.’ I used to love going with him and listening to the music, perched by the side of the stage, thinking my dad was a rock star. After my accident, though, all that had stopped. And he’d given up being in the band. I wondered if he missed it. We never really talked about it. We rarely talked about life before my accident. It had changed so much in our family. I had learned a bit of guitar myself – taught by a guy staying in a hotel where I worked. I would have liked to get one, but they weren’t that portable for moving around.

  ‘Why did the music gene bypass you then?’ Beth joked to Brodie, who had listened with interest to my reply. I felt a little embarrassed about admitting that was why I loved music, I wasn’t sure why. Perhaps because I didn’t spend much time with my family now. Back then, I had loved being with them. Brodie and Emily strolled behind us, hand in hand, looking so at peace with one another that I almost couldn’t bear to watch them.

  ‘He was too busy with his mates to come along,’ I replied for my brother. Four years older than me, Brodie had hung around with a slightly dodgy crowd when he was a teenager. My parents had been worried about him. He’d even started to question his faith, which was pretty hard to believe seeing him now. That was, until my brush with death, when he’d returned to God and I’d turned away from Him, and my family, and the life we had before instead.