‘Sure? When do you need it by? Let me guess, yesterday?’
‘Something like that.’
It’s her turn to laugh. ‘I’ll send you over some proofs tomorrow, yeah?’
‘You’re a gem.’
‘I’ve been called worse.’
We ring off and I go online and order a big bouquet of wild honeysuckles to be delivered to her office in London as a thank you for always stepping up last-minute for me. As I’m keying in my credit card number for the order, Esterlita comes rushing in, her eyes wide.
What now? I brace myself.
‘You won’t believe it,’ she says, her chest heaving.
‘What?’
‘It’s Leo!’ She’s so hyper she paces up and down the small kitchen; there’s barely room for a few steps before she turns and repeats the process.
‘What about him?’
‘He’s not who he says he is!’
I rub my face, not sure I have the energy for any more surprises. ‘How so?’
She plonks herself on a stool next to me. ‘He’s got a secret past.’
That old chestnut! ‘Of course he does. Big-city guy moves to small town to hide from his past. Buys an apple farm and makes cider, whilst hoping no one recognises him. It’s a Hallmark movie, right?’
Confusion flashes across her face. ‘He doesn’t own an apple farm, does he?’
‘No.’
‘You think I’m joking?’
I laugh. ‘It’s Leo, Es. Lovely Leo who’s always there when we need him.’
She shakes her head. ‘You’re too close to him now to see what I see.’
I lean back against the kitchen counter and sigh. ‘You’re the one who told me to consider him as a husband if I wouldn’t consider approaching a minor royal.’
She wrings her hands. ‘You’re in danger, Orly, and you’re making this out to be a joke!’ Her voice rises an octave.
‘How am I in danger?’
She shrinks down and looks over her shoulder as if Leo is about to storm the cottage to stop her from spilling all his secrets. ‘He’s a bad guy; he’s not who he says he is!’
I suddenly clock what’s happened, and reel in faux surprise. ‘Let me guess, he’s a former German spy?’
Fear flashes across her face. ‘He told you? Oh, Orly, this is not good, not good at all. Now you’re really truly in danger! German spies are well known for their torture techniques.’
‘But if you know aren’t you in danger too?’
She blanches. ‘Oh help me, baby Jesus, YES!’
I bite down on my lip to stop smiling because poor Esterlita is truly frightened. ‘OK, let’s think about this for a minute. Who told you?’
‘That doesn’t matter.’
‘It does matter, Es.’ I think back to visiting Basilico. ‘Freya strikes again.’
Her hands fly to her mouth. ‘Yes! But there’s more! He’s got a different face! That beautiful man was probably hit with the ugly stick before and now he’s only gorgeous because it’s not his face! Why aren’t you listening, Orly? The man HAS SOMEONE ELSE’S BEAUTIFUL FACE!’
Laughter bursts out of me. Poor Esterlita seriously believes Leo is a former German spy who had a face transplant. ‘Oh, Es! Really!? Freya overhead Leo and I talking on our date. We were being silly, pretending to have secret pasts and obviously the town gossip latched on to that and ran with it. Poor Leo is probably going to have to explain himself to everyone in town now.’
‘So he’s not a spy?’ Her eyes are so wide they seem huge in her small face.
‘Does he look like a spy?’
She shakes her head. ‘Well, of course not, he’s been trained to look the very opposite, hasn’t he?’
‘I hate to think of how this will spiral out of control.’ Even though it’s hilarious.
‘Well it has grown legs, and taken off,’ she admits, blushing. ‘I thought …’
I go to the fridge and take out the jug of iced tea and pour us two glasses. I’m tempted to top Esterlita’s up with a shot of vodka to take the edge off. ‘I know, you thought I was in jeopardy, I get it. It’s very sweet of you to be concerned.’
‘Well, it’s always the ones you least suspect, isn’t it?’
I nod. This place sure has the ability to make a person run away with themselves. ‘Sure is, Es. But anyway, we’re all safe and I’m sure Leo only wanted a new start, just like the rest of us. You came here for love, I came here to cure burnout, and Leo came here because he wanted to be part of village life, even though some of those villagers need a hobby …’
‘It’s Freya’s fault. I should know better than to listen to that woman.’
I shrug. ‘She spins a good yarn.’
She exhales all the worry, long and loudly. ‘Don’t tell Leo about this, especially not the part where I said he was hit was the ugly stick and that’s why he got someone else’s beautiful face.’
‘Your secret is safe with me, Es.’ So the story doesn’t grow any further and we have MI6 on the doorstep, I tell Esterlita about a real-life drama – the curious note leaver – and see what she makes of that. ‘You’ve been getting threatening letters this whole time and never thought to tell the Firecracker?’ Her face falls as if I’ve offended her.
‘Sorry, Es. I didn’t want to worry you, that’s all. I’m sure it’s nothing, but unlike the German spy story, this one is real.’
She gasps. ‘Then you really might be in danger! You need to slow your plans down, rethink the idea of having strangers here who will be relying on you. I don’t like this, not one little bit. How can you blithely invite campers here when it’s clearly not safe?’
‘I’m sure the campers will be safe. It’s more a ploy to rattle me. And I’m not going to give in to it.’
She waves me away. ‘Orly, are you even listening to me? I told you this place wasn’t good and you never listened! What if it’s the mafia? What if it’s the CIA, IRA or—’ she inhales sharply ‘—the KGB?’
I feel I’ve made an error in judgement telling Esterlita. ‘Your overuse of acronyms aside, why would it be the CIA, IRA or KGB? That doesn’t make any sense.’
She shakes her head as if I’m dense. ‘Oh, Orly, you are so naïve! This place was once requisitioned by the government, right? There’s probably a bunker here with all their secret files or something! For all we know, they could still be here! Have you ever thought of that?’
I’m so dumbstruck I can’t form words.
‘I’ve got to go, Orly. I’ll go to the library and see what I can find, but please think about this seriously!’
She bustles out as fast as she arrived, iced tea forgotten.
Chapter 18
A few days later we soak up the blazing sun outside. ‘None of the interviewees are the right fit, are they?’ I say to Maya as we sit on the back deck, nursing glasses of sparkling water.
She sighs. ‘No, they’re so wrong it’s not even funny. What was with that guy who said he hates the outdoors? Why would he come for an interview for a camp leader job with a heavy focus on being outdoors?’ I can’t help but think we’re not getting the best candidates because of all the rumours circulating around town. It seems some locals are taking a wide berth of Honeysuckle Hall and who could blame them?
I shake my head. ‘Trying his luck I guess.’
Maya continues: ‘And the one who wanted to treat it like a military training camp, up at 4 a.m., beds made, standing to attention! Shudder.’
‘It does make you wonder just what they think an adventure camp means!’
The rejuvenation of the hall and the grounds is almost complete but we’re yet to find a camp leader, despite interviewing a lot of people who just don’t fit the bill. Sometimes I think they’ve come for an interview just to have a stickybeak. ‘I might have to try an agency; we’re running out of time.’
‘There’s always Es?’ she says doubtfully.
I shake my head. ‘Es is amazing, but I’m not sure she’s the right person for the
job.’ I can’t see her being the outdoorsy type either somehow. ‘She’s most comfortable hanging around the cottage, reminding me of my shortcomings. Plus she’s got her own little catering business and I wouldn’t want to pull her away from that. I think she truly does find comfort in feeding people.’
‘True, true.’ She sighs. ‘I’m sure the perfect candidate is just around the corner. I only wish I could stay for the first camp.’
Nerves flutter at the thought of Maya leaving. She’s been right beside me these last few weeks and I’ve come to rely on her judgement. It’s not going to be the same here when she goes back to London. ‘It seems unfair that you’ve done all this hard work and you won’t get to meet our first bunch of campers.’
‘Right?’ She grins. ‘But you’ll tell me all about them and what they get up to. I’m expecting daily updates.’
‘Of course.’
‘How many have booked now?’
‘There’s six booked in, as of today.’ I scroll through the list of people and the surveys they filled out. It was Maya’s idea to ask them why they were coming and what they hoped to get out of the adventure camp – a brilliant plan to get to know them a bit better before they arrive and learn how we can modify the activities to suits their needs. From reading the surveys it sounds as though we’ve got a mixed bag of personalities who are in dire need of some time out.
‘Six is a good number for the first one, so start advertising the next one, yeah? Keep those numbers ticking over.’
‘Already done. I’ve got two people booked so far for the following week. And this Wednesday the ads go out in community newspapers across London and the city outskirts, so I’m hoping that draws a big crowd. It’s going to be trial and error to see what works in terms of advertising. Social media will be our best option but it’s going to take time to grow the pages. I’ve done a few ads online so I hope they’ll get some traction too.’ And if numbers don’t expand, there won’t be anything in the coffers to pay for such things but I don’t mention that to Maya. We’ve gone over everything so many times, I don’t want her going home with a headful of worries about me.
‘This is going to be a different sort of challenge for you, Orly, but already you’ve created this wonderland that campers are going to love. You’re going to have a lot of fun, I can tell. So make sure you put the work away sometimes, and join in too.’
I well up, hating the fact she’s leaving. ‘I will, I promise. I’m excited. It doesn’t feel as much like work as it does chasing a dream. My main goal is for the camps to have a positive effect on people. I hope they’ll leave Honeysuckle Hall refreshed and ready to tackle their busy lives once more, but know they always have a place they can return to and switch off for a while. If that happens, I’ll know I’ve done my job right.’
‘You’ll make it happen.’ She stands and collects our coffee mugs.
‘You’re leaving already?’ I’d thought we’d have one more long lunch together.
‘Yep, real life calls. This place has worked its magic on me, Orly. I’ve never slept so well. And despite all the hard work you made me do, I’m going back feeling like a million dollars.’
I cross my arms as if bracing myself for her departure. ‘Well, that’s a promising start. If our super-busy surgeon feels relaxed despite me working her to the bone! I’ll take a picture of your herb babies so you can see them grow.’
She laughs. ‘Maybe you’d better not. When the campers come and chop them up for dinner it’ll be like losing my best friends.’
‘Ah so you admit talking to the herbs you planted?’ I’m reminded of apologising to the roses before I deadheaded them and how the girls thought I’d lost my marbles.
‘It’s scientifically proven that if you talk to plants they grow more heartily.’
‘You big softie.’
‘Guilty. You have fun now, OK? Remember this is as much for you as anyone, so enjoy it.’
‘I will, I promise.’
‘And no more notes have appeared? I don’t have to worry some lunatic is after you? And the Carly Army? Has that died down?’
There have been a few more notes, but I don’t tell Maya. I keep picturing Freya leaving them in order to get me riled up so they don’t so much scare me as annoy me. The Carly Army have gone quiet too, praise the fickle nature of young adults. ‘I think I’m all good. I’ve got Leo the lion to back me up.’
She waggles her brow. ‘That’s the spirit. You’ll continue to pursue that delectable carpenter?’
I make a big show of being put out by such a question.
‘Are you taking acting lessons from Es?’ Maya asks.
‘Maybe.’
‘Have you arranged another date?’ she asks.
‘It wasn’t a date. It was a thank you for all the work you’ve done dinner and also a sorry I suspected you were trying to scare me away from my own property drinks.’
‘You are such a drama queen. It was a date. And usually the process is, you start with one date, then you go on another, maybe partake in a bit of kissy-wissy—’
‘You did not just say kissy-wissy. Who even are you?’
‘Well, sometimes you just gotta break it down for a girl.’
‘Just stop.’
She shrugs. ‘Fine, fine. But if you take too long I’ll have to tell Es to step in.’
‘Oh no you won’t.’
‘Oh yes I will.’
I glare at her.
‘Is that the best you’ve got?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m a cardiothoracic surgeon, I know a thing or two about hearts, would you agree?’
‘Grudgingly.’
‘Good. When hearts have been damaged the surest way to mend them is with love. Don’t argue.’ She holds up a hand. ‘And you could do a lot worse than Leo. He’s absolutely lovely, he’s smart, clever and funny, and bloody hot to boot. So stop making excuses and at least see where it takes you. Your heart needs it, and that’s free advice from a medical professional. Don’t let it wither and die. I can’t keep bringing the paddles with me.’ She grins and I remember that fateful night when I indeed thought I was in the throes of a heart attack, so painful were the images of Harry and Carly C. They don’t seem too painful now to recollect.
‘Fine! I’ll go on another date then, if that’s your honest medical opinion. But if it turns bad, then you’re responsible.’
‘How will it turn bad?’
‘Well, what if we date and things are lovely and then suddenly it comes to light he secretly loves wearing Armani trousers and then we break up and then I see him every damn day in the local hardware store and it’s super awkward and then—’
‘How have you ever had a relationship? Truly how have I missed this overwrought part of your personality?’
‘I hide it well.’
‘You do. OK, so in the real world, when things like that happen, and you run into your ex, you simply wave and move on. Then you call me and tell me everything and I will agree he’s an idiot, and we can list all his flaws until we run out of words. Deal?’
I nod. ‘Deal.’
‘But it could also go the other way, and we could be planning a wedding by the lake, baby names, and the pros and cons of Montessori schools.’
‘You sure can jump ahead, Maya. Sheesh.’
‘It’s called thinking positive.’
‘Right. Speaking of, any word from Preston?’
Her mouth is a grim line. ‘He’s missing me terribly, I’m sure. But all I’ve seen is pics on his Insta of him and a gang of groupies. The usual.’ Maya’s on-again, off-again boyfriend is a musician who openly pursues other women and then splashes their pictures all over the place. What she sees in him is beyond me, but I guess it’s the pull of the unattainable.
There have been times I’ve wanted to bang her head against a wall to make her see sense but she’s quite aware he’s no good for her and she just doesn’t care. It boils down to the fact they don’t place any rules or restrictions on eac
h other, so Maya can work as much as she has to with nary a word from him, and he can go missing for days on end and she doesn’t question it. It works for them and she seems happy enough with the arrangement so what can I do? Still, I do hope she moves on to someone who worships her like she so deserves.
‘Well, I’m sure he’ll be happy you’re home. Whereas I won’t be.’
We collect Maya’s things and Esterlita comes over for a twenty-five-minute goodbye and then Maya’s off with a fluttery wave. Back to her busy job saving lives.
‘I hate goodbyes,’ I say, trying not to cry. ‘It’s not like she’s moving to Australia, is it? She’s only a train ride away.’
Esterlita wraps her arm through mine. ‘She’ll be back. Mark my words, once this place gets under your skin there’s no cure for it, except to return. Small towns have that kind of magic. And Eden Hills is that little bit more special too.’
‘I hope so, Es.’
‘You’re lucky to have a friend like Maya.’
‘She’s your friend now too.’
‘Then we’re both lucky. Actually, we’re going to have a Zoom chat about you later. Don’t tell her I told you but she wants all the gossip and she knows I’ll give it to her straight.’
‘The way it should be.’ I smile. ‘Your secret is safe with me.’ In truth I think having a bit of Esterlita in her life will help ground Maya on those days when she feels like she’s going under. Our Esterlita has the unique ability to bring sunshine and laughter to any situation and I’m glad my two friends will be there for each other, under the guise of gossiping and worrying about me.
‘Good. Ooh, who’s this fine specimen of a man?’
I shade my eyes with a hand to see a tall, athletic guy wandering up the gravel drive. ‘Did I forget an interview?’ I check the appointment schedule in my phone – everyone is accounted for. ‘I haven’t. Maybe he’s lost.’
‘Can I help you?’ I say as he approaches. He’s got light brown hair and a ready smile but I don’t recognise him.
‘Hey, I’m Noah. I’m sorry to intrude without warning but I heard about the vacancy for the camp leader and I was hoping we could chat?’
Escape to Honeysuckle Hall Page 18
