Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage

by Heidi Swain

  I wanted to believe that was the case, but really I couldn’t be sure. Will shook his head and glared up at Matt and I knew that all it would take was one hint of a doubt on my behalf and Will would be knocking Matt off the ladder and throwing him off my land.

  ‘Will,’ I said loudly, pulling his attention back to me for fear that he was about to actually do just that. ‘I would love to drive you to town tomorrow, but for now would you please just take Minnie back up to the cottage and put her out of harm’s way in the dining room for me?’

  ‘Sure,’ he said, scooping Minnie up. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  Without another word he strode off up the yard and into the cottage. I was amused to see that Matt stayed up the ladder until Will came back out of the house empty-handed, climbed into his truck and drove off.

  ‘I wish I knew what it was he’s got against me,’ he said as he joined me back on solid ground. ‘We were both close to Gwen,’ he went on, ‘so it’s not as if he didn’t know all this work needed doing, is it?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ I shrugged.

  ‘I mean,’ Matt went on, ‘if he was such a good friend and such a hero then surely, given all the work he did on his barn, you’d think he would have offered to do these jobs for her, wouldn’t you?’

  ‘Maybe,’ I relented.

  ‘Well, you want to watch yourself with him, Lottie,’ he said, echoing what others had said about him. ‘He’s got one hell of a temper on him.’

  I didn’t say anything, just waited while he folded up the ladder.

  ‘And what did you want to see David about?’

  ‘Just a couple of things I want to clarify.’

  ‘It isn’t about the ag regs, is it?’

  ‘Might be,’ I shrugged non-committally.

  ‘Well, I hope you won’t be disappointed when he charges you a fortune just to confirm what I’ve already told you for free,’ he said, striding ahead. ‘I thought you were supposed to be watching the pennies.’

  Chapter 29

  I felt really nervous about driving into Wynbridge the next morning and not just because I hadn’t ventured further than the quiet drove roads behind the wheel before. Unbeknown to Matt, Will and practically everyone else, what David was going to tell me about the rules and regulations, which restricted what I could and couldn’t do at Cuckoo Cottage and in the field, would either secure or condemn the future I had been getting so excited about.

  I was desperate for Matt to be wrong and I had to admit my feelings towards him were tempered with suspicion now. Having caught him poking around the barns on top of his ladder the day before with, let’s face it, a pretty flimsy excuse as justification, I couldn’t help but wonder if he had an ulterior motive and had thought it was in his best interests to trot out a convenient lie when Minnie had found him.

  I honestly didn’t know how I was going to feel if I discovered Matt had betrayed the trust I had put in him. Having been abandoned by the one person I should have been able to rely on without question meant that I had never been able to ‘let people in’ easily, and I didn’t think I could bear it if I had been duped into putting my faith into someone else who was hell-bent on letting me down.

  ‘You all right?’ asked Will when I pulled into his drive early the next morning. ‘You look a bit peaky, Lottie.’

  ‘I’m all right,’ I said, trying to rally. ‘Just a little apprehensive about the drive, but I’ll be fine once we get going.’

  ‘That’s the spirit,’ Will smiled, hopping into the passenger seat and glancing into the back. ‘No Minnie today?’

  ‘No, not today. I thought I had enough to contend with this morning, and besides, she isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, is she?’ I added, thinking that even if no one else minded her presence, David’s secretary Iris certainly would, and I needed my solicitor and all his staff on my side today.

  ‘I suppose not,’ agreed Will. ‘Does she mind staying home alone?’

  I wasn’t sure if he was trying to show concern for Minnie’s welfare or if he was surreptitiously trying to work out if Matt was still working on the cottage.

  ‘She wasn’t particularly impressed, but she’ll be fine,’ I told him. ‘A couple of hours’ peace and quiet won’t do her any harm; she’s had more than enough excitement lately.’

  ‘Lottie, about yesterday—’

  ‘Do you mind if we just get going?’ I cut in. ‘Because if we don’t leave soon all the easy parking spots will be taken.’

  The journey wasn’t quite as scary as I’d imagined, but negotiating the bridge which straddled the River Wyn and the big roundabout which followed immediately after was a little tricky, but I did it. I even managed to reverse into the parking space without losing a mirror or taking out anyone else’s.

  ‘There,’ I announced, pulling on the handbrake and turning off the engine. ‘We made it.’

  ‘You made it, you mean,’ said Will, grinning from ear to ear. ‘And to tell you the truth, I’m a little disappointed really.’

  ‘Why?’ I gaped, appalled when just a second before I had been feeling so elated.

  ‘Because,’ said Will cheekily, ‘when I offered to accompany you on your first few trips I thought you’d need far more support than this. I kind of hoped you were going to need me for quite a while, but you’re more than capable of doing this on your own and I’m redundant already.’

  I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t sure if he was teasing or not.

  ‘I really mean it, Lottie,’ he said. ‘You’re good to go.’

  ‘Well, how about I stall at the roundabout on the way home,’ I suggested, trying to make light of what I imagined was the true meaning behind what he was saying.

  ‘Oh, all right then,’ he laughed. ‘That will certainly prolong my station in the passenger seat and perhaps manipulating a near miss when you pull out of this space might not be a bad idea either.’

  ‘Oh please,’ I groaned as I released my seat belt. ‘Don’t even joke about it.’

  ‘I’m very sorry, Miss Foster,’ said David’s secretary, Iris, ‘but Mr Miller won’t be back until after the weekend.’

  ‘But a friend said they’d heard he was back yesterday,’ I said, my shoulders dropping in resignation.

  ‘Back in Wynbridge,’ she confirmed with a frown, ‘but not back to work.’

  I bit my lip, disappointment and frustration battling it out in my brain for the upper hand.

  ‘I take it you wanted to see him about something specific?’

  ‘Yes,’ I sighed, ‘very specific.’

  ‘Then perhaps you’d rather talk to one of the other partners if you don’t want to wait,’ she suggested. ‘Mr Moffat is going to be available later this morning.’

  I was shaking my head even before she reached for the old-fashioned appointment book.

  ‘Thank you, but no. This really is a query for Mr Miller. I’ll wait until after the weekend.’

  ‘As you wish,’ she smiled. ‘If you call on Monday I’m sure he’ll squeeze you in.’

  I left the office downhearted and walked over to The Cherry Tree Café where I had arranged to meet Will to celebrate my prowess behind the wheel and give Jemma and Lizzie an update on the caravan which was fast approaching completion.

  ‘Coffee and a slice of carrot cake please,’ I ordered at the counter before taking a seat next to the window.

  The café was still quiet and without Minnie to keep an eye on it was nice to have the opportunity to sit inside and soak up the warm and welcoming ambience. If I could convince my little companion to stay at home more often I might even consider signing up for Lizzie’s knit and natter session in the autumn.

  ‘Hitting the sugar a bit early, aren’t we?’ teased Jemma as she appeared at the table with my order.

  ‘I’m celebrating,’ I said, quick to justify my sweet tooth. ‘I drove to town for the first time this morning and in the absence of fizz, for obvious reasons, I thought coffee and cake would be a satisfactory alternative.�
��

  ‘Well congratulations,’ beamed Jemma. ‘You must be feeling on top of the world.’

  I wasn’t sure if that was right, but I was still feeling pretty pleased with my unexpected achievement. If anyone had told me, even just a couple of months ago, that I was going to be driving before the end of the summer and navigating my way around Hecate’s Rest, I never would have believed them.

  ‘Have you got time for a quick catch-up?’ I asked. ‘I drove in with Will and was hoping to bring you up to speed about progress on the caravan before he turns up.’

  Jemma’s eyebrows had shot up at the mention of my travel companion, but she didn’t say anything. Given that Angela and David had finally got their act together, I guessed she was all ‘matchmakered’ out. At least I hoped she was.

  ‘I only have a minute, I’m afraid,’ she said, plonking herself down on the chair opposite. ‘I’m a little short-staffed at the moment,’ she added with a weary nod towards the kitchen where I could hear someone crashing about.

  ‘I did hear on the grapevine that Angela and David have both coincidentally disappeared at the same time,’ I admitted.

  I had no desire to gossip but wanted to let Jemma know that I was aware of her current staffing predicament.

  ‘Have you taken on some new staff in her absence?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said with a huff, ‘but only for as long as her absence. Don’t get me wrong, I’m absolutely thrilled Angela and David have finally got their act together, but let’s just say this new girl isn’t going to work out, and leave it at that. Now,’ she said, sitting up straighter, ‘drink your coffee before it gets cold and tell me how things are going with the caravan café.’

  I had just finished my second cup of coffee when Will finally arrived. Jemma was delighted with how the project was coming on and even more delighted when I showed her the selection of photographs I had had the foresight to take on my phone. She and Lizzie had been so busy that neither had managed to come out all that often to see for themselves how things were progressing, but when I reassured her that all was well and that the grand reveal would be an even bigger surprise she was thrilled.

  Ironically her excitement sent my spirit sagging again as I realised just how disappointed I was going to be if I didn’t get the chance to renovate the other three vans and my business idea failed to launch.

  ‘I see you’ve started without me, then,’ said Will, nodding towards the empty coffee cups and crumb-filled plate.

  ‘Well, I was beginning to think you’d stood me up,’ I said. ‘Where on earth have you been?’

  ‘I had to see a man about a dog,’ he said elusively. ‘Literally. Now, can I get you another coffee?’

  ‘I’d better not,’ I said, ‘but thank you. Do you mind if I just have some orange juice instead?’

  ‘A liquid fruit portion to balance out all the refined sugar, eh?’ he quipped, pointing at my plate.

  ‘Exactly,’ I smiled.

  I watched on as he wandered over to the counter to place our order and couldn’t help noticing how red Jemma’s temporary waitress turned as she took his money and carefully counted out his change. Ordinarily a complete table service was in place, but I got the impression that Angela’s time off had been the cause of one or two irregularities in the café’s usual smooth running. Evidently, Angela really was indispensable and I wondered what Jemma would do for staff cover when the mobile café finally hit the road.

  ‘So,’ said Will, taking the seat opposite me and denying the blushing waitress the benefit of his handsome face, ‘did you get sorted at the solicitor? Did you manage to see David?’

  ‘No,’ I sighed, ‘afraid not. You were right about him being back in town, but unfortunately he won’t be back to work until after the weekend.’

  ‘And why do I get the impression that’s such a problem? Are you really that desperate to see him? Couldn’t you perhaps make an appointment to see someone else in the interim if that’s the case?’

  ‘No,’ I said, making space on the table for the extra cups and plates as the waitress wobbled over, the crockery rattling on the tray. ‘It’s no big deal,’ I lied. ‘It’ll keep.’

  Will didn’t say anything while the girl unloaded his order and then helped her fill it again with my dirty dishes. It was obvious that he had absolutely no idea of the impact he had on the opposite sex and as a result came across as even more desirable.

  ‘Look,’ he said, when we were finally alone again, ‘at the risk of annoying the hell out of you, Lottie, and sounding like a cracked record to boot—’

  ‘It’s all right,’ I cut in. ‘I know you’re still worried about Matt and all this work at the cottage. Jake told me yesterday that you’d mentioned it, and given that we both saw Matt up that ladder up to goodness knows what, I can’t say I’m not a little suspicious of his motives myself now.’

  ‘So you really hadn’t asked him to look around the yard, then?’

  ‘Absolutely not,’ I said, thinking of my precious vans and all the effort I had gone to to keep them under wraps. ‘Like you heard him say yesterday, he was checking the electricity supply.’

  ‘Badly,’ frowned Will.

  ‘I know he was doing it wrong,’ I said defensively, still not really wanting to believe that my builder was potentially more villain than hero, ‘but he isn’t an electrician. That’s Simon’s job and Matt was only doing what he thought was right from the sketchy instructions his cousin had given him. He must have got the wrong end of the stick or something.’

  ‘Um . . . ’

  ‘And anyway,’ I added, thinking that I had probably already said far too much, ‘I know that he knows I’m worried about all these bills piling up. I guess he was just trying to check things out when I wasn’t there so if Simon’s concerns were unfounded I wouldn’t have ended up worrying over nothing. You know I never slept a wink all the while I was waiting to find out if there was a crack in the septic tank.’

  ‘Um,’ said Will again as he thoughtfully stirred his coffee and shook his head. ‘And I did say I was going to help you out as well, didn’t I?’

  ‘Yes,’ I said, ‘you did. Why haven’t you been dishing out these DIY lessons you promised? Is it because Matt’s always around?’

  ‘Of course it is,’ he confirmed. ‘I just thought it would be best all round if I stayed out of his way, to be honest. Especially if you two . . . ’

  ‘Especially if us two, what?’ I pounced.

  ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter,’ he shrugged, ‘but I do stick to what I said before. The only work that I was aware of that needed doing at the cottage was replacing the shower and updating the fuse box. Everything else was fine.’

  ‘Well, perhaps it was stuff you hadn’t noticed,’ I suggested, trying to justify the catalogue of additional problems Matt had unearthed. ‘I don’t think you can really tell what’s wrong with a place until you’ve actually lived there.’

  Will looked at me doubtfully.

  ‘Well, Matt hasn’t lived there,’ he reminded me.

  ‘You know what I mean.’

  ‘So are you telling me you’d noticed all these things for yourself, then?’ he asked searchingly. ‘Since you’d moved in, were these issues you’d picked up on before Matt magically stepped in to repair and improve them?’

  I hadn’t spotted anything, of course, because I had barely moved in before Will had quite literally thrown me across Matt’s path with his out-of-control driving. I wondered if he would be prepared to shoulder some of the blame for what had subsequently happened if I reminded him of that fact.

  ‘Is your coffee all right?’ asked Jemma, whose timely appearance saved me from having to answer Will. ‘Only I’ve had a couple of complaints,’ she whispered. ‘I’ve got a horrible feeling I’m going to have to let this girl go before the day is out.’

  ‘It’s fine,’ said Will, gulping another mouthful to prove the point. ‘A bit on the strong side perhaps, but otherwise OK.’ Jemma looked concerned. ‘Honestly, it�
��s fine,’ he coughed, ‘and besides, I’ve got a busy afternoon planned so the caffeine buzz will help me through it.’

  Having negotiated my way out of the parking space and the town without incident, talk again turned to the goings-on at Cuckoo Cottage.

  ‘I know you’re worried about these bills, Lottie,’ said Will, ‘so are you looking for work to help pay for them? Have you thought about how you’re going to fund your future?’

  Had I been able to pin David down earlier, I might have been able to answer that question there and then, but unfortunately, with everything still so up in the air, I didn’t feel it was worth sharing the details of what might never happen.

  ‘I’ve been mulling a couple of options over,’ I said evasively. ‘But I’m not in dire straits just yet.’

  ‘Well, please don’t wait until you are,’ said Will seriously. ‘And remember, Lottie, you can always call on me if you need to.’

  ‘And you won’t say “I told you so”?’

  ‘Of course not,’ he frowned. ‘I just want you to enjoy living at Cuckoo Cottage every bit as much as Gwen did, and if I can do anything to help you do that, I will.’

  ‘Thank you,’ I said huskily, trying to focus on the road rather than the tears that had sprung up at the mention of my benefactor.

  Gwen had enjoyed literally decades of contented living at Cuckoo Cottage and when I moved in just a few weeks ago I had envisaged myself doing the same, but now I wasn’t so sure. The house was a mess, the business was probably dead in the water before I’d even given it a name and I still had the winter, spring and the beginnings of next summer to get through before I could even consider calling an estate agent.

  I gave a little shudder as I imagined a van turning up and the driver jumping out to hammer a ‘For Sale’ sign into the verge. I had been so sure that I would never leave Cuckoo Cottage when David told me what Gwen had arranged, and given the beautiful caravans that she had gone out of her way to buy in readiness of my arrival, she had obviously been sure too. How was it possible that my dream-come-true had turned into such a nightmare already?