by Lucy Coleman
‘Here we are, this is Immi’s dress.’ Ursula waits for a moment before flipping over the page. ‘And we came up with two designs for you, Sarah, that we can play with. I’ve drawn them both as full-length dresses, but I think they’d work equally well if you prefer a shorter version. What do you think?’
Sarah is glowing and I don’t think it’s from all that stretching we did earlier on. ‘Wow. They’re stunning and that dress is so you, Immi. Gray is going to fall in love with you all over again, as if he’s seeing you for the very first time.’
Now that is worthy of a toast, a toast to all those wonderful Tuesday nights to come. We’ve known each other for a long time, but, as busy people, it’s nice to take time out for ourselves. It’s not that any of us want to change our lives, but it’s fun to relax in the company of friends with whom you feel safe to let down your hair and have a laugh, and a moan, if necessary.
12
Togetherness
Gray stands behind me, his whole body melting into mine as I’m drawn into his arms. He rests his chin on the top of my head as we stare out at the view from the new extension.
‘It’s wonderful, isn’t it?’ he mutters, still a little breathless from spinning me around as we danced across the empty space.
‘What, the view, or the fact that there isn’t a builder in sight?’
‘Just everything. Being here with you, the fact that we can finally set up home properly. And—’
A sharp tap on the front door sees us reluctantly draw apart. ‘Are you expecting anyone?’ Gray asks.
‘Not at seven thirty in the morning, unless it’s the postman and he’s under the impression that we’ve already moved back in. I’ll go check.’ I leave Gray to wander around. Seeing the extension completely finished without a speck of dust, and glass panels you can actually see through for a change, it’s finally sinking in. The worst is over, and it won’t take long to make the cottage ours.
Striding out into the hallway, I swing open the front door to see a burly young man with a clipboard.
‘Morning. Arbour Landscaping?’
At last! ‘Good morning to you. I’m Immi Tolliman.’
‘I’m Pete,’ he says, thrusting out his hand, and we shake. ‘Reggie says the flagstones are stacked in an outbuilding? If you can point me in the right direction, we’ll start work.’
‘Of course.’
Gray walks up behind me, snaking an arm around my waist and leaning into me. ‘Do you mind if I slope off? I’m shattered.’
I half turn to plant a kiss firmly on his lips as I smile up into his eyes.
‘Go on, get your head down. Tollie is out most of today and I’ll be back at 5 p.m. Right, Pete, let me show you the way.’
Gray disappears and I step out onto the front path, pulling the door shut behind me.
‘We’re going to make a bit of noise,’ Pete informs me apologetically.
‘Don’t worry, Gray is so tired he’ll sleep through anything. He’s just back from a ten-hour flight and a three-hour drive.’
‘Ah, I see. We’re parked up by The Bullrush, but Reggie said there’s a back entrance?’
‘Yes. There’s a lane that runs along behind the car park and where it ends there is a double gate that leads into our orchard. There’s a gravelled area for parking. Reggie said it will take two to three days to complete the landscaping?’
‘Pretty much. Although I have an extra guy on board, given that we’re a few days late starting the job. Last week seems to have been jinxed for some reason and everything that could go wrong, did. So, please accept our apologies, as we hate letting anyone down.’
‘Don’t worry,’ I reply genially. ‘That’s something with which I can identify.’
But when you’re over the hump things just keep on getting better and better, or so it seems, and today everything in my life is rather sparkly for a change.
‘He’s back, then?’ Martin remarks the moment I step into his office.
‘Is it that obvious?’ I reply, but I can’t wipe the satisfied little smile off my face.
‘You’re glowing. I’ve had an email from the insurers and the greenhouse isn’t safe. But it’s not all doom and gloom – there will be disruption, but, in the meantime, Patrick thinks it’s worth investing in some polytunnels.’
‘But isn’t that a cost you won’t get back?’
‘True, but they come in all shapes and sizes, and the basic ones are just a couple of hundred pounds. If we had, I don’t know – maybe a dozen of them, erected where we have the compost heap and the recycle bins, we could empty the second greenhouse. It could become our temporary replacement retail unit for the public, until the new one is built. The bonus is that we can utilise the polytunnels for bringing plants on in the future, to free up the second greenhouse permanently.’
‘To what purpose?’
‘Well, we’re considering expanding the floristry section. We already cater for our commercial clients and the natural extension is to take on a driver and small van to do home deliveries.’
I’m a little thrown, as this is the first I’ve heard of these plans, and yet it sounds as if the wheels are already in motion. ‘That’s… ambitious,’ I point out.
‘Patrick has done the figures and we have the green light. We’ll also take on another florist, part-time of course until we’ve built things up a little. I’m arranging for a leaflet drop and some ads in the local papers covering a twenty-mile radius for starters. I’d like you to take the lead on that, but it can wait until next week. You’ll be wanting to square up your desk today ready for your couple of days off.’
At least that’s not in jeopardy, but I’m worried. Martin already has enough to juggle during the peak summer period and so I’m rather surprised about this new development.
My work phone starts to vibrate and it’s a text. ‘Sorry, Martin, I need to head up to the customer services desk.’
I walk briskly, hoping that no one stops me on the way. There are certainly a lot of customers milling around already this morning. It’s heartening, as two years ago we were lucky to see anyone before mid-morning. The Lockside Nurseries is now a popular destination, not just for the small on-site café where people can enjoy a slice of cake and coffee, but because the gift shop is also a big draw.
‘Hello, Rona, how can I help?’
She often pops in, but today Rona is standing by the customer services desk looking uneasy.
‘I hope I’m not being a bother, but I’m here to buy some roses for the garden and I wondered if you’d mind helping me choose a few?’
Something is up, but I play along.
‘Of course. Let’s go grab a trolley.’
As soon as we are out of earshot, I glance at Rona and she looks back at me uneasily.
‘I do need a few roses, but that’s not the main reason I’m here. Grayson emailed me to say that the papers have been signed. Has Gray said anything?’
That stops me in my tracks. ‘Signed? No, he hasn’t said a thing. Did this happen just before Gray flew back? We spoke briefly this morning and he’s asleep now.’
‘No. Apparently, it was a few days ago. Gray drove to the house and Grayson’s solicitor, they call them attorneys over there, talked them both through the paperwork. Since my trip at new year, Grayson’s emails have been chatty, but this one was different. It was to the point but it’s what he didn’t tell me that left me feeling that the meeting didn’t go well. Gray texted me when he landed in the early hours and said he’d give me a call once he’d caught up on some sleep. Did he appear to be unsettled about anything to you?’
‘No, he was simply glad to be home as he was tired out. I’m sure he’ll sit down and tell you all about it once he surfaces and has had something to eat.’
‘Come on, I don’t want anyone to think there’s something amiss. Let’s grab some pots and put them in the trolley. I think it’s best we don’t mention it to him and see what happens. Grayson and I were talking about me taking another trip over to see
him, but I assumed that was because he thought Gray might come with me. Now that won’t be necessary, of course, and Grayson didn’t make any further mention of it.’
The disappointment in Rona’s voice is tangible. As we head out to The Plantarium she looks agitated and I find myself wondering whether she did, in fact, sign those divorce papers while she was in LA.
‘Our last night in this old, rickety bed, assuming we can afford to pay for the new one, that is,’ Gray throws out there, very aware that we haven’t yet talked about money.
Tollie took two items of furniture with him when he moved across into The Retreat and, aside from the double bed in the spare room, the rest went to a charitable organisation. Gray and I bought a small sofa, so that we could turn the former master bedroom of the cottage into a makeshift sitting room, and that’s how we’ve been living. When the entire ground floor was ripped apart, we had no cooking facilities at all. We either ate with Tollie, or had takeaway from The Bullrush during those dark, wintery weekends when all we wanted to do was to snuggle up together in front of the TV.
But now we have an entire cottage to furnish and tomorrow the deliveries we’ve delayed for so many weeks will begin arriving. We agreed that I would arrange an overdraft facility of eight thousand pounds, but I’ve yet to break the news to Gray that we’re going to use every single penny of it. From now on we’re living off our monthly income and that will include repaying the debt.
‘Let’s not spoil your first night back, Gray.’ He’s obviously not sleepy, even though he only slept for five hours in an attempt to kick-start his body clock.
‘Let’s get it out the way. Come on, I know it’s bad.’
‘We’ll use it all, even the overdraft,’ I confirm.
‘Hmm. And how’s the wedding fund looking?’
I swallow hard. ‘I have a pile of receipts that need tallying up, but when we set the budget, I was thinking small, and with forty people to cater for it isn’t really small, is it?’
‘You have a point there. What if I could magic some money out of thin air?’
I roll onto my side, trying to make out his features in the shadowy darkness.
‘Then that would be like pulling a rabbit out of a hat.’ I laugh, loving his hopeless optimism. ‘Your contract is done, though. Are you thinking of taking up a part-time job until you sign something else?’
‘No. But the thing with a contract is that it contains clauses,’ he replies, matter-of-factly, his eyes gleaming.
‘Tell me, then.’
‘Obviously, we were working to a strict deadline and, as you know, I made it with time to spare. On the flight back Ollie dropped into the conversation that he’s chasing the end-of-contract bonus. I thought that was a part of the final payment I’ve already received, but apparently not.’
I’m stunned. ‘Did he mention how much it’s likely to be?’
‘No. I just acted really cool, as I didn’t want him to think I was a total idiot. But the contract is packed away in one of those boxes and all I focused on was making sure I didn’t miss that all-important date. However much it is, it’s on the way so let’s add it to the wedding fund, eh? And talking of that, things are easing off for me a little, although I will be pulling together a few ideas for some potential new projects I might end up pitching for. But as I’m now an official member of the wedding-planning team, I thought I’d take over sorting out paying the bills, too. You’ve got enough of a headache keeping tabs on our bank account and the fundraiser. What do you think?’
Snuggling closer, I lay my head down on Gray’s chest, listening to the strong but erratic beat of his heart.
‘Your heart is pounding and it’s all over the place!’ I declare.
‘That’s what you do to me,’ he murmurs, nuzzling his face into my hair.
I trail my fingers across his chest and down his side; he squirms, ever the ticklish one. ‘As long as you promise to count the pennies and don’t go mad.’
‘Do you think Mum and Val would let me go crazy? I like being involved. I never thought I’d hear myself say that, but I do.’
We lay quietly for a little while. ‘I know it’s a bit scary with the periods in between when you aren’t earning. Especially given that we have almost zero savings, but I’m earning more now that I’m the full-time assistant manager at the nurseries and business is doing well. And unlike many people, we don’t have a mortgage to pay, so we can cover the overheads and chip away at what we owe.’
‘Thanks, babe. And I have high hopes of getting another project before too long. We’ll soon sort out our finances again and accrue another little nest egg.’
‘Do you have any regrets, Gray?’ I ask tentatively.
‘I wouldn’t change a single thing. The cottage needed gutting anyway and now we have our forever home, with all the space we need. Come with me. Come on.’
Gray swings his legs over the side of the bed and I follow him out of the bedroom door and down the stairs. Even in the gloom, the hallway is bright with the panelled glass of the new front door and the pale limestone tiles running through into the vast new open space, making it feel light and airy.
Gray catches up my hand in his, giving it a squeeze as he leads me into the heart of our home.
‘Turn to look at the new limestone fireplace. What do you see?’
‘I see my beautiful, cast-iron stag standing there, on guard. And it reminds me of the day we got engaged,’ I reply, feeling emotional.
‘And what else, Immi?’
My head instinctively turns to the right, as I envision Tollie, sitting in his old armchair, and then to my left as I see Grandma sitting in her chair, a blanket over her legs as she stares at the flickering flames in the fireplace. They’re still here, the memories, even though it now looks completely different, and I understand what Gray is trying to tell me.
‘It’s our turn, isn’t it?’ I whisper as he pulls me closer, his lips softly touching mine.
‘Yes. Those memories are still here and they’re still inside you. What do you think your grandma would have thought of this view?’
He leads me over to the sliding wall of glass doors at the far end of the room, and I can just about make out the meadow on the other side of the low hedge, stretching out almost endlessly, and on the horizon the dark outline of the copse breaks up the flat landscape.
‘She would have been wowed to have been standing here, looking out at the countryside she dearly loved.’
Gray pulls my hand up to kiss the tips of my fingers.
‘You carry her genes, Immi. So, a part of her is standing here with you tonight and, sometime in the future maybe we’ll both be standing here with a child of our own. Who knows? The thing is, we’re building our future and every penny we’ve spent has been for the right reason.’
‘I love you, Gray,’ I say as we hold each other. My heart is full and yet it’s also breaking, as sadness threatens to overwhelm me. To have Dad and Grandma here for my wedding day would have made everything feel complete and yet that wasn’t meant to be. Somehow, Gray seems to understand how important it is to me to cling onto the things I treasure the most and, though the cottage might look different now, he’s right. The changes are immaterial; they don’t take away those precious memories which are forever locked inside my head and my heart.
13
Things Are Shaping Up Nicely
This morning we were both up bright and early, eager to head out to the supermarket to stock up our smart new fridge and freezer. When Gray swung open the doors and found them virtually empty, after a week of trying as many breakfast items as possible from an American menu, toast and marmalade didn’t do it for him.
On the drive back to the cottage Gray tells me more about his trip and admits that he was anxious sitting in a screening room with four of the studio executives and the two scriptwriters. At the end, they all stood up and clapped, and it was then that it hit him what an achievement this project was, and he said he felt proud to be a part of it.
‘So you should. Even writing jingles you always hit the mark. Whenever I wash my hair, I catch myself humming the one you wrote for that shampoo, and I don’t even use that brand. The zingy fresh one.’
Naturally, Gray instantly begins to sing it to me and it makes me laugh. He’s so happy and yet he still hasn’t mentioned meeting up with Grayson. His phone kicks into life and he puts it up to his ear, still singing. ‘Hi, Ma, good morning and how are you today? Yes, I fully intend to come round and see you in a bit. We’re heading back from the supermarket and I’ll grab some breakfast, then head over to yours, okay? Right, see you soon.’
As I ease the car through the gates, Gray suggests I park on the far side to give the landscapers enough room to access a pallet stacked with rolls of turf.
‘How about I whip you up some brioche French toast with maple syrup?’ he offers as I park up and we head around to the boot. ‘Darn it, I should have bought some streaky bacon, but I suspect ours is cut too thick to make it really crispy, anyway.’
‘I’ll eat anything, you know me.’
Walking through the orchard with our hands full of carrier bags, when the back of the cottage comes into view we see that Pete and his team of two are already hard at work.
‘There you go. I reckon they’ll have that patio laid by the end of the day. Then it’s a case of re-planting the borders, a bit of levelling here and there, then turfing the trampled areas. They didn’t bring any plants – are you getting them from work?’
I nod. ‘Yes. They’re lined up around the side of the outhouse. I had the pick of this week’s delivery on Monday. We’d better head for the front door to save disturbing them.’
As we walk around the side of the cottage, a man is just opening the front gate.
‘I’m assuming I have the right place,’ he says, checking the sheet in his hand. ‘Mrs Tolliman?’
Glancing across at Gray, I can’t resist a little smirk. ‘Yes.’
