by Susie Martyn
The food was tasty. Not as fancy as the Goat, but good plain pub fare – steak and kidney pie, ploughman’s… that sort of thing. And after the last few days, Lizzie liked that they were alone. Tom was good company but so far, she hadn’t gleaned much more about him than the nuts and bolts everyday stuff rather than the deeper, more soul-searching meaning-of-life type of talking. Everything I’m so good at myself...
Further along the canal bank sat a couple. A rather sleek, polished girl with shiny bobbed fair hair and high heels, who raised one eyebrow as she spotted Tom. She watched quietly for a while, her eyes not leaving him for a second, then she spotted the girl he was with. Then absolutely couldn’t resist any longer just walking casually by, jogging his shoulder.
‘Oh I’m so sorry…’ spoken in such soft, lady-like tones, followed by, ‘Goodness! Tom? What a surprise! Oh how lovely to see you! After all this time! Simon? Look who it is! It’s Tom! Tom Woodleigh…’
Silenced, dumbfounded, Lizzie found herself deliberately snubbed. The intimate mood was shattered in an instant as she sat back and watched with disbelief as ‘Lucy’, as Tom had introduced her, completely took over.
The fish that Lizzie had carefully chosen earlier was suddenly bland and tasteless, and the French bread stuck in her throat, threatening to choke her. Tom himself was looking most uncomfortable. The atmosphere of just minutes ago, that air of unspoken promise, that hint at seduction, it had all just vaporised leaving Lizzie overshadowed in every sense, as she watched the old friends catch up.
‘What brings you here of all places?’ Tom had asked her.
‘Oh, Simon and I were in Cirencester for the weekend,’ she replied airily. ‘And you?’
‘Susie got married on Saturday… Lizzie did her flowers actually…’
With barely a glance at Lizzie, Lucy had raised those neatly arched eyebrows and said casually, ‘Of course, you had the family wedding... I’d heard about that. How is Bella by the way?’
Her words were just a touch too familiar, and in that split second, Lizzie was on to her. This was no accident. Suddenly she had no doubt whatsoever that Lucy had carefully engineered the whole meeting, staking out the pub, biding her time, waiting for Tom to show. The gleam in her eyes said it all.
‘She’s well,’ said Tom. ‘Actually, we were just about to eat…’
‘Oh, then we’ll join you, won’t we Simon… we’ve so much to catch up on…’ And that was that.
Lucy dominated. Holding his attention, as she chatted away, with an ‘oh you must remember this, Tom’, and ‘Oh Tom, remember that time…’
There was no stopping her. Lizzie could feel Tom gradually becoming distanced, as he didn’t meet her eye. Such a very different Tom to earlier. Simon too was less than impressed. Making only half-hearted attempts to join in, he eventually gave up and stared miserably into his pint.
It was the longest lunchtime ever before ‘last orders’ was shouted for the final time. They’d all wandered out to the car park together, where Lucy had hugged him far too closely, before she kissed him goodbye. Lizzie had felt slightly sick. And Lucy had smiled coldly at her, the smile not reaching her eyes, as she offered a limp hand in Lizzie’s direction.
On the way home, Tom had tried to make light of Lucy’s presence.
‘Nice seeing her again,’ he remarked casually, before lapsing into silence.
Back in Littleton, the kiss that they’d both anticipated earlier was reduced to
a dry brush of lips on cheeks, as Tom stayed in his car.
‘I’ll call you,’ he said, not quite looking at her, before driving off up the lane.
Chapter 30
But he didn’t.
‘It’s timing,’ Julia had told her. ‘There’s something in his life he’s holding on to… All you can do is let him go, Lizzie. If it’s meant to be, he’ll find you.’
‘But it just seemed so…right,’ said a baffled Lizzie, struggling to find the right word.
‘Oh Lizzie… not if it isn’t for Tom…’
Life was definitely back to normal again, Lizzie thought to herself. Well, almost…She still felt let down – she couldn’t help it. What she thought she’d sensed between her and Tom was unresolved, but the last thing she needed was another screwed up man. Get over him, she told herself, he’s no different. They’re all the same... And actually, amazingly, it seemed she had.
Work had very briefly quietened, but not for very long. No sooner was one party over, than the next one loomed. Edward’s. Ginny had been on the phone, double checking that the garden was on schedule. Lizzie had hastened to reassure her, hiding the sudden sense of panic because actually, the party was next weekend. Since finding Ginny an emotional wreck, Lizzie had become quietly admiring of her stoical brightness, and the smiling, if botoxed, face that she always presented to the world. So many women simply couldn’t do that, thought Lizzie, though somehow she suspected that Edward hadn’t heard the end of this.
After Miriam’s anxious phone-call, Lizzie had driven up to Hethecote to see her. Even mid-week the farm was busy and Miriam was looking flustered.
‘Oh Lizzie, it’s awfully good of you to come, but I’m afraid I can’t stop.’
‘Don’t worry – I’ll help for a bit. What would you like me to do?’
Despatched to a distant field to catch Hairy Mary and another small pony, as Lizzie wandered back she was thinking. Supervising loads of people interacting with the animals just wasn’t practical – there weren’t the staff. But they badly needed the income… they had to think of something.
‘Gin, Lizzie?’ asked Miriam when they’d closed and pouring herself a double.
‘Just a small one,’ said Lizzie, who knew Miriam’s gins. ‘You see, I’ve been thinking…’
Miriam listened carefully as Lizzie outlined her idea. Her suggestion was that Miriam should keep two or three days a week where people had to book and offer unlimited, escorted access to the animals. That way she could plan the number of helpers available. The rest of the time anyone could just turn up and wander around the farm on their own like before, gardens included.
At the end Miriam sounded doubtful. ‘I just don’t know… It’s quite a change… We’d have to make sure everyone knew… Would we charge more for the bookings?’
Lizzie nodded. ‘But you could still offer discounts to your special cases…’
‘I don’t know…I’ll think about it.’
Lizzie called in on Antonia to run the idea past her, and noticed not only Tim’s but Leo’s cars, parked outside on the lane. And as she walked into Antonia’s kitchen it became clear it was the fateful day.
‘Darling! Everyone’s here, isn’t it marvellous? Have a glass of wine and come and watch!’ Antonia was full of enthusiasm.
Tim was washing his hands. ‘Hi Lizzie!’
Leo stood in the corner of the kitchen and winked at her, as sexy as ever, even in filthy jeans and smelling like a farmyard. He gave Lizzie one of his self-effacing smiles which utterly failed to impress. And in another corner stood Dave, glaring suspiciously at all of them.
‘Um Antonia, I can’t believe this is really happening in your kitchen…’ said a disbelieving Lizzie.
‘Why the devil not?’ said Antonia utterly perplexed.
‘Anyway, this isn’t why I came round,’ said Lizzie. ‘Look, it’s Miriam. There’s been an influx of visitors at the farm! She’s worried about coping with them all. I had this idea that she could open for two days the way she used to – you know, showing people around and helping the children handle the animals, and the rest of the time, anyone can just turn up. What do you think?’
‘Golly darling… is she really that busy?’
‘It’s a good idea, Lizzie,’ called Tim across the kitchen. ‘If she wants to make more money, something’s got to change. ‘I’ll call in tomorrow and have a chat with her.’
‘Antonia…what’s this?’ Lizzie had spied what looked like a manuscript spread across the end of the table.
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‘Oh darling, you absolutely have to read it! It’s Cindy’s book! It’s a thriller – frightfully exciting! About a serial murderer called Kevin. Her ex-husband’s Kevin! I bet it’s about him! It’s really quite deliciously scandalous…’
After it was all over, Dave came too, lying groggily in a corner of the kitchen on an old blanket, minus two rather impressive attributes.
‘I may as well have them for the dogs,’ said Antonia casually. ‘They’d love them. No point in them going to waste...’
Leo obediently fished them out of a bucket and passed them to her as if they were apples, as Lizzie looked on appalled.
‘Thanks awfully,’ said Antonia, taking them and putting them in the fridge. ‘Gosh, jolly big aren’t they?’ she added.
‘Now, shall we all go to the pub? I’m meeting Tobes….Shall I see you all down there?’
‘Leo? Any plans?’
‘No. Just been stood up actually...’ He looked up from his mobile, puzzled. Lizzie and Tim laughed.
‘It’s something that happens to us mere mortals, mate,’ said Tim. ‘Though judging from your face, I guess not to you?’
Leo’s face was indeed a picture. ‘Her husband got home early. Oh well, plenty more fish in the sea.’
Lizzie gasped, just as Leo winked at her. ‘Don’t look so shocked! Actually I’m worth the trouble… as you’d find out if you gave me half a chance...’ he added, his meaning adequately clear.
‘Look, I think I better stay and keep an eye on Dave for a bit,’ said Tim. ‘Just until Cassie gets home. I’ll see you down there in a while.’
As they walked outside, Leo turned to Lizzie, grinned lasciviously and waggled his eyebrows at her. She gave him a stern look. Now that she no longer harboured obscene fantasies about him, she refused to put up with his nonsense.
‘No funny stuff. Or I’ll tell everybody about your escapades with Matilda Blenkinsopp. Oh yes, I know who stood you up. I’ve been doing her garden for the last six months and you’re not exactly discrete... Ha! You didn’t know that did you...’
Leo held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. Some girls were no fun at all, he thought, but actually Lizzie was alright. Rather like one of his sisters.
‘In that case, if you’re really not going to succumb to my manly charms, can I at least buy you a drink?’
He wasn’t all bad, thought Lizzie. At least he seemed a good vet. Then she had an idea.
‘Leo? Are you free next weekend?’ Leo’s ears pricked up. Had she changed her mind? But any licentious thoughts were soon crushed, as Lizzie continued.
‘Saturday night? To come to a party with me? As my guest? It’s a client of mine, so you would have to promise to be on your absolutely very best behaviour...’
Famous last words. And Leo never could resist a party.
Dave was very quiet for a couple of days, barely baa-ing at all. And walking with his back legs spread very wide apart, he looked like a cowboy from an old John Wayne film, which Antonia found hilarious.
Ginny’s awful mother had thankfully long since departed and thanks to some assistance from Alice, Lizzie had nearly finished the planting. Ginny, however had gone missing.
‘I’m not sure where she is,’ said Alice. ‘She was being quite mysterious. I think she’s up to something – Mummy doesn’t do mysterious very well.’
Ginny rushed back in due course, the highlighted hair slightly dishevelled and with what looked like a damp patch on her lilac jeans. Her face was looking a lot less taut, noticed Lizzie and she was carrying a small, ginger bundle which she held out to her daughter.
‘Oh Mummy…’
‘It’s yours, my dear little Alice…’
‘Oh…’ Alice gently stroked the little creature which stared back at her out of the widest eyes. ‘Thank you Mummy! So much! I’ve always wanted a kitten…’ She frowned. ‘But what will Daddy say? Isn’t he allergic to cats?’
‘Nonsense,’ squeaked Ginny dismissively. ‘Complete poppycock. All that twaddle about allergies is nothing but a load of old codswallop. He doesn’t like the hairs on his trousers, that’s all.’
So the gloves were off then. Edward better be watching his back...
‘She’s all yours darling,’ said Ginny, practically purring herself. ‘She was bred by a woman with a funny sounding name… Mrs…’
‘Einstein?’ said Lizzie. Her cats seemed to be all over the place.
‘That’s it! Now how did you know that! You’ll have to think of a name for her...’ she said to Alice.
But Alice had a grin on her face. ‘Tom’, she said, giggling. ‘I’m going to call her Tom.’
‘Don’t be silly darling, that’s a boy’s name,’ Ginny looked confused.
But Lizzie got it. Alice was about to drive those annoying sisters of hers completely up the wall.
Much later that afternoon, Lizzie called in on Bella Woodleigh. The marquee had been dismantled and there was little to indicate the wedding had ever happened, except for the missing delphiniums.
Lizzie found her in the garden, looking more lady of the manor than she usually did in a long linen skirt and battered floppy hat, wandering around slightly distractedly as she did the last bit of tidying up.
‘Lizzie! How lovely! Honestly, if I’d known how tiring this would all be, I might just have thought twice…Come and have a drink. I have the first photos from the wedding. Would you like to see them?’
Bella couldn’t help but notice how Lizzie's cheeks flushed with pink as she handed her the pictures of Tom. How handsome he looked in that morning suit… but then he was her son. She'd also with great interest noticed them together at the wedding. With surprise too, given Tom’s usual type of girlfriend. But perhaps now was not the time to mention anything, so instead, ever diplomatic, she got onto the subject of her next project.
‘Now Lizzie dear, what I’d really like you to do is come and look at my favourite corner of garden. No-one else in the family takes any notice of it, but I think that perhaps you might understand…’
They wandered back outside and through an arch in the wall that Lizzie hadn’t seen before. ‘It’s in here. Horribly neglected, I’m ashamed to say, but please tell me honestly what you think...’
Lizzie took a deep breath as her eyes took it all in. It was beautiful - and crumbling. But an air of derelict grandeur had remained, with a small pond built of stone in the centre, its walls collapsed in places, but careful planting would both draw the eye and compliment the decay. It needed to stay a bit wild, thought Lizzie. Perhaps Bella was right when she had imagined making it look a bit like her own garden at home.
‘I absolutely love it, and I think I know exactly what to do…’
Bella nodded. She’d guessed Lizzie would feel the magic of her own favourite corner of these enormous gardens. Listening enthralled as Lizzie outlined how she’d plant this rose here, and that particular one over there because it was low growing and would thrive where the wall was tumbling down. How she’d throw wildflower seeds to flourish where it suited them and place a bench in the furthest corner where it would catch the evening sun.
As they walked back to the house, something was puzzling Bella.
‘It’s none of my business Lizzie, but how did you end up living in Littleton? It’s barely on the map and you have to admit, it is a little odd…’ She broke off and looked at Lizzie.
Hesitating only briefly, Lizzie told Bella about Jamie. It seemed ridiculous now to think they’d been a couple. She even told her about her mother, and Bella’s heart went out to her. She described how she’d decided on a career change, and uncannily, how she’d stumbled across Littleton completely by accident before she knew she even needed somewhere.
‘One minute I was passing through, then I saw the cottage… I wasn’t even thinking about staying, but suddenly it just felt right…’ she said thoughtfully.
Bella touched her arm. ‘Just the right place at the right time by the sound of it.’
Lizzie
frowned. Everyone kept talking about timing… was it really so important?
‘Actually, I think I know what you mean… ‘ she continued. ‘It was a long time ago but before I came here, I was engaged to someone else - a wealthy banker, as it happens. I very nearly married him… It would have been a privileged life in some respects, but I could never quite see myself like that… And in the end, well, Harry made the decision for me and swept me off my feet.’ A reflective look crossed her face. ‘And then, when I first came here, I fell in love again, with this glorious old house, with all its draughty windows and shabby curtains. But from the minute I walked in, I felt at home. I’ve never had a single regret. It’s as though some things are just meant to happen...’
Before she left, Lizzie agreed that as soon as Ginny’s garden was finished, Bella’s would be top of her list. How long would she stay, Bella wondered, watching her walk down the drive. After all, once she’d finished putting together the pieces of her shattered life, and she was well on the way to doing that, what else was there for her here?
There was a disagreement going on in the Star when Lizzie got there.
‘Anyway, Antonia,’ Tim was saying. ’Hold on a moment. Have you ever stopped and thought about what you spend on all Hamish’s titivating? That is the most pampered equine I’ve ever come across, even round here. Remember last year when he was daft enough to climb into the hedge and ripped himself to shreds on some barbed wire you didn’t know was there? You couldn’t ride him for weeks and he cost you a small fortune in vets bills…’
‘She’s moaning about the cost of castrating Dave,’ said Leo. ‘Tim’s hardly ripping her off. Of course, if it were a horse, she wouldn’t bat an eyelid…’
‘Horses are completely different,’ retorted Antonia. ‘Intelligent, affectionate, clever…’
