Coming Home to Jasmine Cottage

by Zara Stoneley

  ‘They’ve not even told your or Sally’s parents yet?’ Lucy sat up again in astonishment. Jamie’s plans were all about a surprise for Sally, but she’d really thought that they’d have told at least family about their sudden decision to run off to Gretna Green and tie the knot.

  ‘Nope. I told Jamie I’d do it myself if he didn’t get on with it soon, our mum will be real put out if she thinks she’s the last to find out.’ There was a pause. ‘So you’ll be there when we light the bonfire?’

  ‘You could tell Jill, under cover of the firework bangs,’ she tried not to smile, ‘then she could tell me?’

  ‘I need you, Luce. If you don’t come I’m in deep shit. We need you to help come up with a plan.’

  ‘Oh you’re so melodramatic Matt Harwood, you’d be better on the stage than that farm. I feel sorry for your cows.’ But she knew she was being a bit mean, she really was. He’d done loads for her since she’d moved in, and now he was asking for just a bit of support in return. ‘I’ll be there.’ She sighed, and pulled the plug out with her toe. ‘Give me half an hour.’ Life would be a lot easier if he’d admit to the massive crush he had on Jill, and actually ask her out, instead of using Lucy as a chaperone. She was sure that it was mutual. She was also pretty sure that Jill hadn’t had a relationship since her husband had died. And from the way she blushed whenever Matt came over for a chat, she was ready to enter the dating scene again.

  Lucy towelled her hair. She needed to go, and it wasn’t just to help Matt out with his secret project. She was going to find a way to play cupid if it killed her.

  Putting on jeans, a thick jumper, gloves and a woolly hat she locked Piper securely in the kitchen, and made sure that all the other animals were safe. ‘You wouldn’t like the bangs poppet, you’re much better off here.’ She kissed the puppy on her nose, and she slunk back into her basket looking mournful. ‘Don’t look at me like that; it’s for your own good.’ Her tail flapped listlessly and Lucy couldn’t help but smile. Little Piper had three main interests in life, eating, cuddling up with Lucy, and going for walks. The second Lucy put her shoes on, or picked up the lead she was there – at the door, her tail wagging so hard her whole body did a wriggle.

  It was the perfect night as Lucy strolled down the garden path. Most of the morning cloud had disappeared, to leave an infinite inky blackness that was sprinkled with sequins of stars.

  She hugged her coat to her as she walked back down the lane, past Elsie’s house which was shrouded in darkness and across the square. She could hear the buzz of voices as she drew nearer to the cricket pitch, where the crowds were already gathering.

  There was a winter chill in the air, but around her everybody was wrapped up warmly in thick coats and scarves, and the children were running around excitedly.

  ‘Miss, Miss.’ Sophie, one of the children from her class, slid to a breathless halt in front of her. Clutched in her mitten-clad hand was a sparkler, which she was waving about far too wildly. ‘My mam says I can write my name with this, look.’

  ‘That’s brilliant, Sophie.’

  ‘I can do it better.’ Joe had joined them and was doing a very slow and deliberate wave of his own sparkler, which she had to admit she preferred even if it wasn’t very effective.

  ‘Got to go, my mam said I had to be quick or all the apples would be gone.’

  Lucy shook her head and grinned as the two children ran off.

  ‘Hey.’ She glanced up as the deep voice echoed across, to see Matt and Jill. They were stood side by side, but at a very respectable distance from each other, near to the barbecue – which had already drawn a good crowd.

  ‘Am I glad to see you.’ Jill grinned. ‘I thought you weren’t coming, and I’d be stuck with this loony on my own.’

  ‘Miss the event of the year?’ She raised an eyebrow at Matt, who shrugged good-naturedly.

  ‘It is, I told you, it’s the main event. Everything else is child’s play. You wait until you see the fireworks, and if Jim and his cronies don’t let us down we’ll have music.’

  ‘Jim’s here?’ Lucy looked around, she hadn’t spotted him yet.

  ‘Everybody is here, Lucy. He’s behind the apple-bobbing tent, setting up his music with Timothy, and Elsie is overseeing it.’

  ‘Elsie?’ She looked at Jill with a worried frown. ‘Isn’t it a bit damp and cold for her?’

  ‘It’s tradition.’ Jill shrugged helplessly. ‘You know what she’s like, she doesn’t trust the men to get it right, and she’s always been involved. I think really she wants to make sure they don’t replace Handel with some “modern tosh” as she puts it.’

  ‘Ahh.’

  ‘They do the music, and I,’ Matt did a flourish and bow, ‘I’m in charge of the fireworks.’ He grinned, and waved what Lucy took to be the stick he was going to light them with.

  Jill pulled a face at Lucy. ‘Thank God you’re here. Tell me it isn’t true. That’s like putting Billy in charge of tidying away the skipping ropes.’

  Lucy cringed at the unwelcome memories that crowded her head. During the May Day rehearsals, Billy had used the ribbons to tie more than one child to the maypole with the type of knots that a sailor would have been proud of. He was master of the knot that could never be undone.

  Matt shook his head. ‘Most upsetting.’ But he didn’t look upset. ‘Now then we need a conflab.’ He put one arm round Jill’s shoulder, and draped the other over Lucy, drawing them in close. ‘I’ll bugger this up if you leave me to my own devices, and I’ve been told that if I bugger it up then I’m dead.’

  Jill put her head on one side. ‘At least life would be quieter in Langtry Meadows then.’

  ‘I’m wounded.’ He put a hand over his heart, and Lucy wondered if she really needed to be there. Maybe she could sneak off? ‘Uh, oh, don’t look now, it’s Sally and the grumpy super vet.’

  They looked. Sally was bouncing across the grass towards them, in her flowery wellies, and Charlie was following at a more sedate pace.

  ‘What am I missing out on?’ Sally hugged Lucy, and pulled a face at Matt. ‘Sorry we’re so late.’

  ‘We’re just wondering if letting Matt set the fireworks off is a good idea.’

  ‘I doubt it, he’s like a big kid. You will never believe the day we’ve had, will they Charlie?’ Charlie, who had followed her over smiled at Lucy, and narrowed his eyes at Matt, who very gracefully let his arm fall to his side, as though he’d no idea how it came to be wrapped round Lucy. ‘We’ve only just finished, well we had to leave Eric in charge. We’ve been dishing out tranquilisers to the adults and pheromones to the cats and dogs, tablets, plug-ins, you name it.’

  ‘You haven’t?’ Lucy was pretty sure there was some kind of law about vets administering drugs to people. She glanced from Sally to Charlie, and back again.

  ‘Oh God we have. It’s always the same, they all come in last minute and want them doping up.’

  ‘People?’

  ‘Animals you noddle, cats and dogs. Honestly.’ She shook her head. ‘You’re so gullible; I’m surprised you cope with those kids.’

  ‘She’s different at school.’ Jill chipped in supportively.

  ‘Just leaves her brain there.’ Matt added unhelpfully, and received a kick on the shin from Sally.

  ‘That’s nasty Matt Harwood!’

  ‘Or leaves it in the bath with all those lovely bubbles.’ He winked at Lucy, who blushed, she just couldn’t help it. Now what was she supposed to say? If she told Charlie that Matt had called while she was in the bath, then he’d want to know why he was ringing, and she couldn’t exactly explain, because one, the person they wanted to surprise was stood in front of her, and two, Jamie had told them not to tell anybody at all.

  ‘Haven’t you got a rocket to go off and light, or something?’ Luckily, Sally didn’t seem to have noticed her dilemma.

  Matt shook his head. ‘Honestly, I don’t know how Jamie puts up with the abuse. Where’s he got to by the way?’

  �
�Helping guard the bonfire.’ They all glanced over towards the recently lit bonfire. Jamie and a couple of the other farmers were doing their best to keep the tape around it up, and the children back. Sparklers in hands, the small army of children were pressing against the tape, mesmerised by the flames which had only just started to flicker at the feet of the guy on top. ‘Which is what I assume you’re supposed to be doing, instead of gassing.’

  ‘It’ll be alright once it gets going properly, the heat will drive the little buggers back. Anyway, what do you mean, gassing? Me?’

  ‘You look like you’re plotting, Harwood. I know that look.’

  Matt plastered a look of injured innocence across his features. ‘You’ve got such a suspicious mind Sally. I was just asking if Lucy wanted to be part of my dog walking club, now she’s got that pup.’

  ‘Dog walking club?’ Sally raised a suspicious eyebrow. ‘There’s no dog walking club in Langtry Meadows.’

  ‘Well I thought we should have one, a very small club. Lucy and me.’ He winked at Jill. ‘And Jill if she wants, but not you Sal cos you’re far too busy,’ he paused, ‘and you haven’t got a dog.’

  ‘Nor has Jill.’ Sally folded her arms, obviously convinced he was up to something.

  ‘She can borrow one of Jamie’s whippets.’

  Jill laughed. ‘I’m not sure I want to be part of your dog walking club Matt, I have enough trouble keeping kids in order.’

  He shrugged. ‘Please yourself. Right, I’m off, I’ve got fuses to light. Back in a bit.’

  ‘That man is up to no good.’ Sally shook her head, then looked at Jill and Lucy. ‘You wouldn’t know what he’s plotting?’ They shook their heads.

  ‘Not a clue. Blowing something up? After all it is Bonfire Night.’

  ‘Hmm. He’s acting just like he used to at school, all smug and self-satisfied, just before a bucket of water drops on a teacher’s head.’

  ‘Well it better not be my head!’ Lucy laughed, and was pretty sure the moment had passed. She glanced at Charlie, who seemed to have visibly relaxed the moment Matt had walked off.

  ‘Is it safe to put him in charge of explosive devices?’ His voice was dry, but there was a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

  ‘Probably not.’ Lucy shrugged. ‘Not our problem. Where’s Maisie?’ She’d suddenly realised his daughter wasn’t with him.

  ‘She’s over by the fire with some of the other kids, Becky brought her down a bit earlier seeing as we were tied up at the surgery. She said she’d keep an eye on her, she’s obsessed with watching flames.’

  ‘Sounds a dangerous hobby.’ Jill grinned. ‘Oh well, I better get off, I said I’d help Matt. Or rather I’d keep an eye on him, he promised me ear muffs and a hard hat. I’ll, er, fill you in later, Lucy.’

  ‘Fill you in?’ Charlie and Sally stared at her.

  ‘School stuff.’ She knew she’d gone pink, but maybe they could put that down to the heat of the fire, that was already well alight. ‘We’ve got to plan the Christmas stuff and er, I think she’s asking about the stable, or something.’ She had a vague memory that Jill had said something about Matt providing the stable, so she wasn’t exactly lying.

  Jill gave her the thumbs up. ‘Baby in a manger and all that.’

  Lucy gave a sigh of relief and hoped nobody had noticed.

  ‘Boring! I’m going to find Jamie.’ Sally winked at Lucy, her left hand stuffed deep in her pocket.

  ‘Are you sure you’re not all up to something?’ Charlie’s deep voice was so close to her ear she could feel his warm breath, and it sent a shiver of anticipation straight through her body. It would be so good when everything was settled with Maisie, when they could go back to being, well, more hands on again. She missed the touch of his hand, the heat of his body against hers. Even if she’d only experienced it a few times. Before Josie and Maisie had arrived on the scene. ‘You looked thick as thieves.’

  ‘Are you calling me a thief?’ She laughed, trying to joke it off, and ignore the tingle of her body.

  He didn’t move away, and she didn’t want him to. ‘I know your secret.’ The words were so soft, nobody else could have heard them, but Lucy felt a shiver of alarm. How could he know? How could anybody know apart from her, Jill and the Harwood brothers? They hadn’t even actually managed to make any progress with plans yet, and she was fairly sure that Matt wouldn’t have told anybody else. He’d only told Jill because he was mad about her, and it was an excuse to spend more time together – even if he wouldn’t admit it to anybody.

  ‘You …’

  ‘She thinks I haven’t noticed.’ Charlie’s voice was dry, and when she glanced up he was watching Sally as she got nearer to Jamie. A skip still in her step. He put an arm round Lucy’s shoulder and pulled her even closer. ‘So that’s what the weekend off was about.’

  Lucy felt a sudden wave of relief. She looked up, half expecting him to be cross, but although his face was serious, his eyes were sparkling. That was what he knew. Which was good, but bad, because really she was dying to let him in on Jamie’s secret plan. But she shouldn’t, but if he’d pushed …

  ‘You know?’

  ‘I spotted the wedding ring, I mean, have you ever seen a veterinary nurse trying to keep one hand stuffed in her pocket?’ He grinned. ‘It’s hilarious when she’s trying to book appointments in on the computer, and as for when she’s counting pills out.’ He shook his head. ‘And she’s completely out of it, on cloud nine. She didn’t even notice when Eric double booked today’s surgery which is why we were so bloody late finishing. That dreamy look doesn’t come from a weekend walking round the shops.’ He chuckled. ‘She’s been walking round whistling all week, very disconcerting. She even kissed Maisie when she came over to look at our new home, I’ve only ever seen her kiss furry things before.’

  ‘And Jamie.’

  ‘He’s a bit furry too.’

  ‘And you haven’t told her you know?’

  ‘No way, I’m having far too much fun.’ He paused. ‘I suppose Eric wasn’t in on this?’

  ‘I think he was.’

  He shook his head. ‘No wonder I left this place, a load of old schemers.’

  ‘She only told me right at the last minute, she wanted a girlie night, somebody to be excited with her.’ She slipped her arm through his. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t want to hide anything from you, I hate secrets.’ She’d vowed never to have any secrets ever again, most of her young life had been based on secrets her mother had kept with the best of intentions.

  He put an arm round her shoulder, pulled her in against his warm, safe body. ‘I know, don’t worry. I knew there was something going on, and Eric doesn’t quite fit that bill of girlie friend I suppose.’

  ‘Not really.’

  ‘So this was to avoid her mum throwing a big bash and going completely overboard?’

  ‘It was.’

  ‘She’s going to have to own up soon, I mean if I noticed the ring, me, a mere unobservant man, then her mum will.’

  ‘You’re no mere man.’ She reached up and kissed his cheek. ‘But you’re right. I wonder if her mum has already realised, but is waiting to be told?’

  ‘Probably. I can understand why she did it though.’

  ‘You know her family?’

  ‘Oh yes, her mother would have been booking a cathedral and a bishop.’

  ‘You can’t blame them then. Matt thinks they’re going to break the news in the pub tonight, after they’ve all had a drink.’ Lucy could just make out the huddle of Sally and Jamie. She was pleased for them, but the rate she was going she’d never have any type of wedding herself, let alone one with big hats and a fanfare. ‘Did you have a big wedding?’

  She couldn’t help herself, the words just came out.

  ‘Me and Josie? Yeah, the works. Extravagant was not the word, I felt a right dick in top hat and tails.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘I should have realised then that we had different agendas. Come on, looks like the fire
works are about to start, let’s go and find Maisie.’

  Matt managed to let the fireworks off without setting himself, or anything else that wasn’t scheduled, on fire. The finale of the music was a good two minutes in advance of the end, which made everybody (apart from Elsie) laugh, and the bonfire – once it got going – was so hot it drove everybody well back, which relieved Jamie and Sally of their fire-guarding duties.

  ‘Maisie’s tired, I think it’s past her bed time. Fancy a stroll back?’

  Lucy looked over towards the barbecue. From the gesturing, Jill and Matt seemed engrossed in a conversation about beef burgers. Over by the dying embers of the fire, Sally and Jamie were sat on the grass, oblivious to the damp, hand in hand. She had promised to stay and have a chat to Jill, but now was not the right time.

  ‘Sure. Matt and Jill look happy together, don’t they?’

  ‘They certainly do.’ Charlie lifted Maisie onto his shoulders. ‘That man needs removing from the eligible bachelors list.’

  ‘Do I detect a hint of jealousy Charlie Davenport?’

  ‘You certainly do Miss Jacobs.’ He smiled at her. A warm, cuddly type of smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes and brought a dimple to his chin, then his voice softened. A hint of seriousness crept into his face. ‘We’ll get through this, won’t we?’

  ‘We will.’ She slipped her hand in his.

  ‘I can’t let her destroy us.’

  ‘She won’t Charlie. And we’ll make sure Maisie’s okay.’

  He smiled, the smile lighting up his features. ‘I like the sound of that.’