‘Well, then?’
He looked at her suspiciously. ‘Well then, what?’
‘Announce that you’re available, open for business, and get your life back on track. Why not?’
‘It’s not so easy, though, is it?’ he said, looking uncertain now.
‘It could be, Tom. What’s the problem?’
He looked as if he was wrestling with a huge weight. Her heart went out to him. Time to relent. Give him a respite.
‘Would you mind seeing if you could get me a coffee, Tom?’
He looked up and nodded, and got up to go to the bar. She wondered if he would come back with a pint of beer for himself, but she guessed not. He wasn’t a drinker, secret or otherwise. That wasn’t his problem.
She guessed the main problem wasn’t even to do with the twins any more. It was more to do with a lack of confidence. That could have a debilitating effect. She’d heard it said, or she’d read somewhere, that if you were unemployed for a year you were officially classified as “long-term unemployed”, a notoriously difficult group to be in. And if you were out of work that long, the chances were you would never work again.
Tom returned with two coffees and a big grin. ‘Hilda’s run off her feet,’ he said, referring to the waitress. ‘She said if I brought the coffees over myself, we could have them for free.’
‘And you managed – all by yourself?’
Still grinning, he set the cups down. ‘Some things I can do,’ he said.
‘A lot of things you can do,’ she told him gently.
But she didn’t want to press him. Not today. Not now, after everything he had done for her.
‘What?’ he said, catching her looking at him.
‘Nothing.’
‘What?’ he insisted.
‘Oh, I was just thinking how smart and handsome you look today. I’ve got used to seeing you covered in sawdust and plaster. There’s not even any paint on that sweater.’
‘I scrub up quite well, don’t I?’ he said, carefully dusting imaginary bits of fluff off his jumper, which was navy-blue and nice and chunky. Just right for the season.
‘That colour suits you,’ she added.
‘Think so? The kids bought me this last Christmas.’
‘Oh? It’s nice. It looks a good one.’
‘It’s not cashmere.’
‘No?’
‘No foreign rubbish like that. This is genuine Shetland wool.’
She laughed at his fierce expression. ‘Cashmere isn’t rubbish, actually.’
‘It’s foreign, though.’
‘That’s true. Not a patch on Shetland wool. I bet you have a genuine Harris Tweed jacket, as well, don’t you?’
‘Somewhere. In the wardrobe, I expect.’ He looked at her with a twinkle and added, ‘Are you trying to take the mickey?’
‘Who, me?’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘Would I ever?’
He grinned.
This was better, she thought happily. They were more comfortable with each other now, more so than they had ever been. Little things. Teasing. Being relaxed. What a difference they made.
‘I can’t abide sarcastic women,’ he said now with mock severity. ‘They make me forget I’m a gentleman.’
‘I’ll remember that,’ she assured him.
He grinned again and stretched lazily.
‘Muscles stiff?’
He nodded. ‘They’d forgotten what work was like.’
She smiled. ‘You’ve really pushed yourself hard this last couple of weeks. I know that.’
‘Just a bit,’ he agreed.’
Then she found herself thinking how handsome he was when he was relaxed. And how much more at ease with himself he seemed now he’d finished the job. He was right. The work had been good for him.
Well, we all need a sense of purpose, she thought. Every one of us. Mum had given her one for so long. Now it was the shop. Tom had the twins, of course. But he’d needed more than that. He still did.
‘This is the life!’ Tom said now, spreading himself, smiling. ‘Wining and dining. I could live like this.’
‘Couldn’t we all?’
‘I was thinking,’ he added a moment later. ‘About what you said.’ She waited. ‘Maybe I ought to pick up the tools again.’
‘You already have,’ she pointed out gently.
‘But there’s the kids still.’
‘Hannah’s not a problem.’
‘No, she isn’t. Not now. She’s even going to school again. Some days.’
‘I did wonder about that.’
He looked at her and added, ‘I have you to thank you for that. I know now what’s been going on. You’ve done a lot for her.’
‘She’s a good girl, Tom. And very capable. I like her a lot.’
He nodded.
‘In fact, I’m hoping she’ll continue to help me with the shop in her spare time.’
‘I’m sure she will.’
‘If she leaves school in the summer I might be able to keep her on and pay her a proper wage, depending how business is.’
‘She might stop on at school.’
‘What makes you think that?’
‘She’s hinted at it.’
‘That would be wonderful! So much better for her to get some qualifications.’
Tom nodded.
‘Well, if she does, she can still help me part-time, if she wants to. It will be up to her. So Hannah’s not a problem. You don’t need to be home all the time for her now.’
Tom looked cheerful for a moment. Then he scowled. ‘James,’ he said. ‘He’s the problem.’
Jenny thought that was about right. She also thought it a good idea to by-pass that one for the moment, and stay positive. Better to get back to Tom himself.
‘If you start getting work, Tom, you’ll need a workshop, won’t you?’
‘Aye.’
‘I’ve been thinking about that. Would my shed be suitable?’
He looked up. ‘How do you mean?’
‘I really don’t need such a big place for storage. You’d be welcome to use it, if it’s suitable.’
‘That’s very good of you, Jenny. Your shed would make a grand workshop. It would. I’d pay you rent, of course.’
‘Of course,’ she agreed, though she hadn’t thought of that at all, and didn’t want to think of it. She just wanted to help.
‘You do so much to help us,’ Tom said wonderingly.
‘And you and the twins do so much to help me,’ she replied, realising with surprise how much she meant it. ‘It’s like being part of the family I’ve never had.’
***
James accosted her back at the house, after she and Tom had split up. She saw him before he saw her, and wondered what problem he was bringing. His gloom was palpable as he hung around outside her front door, hands deep in pockets.
‘James! Are you waiting for me?’
Astonishingly, his face lit up in a smile. ‘Not really,’ he said. Then he added, ‘I just wanted to say the computer’s pretty good. It’s a lot better than our old one.’
‘Good. I’m glad it’s found a friendly home.’
He nodded. Then his face turned serious again and he added, ‘Hannah says you’re having problems with your new one? Too slow, she says.’
‘It is a bit, yes. It’s all right, though. Just slow. Hanna says it’s nothing like the ones at school.’
‘I could take a look at it, if you like? See if I can speed it up a bit. Sometimes they get clogged up with unnecessary programs that you’ll never need.’
She hesitated only a moment. ‘Why, thank you, James! I’d appreciate it if you would.’
As she led the way inside, it was all Jenny could do to avoid shaking her head with amazement.
Chapter Twelve
‘For me?’ Jenny said with surprise.
The delivery man checked the label again. ‘One dozen red roses,’ he intoned. ‘Jennifer Morrison, Cheviot House.’
‘Well, the name and address ar
e right.’
‘You’ve got an admirer,’ the delivery man said with a knowing smile. ‘Sign here, please.’
She signed and thanked him. Then she turned and took the box of flowers into the house, still puzzled.
‘What have you got there?’ Hannah asked.
‘Oh … I’m not sure,’ she said, laying the box on the bench.
‘It looks like flowers,’ Hannah said, scanning the label on the box. ‘“Flowers from Jersey”, it says.’
‘Yes,’ Jenny admitted. ‘I don’t know who’s sent them, though.’
Hannah grinned. ‘Flowers!’ she said.
‘Flowers,’ Jenny agreed with a puzzled smile. ‘Now, how are you getting on with that order?’
There was so much to do now the shop fitting was complete. So much more to do. Jenny soon realised she had seriously under-estimated the preparation needed.
It wasn’t so much sorting out the displays, although that did take time. As did the pricing. It was much more the ordering of candles and soaps, pottery and toys, ornaments and jewellery, and then the checking up of the orders, and discovering why things had not arrived that had been promised. And the invoices and cheques. It was sorting out with the bank in Berwick, and trying to sort out with the tax man what were legitimate expenses to offset. Arranging for business cards and leaflets to be printed. Dealing with craftspeople and other suppliers. And … Oh, thousands of things!
Fortunately, she had Hannah’s help some of the time. Hannah was wonderful. So involved and eager to learn, and be a part of it all. So quick. And so skilled, surprisingly.
‘You’re very good on the computer,’ Jenny said, watching Hannah’s fingers fly over the keyboard.
‘Not really. Just simple stuff. You should see our James.’
‘I don’t need to see James. I can see you!’
Hannah flashed her a grin. ‘I’m your right-hand man, eh?’
‘You are indeed.’
It was true. The shop would have been a lot further away from opening day without Hannah’s assistance.
Jenny wondered sometimes about the summer, and what Hannah would be doing then. If she did leave school, could she afford to offer her full-time employment? She had no idea. Probably not, though, which would be a shame.
But would full-time employment here serve Hannah well? Would it not be better to encourage her to look further afield? Maybe. She was so young, though. Too young to be encouraged to move to a town, still less a city, in pursuit of a career. It really would be best if she stayed on at school.
Enough! She would, she decided, cross that bridge when she came to it. For now, she had enough to think about. Including who might have sent her a dozen red roses. That was something to ponder. What intrigue!
She couldn’t believe it was any of her friends in Dartford who were responsible. Yet she knew so few people here. Who did she know? Will? She smiled and chuckled. Of course! It was just the sort of gallant, old-fashioned thing he would do. He really was a lovely man.
***
Came the day when they had done everything they could do, everything they could think of doing that was actually possible.
‘That’s it,’ Tom said as the day came to a close. ‘You’re all ready now. All ready for tomorrow.’
‘But I’m not, am I?’ Jenny said, worry eating away at her. ‘We’re short of all sorts of things.’
‘What you haven’t got,’ Tom said firmly, ‘you can do without.’
‘What are we still missing, Hannah? Remind me.’
Hannah sprang to it, her young mind a veritable memory bank. ‘The model soldiers haven’t arrived yet. We’re still waiting for the healing crystals. That woman from “Country Preserves” hasn’t brought her marmalade yet.’
Jenny looked at Tom and raised her eyebrows. There you are, then! she mimed.
Tom shrugged. ‘You’ll never miss them,’ he said firmly.
‘That’s about it,’ Hannah said. ‘Apart from the fact that James still has something to do on the computer. And the man from the council wants to talk to you about Council Tax, or something.’
Jenny nodded and did another mental review. ‘The coffee?’ she said to Hannah. ‘Has that come?’
Hannah shook her head. ‘Not that special coffee you ordered, but there’s plenty of the ordinary left. That will do for them, won’t it?’
The customers, she meant. Jenny frowned. She’d wanted the hazelnut flavoured coffee. Something special for opening day.
‘You’ve done everything you can,’ Tom said. ‘Get an early night. You’ve got a big day tomorrow.’
He was right. She knew that. If she didn’t stop herself now, she would be fiddling about with things all night long.
‘You’re right, Tom,’ she said, turning to him with a big smile. ‘Enough’s enough.’
Hannah got up from her chair and collected her coat and a bag. She grinned at Jenny. ‘It’s going to be great, tomorrow, isn’t it? I can’t wait!’
‘It is,’ Jenny agreed. ‘It’s going to be lovely.’
She smiled and added, ‘And I can’t thank you both enough – and James – for helping me get to this point. You’ve been wonderful. All of you.’
Hannah gave her a hug. Tom looked as if he wanted to. Then they were gone. She was left to her own devices.
It might have been a difficult, nervy time for her. But it wasn’t. Now she had decided there was nothing more she could do tonight, she was able to relax. She needed to. Tomorrow was going to be a demanding day.
She wondered what Mum would have thought. The same as her, probably. She would have been excited and nervous, just as she was herself. Proud, too, probably. She was that herself, or she would be once tomorrow was over.
No! she told herself sternly. Stop that. Just to have got this far was something to be proud of. It didn’t really matter what happened tomorrow. With the help of Hannah and Tom, she had converted dreams into reality. Even James had done something useful. She was almost satisfied.
***
The next morning started off well. Hannah arrived before Jenny had even had any breakfast. The sun was shining. There was no wind or rain. The shop looked quietly ready, eager for customers.
‘I must get something to eat before we open,’ Jenny said to Hannah, as she let her inside. ‘Will you join me?’
‘Had mine,’ Hannah said. ‘I was up early.’
‘Well, come and talk to me while I have some breakfast.’
She didn’t want much. She never did have much. Just her usual.
‘I like apple juice,’ Hannah said, watching Jenny pour a glass of orange juice. ‘And coffee.’
Jenny’s pot of tea was ready. ‘So you don’t want any of this?’
Hannah shook her head.
‘You can make yourself some coffee, if you like. What about muesli? Do you like that for breakfast?’
‘Nuts, and stuff?’ Hannah shook her head and wrinkled her nose. ‘Not much.’
‘Would you like to try some?’
‘A bit.’
Jenny smiled to herself as she served up orange juice, muesli and tea, and watched Hannah overcome her declared preferences.
‘What have we got to do this morning?’ Hannah asked.
‘Put on the coffee machine? Open the door? Wait?’
Hannah grinned. ‘I can do that!’
‘And a lot more besides, young lady. I’d never have got to this point without you.’
A full minute went by. Then Hannah leapt to her feet.
‘What?’ Jenny asked, startled.
‘It’s half-past eight.’
‘So?’
‘Maybe I should open the door now?’
‘Goodness, Hannah! You’re a slave driver. I don’t intend opening the shop as early as this.’
Then she relented, as Hannah sat back down. ‘Go on, then! Go and do it. Just this once we can open early.’
Hannah needed no second invitation. She was away down the stairs instantly. Jenny smiled and
shook her head. She had been trying to pace herself, not get caught up in a mad frenzy. Not that she expected many customers the first morning, whatever time they opened. If any, in fact. Not for a shop like hers, in a place like Cragley. That would be expecting far too much.
When she went downstairs, she found Hannah already had the “Open” sign on the shop door and the coffee machine gurgling. They exchanged smiles.
We’re ready, Jenny thought. At last!
Soon afterwards the door bell jangled. They both looked round.
‘It’s only me!’ Wendy from the village shop was standing in the doorway. ‘I just called to wish you luck. I hope you have a really good day. You deserve it.’
‘Thank you, Wendy! That’s sweet of you. Will you have a cup of coffee with us?’
‘I haven’t got time. I have to open myself in ten minutes.’
‘A small cup of coffee?’
‘Oh, go on, then!’
Wendy came inside and turned to look around. ‘My! You have got it nice. It looks lovely. So much stock, as well. Where’s it all come from?’
‘It’s a start,’ Jenny acknowledged, pleased by her reaction.
‘And I see you have a helper.’
‘Oh, yes. I couldn’t have managed without Hannah. I can’t now either. We’re a team.’
Hannah grinned.
‘Well, good for you both! And what about James?’ Wendy added. ‘Has he been helping, as well?’
‘Sometimes,’ Hannah said quickly. ‘But he’s got a lot on at the minute. He helps my dad a lot.’
Wendy nodded gravely. ‘Young people, eh?’ she said, giving Jenny a slow wink. ‘What a help they can be.’
Jenny hid a smile and nodded. Wendy probably didn’t realise how right she was.
Soon after Wendy left, the man who brought flowers arrived. This time he handed Jenny a beautiful bouquet containing more flowers than she had ever seen before in one cellophane packet.
‘For me?’ Jenny gasped.
‘Seems to be.’ The man smiled and added, ‘You’ve got a really big admirer!’
Jenny smiled back, and peered at the note: “May “Happy Times” bring on the Good Times.”
‘That’s lovely!’ she said with delight.
By the time she had signed the receipt and seen the delivery man to the door, Hannah had appeared with a big vase of water.
A Place of Her Own Page 6
