Joel peered over her way and waved her in, so she opened the door (how had she not remembered it was open?) and shut it quickly, not knowing if she was risking any animal escapees.
‘Mum, come and look. It’s amazing!’
Dawn was busy taking in the rest of the space. The food prep area, the sinks, and the timetables on the wall.
‘Come on, Mum. You have to come and see.’
Archie ended up dragging her forward as she wasn’t being quick enough for his liking.
Leaning against the back wall were several display boards, each in the style of the intricate artwork they’d seen displayed at the café, very similar to the piece she was holding.
‘They’re the new information boards that’ll be going up when they’re ready,’ Joel said helpfully.
‘Look, Mum. Joel’s added lots of the facts I said should be included.’
Sure enough, as she browsed through the bullet points on the boards, she recognised many of them as facts Archie could reel off in his sleep.
‘Does this mean the painting is Elvis?’ Dawn asked. As the same artist was doing the artwork for the boards, it made sense that he would also do some individual paintings to practise and sell.
‘It is and Joel said the frog hasn’t sold.’
‘But…’ How would Joel know if it was available or not?
Joel held out his hand. ‘Joel Walcott, nice to meet you.’
In a confused daze, Dawn took his hand and shook it. ‘Of Walcott’s Wall Art… No wonder I thought I recognised the voice. So how come you’re a zookeeper if you’ve got this hidden talent?’
‘It’s only a hobby and there’s not much money to be made, but then you’d know about that. Mostly I do it for my own enjoyment, but when they said about the keeper day experience investment, I thought I’d pitch the idea to them of making it all a bit more colourful. They went with the idea and it’s the biggest commission I’ve ever received.’
‘You’ve done an amazing job. This is so eye-catching no one will ever bypass the meerkats again.’
‘Joel said he’ll teach me how to draw a meerkat.’
‘I think Joel’s being kind enough already.’
‘I’m sure your mum could teach you if you asked her. But I’d be very happy to if you’d like me to. Although it will have to be out of work time. Your mum has my number. Get her to give me a ring and we can sort something before the summer holidays are over.’ Behind his deep tan, dreadlocks and quiet nature, Joel was turning out to be one of the kindest people she’d encountered for a long time. And if he was willing to give up some of his spare time to teach her son to draw his favourite animals, then she wasn’t going to say no.
Chapter 15
In the end, sick of not hearing, Dawn rang her brother. ‘What do you mean, you had a go at her?’ he said from the other end of the phone.
‘Well, not so much a go, I just pointed out she needed to pull her socks up. Didn’t Rebekah mention it?’
Dawn would have thought the first thing Rebekah would have done would be report to David what she’d said. It used to be like that, the sense the couple needed to be more unified than she ever was with her twin. Like there was competition between them.
‘She hasn’t said anything. If I’m being honest, she’s become a bit withdrawn. She says she’s okay when I ask, but I get the feeling she’s just saying what I want to hear.’
‘Maybe I was a bit harsh. I just didn’t like the fact she was making a joke of me going off with Harry for longer. He’s her responsibility. And yours,’ Dawn added.
‘I know that. She obviously didn’t mean it and things seem to be going a bit better this week. I’m convincing myself she’s showing signs of being more content, as is Harry.’
‘That’s good. Maybe I’ve been overthinking it.’ If it was only a joke with no reality to it, then Dawn’s comments would have been water off a duck’s back. ‘Did you still want me to look after Harry on Wednesday morning?’ She didn’t want to. She felt like she was owed an apology in some ways, but it wasn’t going to help matters if she turned her back on them when they needed her.
‘Of course. I think half the problem with her not communicating is that she’s a walking zombie. The chance to catch up on a few hours’ sleep will do her the world of good. If it’s still okay, that is?’
If Dawn was being honest, it wasn’t, but she figured it was better to grit her teeth through these early months and put her foot down later. ‘Just as long as Rebekah doesn’t make any more jokes about me taking him for longer. It wasn’t my fault she didn’t get any sleep last time.’
When Dawn came off the phone, she had another half hour before Jane would be over for wine and pistachio night. The summer holidays were passing by too quickly and between trips to the forest, some local museums and the zoo, they were already halfway through. In the upcoming week, alongside the regular visits to the zoo, they had a trip to the pet shop to restock on bits for Norman and a space exhibit that would probably be heaving with other schoolchildren.
The thought of the excitement that lay ahead made Dawn ring Joel. Even if learning to draw a meerkat took up one afternoon, it was another activity to amuse her son and she hoped it would prove to be relatively inexpensive.
It didn’t take long for Dawn to find out Joel’s days off were Tuesdays and Thursdays and she arranged to take Archie to Joel’s house for an art lesson. She might even learn something herself given that she’d only describe what she did as doodles compared to his work. They were far more than that really, otherwise she wouldn’t be doing something to try and take that talent further. It was hard to believe that, in just a few weeks, she would be starting her apprenticeship. She just needed to find the faith within herself to believe she might one day consider herself as more than just a doodler.
When Jane arrived, Dawn told her about Rebekah’s remark and how it had made her feel.
‘That’s a bit much, isn’t it?’ Jane agreed. ‘Hasn’t she got anyone else who can help? What about her own mum?’
They were already a quarter of the way through the pistachios and Dawn was currently struggling with a particularly resistant shell. ‘Her mum passed away when she was younger and her parents were divorced with no contact from her dad. Her auntie raised her, but she lives over in Wales and Rebekah left as soon as she was old enough as they didn’t get on very well, so there’s no one on her side of the family to help out. So I’m the only relative they have on hand.’ Her mum was hardly going to fly back from Spain to help out, especially when she wasn’t even planning on visiting until Harry was a bit older. It was a wonder she’d managed with twins, but it was very much a case of feeling she’d done her time. She didn’t appear to want to rekindle any caring instincts now she was a grandparent.
‘That’s sad that Rebekah doesn’t have anyone other than you to turn to.’
‘It is, but I wasn’t much different when it was me. I only really had my brother for help. I had to go out and meet people. I went to the young parents’ group and some of the playschool groups that were available. You have to be a bit proactive as a parent and that’s what I did. As far as I know she’s spent the best part of the first couple of months of his life at home.’
‘Maybe she could do with a bit of help and encouragement to get her on her way? Could David or you go with her to one of the groups? Maybe once she’s over the initial reluctance, she’ll be more willing to get out and about a bit more.’
‘I suppose that might work. She’s just never struck me as the nervous type.’ Rebekah wasn’t backwards in coming forwards; she was a manager for a supermarket, but then it was a different set of circumstances. On one hand, going to that type of group was helpful in terms of advice but, on the other, there was a sense of being judged as a parent. Maybe that was what was putting her off. ‘I’m not sure David would be able to get the time off work. And I’d prefer it if she could go with a friend. I feel too involved as it is.’
‘Is there anyone else s
he could ask? Maybe someone from that antenatal class you went to?’
Rebekah hadn’t mentioned any contact with the woman she’d taken details from. But what about Caitlin? Maybe she would be happy to befriend Rebekah to help out. ‘I could ask Caitlin. They’re both first-time mums. They might be able to support each other.’
‘That’s a good idea. I’d love to see Caitlin again as well if possible. Maybe we could suggest meeting for a coffee as a way of introducing them? It’s not a baby group, but it’s a start. And once Caitlin and Rebekah are introduced, hopefully they’ll consider doing it again.’
It was better than any of the solutions Dawn had in mind and it wouldn’t be too difficult to arrange. ‘I’ll try and sort a date and time that we can all make.’ If it was going to improve the situation it was worth doing.
‘I forgot to say I met up with Caitlin at the zoo. I wanted to clear up the whole thing about her thinking I was a new mum again.’
‘What did she say?’
‘She was surprised, especially as I had Harry with me at the time. But she’s suggested we still meet up. She called it a sanity check, which seems quite apt, all things considered.’
‘That sounds good. It would be nice to see her again.’
‘I’m sure she’d love to see you as well.’
Wanting a change in subject she told Jane about Archie and the summer project.
‘Wow. So this Joel is going to occupy Archie during the summer holidays and is prepared to give him some art lessons. He sounds like a keeper,’ Jane said.
‘I’m pretty sure that’s his job title.’
‘You know what I mean. Is he hot? Should I be encouraging you to take art lessons with him as well?’
Dawn shook her head. ‘Don’t even start.’ Why did everyone love trying to set her up?
‘Well, it has been a while. You deserve to meet someone after this last year of sacrificing yourself for other people. It’s about time you did something for yourself.’
‘In that case, I’ll go on a spa day. Far less complicated.’
‘You shouldn’t be so closed to the idea,’ Jane said, as she peeled another pistachio.
‘I’m not. I just don’t think this is it.’ Joel was a genuinely nice guy, but he had to be at least ten years older than her and likely to have lots of children and a wife at home. She’d not even thought about him that way.
‘Fair enough. But now Archie is a little older, maybe we should both try online dating again.’ Jane was as single as Dawn and last time they’d both agreed to give it a try it had been pretty disastrous. That was the problem with living in an area where everyone knew everyone else. Jane still wasn’t over her ex, Matt, and she bumped into him far too regularly to get over it any time soon.
‘Maybe.’ It was a polite no. Since having Archie, Dawn’s love life just wasn’t a priority. She’d dated, but never felt strongly enough to want to complicate her life. She was happy enough with it just being her and Archie. It might be a fairly simple equation, but it worked for her. Life was easier without complications.
Chapter 16
When Dawn’s phone rang in the early hours of Wednesday morning, it frightened the life out of her. Disorientated, she picked it up, fearful of whatever warranted waking her before her alarm.
‘Hi, sis.’ It was David sounding calm, so maybe her heart hammering in her chest was unnecessary.
‘What’s up?’ She rubbed her eyes and attempted to focus on the digital display of her alarm clock. It turned out it was only ten minutes before the alarm would be sounding, ready for their trip to the zoo.
‘Rebekah’s got a tummy bug. I’ve taken a couple of days off work to look after Harry while she’s poorly. Best you don’t take him to the zoo today just in case he has it. We wouldn’t want you to come over, we wouldn’t want to spread any germs your way.’
‘Is Harry okay?’ Bugs were horrible to deal with when babies were little. The effects always seemed so much crueller when it was harder to fend off.
‘He hasn’t got it yet. Fingers crossed he won’t. Rebekah is confined to our bedroom and the en-suite. Hopefully we’ll be better by the weekend. Maybe we could go out to Maureen’s café, like you were talking about, for Sunday lunch?’
It was the first time meeting up on a Sunday had been mentioned since their no-show. ‘That would be nice. Archie loves Maureen’s café and it would be nice for us all to have a break from cooking. Let me know when you’re all well enough.’ Even if they weren’t better by the Sunday, it would be good to take Archie again. The prices were very reasonable and it was pleasant to not be responsible for producing a meal and clearing up.
‘Fingers crossed we will be.’
‘Let me know if you do need anything. Especially if you and Harry end up poorly as well.’ The whole family with a tummy bug was as yucky as it could get and, even though risking catching it wasn’t the nicest thought, she could at least run errands to the chemist for them. ‘Do you want me to get Rebekah some dioralyte? I can post it through the letterbox.’ They could do it on the way to the zoo if it would help.
‘No, don’t put yourself out. I don’t think it’s that bad. I’ll text you if things change.’
When Dawn was off the phone, she busied herself with the usual routine of heading to the zoo. She tried not to think too much about the other half of her family. Where once she would have considered them a unit, these days it felt very much like them and us. She didn’t want it to be like that, but then she was beginning to understand her own parenting skills were much better than she’d ever given herself credit for. There was a possibility she was beginning to blossom.
The following day, having had no urgent pleas for help from her brother, Dawn loaded Archie into the car.
‘Where are we going?’
Dawn hadn’t told Archie what they were up to yet. ‘You’ll see when we get there if I can find my way.’ She was busy setting up her sat nav, which she hadn’t used for what felt like half a century, and it was proving to be non-compliant as regards everything she was trying to achieve. ‘It looks like it’s not far from Maureen’s café,’ she said out loud, forgetting she was trying to make this a surprise.
‘What is?’
‘You can spend the journey guessing. If you guess right, I’ll let you know.’
Yesterday at the zoo, Dawn hadn’t seen Joel and Archie had only chatted with him briefly. She’d asked him not to say anything to Archie about the lesson because, even though her son had been instrumental in it happening, she didn’t want him to be disappointed if for some reason it had been called off.
Dawn concentrated on the road as Archie rattled off answers. He came out with everything from scavenging to orienteering in his guesses and she hoped his apparent thirst for adventure wouldn’t be too disappointed when they turned up at Joel’s house.
‘Painting.’ Archie guessed at last.
‘Yes.’
‘With Joel?’
‘If we can find his house. According to my sat nav we’re in the right lane, we just need to look for somewhere called Forest Gatehouse. I’m not sure how obvious it’ll be so keep an eye out for it. You look along the left side and I’ll keep an eye out on the right.’
The lane was long and cut through Owerdale in the New Forest with the trees either side casting shadows over the road. Dawn slowed as they neared some New Forest ponies meandering along the grass verges, snacking on the foliage and paying little attention to the passing cars.
After the ponies, the further they went, the fewer forms of life there seemed to be and the narrower the lane became. Good old sat nav was taking them on a jolly. There were no residences to be seen and Joel’s house was no doubt a mile along in the other direction.
‘Is that it?’ Archie said, just as Dawn was about to give up and turn the other way.
Dawn pulled over into a layby opposite so she was able to get a better look. In her peripheral vision she couldn’t make out a dwelling, let alone a house. As she turned
the engine off, her breath caught when she got a proper look. There was no doubt it was Joel’s house, but if she’d been speeding down the road at a normal pace, she would have missed it. She might not have even realised the place was there, but then she guessed that was the point.
Neatly camouflaged in among the trees was a house or, to be more accurate, a wood log cabin. Any parts that might have been recognisable – for example, the front door – were camouflaged with Joel’s trademark painting style.
‘Wow, Mum, isn’t it cool?’ Archie was eager to bounce out of the car without checking if there was any oncoming traffic that would whack off the door and take him with it.
‘Check before you get out,’ Dawn chastised before admitting that, yes, it really was cool.
As they got out safely and crossed the road, Joel came out on his veranda ready to greet them.
‘This is so awesome,’ Archie said, as he ogled the wood cabin like all his dreams had come true at once.
‘Do you want a tour?’ Joel offered, a brief smile towards Dawn as he said it.
‘Yessss!’
‘It’s a bit rustic. I probably should have warned you, I only have an outside toilet.’
‘Can I see it?’ Archie was far more enthusiastic about seeing the loo than Dawn. Probably far more so than any previous visitor.
Annoyingly, with the thought of having to use an outside loo, Dawn found she was desperate to go. It was like the urgency plucked itself from nowhere, knowing that any more civilised facilities would be miles away.
The veranda went round the side of the house and Joel led them round to the back of the cabin.
‘Is it higher so the lions don’t attack you?’ Archie asked.
‘We’re not at the zoo now, kiddo. But you’re right, it’s raised because of the local wildlife. I don’t need the deer or ponies trotting into my front room. And it’s to help with drainage, but that’s far too boring. Protection from any potential lions sounds far more exciting.’
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