Clover Cottage: A feel good cosy read perfect for your summer holiday reading (Love Heart Lane Series, Book 3)

by Christie Barlow

  ‘Christ on a bike!’ Allie exclaimed in amazement. ‘Scott and Son will rocket into the public domain.’

  ‘That Zach Hudson really does have some clout,’ said Rory, holding open the front door before locking it behind them.

  ***

  Five minutes later they were standing at the gate of Clover Cottage. Overhead white cotton clouds sailed across the clear blue sky. The old flagstone path was overrun with wild flowers and grasses dancing in the light breeze. For a moment they stood and stared. Rory couldn’t help thinking this place looked like it should be condemned, never mind being suitable for raising a family. It had money pit written all over it. He observed that Allie still had that dreamy romantic look about her.

  ‘Doesn’t it look perfect,’ Allie murmured as she reached for his hand and pushed open the gate.

  At one glance she knew the cottage was in need of some tender loving care but she also knew she was the woman to transform this place into their happy-ever-after home.

  ‘I’m already in love,’ she murmured and Rory knew that look in her eyes – determination. What Allie wanted, Allie usually got, and in almost every situation she knew how to wrap him around her little finger. If he wasn’t careful, she’d have them both moved in by the end of the day.

  They stumbled across the overgrown front garden and Allie stopped in her tracks, making Rory bump into her. ‘Just imagine roses tumbling around the door, Rory,’ she said dreamily.

  ‘There’s lots of work to be done, especially in the garden, and with our busy lives – you at the pub, me at the surgery …’

  Allie wasn’t daft, she knew that, and she was aware this would be a financial struggle, but surely there were ways and means. ‘And when it’s all pruned to perfection we will be sitting out relaxing with a nice glass of red, living our best life,’ she said, painting a blissful picture and hoping to entice Rory into the same train of thought.

  ‘And when did you win the lottery?’ asked Rory.

  ‘Surely we could get a mortgage or a loan. Other people do it and we are both working.’

  Rory took out the bunch of keys from his pocket, placed one in the lock and gave the stiff front door a budge. Allie stared wide-eyed as the door slowly opened. She took a long breath. She had to admit it wasn’t exactly how she’d built up the picture of this cottage in her mind. Inside it was dark and musty and the smell hit them both straightaway. Allie stepped forward and pulled back the curtains to let in some light, only to find the rings snapped and the curtains flapped, and a cloud of dust danced before her eyes.

  ‘They’ve seen better days,’ said Rory, staring around the room. ‘In fact, I think everything has seen better days.’

  ‘Okay, I have to admit you were right, there’s nothing Laura Ashley about it right this very second,’ admitted Allie, feeling a little deflated.

  She took a swift glance around the room, which was empty except for a battered old sofa, a small table and a couple of chairs, an upturned crate and a dusty oak sideboard that housed an empty whisky bottle, a chipped glass and a photograph.

  Allie picked up the dusty photo frame and wiped it with the sleeve of her jacket. She squinted and realised it was a photograph of a young James Kerr with his two sons standing on each side of him.

  ‘I wonder why James didn’t leave the cottage to his sons?’ said Rory.

  ‘My guess is because of their criminal lifestyle. Maybe he feared they would sell it to someone who would upset the quiet peace of Heartcross,’ replied Allie.

  ‘Maybe.’

  ‘They actually look happy,’ said Allie, placing the photograph back on the sideboard. ‘But how could anyone live like this?’

  Rory shrugged and walked back into the hallway.

  ‘Do you think they are stable?’ asked Allie, cautiously looking towards the staircase.

  ‘I’ll go first,’ said a gallant Rory, holding on to the shaky banister, which had numerous missing spindles.

  Proceeding with caution he stepped on the first two stairs. They creaked but seemed steady enough. Carefully, Allie followed him. At the top was a small landing with four further doors.

  Rory pushed open the first to reveal a grim-looking bathroom that housed what seemed like the entire spider population.

  ‘Eww, that stench.’ Allie wrinkled her nose, staring at the avocado-coloured bathroom suite in dismay.

  ‘Surely that will come back into fashion one day,’ Rory said, relieved to shut the door firmly behind him.

  The other three rooms were bedrooms, all a good size with oak wooden beams running across the ceiling. Allie walked over to the window and looked out at the land that rolled for miles and miles, a great quilt of gold, brown and green squares divided by walls of mossy grey stone.

  ‘But what a view. Imagine waking up to that every day. It feels so calm … This would make a lovely nursery,’ Allie said, transfixed by the beauty.

  ‘Nursery? This place needs to be condemned.’ Rory frowned deeply, thinking this was the last place he’d let a baby sleep.

  Allie waved a hand dismissively. ‘Obviously I don’t mean in this state,’ she said, slipping her arms around his waist and staring into his eyes. ‘I think you’ll make a good dad.’

  ‘You aren’t trying to tell me something, are you?’ he asked nervously.

  ‘Of course not! But one day …’ she said.

  ‘One day,’ he repeated, feeling relieved. Even though Rory knew he wanted children one day, he didn’t want them right now, and he’d thought Allie had felt the same way. He guided her back downstairs and they walked into a kitchen that housed a free-standing cooker and a chipped Belfast sink with a dripping tap. Next to the kitchen was a dining room, equipped with a coal fire, and off that room was a small office.

  As they stepped back into the living room, Allie’s body tingled with excitement. ‘I think it looks promising,’ she said in a bubbly tone.

  Rory rubbed at his brow as he stared around the room.

  ‘We can transform this place exactly how we want to,’ continued Allie.

  Rory had a fixed look of concentration on his face and was taking regular deep breaths.

  ‘This place needs to be invested in heavily,’ he said and began listing the problems. ‘Allie, there’s no central heating, most of the walls need plastering, it needs a new kitchen, bathroom, boiler, rewiring … Which bit looks promising? This is going to take a hell of a lot of time and money to put right.’

  ‘But it’s got potential – huge potential. Look at all the outside space and those views! And those outbuildings could be the next stage of Scott and Son. It may take time and money but think how perfect it could be in the end.’

  Allie had a good feeling about this place. She could see past all the hard work, but Rory was shaking his head. ‘I think this is way too much for us to take on.’

  ‘But think about it,’ she began to argue. ‘Houses don’t come up for sale often in Heartcross, even you agreed that. We can take our time with this project. Let’s talk to Alfie. He knows fantastic contractors at reasonable prices. Surely it’s worth an ask?’

  Rory didn’t answer. He stepped outside and walked around the side of the cottage. Allie followed.

  ‘Rory, talk to me. What are you thinking?’ she urged once more, willing to move the conversation on. Even though she was feeling positive about this ramshackle cottage there was a small part of her that felt a tiny bit disappointed at the state of the place. She knew it would be a massive commitment for them both – emotionally, physically, financially – but surely it would be worth it in the end? But it was plain to see that Rory didn’t seem keen at all.

  Rory stopped and turned towards her. ‘Have you ever wanted more from life, Allie?’ he asked, looking out over the landscape. ‘What’s your dream?’

  For a second, Allie was taken back. ‘What do you mean, what’s my dream?’ she asked, confused.

  ‘What’s your dream now – this second?’

  Allie had a sinking feeli
ng. ‘Health, wealth and happiness …’ She stared at him. ‘This isn’t what you want, is it?’

  Rory didn’t answer her question. ‘Surely there’s something you want to do, something on your bucket list, a dream job, something a little more exciting than pulling pints? Your dream is not to be a barmaid for the rest of your life?’

  Allie had no idea where this conversation had even come from but immediately felt defensive. ‘And what’s wrong with being a barmaid? It’s a living that’s kept a roof over my parents’ heads for as long as I can remember. I like my job. Most days I get to see my friends, I get to chat to all the interesting people that frequent Heartcross … I enjoy it. We can’t all be rocket scientists or vets. My parents aren’t like yours, Rory.’

  ‘And what’s that supposed to mean?’ Rory met her gaze, the tension bubbling under the surface.

  Allie couldn’t believe how the promise of the day had turned so sour. They had the perfect chance of building their happy-ever-after home and Rory seemed hell-bent on throwing it away.

  Trying her best to remain composed and not escalate things between them, Allie took a deep breath. ‘My parents work ridiculous hours and they have no inheritance to hand down to me or my children if I ever get round to having any. What you see is what you get. My parents didn’t have the money to send me to university; it would have crippled them financially, but we look after each other no matter what.’

  Rory absorbed what she was saying. ‘So you’re saying I get everything handed to me on a plate?’

  ‘Pretty much so,’ Allie replied, unable to hold back. ‘You continuously moan about how your dad—’

  ‘Moan? Moan?’ Rory raised his voice. ‘I thought I was sharing my thoughts with my girlfriend.’

  ‘Okay, that came out wrong. Your dad frustrates you, I get it. You want to have an all-dancing surgery, you want to be able to look after more animals on the premises, so do something about it.’ Allie flung her arms open wide. ‘Look at this land, look at those outbuildings. Turn those into your animal hospital. You’ll be right here on the premises in charge of it all. That’ – she pointed – ‘could be your new state-of-the-art surgery. What’s stopping you?’

  Rory remained quiet.

  ‘All this – for nothing. You don’t know how lucky you are.’ Allie barely came up for breath; she knew she’d been bottling this up since Rory’s reaction on the evening his parents had handed over the particulars for the property. ‘And here’s you not happy with your lot. Sometimes you don’t know a good thing when it slaps you in your face. As a kid my parents dragged me from pillar to post. I never fitted in anywhere or stayed in a place long enough to call it home or make real friends until we finally settled here in Heartcross. It was tough and they struggled for money, but for my family, our future family, I don’t want that. I want a place where they are settled from the start, a place they know is home, a place they can put down their roots. Sometimes you can be so spoilt, Rory, and stubborn, and can’t see the bigger picture.’

  ‘Well, maybe I don’t want to. Maybe I want to do what’s right for me before life … opportunities slip through my fingers.’

  Allie stared at Rory. ‘Life? Opportunities? What the hell is going on with you?’

  Rory took a deep breath, ‘Zach—’

  ‘Oh my God, a few thousand followers overnight and it’s gone to your head. Tomorrow you’ll be yesterday’s news. You need to get back to the real world. You’re a vet, not a TV star.’

  ‘Exactly, and there’s more to life than Heartcross.’

  Allie narrowed her eyes, suddenly perplexed.

  ‘Allie, you need some fire in your belly. It’s like you are stuck in a timewarp. Surely you want more out of life? There’s a whole world out there, a world to be explored, and you want to stand behind the bar pulling pints.’

  Now not only was Allie angered by his comment but she was hurt. ‘Because that’s what I do, Rory, and I do it well. And because it’s my parents’ business and we are a family and we look after each other. And why am I explaining myself to you?’

  This discussion was getting heated.

  ‘But surely we all have choices? Look at you – your face lights up every time you take a photograph. Why don’t you want to embrace that? Get your name out there, be someone.’

  Allie’s mouth fell open, and for a second she was speechless. ‘I am someone. I am Allie MacDonald, barmaid at the Grouse and Haggis, and bloody proud of it.’ But Allie knew, even though she sounded convincing, that this wasn’t all she wanted from life. Of course she had dreams, but her parents relied on her. How could she leave them running the pub on their own? They needed her to stay in Heartcross and help. And so Allie’s dreams would have to wait.

  She took a deep breath before carrying on. ‘If my parents gave me this opportunity’ – she gestured towards the cottage behind her – ‘I’d be jumping at the chance of setting up home with the person I supposedly love. Or are you too good for me now you’ve hit the headlines?’

  Rory shook his head. ‘Don’t be daft.’

  Allie knew this wasn’t like Rory; he wasn’t one to spoil for an argument. ‘What’s really going on here, Rory?’ she asked, sensing there was something bigger bothering him.

  ‘All this – the cottage, moving in together, it’s too soon …’ There was an air of finality to his words, one that shocked Allie to the core.

  They stared at each other.

  Allie had never rowed with Rory on such a scale and she was hurt and upset by his unusual attitude. She had no idea where any of this had come from, and lashed out. ‘If that’s what you think then maybe we aren’t destined to be together,’ she finally said, determined not to cry in front of Rory, but feeling as though the tears were bubbling just underneath the surface.

  Rory threw his hands into the air, turned around and stormed off.

  And as he did so, she felt the hot, frustrated tears slip down her cheeks.

  ‘Damn you,’ she bellowed after him.

  Chapter 7

  Allie closed her eyes and tried to process what the hell had just happened. This was meant to be a happy moment, a moment to remember, looking around your first house with your boyfriend, excited about the future. But now she didn’t even know if she had a boyfriend.

  Surrounded by an unfamiliar silence, she sat on the arm of the old battered sofa and heaved a long sigh. She couldn’t remember a time when she and Rory had ever argued like that. She had a horrible feeling inside and she didn’t like it. She finally managed to calm her rapidly beating heart and fixed on Rory’s words. ‘Your face lights up every time you take a photograph. Why don’t you want to embrace that? Get your name out there, be someone.’

  But it wasn’t that easy though, was it? As much as she would love to spend her life taking photographs, to have her pictures printed in the newspapers or displayed on walls, people relied on her, her parents especially. And after all the trouble and uncertainty they’d been through, Allie was determined that she would be there for them.

  ***

  Finding herself still sitting in the cottage thirty minutes later, she wearily stood up then pulled the front door shut behind her. Setting out for Heartcross, she found herself walking towards Foxglove Farm, in need of a chat with Isla, her sensible friend and calming influence. Isla would help to put everything into perspective.

  But there was no sign of Isla when Allie rapped on the front door, so she took her chances and wandered around the back of the farmhouse. She heaved a sigh of relief when she spotted Isla whistling away whilst pegging out the washing.

  Hearing the stones crunch, Isla spun round. ‘Oooh, I was just thinking about you. Help yourself to some lemonade and tell me all about the cottage.’ She nodded towards the wrought-iron table and chairs in the courtyard. ‘I can’t wait to hear all about it.’

  Still feeling bewildered Allie sat down and poured herself a drink. Isla had the picture-perfect life, husband, children, a beautiful home – not to mention a mad gr
andmother living with them. And Isla seemed so happy that Allie was a little envious. Even after her parents had settled in Heartcross, there had been times as an only child that Allie had felt lonely when she was put to bed and her parents were working in the bar until the late hours of the night. She remembered writing to Santa Claus asking for a baby brother or sister, a partner in crime, a playmate and a best friend. It was only years later she’d discovered that her parents had tried for more children, but it just didn’t happen for them. It made her sad thinking that she would never be an auntie, and after all the heartache her friend Felicity had suffered, Allie had been thinking more and more about having children and knew she wanted a large family. After meeting Rory she had hoped that he would be the man to raise those children with, but after today, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

  Once the washing basket was empty Isla walked over towards Allie shaking her head. ‘Honestly, they all take me for granted. This is meant to be my day of rest but no, good old Isla has to wash, clean and cook whilst everyone is out enjoying themselves.’

  ‘Where is everyone?’

  ‘Finn is out playing in the stream with Esme, Angus is having a nap and Drew has taken Zach over to Glensheil. Apparently Sydney had a good night and can be brought home today. Obviously home is the caravan.’

  ‘And Martha?’

  ‘Martha is over at the teashop keeping Rona company while she tries out some new recipes. So come on, I want to hear all about Clover Cottage.’

  Allie took a sip of her drink then pressed her lips together, feeling her insides suddenly tremble.

  ‘It didn’t go very well.’

  Isla gave her a quizzical look. ‘Why not?’

  ‘I’m beginning to think Martha really can see into the future.’

  Allie confided in Isla about her argument with Rory, thankful she could vent her frustration to her friend. She was maddened by Rory’s behaviour and even more so that he’d stormed off. She blinked away more tears.

  ‘I’m not entirely sure what is going on with him. I know it sounds daft but it seems like there’s something else on his mind. And since the incident with Zach he’s checking his social media every two seconds – he’s becoming obsessed! I can see him smiling to himself. Honestly, you’d think he was the famous one.’