The Wishing Well

by Jilly Bowling

  Hearing the roar of a large engine she went to the door and struggled to open it. Succeeding in opening it wide enough to slide through she saw a large green and yellow tractor, Roman driving, while his dog stood on the passenger seat, paws on the dashboard. Attached to the tractor by a rope was her van, and as it slid to a stop a young man, who’d been behind the wheel, climbed out of it.

  Roman jumped out of the tractor leaving his dog inside, and said “Right Matt let’s empty it before it pisses down again.”

  Bella stood at the cottage door and the two men ferried boxes to her which she piled up on the living room floor.

  “What about these bits of furniture?” Roman asked.

  “Leave them there, I’m afraid there’s no room for them at the moment.”

  In no time at all the van was empty and all her worldly goods, in a few tatty cardboard boxes were in the cottage.

  “Is that all there is?” Roman looked at the sorry pile and wondered.

  “Yes, I travel light.” Bella said trying not to think of all the lovely things she’d had to sell to buy the van off the rent-a-wreck salesman.

  “Right, we’ll be off. Oh, by the way the van wouldn’t start, battery I think. It either needs a new one or it’s not charging.”

  Bella bit her lip wondering how much that would cost but only said “Thank you so much for your help. I don’t know what I’d have done without you.”

  “Right,” Roman said gruffly “Come on Matt let’s get the tractor back before the heavens open.”

  With that the two men got into the tractor, Matt pushing the dog off the seat onto the floor and they disappeared down the road.

  With a struggle Bella managed to close the door and stood there, at a loss where to start.

  `First things first` she thought and picked up the box marked `kitchen`. Carrying it through to the tiny scullery, for that was all the kitchen was, she placed it on the wooden draining board next to an old butlers sink and searched through it until she found a large box of teabags, a large bottle of semi-skimmed and an electric kettle. Gervaise never drank tea, and had one of those fancy new coffeemakers, so she’d bought the kettle, to have a cuppa when he wasn’t there, and hidden it in one of the kitchen cupboards to prevent him sneering and calling her a pleb.

  Luckily, Lucy had had the wiring renewed twenty years ago as the original wiring dated back to just after the second world war, so there was a modern-ish two point socket to plug it into. It started to heat up immediately and when she searched through a cupboard she was delighted to find a pretty ceramic teapot and a selection of fine bone china mugs.

  The ancient fridge had been emptied and cleaned, by whom Bella could only guess at, so picking up the loose wire and finding the plug at the end she plugged it into the socket alongside the kettle plug. To her delight the fridge light came on and it started to creak and gurgle. Hopefully she unpacked the butter, cheese, eggs and bacon she’d brought with her and along with the bottle of milk, which she had to lie on it’s side, placed them in the fridge.

  The kettle was coming to the boil so she poured some of the hot water into the old teapot and gave it and one of the mugs a good rinse out. Putting two teabags into the pot she poured boiling water onto them, then searched the drawers until she found the knitted tea cosy she remembered from her childhood. Sadness overcame her as she envisaged her aunt toasting crumpets in front of the open woodburner. Why had she allowed Gervaise to cut her off from her only aunt, and prevent her from visiting her while she was still alive? She felt ashamed of herself and made a vow that no one would ever dictate to her again, whether she loved them or not.

  Leaving the tea to `mash` she buttered a couple of Ryvita and put a chunk of cheese on them. Along with a few grapes that would be a decent meal, after the soup she’d had earlier. She poured herself a cup of tea and carried it and the plate of food through to the chair in front of the fire.

  As she ate she made a list, in her head, of things that needed doing first. The most important being to air the bed. Lucy had still been using blankets so she would take them off the bed and lay them around the fire, then she’d need to find some clean sheets and pillowcases. Luckily she’d taken a couple of pillows out of the linen cupboard in the apartment, Gervaise hadn’t even known they were there, so even if the old ones needed throwing out she’d be alright.

  For the first time since Gervaise had dropped his bombshell, she started to relax. The warmth and welcoming feeling in the cottage soothed her damaged heart and the sleepless nights she’d experienced for three weeks caught up with her and she slid into a deep sleep.

  Chapter 2

  When Bella woke it was dark, the fire had faded to smouldering ash and she shivered as she got out of the chair to grope for a light switch.

  The overhead light came on and showed the cottage in all it’s grubby neglect, causing her to move to a table lamp and press its switch. Nothing happened so she removed the bulb and shook it. Broken, so she headed into the kitchen in search of light bulbs. Surely Lucy would keep a supply in? Sure enough, she found them under the sink along with some thick church candles, so she picked one up and returning to the living room fitted it into the lamp. Suffused light glowed so she turned off the overhead light and the room returned to its cozy gloom.

  Roman had left some sticks and a basket full of logs in the inglenook so she poked a few of the sticks into the smouldering embers and they caught alight immediately. Carefully she laid some small logs on top of them, as she’d seen Lucy do in the past, and before long the cottage was warming up again.Going into the bedroom she stripped the old patchwork quilt, which smelled dusty, off the bed and pulled the three blankets off, carrying them through to the living room to hang them over three of the hardback chairs that stood around the square oak gateleg table. Back in the bedroom she removed the yellowing, but expensive, Egyptian cotton sheets and pillowcases to wash tomorrow and inspected the pillows. They were yellow with age, their covers the old cream and blue stripe that showed their age. The feathers inside had matted together with age and damp and they were beyond saving so she searched in her boxes for the bin bags she had packed, and putting them in one carried them through to the tiny lean to beyond the kitchen. When she was a child the lean to had been a conservatory/ greenhouse where Lucy grew her plants. The old potting bench was still there but all Lucy’s beloved pots held only dead twigs and foliage and the place looked ready to fall down.

  “I’m so sorry Aunty” she said out loud, “I should have come sooner.” As she felt her throat constrict and her eyes flooded with tears she compressed her lips and swallowed hard. “I promise you, no more self pity, I’m going to make this cottage into a home to be proud of, just you wait and see.”

  When she glanced at her watch she saw that it was nearly seven o’clock and decided to make something to eat while the blankets were airing, then she remembered that she hadn’t found any sheets and pillowcases yet, so carried on through into the bedroom to find some. When she opened the blanket box she found clean towels, tea towels, pillowcases and sheets layered between tissue paper and sprinkles of lavender. As with the wardrobe the oak box had kept the damp and mould away. Taking out a large cream towel, two sheets and two pillowcases she carried them through to the living room. She moved the three chairs, with the blankets on them, to in front of the fire and unfolded the sheets and spread them out over the seats.

  Not feeling too hungry she decided to find out if the water was hot so went back into the bedroom and on through to the bathroom, which had once been part of a larger room, before it was split after the second world war, to allow for an indoor toilet and bath. Now it was small but functional while leaving plenty of room for the bedroom. The giant claw footed enamel bath took up most of the space with a small sink and a toilet, and overhead cistern taking up the rest. The enamel of the bath was in excellent condition, just dusty, and the sink and toi
let were white and unchipped, showing how much care Lucy had taken with them. Smiling to herself Bella turned the tap on, to swill away the dust, and was delighted to discover that the water was very hot.

  That settled it, she’d have a soak in the bath then dressed in her pj’s would make herself a sandwich. Her case was still in the living room so she collected it and laying it on the bed searched for her soap bag and night things. On a shelf at the end of the bath she discovered some of her aunt’s favourite Elizabeth Arden bath salts and added a liberal amount to the water. Putting her soap and shampoo onto the shelf she undressed and slid into the water. Oh the bliss! After being cold, filthy and she had to admit worried, the hot sweet scented water soothed her and she lay back dozing and dreaming about her new life.

  Suddenly she jerked awake to discover that the water had cooled significantly, so she soaped herself, washed her hair twice, rinsing it with a plastic jug that had also been on the shelf and finally, reluctantly stepped out of the bath. Pulling out the plug to let the water out she was horrified at the layer of dirt left as the water receded. She hadn’t realised how much smelly mud she’d still had on herself.

  Dressed in her pj’s and housecoat she went into the kitchen in search of cleaner, smiling to herself when she found an old carton of Vim. Lucy had still clung to old fashioned things. Sure enough it cleaned the old bath in minutes. When it was clean she tidied up then went through to the kitchen to put the kettle on and make a bacon sandwich. Tea and food ready she took them into the living room and settled down to eat. When she finished she got up and searched through her handbag for the notebook and pen she’d stuffed into it as she’d left the apartment. Looking round the room she decided that if it was dry the next day she’d take all the old rag rugs out for a good beating. The patchwork quilt off the bed probably needed dry cleaning but she couldn’t afford that, so she’d risk putting it into the large washing machine, Lucy’s one concession to modern living, on a cool wash. The curtains at the windows might disintegrate if she washed them, they were so old, but if they did, then they did.

  Then she inspected the furniture and decided that some of it would have to be sold, to enable her to smarten up the cottage. Paint needed buying as well as cleaning stuff and she needed something to live on until she got some upcycled pieces together to sell. Also the van might need a new battery. Tiredness crept over her and she decided to leave the little room, where she’d slept as a child, until tomorrow. The stairs to it rose steeply out of the corner of the living room, ending in a small door which gave access to the tiny loft space.

  Finding herself yawning practically non-stop she took her plate and mug into the kitchen and rinsed them out. Then she wiped the old frying pan, that she’d used for the bacon for her sandwich out, and put it away. She checked that the Aga was on low, locked the front and back doors and put a couple of oak logs in the woodburner, in the hope that they would still be smouldering in the morning. Carrying the blankets and sheets through to the bedroom she made the bed, and leaving the bedroom door open, in the hope that some heat from the living room would warm the bedroom overnight, climbed into bed. To her surprise she fell into a deep sleep not waking up once.

  Chapter 3

  The sun streaming through the thin old curtains woke her the next morning. For a moment she had the feeling of loss that had shared her every moment since Gervaise’ betrayal. Then she remembered where she was and how surprisingly rested she felt, and sat up in bed plumping the pillows behind her. Dust motes danced in the sun’s rays but the room felt homely and comforting, and she smiled happily for the first time in a long time. Analysing this feeling she realised how miserable she’d been for ages, hence the weight gain, from the chocolate and biscuits she’d eaten to try to assuage it her misery.

  Pushing the blankets aside she jumped out of bed, found some old jeans, sweatshirt and undies in her case and dressed quickly. After washing her face, cleaning her teeth and brushing her hair she picked up the old quilt and went through to the kitchen to find Lucy’s big washing machine. That and the twenty six inch television, that stood on the old sideboard had been her aunt’s only concessions to making life easier in her old age.

  The automatic washing machine also tumble dried, the weather on the moor not always being conducive to drying sheets and blankets. Pushing the quilt into the drum Bella searched under the sink for soap powder and laughed when she found a lavender scented two in one that washed and conditioned. Lucy may have preferred a simple life but she had been savvy enough to employ things that saved money and made life easier. Selecting a cool wash she switched the machine on and then set about making herself a cup of tea. There was no toaster so she settled for a slice off the crusty loaf, with butter and jam, that she’d brought with her. When she carried her simple meal through to the living room she was delighted to find that the oak logs she’d put in the woodburner the night before were still smouldering. She opened the vent in the bottom and the door and poked some apple wood sticks onto them. In seconds the sticks were alight so she added some applewood logs, closed the vent slightly and closed the door. Feeling pleased with herself she ate her breakfast and set to work.

  By mid afternoon all the rag rugs were beaten and hanging over some metal rails she’d found in an open sided, but roofed shelter, along with the patchwork quilt that had survived it’s wash surprisingly well. Only a few of the patches had frayed and she would easily mend them with material off some of Lucy’s floral skirts. The curtains had been taken down, and along with the one that had hung over the old sink unit and small cupboard in the kitchen, washed and hung from a line made of baler twine, that she’d hung in the shelter. Even if it rained they wouldn’t get wet and could be left until dry.

  All of the downstairs, apart from the conservatory/lean to, had been de- cobwebbed, and the walls, ceiling, windows and floors had been swept. The heavy oak furniture had taken some moving, but by sheer determination and back breaking effort she had moved it enough to clean behind and under it. Pleased to see that the plaster on the walls was in fairly good condition Bella stood in the middle of the living room, and pictured them painted a pale cream with a few of her favourite pictures dotted around. She was jerked out of her contemplation by a deep voice. “Hi, anybody there?”

  Turning she saw Roman standing in the doorway, looking cool, clean and gorgeous in rugby shirt and clean jeans.

  “Oh,” she said suddenly realising how filthy and untidy she was.

  “Sorry if I startled you,” Roman said, “I see you’ve been busy.”

  “I was miles away, thinking about paint,” cursing herself for that inane remark, she went on, “come in, can I offer you a cup of tea?”

  “I don’t want to bother you if you’re busy.”

  “No, I could do with a drink myself, come to think of it it must be about lunch time.”

  Roman laughed “It’s three thirty. How long have you been at it?”

  “I must have started about sevenish,” she said as she went through to the kitchen to put the kettle on.

  “You’ve been at it for eight and a half hours then.”

  “Gosh, the time flies when you’re enjoying yourself,” she commented trying to push the damp tendrils of hair off her face, leaving it even dirtier than before.

  Roman laughed and stepping closer lifted a couple of cobwebs out of her hair. “Not afraid of spiders, then?”

  “Luckily no, or I’d have run out of here screaming first thing this morning. How do you like your tea?”

  “Hot and strong,” Roman gazed into her eyes as he said it and grinned when she blushed. Then he took pity on the rabbit in a headlight look of them, and moved away.

  “Here” Bella handed him a mug, “let’s take it outside shall we, the air’s still dusty in here.”

  Picking up a banana she followed him out to the wooden bench under the living room window. There was a land rover stand
ing on the gravel and Roman placed his mug on the arm of the bench and went to the passenger door and leaned in, emerging with a car battery in his hands.

  Returning to the bench he placed it on the ground and said “This old battery was just lying about so I thought you might have a use for it. It’s got a good bit of life in it still, better than the one in your van, anyway.”

  “That’s so kind of you, how much do you want for it?”

  Roman gave her a funny look and said “Nothing. It’s just lying around doing nothing. Of course the van still might not start but it’s worth a go.”

  “I couldn’t...” Bella started to say then saw his frown and went on “but if you’re sure then thank you.”

  “S’nothing,”he mumbled, “look, drink your tea and eat your banana and I’ll swap it for your old one.”

  Picking up the battery he went to the van and flipped the hood catch. Then he went to the land rover for a couple of tools and proceeded to take the old battery out and put the new one in. When he leaned in the driver’s side he realised that the keys weren’t there so asked Bella to find them. Luckily they were in her handbag so she didn’t have to search for them and when Roman fitted the key into the ignition and turned it, the van hiccuped and rattled into life.

  “Fantastic,” she said giving him a hug without thinking.

  As she felt his muscular chest against hers she gulped and let go quickly, surprised by how her body was reacting. He chuckled and lifting her chin gave her a quick peck on the lips, before moving away and going to look at the van’s engine.