Ella pulled a scrunchie band from her bag and used it to tie back her hair. 'I know. It's weird how quickly things can change. One minute you think the world's coming to an end. The next you've inherited a cottage and you're about to embark on an entirely new life. It's a lot to take in.'
'You're telling me.' Mia nodded.
Her mum had been as stunned as Mia, by the news. The only thing Lori Ward said she knew about Matilda Ward was that Matilda was a blood relative of Mia's dad, Ernest. He had mentioned Matilda on only one occasion, saying that he had an aunt who was an outcast from the family and that "Trouble was Aunt Matilda's middle name." Lori said that she had coaxed him to say more at the time but he knew little of the woman. Matilda had been ostracised when Ernest was a very young boy and her name had never been mentioned again. There were no photos, letters or any papers relating to her in his belongings when he passed away. Ernest was an only child and his parents, who had Ernest late in their lives, died long before him. No other relative at his funeral knew anything of Matilda Ward, although Lori hadn't asked about her other than to enquire if Matilda had been notified. That was only because an ethereal figure, dressed in an elegant, ankle-length, black gown and wearing a large-brimmed black hat had stood at the back of the church during the service, and in the distance at the graveside. It had been Mia who had pointed out the seemingly ghostly figure and the woman had disappeared before anyone had a chance to speak to her. No one knew who she was. When Vernon broke the news of the inheritance to Mia and Lori, both of them remembered the woman dressed in black, and wondered if that woman could have been Matilda.
'It's a shame Mum's not here,' Mia added. 'I can't wait to see what she thinks of this village.'
Lori would have been with Mia, had it not been for the fact that she was on her annual six-week cruise with her book club. A cruise she would have tried to cancel had Mia not persuaded her there was no need. When Lori learnt that Ella and Garrick would be helping her daughter to settle in and would be staying with her for a week or two, she was more at ease, but she assured her daughter that the minute she returned, she would be paying an extended visit to Mia and Sunbeam Cottage.
'Knowing Lori,' Ella said, grinning, 'the first thing she'll do when she arrives is start a book club.'
'Tumblewell,' Garrick yelled, making both Mia and Ella jump. He walked back down the lane a few paces to the next nearest cottage. 'And this one's called Duckdown. What's your one called again?'
'Sunbeam Cottage,' Mia shouted, leaning her head out the window. 'Hold on. I'll check out Google maps again to see exactly where it is. According to the Satnav, it should be somewhere here.'
'No you won't.' Ella waved her phone in the air. 'There's no signal. Where the hell are we? Fairy tale land? Don't they have mobile phones here?'
Mia checked hers anyway. 'You're right.' She waved her phone in front of Ella. 'Nothing. Not even one little bar.'
Ella leant across Mia and yelled at her brother. 'Check that big yellow one out.' She pointed at the next cottage up the lane.
'It won't be that one,' Mia said, shoving Ella off her in a friendly manner. 'That one's huge compared to the rest of the cottages we've passed.'
Ella pulled a face. 'Not one of them can be described as huge, Mia. They're all so twee I half expect a beautiful princess, together with seven vertically challenged men, singing songs and carrying pickaxes, to march down the York stone paths. But it's yellow, and your cottage is called Sunbeam.'
Mia grinned at her. Ella was right. The cottages were idyllic. Each had a thatched roof, although some of them looked as if they needed a haircut, and each had its façade painted a bright colour, with a matching chimney and a complementary-coloured front door. Some had window boxes filled with vivid blooms; one had a white picket fence bordering the lane and each one had a long front garden brimming over with colourful flowers and plants.
'It's the big one,' Garrick shouted, pointing to the yellow cottage just ahead as he made his way back to them.
'You see,' Ella threw Mia a smug smile. 'Told you so.'
Garrick stopped beside Mia's window and bent down to eye level. 'It's got a driveway to the side so we can get the vehicles off the road. That's a godsend seeing how narrow this lane is. You go first and I'll follow you in.' He gave a mischievous grin. 'But try not to slam on your brakes again. Okay?'
Chapter Three
Mia edged onto the driveway and made sure she positioned her vehicle as close to the cottage as she could, leaving plenty of space for Garrick and his van.
'Wow.' Ella shoved open the door and stepped out. 'Forget chocolate box. This place is the cherry in the brandy, as Uncle Bert would say. What d'you think, Garrick? Could you live here?'
Garrick's face flushed the colour of a cherry as he walked towards her, his gaze darting to Mia then the cottage and back to Ella. 'What? Yeah. Why not? There's a pub at the end of the lane. If it serves food, I could probably live here, and if it has a large screen TV and sports channels, definitely.'
'At least there're street lights,' Mia said, surprised by the fact. 'I was a bit concerned there might not be.'
Garrick nodded followed by a grin. 'I'm surprised at that. But they have electricity even in the back of beyond. Gas may be a different matter. Some places have electric storage heaters, and places like this often have oil for central heating, assuming it has central heating.'
Ella paled. 'Please tell me it does.' She stared at Mia. 'I can't live without central heating. I know it's May and it's supposed to be spring but it's still cold in the evenings and I can't get up in the morning unless it's a balmy 20 degrees. You know that.'
Mia was equally concerned. 'It hadn't even occurred to me to ask. I assumed it would.'
'I'm sure it'll have a fireplace,' Garrick said. 'Or possibly a wood burning stove, so you two won't freeze to death.' He must have seen the bemused looks they exchanged because he laughed. 'Don't worry. I know how to make a fire and I can chop wood.'
'But how do you know there's any wood to chop?' Mia asked. 'Or anything to chop it with.'
'The clue is in the trees I can see from here in your garden. If there isn't a wood store somewhere, I can lop a few branches off one of those. I know we haven't seen much of each other for the last five years, but surely you remember what I do for a living?'
'Of course I remember.' Mia rolled her eyes. 'I just didn't link the beautiful furniture you make, with chopping down trees. I assumed you had the wood shipped in.'
'I often do. But sometimes I like to find my own. I have saws, and an axe oddly enough, in the van. There's nothing quite as exhilarating as seeing a tree in its natural environment and picturing all the things I can do with it.'
'I feel that way about men,' Ella joked.
Mia laughed. 'And I can think of several things far more exhilarating than staring at a tree.' She pulled a face at Garrick. 'Don't you feel guilty when you cut them down? Trees have feelings too, you know.'
'Yeah right. The closest you've ever been to a tree is sitting on a wooden chair. Do you think it made itself?' he teased.
Mia stuck out her tongue. 'Just don't chop off your own leg or something.'
'Don't worry about him,' Ella said. 'He's a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to wood, and he's pretty good at other stuff too. He's even improved over the last few years since he moved up North, but he's still the same old Garrick. And I don't mean old in age, of course. Just in attitude and aptitude.'
'Thanks.' Garrick threw Ella a sarcastic look before returning his attention to Mia. 'And just when I decide to move back down to London, you decide to move out here, so I'm not sure we'll be seeing much more of each other in the future.' He let out a lengthy sigh, as if that thought disappointed him. 'Anyway, let's get inside and see what's what. If I need to get some wood, I'll do that first before we unload and before it starts to get dark.'
Mia edged her way past a prickly hedge with lots of orange berries and stepped onto a narrow wooden walkway which led from the dr
iveway to the front door. The boards creaked beneath her feet and she glanced down, hoping they wouldn't give way. The last thing she needed was a broken ankle or to get her foot stuck in a hole the moment she arrived. Worse still, her leg could be grabbed by some creature lurking beneath the boards.
'You won't fall through,' Garrick said, as if reading her mind. 'They're pretty solid. They're simply creaking because wood expands and shrinks. Nothing to worry about.'
Reassured, Mia walked to the door, put the key in the lock, glanced at Ella and Garrick and took a deep breath. 'Here goes. I'm telling you now, if the place is full of cobwebs I'm not going in.'
'I'll deal with any cobwebs,' Garrick said. 'And any spiders. Do you want me to go first?'
Mia shook her head. 'Thanks, but I need to do this. I'm excited to see what I've inherited. I'm merely a little anxious, that's all.' She turned the wrought-iron knob and with hardly any effort on her part, the door flew open and thumped against the wall of the hallway. 'I wasn't expecting that.' She grinned at Ella and Garrick. 'I thought it would creak and groan like the walkway.'
'The hinges could do with tightening,' Garrick said. 'And a doorstop inside may be a good idea.' He followed Mia and Ella into the hall. 'Not a cobweb in sight.'
Mia gasped as she took in her surroundings. The walls were the colour of a summer sky interspersed with pale oak beams. The wooden floor was a shade or two darker than the walls, with a French-navy runner covering most of it. Paintings of the sea hung along the length of the hall like a row of bunting and a small, soft-white, wooden bench-seat sat beside a matching table bearing a vase of cerise tulips.
Mia turned in a circle and beamed at her friends. 'It's beautiful. I'd expected something dark, dusty and trapped in the Edwardian era, for some reason. This is almost … modern.'
'This is just the hall,' Ella said, the note of sarcasm evident as she grinned at Mia. 'Let's wait until we've seen the rest of the place before we pass judgement. But I'll admit it's a hundred times better than I thought it'd be. There's a coastal vibe about it. Which I suppose is apt as we're right by the sea.'
Mia shuddered. 'Don't remind me.' She had been afraid of water since she almost drowned at the age of six and for years she was too terrified to even look at the sea. But she had come a long way in attempting to beat her fear and she could now walk along the shore, provided not a drop of the water touched her. Not that she often went to the seaside. Probably once or twice a year, and beach holidays were a definite no-no. Which was possibly why it was taking so many years to overcome her phobia. The truth was, she wasn't really trying.
Garrick pointed to a radiator.
'Heating!' Ella yelled. She ran her hand along the top of the radiator as if she were stroking a cat then held up her palm. 'And not a speck of dust. When did you say Matilda died? Because my place is covered in dust after a week or so and this place is spotless.'
'Nine weeks ago. She was buried before the solicitors contacted Vernon. Perhaps they got someone in to clean up the place for my arrival.'
'Coo-ey!' A voice called out, and Mia, Ella and Garrick turned to see a well-rounded, elderly woman beaming at them via the open front door. 'I thought I saw you arrive, my dears. Oh goodness gracious.' She stepped into the hall and shuffled towards Mia. 'You must be Mia. You look just like dear Matilda did as a youngster. Not that I knew Matilda when she was young, of course. Oh deary me, no. She'd only recently moved here, but we became friends immediately and I saw a photograph once of her as a girl. Well, when I say 'friends', I mean friendly neighbours. But we're all friends in Little Pondale, unless some of us choose to keep themselves to themselves and have their little secrets. Oh deary me. I'm talking ten chickens at a time, aren't I? I'm Hettie. Hettie Burnstall. I live in Duckdown Cottage, two doors away down the lane. I clean for Matilda. Well, did clean for her. If you want me to clean for you, deary, I'd be more than happy to. It gives me something to do and puts a few pennies in my pocket. Well, how are you settling in?' She clasped her hands in front of her ample bosom and tipped her mane of grey curls to one side, a broad but inquisitive smile on her rosy lips.
'Hello, Hettie. Yes, I'm Mia. Pleased to meet you. Um. Did you say Matilda only moved here recently? I understood from the solicitor that she'd lived here for some time.'
Hettie shook her head and wagged her forefinger. 'Never believe a word a solicitor tells you, deary. All crooks and liars, every last one of them. Matilda only moved in twenty-five years ago this February. On Valentine's Day.'
Mia shot a look at Ella who looked as bemused as Mia felt, but when she glanced at Garrick, he was grinning from ear to ear.
'Hello Hettie,' he said, holding out his hand to greet her. 'I'm Garrick Swann, and this is my sister, Ella. We're here to help Mia settle in. It's good to meet you and thank you for the welcome. We'd love to stop and chat but as you rightly said, we've only just arrived. We need to unpack and find where everything is, so I'm sure you'll excuse us for this evening.' He placed an arm about the woman's shoulders as if to lead her out.
'Oh yes of course, my dears. But I can help with that.'
She took Garrick's hand in her fingers and did a sort of pirouette. The look of surprise on Garrick's face made Mia giggle but she hid it with a cough.
'We don't want to take up your time,' Mia said, regaining her composure. 'I'm sure we'll manage. But I would like to chat with you about my great-aunt sometime soon. I don't know much about her.'
'Happily, my dear. And I'm more than happy to help. Just Prince Gustav waiting for his tea but he can wait a while longer. Needs to lose some weight, according to Rupert. Rupert's the vet. He lives across the pond in Cherry Tree Cottage. Oh. Not 'the pond' as in the Atlantic Ocean, deary. I meant our Lily pond. And if you're wondering which came first, the Lily Pond or the name for Lily Pond Lane, no one knows. It's a mystery. Life is full of mysteries, don't you think?' She chuckled and shook her head. 'Deary me, there I go again, talking ten chickens at a time. What was I saying? Oh yes. Rupert. He takes such good care of Prince Gustav. Are you single, deary? Or is this handsome young man your beau?' She linked her arm through Garrick's and his face went as red as the cardigan Hettie was wearing.
'No,' Mia said. If the heat in her cheeks was any indication, she was blushing as much as Garrick seemed to be.
'She's single now,' Garrick said with a smile as he gently extricated himself from Hettie's arm.
'We're all single,' Ella added with a sigh.
Hettie beamed. 'He's single too. Rupert, the vet. Not Prince Gustav. Although he's also single. I'd like to find him a mate because we all need that special someone in our lives, don't we?'
'The vet?' Ella queried. 'You want to find the vet a mate?' She shot Mia a look as if to say, 'This woman is completely insane.'
Hettie chuckled and slapped Ella on the arm in a friendly manner. 'Deary me, no. I can see you're a box of trouble, aren't you, deary? I meant I'd like to find Prince Gustav a mate. Perhaps I shall one day. But yes, I'd also like dear Rupert to find a girlfriend. He's such a caring young man and he's gorgeous too. Do you like the chap who plays Poldark on TV? Of course you do, deary. Everyone does. But, now I think about it, Rupert's nothing like him, apart from the black hair. Do you have a pet? It doesn't matter if you don't. You can meet him in The Frog and Lily. He's thirty-five. That's about your age, isn't it?'
'I'm thirty-four,' Ella said, 'and so is Garrick. We're twins, even though we look nothing alike. Mia's thirty-three. Any other single young men around here?'
'Oh yes, deary. Plenty. You'll be spoilt for choice. It's when you get to my age they are few and far between. They're either dead or halfway there. Or married and too settled to have a bit of fun elsewhere, if you get my drift. Or too riddled with arthritis to move.'
Ella grinned at Mia. 'We saw a farmer backing his tractor into a field on Seaside Road. Black hair, gorgeous, built like a super hero, wears a flat cap, but we won't hold that against him. I'm sure you'll know who I mean. Is he single?'
Hettie positively glowed. 'You'll have to get in line for that one, deary. He's quite the catch, but no one's ever caught him. Or likely to, I'm afraid. His name's Jethro. Jethro Cross. But everyone calls him Jet. He's a bit of a bad boy but his eyes are so dreamy I'd forgive him anything. You'll do the same once you meet him. But I'd set my sights on one of the others unless you're looking for a broken heart. Now let me see. There's young Toby Bywater. He helps his dad run the pub. Not bad, if you like ginger tops. Franklin Grant. But he's American and only here for a few more months. He's staying at Little Pond Farm. Thomas Tyburn, the vicar, but he's a bit too straight and narrow for my liking. What's the point in having a confessional if you don't want your congregation to get up to mischief? Not that we have a confessional. We're Church of England, not Catholic, but you know what I mean. Oh and how could I forget Justin Lake? He's the local baker and his buns are the best for miles around. And I don't just mean the buns he bakes.' She winked. 'He's in one of those male stripper dance groups in his spare time. Often performs for the local W.I. He's got black hair too, like Rupert and Jet.' She leant forward conspiratorially. 'We're all fairly certain the grandmas of those three young bucks spent the night under the same blanket, if you get my drift.'
Garrick coughed and blinked several times. 'Thank you, Hettie. I think that's enough to be getting on with. Is the central heating, gas or oil, do you know?'
The Cottage on Lily Pond Lane-Part One_New beginnings Page 2
