‘I had a break for about ten years,’ she said, standing up.
‘Not in the countryside?’
She thought of the endless oceans she had sailed across. ‘No. I think we’ve got some arnica somewhere if you’ve bruised your elbow.’
‘I’ll live.’ Sam stood up and went across the room to pick up the kettle. ‘I hear coffee’s good for shock anyway,’ he said, heading across to fill it up from the tap. But nothing came out when he turned the tap.
‘I thought it was just the hot water that wasn’t working?’
‘I forgot to tell you,’ she told him. ‘There’s no water at all in the kitchen now. Apparently it’s a luxury that we can do without for the time being. So I’ve been told.’
Sam ran his hand through his hair. ‘Right,’ he said, with a frown. ‘I see.’
‘Thankfully the washing machine in the utility room is still working,’ she added. ‘For now.’
‘Great,’ said Sam, looking up at her. ‘I hate to ask you when there’s so much else going on but are you able to do some washing for me this morning? I’m getting a bit low on clothes and won’t have time to get back to my flat as I’ve only got a quick turnaround before I head to the airport in a couple of days.’
‘Of course,’ said Annie. ‘No problem.’
She could handle the ancient washing machine. It just needed a bit of a kick to get it going sometimes but it would be fine.
Or so she thought.
Except when she drew out the wet clothes later that morning, she realised that his black jumper was looking somewhat smaller than she remembered. She pulled at each sleeve, willing them to grow longer but to no avail. It was only when she checked the label and saw that as it was cashmere and should have been gently hand-washed, that she groaned.
She was the worst housekeeper in the world. She couldn’t even do a load of washing properly. Thankfully she was able to pass it off as machine error.
‘It’s such an ancient thing, I’m afraid,’ she said, showing the shrunken jumper to Sam. ‘It’s ruined so many clothes.’
Except it hadn’t, because neither she nor Arthur had ever worn cashmere.
Sam shrugged his shoulders. ‘Oh well. You’d better throw it out. I’ve got plenty more somewhere. No worries.’
Annie was relieved but more than a little surprised at his response. Wanting to take advantage of his good mood, she asked, ‘Could you have a look at Arthur’s paperwork at some point? I’m sure there’re some bills that need paying but I can’t make head nor tail of his system. And I thought you might want to look at the financial stuff yourself before I pack it away for safekeeping.’
‘Sure,’ he said, breaking into a smile which made him look far younger and more attractive. ‘Contracts and paperwork I can handle.’
Annie was finding the new, improved, agreeable Sam even more unsettling than the grumpy version she had originally encountered.
*
Wandering into the study, Sam found himself feeling a little more cheerful that morning. For some reason, the slight bruising on his arm when Annie had fallen on him made him feel happier rather than cross at that particular memory.
But after an hour of ploughing through all the papers on Arthur’s desk, he was despondent once more. The finances were in a far worse state than he could have imagined. The house had enormous overheads, most especially from its dilapidated state. But even when renovated, there was still the most pressing problem of the estate having no income. The bills would continue to be huge and the debts would keep racking up. And of course there was the matter of the renovations that would need settling first, even though Kevin had yet to send him any update of the ongoing repairs.
He briefly considered opening up the hall to the paying public before dismissing the idea. His grandfather would never agree to it. Besides, he himself hated the idea of strangers spying around their home. And that was the problem; it was a home not a business.
He wondered about the books in the library. Maybe he could sell some of the first editions. But not the children’s books, he found himself thinking. His parents had read many of the stories aloud to him and his brother. And so had his grandad, he remembered. He had forgotten but now he had a vivid memory of Arthur reading The Jungle Book aloud to him, along with all the different voices for the characters. As he had apparently read to his own son thirty years previously.
Sam suddenly realised he had been so lost in his own grief of losing his parents that he had never thought about everyone else’s loss. Had his grandfather grieved for his son? Of course he must have. But he hadn’t shown it. Too busy bringing up two teenage boys and trying to keep Willow Tree Hall afloat.
And then he’d lost his own wife. Will and Sam were all he had now, apart from Rose.
Surely they could be a family once more? But how?
He looked back down at the papers in front of him. Willow Tree Hall was sinking fast and he had no idea how to save it.
The door to the study opened and his Aunt Rose appeared, holding a hot mug of tea.
‘Here you are,’ she said with a warm smile. ‘I just popped in for a gossip with Annie and heard you were in here. Tea makes everything better.’
He sighed, looking across the endless figures on the scattered papers in front of him. ‘You know, some people rent out their place to bring in some money.’
Rose frowned. ‘I’m not sure we want some drunk businessmen staggering around the place.’
‘I mean for as a setting for fashion shoots or even television sets.’
‘Or movies?’ Rose brightened up. ‘I wouldn’t say no to Tom Hiddleston turning up on my doorstep. Or in my bedroom either. But I’m not sure Arthur would want strangers tramping over the house.’
‘You think we should just carry on in a cheerful state of bankruptcy?’ asked Sam, trying to keep his tone light so his Aunt didn’t get upset.
Rose gave him a smile and a reassuring pat on the hand. ‘I wouldn't worry, darling. I’m sure prosperity's just around the corner.’
Sam grimaced. ‘I wish I knew which corner it was hiding behind,’ he replied, as she left the room.
An hour later, there was a gentle knock on the door of the study before Annie came in.
Sam felt pleased to see her. ‘I wanted to pick your brains about something,’ he began before realising she wasn’t listening.
Annie peered back out towards the entrance hall before turning to face him once more. ‘You have a visitor,’ she told him in a stilted tone.
Sam frowned. ‘I do?’
Annie nodded, just as he heard a chorus of wolf whistles ring out from nearby.
Swiftly getting up, Sam followed her into the entrance hall and found Cassandra surrounded by a group of adoring builders.
‘Baby!’ she cried, giving him a teasing wave before going back to signing autographs on pieces of paper and, lastly, on a plumber’s broad hairy chest.
Like the superstar that she was, she took it all in her stride. He noted with a frown that she was wearing what looked like a real fur coat. She had only recently shot an ad for PETA and had sworn blind in an interview that she was vegetarian. A fact he knew was untrue as she had a penchant for Big Macs, although her skinny figure didn’t show this.
He was somewhat surprised to see her. He was pretty certain she hadn’t told him that she was coming to visit the hall. It should have been a nice surprise but he would have liked Cassandra to have checked with him first, especially given the current state of the place.
Finally, she broke through the crowd and tottered over to him in her high heels before wrapping her arms around his neck. ‘Surprise,’ she murmured against his lips.
‘It certainly is,’ he replied, enjoying the rare show of affection. Perhaps he had missed her more than he had realised.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Annie who quickly looked away from their embrace. Her jeans and baggy sweater were in marked contrast to the glamorous singer in his arms. She was also looking dusty, as was he, presuma
bly.
‘Cassie,’ he said, removing the hands that were still around his neck. ‘This is my grandfather’s housekeeper, Annie.’
Cassandra turned her head and snapped, ‘Lemon tea. No sugar,’ over her shoulder before snuggling back against Sam.
He grimaced at the harsh tone that she had always used with staff. He knew it was just another example of her lack of confidence in herself but he braced himself for an almighty row anyway. But, to his surprise, Annie nodded before walking away towards the kitchen.
Perhaps she was a secret fan of Cassandra’s music.
*
What an absolute bitch, thought Annie, flinging a teaspoon onto the work surface as the kettle boiled. What did she think she looked like, swanning into the middle of a building site in a white fur coat? She looked like a polar bear had wandered into the middle of a coal mine. Not that any of the builders had noticed. They were too busy cosying up to the famous popstar.
Annie glanced down at her own clothes, feeling very shabby. She was wearing her most faded jeans and oldest jumper. But as she was covered in dust and dirt most days, there had been no need in recent weeks to wear anything nice. Of course, she hadn’t expected to be standing next to an international singing superstar, had she?
Why on earth hadn’t Sam warned her that she was coming?
She had to admit, they made quite a handsome couple. Well, perhaps not Cassandra. She looked like a lollipop with hair. But his good looks definitely matched hers, if not surpassed them.
Then she felt cross with herself for even thinking such a thought.
At the sound of approaching steps, she turned back to making the cup of tea.
‘I think it’s lovely,’ said the female voice with a strong American accent. ‘It needs major work, of course. You’re going to add a swimming pool and spa, aren’t you?’
Annie turned slowly to raise her eyebrows at Sam as they came into the kitchen.
‘We haven’t got as far as planning the outdoor space yet,’ he replied, avoiding all eye contact with both of them and finding something fascinating about the floor tiles at that moment.
‘We can turn one of the larger bedrooms into my walk-in closet,’ carried on Cassandra.
Oh God, thought Annie. She was moving in? And so was Sam? What would Arthur make of that?
‘Here’s your drink,’ said Annie, aware that her voice was sounding sulky as she handed over the cup. ‘We’re out of lemons so I made you a normal tea.’
Cassandra looked horrified and put down the china cup as if it were about to detonate. ‘I never have dairy! It completely bloats me out,’ she snapped before staring at Annie wide-eyed. ‘Do I know you?’
Annie shook her head. ‘No.’
‘Are you sure? I never forget a face.’
Annie had actually met Cassandra once in the early days before she had hit the big time. The singer had been on board one of the more glamorous cruise ships as a performer and had been overbearing and rude to everyone even back then. But Annie had only been cabin staff and had assumed she would have been below the diva’s radar.
Now Sam was looking at her closely as well and Annie could feel the panic begin to rise up inside her.
‘Excuse me,’ called out Megan, appearing at the doorway. ‘The press have arrived and they want a word with Cassandra.’
Sam looked surprised. ‘How did they know you were here?’ he asked.
Cassandra fluffed up her hair. ‘Ed, my manager, must have given them a little call, baby. He thinks the whole earl thing will be great publicity for my new album. All publicity is good publicity, yeah?’
She tottered out, with a frowning Sam following a few steps behind.
Megan rolled her eyes once they had gone but her grin faded as she looked at her friend. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘She recognised me,’ whispered Annie, still horrified.
‘Of course she didn’t,’ said Megan, laughing. ‘There’s only one person that Cassandra is interested in and that is Cassandra. You can tell that a mile off. Keep calm.’
‘You can keep calm if you want,’ said Annie, pacing up and down. ‘I’m freaking out and intend to carry on doing so for a few more hours.’
‘Can you put the kettle on whilst you are?’ replied Megan. ‘This celebrity lark is thirsty work.’
*
To get away from Cassandra, Annie escaped Willow Tree Hall early in the afternoon to visit Arthur in hospital.
To her surprise, he met her in the corridor, propped up on his walking frame.
‘You’re doing so well,’ she told him as he walked slowly back into his room.
‘So why can’t I come home?’ he moaned. ‘Why do I have to go into a, what do you call it, rehab place?’
It appeared that Arthur had finally been told of his grandson’s plans to place him in a local nursing home that specialised in short-term rehabilitation whilst he continued to recover.
Annie sighed. ‘There’re a lot of builders in the house at the moment trying to make it safe for you,’ she told him. ‘You’ll trip over their tool boxes and break your other leg if you go back there. You’re safer in here at the moment.’
Arthur sat down onto the chair by his bed and grimaced. ‘Builders!’ he muttered. ‘What’s taking them so long?’
‘There’s a lot to do,’ she said. ‘You know all the things that Sam has hired them to do.’
Arthur rolled his eyes. ‘We were doing just fine before all of this mess was created,’ he said.
But Annie knew he was lying to both of them. ‘It’s going really well,’ she told him in a forced cheerful tone.
Using her iPhone she was able to show him a couple of strategically placed photos that didn’t highlight the further mess and destruction that had taken place.
Arthur nodded unenthusiastically before leaning back and closing his eyes. ‘I’m just so tired these days.’
‘That’s why a bit of respite care at the nursing home will do you the world of good,’ she told him.
‘That’s what my grandsons keep telling me,’ he grunted.
‘Well then, if we all agree on something for once it must be right.’
Annie privately thought that the further stay under some nursing care would be a good rest for the elderly man. She just hoped that there would be a house to go home to once he had recovered. She reached out to give his hand a reassuring squeeze as he lay there.
‘Good afternoon, Grandad.’
They both jumped at the sound of Sam’s voice from the doorway.
‘Hello, Samuel,’ said Arthur. ‘Is it time for my monthly visit?’
Annie was also surprised to see him there. Surely he should be spending time with his glamorous girlfriend?
Sam sighed. ‘I wanted to let you know that the nursing home have just contacted me. Your room is all ready for you to move into tomorrow.’
‘Temporarily,’ snapped Arthur.
‘I hope so,’ replied Sam. ‘It’s costing me a small fortune!’
But his vague attempt at humour fell on deaf ears.
‘I’m definitely going to Elm Trees Home, aren’t I?’ asked Arthur. ‘Because Terry Adams is in there and I want to look him up.’
‘Yes,’ said Sam, drawing a breath and sounding as if it was an effort to keep calm. ‘You are most definitely being taken to Elm Trees tomorrow.’
‘Good.’
‘Actually I probably need to get back,’ said Annie, anxious to get away from the stilted atmosphere in the room. ‘I promised Rose I’d drop off some more clothes for her at Beryl’s.’
‘Has poor Beryl got the room?’ said Arthur, with a wink.
‘I’ll let you know,’ Annie told him. ‘I’ll come and see you once you’ve settled into your new place.’
Having said goodbye, Annie pulled her handbag onto her shoulder and left the room. Sam made an excuse to pop outside with her briefly.
‘This is impossible,’ he whispered as they stood in the corridor. ‘I can’t believe tha
t is the same man who made the scrapbook of my music work. I think perhaps you were mistaken and that it was Aunt Rose after all.’
She sighed, thinking that the gulf between the two men was as wide as ever before.
‘What did you tell him about the builders?’ he asked, suddenly looking worried.
‘Only what we agreed. That they were making great progress. Nothing bad,’ she added. ‘I didn’t want to upset him.’
‘Oh. Well, thanks.’
‘Look, just try to talk to him,’ said Annie.
Sam rolled his eyes before giving her an unexpected smile for a brief moment. Then she watched as his gaze abruptly dropped to her mouth. His breathing slowed as he raised his eyes to hers once more. And what she saw in his blue eyes shocked her. It was a look of total and utter desire.
Then he quickly turned away and went back into the room, leaving her standing alone in the corridor.
Perhaps all the building dust had got into her brain. Her overactive imagination was out of control. Of course he hadn’t wanted to kiss her, especially now his American superstar girlfriend was back at Willow Tree Hall. And she most certainly did not want to kiss such a rude, arrogant, mean-spirited man.
Did she?
Chapter 15
Sam found himself relieved when Cassandra left to return to the United States. Her presence around the house had disrupted any building work and he had felt Annie’s silent disapproval about his girlfriend from a distance.
Not that he had tried to stay too long in either woman’s company. Cassandra was being overly amorous in public which he felt was a bit fake and merely for the photo-journalists’ sake. And he didn’t exactly want to hang around near Annie either. He tried to comprehend what had happened to him earlier the previous afternoon in the hospital corridor.
He must be tired because he had never wanted to kiss anyone more than Annie at that moment in the corridor. He decided that it was probably down to stress. Too many emotions running high. That was it. It had absolutely nothing to do with Annie.
Thankfully that morning’s visitor would be a welcome distraction.
‘I’ve been flippin’ lost for half an hour,’ shouted Alex, as he got out of his little silver sports car.
A House to Mend a Broken Heart Page 13
