'Okay.' Ella glanced over her shoulder before flopping onto a chair and tugging Mia's sleeve to make her sit. 'You lost me at Mattie lending Jet the money to buy his farm, but we'll get back to that. You said Jet asked you to go for a walk. What does that mean? Are we back in the 1930s? Was he asking you out?'
'No. I don't think so. I'm not sure. He meant an actual walk. On the beach of all places. Even when I told him I'm afraid of water.'
Ella shook her head. 'Let's not make this even more complicated. When did Jet ask you to go for this walk?'
'Today. Just before nine. He came here.'
'Jet came here? Wow. So why did you say horrible things to him?'
'Because Hettie had said he breaks women's hearts, remember? And Alexia was looking at him at choir practice when she said that stuff about Justin not being like someone else she could mention. Oh! How did you get on with Justin? Sorry. I'm so worried about this business with Jet I'd completely forgotten to ask.'
Ella pulled a serious face. 'I didn't go out to see Justin. I went out to get bread.' She grinned. 'And came back with a loaf, some iced buns, and a date for Saturday night. Well, when I say 'date', what I actually mean is tickets for Justin's next show in some village a few miles away. But we're going for a drink after and he's going to bring a friend.' Ella clapped her hands in excitement.
Mia beamed at her. 'Oh Ella! That's wonderful. Wait a minute. Why's he bringing a friend? He's not asking you to take part in some sort of threesome, is he? Because that's almost as gross as Jet having sex with Mattie.'
Ella shrieked. 'Jet and Mattie had sex! In exchange for her lending him the money to buy the farm, you mean? Bloody Nora! You've got to be joking!'
Unfortunately, Hettie reappeared and opened the back door at that precise moment. Her mouth fell open and her eyes were the size of saucers. 'I forgot my bag,' she mumbled, holding the bag in the air. Before Mia had a chance to act, Hettie had closed the door and raced along the hall to the front door, faster than Usain Bolt.
'Hettie!' Mia suddenly realised what Hettie must have heard. She got up and ran after her but when she opened the front door, Hettie was nowhere to be seen. How could the woman move so fast? Mia returned to Ella, flopped back in the chair and dropped her head into her hands. 'Bloody hell! Now she's going to tell everyone Jet and Mattie had sex. And of course, they didn't.'
'They didn't?' Ella breathed a sigh of relief. 'Thank God for that. But why did you say they did?'
'I didn't. I thought it for one millionth of a second. And I did actually say it to him. But I don't know why because I knew he wouldn't. And neither would Mattie. Oh God. This is such a mess.'
Ella sighed and shook her head. She poked Mia in the arm and giggled. 'Look on the bright side. At least now Hettie won't tell everyone you've fallen for Jet because she's got something far more interesting to tell them. Or maybe she'll tell them both things. It's just as well you've got a date on Saturday.'
Mia looked up at her. 'What? I haven't got a date. I told you. I said horrible things to him. He left and that was that.'
Ella gave a little cough. 'I'm talking about the friend Justin is bringing for you on Saturday night. Don't look at me like that. It's about time you and I followed Garrick's lead and got back in the game.'
'Oh God, Ella. What have you done? Who's this friend he's bringing?'
Ella pulled a comically apologetic face. 'I was so excited, I completely forgot to ask. Wouldn't it be funny if it was Jet?' She giggled uncontrollably.
'No, Ella Swann. It wouldn't be in the least bit funny. We need to call Justin right now and find out who it is. In fact, you need to tell him I'm not going.'
'No can do,' Ella said, still giggling. 'No phone signal remember? And besides, I didn't take his number. And let's not forget you owe me one. I did offer to come and stay here when you got so upset about the thought of living in the countryside. And I did bring my wonderful brother along too.'
Mia sighed and cast Ella a sarcastic look.
'Yes. And look how well that's all working out.'
Chapter Four
Something had changed. And it wasn't for the better.
When Mia, Ella and Garrick had arrived in Little Pondale exactly one week earlier, they had been three single people who found a village full of seemingly friendly residents. Now Garrick was dating Alexia, although she didn't appear to be exactly thrilled about it. On Friday night in the pub, Alexia had virtually ignored him. She also behaved as if Mia had a contagious disease, clearly avoiding her at every opportunity. Even Toby, Freda and Alec weren't quite as friendly when they served them drinks. Justin wasn't in the pub, and nor was Bear. Thankfully, there was no sign of Jet either, but there was definitely an atmosphere. The locals turned and looked at Mia and her friends when they walked in but instead of friendly waves and greetings, all they offered were a few nods and more than one shake of the head. Hettie Burnstall had clearly done her worst and Mia, Ella and Garrick only stayed for one drink. When they got back to the cottage they discussed this turn of events but none of them had any idea what they could do to make things right.
Until the following morning, when Mia knew exactly what she had to do. But when she pulled back the curtains at six-thirty on Saturday morning and saw the pouring rain, her heart sank just a little.
She gritted her teeth and jumped into the shower before putting on a clean pair of jeans, a T-shirt and a cardigan. She ran downstairs and, after a quick coffee and a couple of chocolate digestives, she scribbled a note to Ella and Garrick.
Garrick's van was in the way and in the time it would take her to move that back and forth to get her car out, she could probably walk to her destination. She grabbed her raincoat and an umbrella from the hall and dashed out into the rain.
It didn't take long for her to arrive at Little Pond Farm but by the time she did, the wind had joined the rain and her umbrella had blown inside out. Her hair was hanging limp around her face and her jeans were soaking wet. The waterproof raincoat wasn't doing its job either but the walking boots she had bought were, so at least her feet were dry. Pushing open the wooden gate, she followed the mud-covered drive to the door of the Georgian farmhouse and rang the bell.
No one answered. She rang it again but still no one came.
She hadn't come this far to give up now, so she walked around the aged sandstone façade and followed a path to what appeared to be a row of large sheds. Strange sounds drifted through the early morning air, competing with the now torrential rain pummelling the ground. One was definitely machinery, another she recognised as clucking chickens and the third was mooing cows.
For a moment she stopped in her tracks. The thought of being in close contact with several farm animals was bad enough; the idea that something might be happening to them was even worse. She started to back away but the door of the barn closest to her flew open and she caught a glimpse of what was going on inside.
Mia burst out laughing in relief. She didn't know anything about farming but the octopus-like contraption attached to the underneath of the cows made it clear even to her untrained eye that the cows were being milked.
It was a moment or two before she noticed the mountain of a man standing just inside the door, staring in her direction. He wore a Macintosh like the ones she had seen in cowboy films and actual cowboy boots, covered in white elasticated booties. Beneath his mac he wore a white overall and on his head, beneath a cowboy hat, he wore what appeared to be a white plastic shower cap, although it was obviously something to do with public health and safety, Mia was sure of that.
'Howdy,' he called out. 'You gonna stand there in the rain, or you coming in the dry?'
The accent was unmistakably American but she had no idea where from. Texas maybe?
'Hello. I'm looking for Jet Cross.' Mia walked towards the barn but she didn't want to venture inside. This was as close as she wanted to get to a herd of cows, even if they were all contained in individual enclosures, which for some reason made her think back to
her days at Whitley Smythe and Black and the 'pods' in which she and the rest of the admin staff all spent their working days.
'He's with the chickens,' the American said. 'Next barn along. You must be Mia.' He took off his cowboy hat and tipped it in her direction before shoving a wayward strand of blond hair back beneath the shower cap and returning his hat to his head. 'I'm Franklin Grant. Pleased to meet you ma'am.'
Ma'am? Was he for real?
'Hi. Yes, I'm Mia. Lovely to meet you too. But please don't call me ma'am.' She smiled at him and giggled. 'It makes me sound like … well, let's just say I'd prefer to be called Mia.'
'Mia's a mighty fine name. You kinda like the rain then do you, Mia?'
Mia shook her head and wished she hadn't. A river of water poured beneath her coat and ran down her back.
'No. But I prefer it to a barn full of cows.'
He laughed heartily and it was contagious. The type of laugh that you simply have to laugh along with.
'Not an animal lover then?'
'Dogs and cats are great. Farm creatures, not so much. The barn next door, you said?'
'Right you are, Ma'am. Begging your pardon. Mia. Next barn along. I'm sure he'll be mighty pleased to see you this wet and wild morning.'
'I wouldn't bet on that. See you later, I hope.'
'You can count on it.' He tipped his hat once more, grabbed a metal urn the size of a small person, with just his fingertips, and disappeared back into the barn.
Mia trudged through increasing amounts of mud to the next barn and stood outside for a moment. Should she knock? She couldn't see a doorbell and she had no idea what the protocol was for entering a chicken barn. She erred on the side of caution and rapped her knuckles against the wood three times.
'Hello! Is anyone in there? It's Mia. Mia Ward. I'm looking for Jet Cross. Is he … oh!'
The door flew open and Jet towered before her. He didn't look as pleased to see her as Franklin thought he might. Or perhaps Franklin was being facetious. Mia hadn't expected Jet to welcome her visit but the look he was giving her made her wonder if she might be murdered and fed to the cows. Or was it pigs who ate humans? Whatever. If looks could kill, she'd be dead on this very spot.
'What do you want?'
She smiled wanly. 'I wondered if you'd like to go for a walk.'
The tiniest of twitches tugged at his mouth.
'A walk? In the pouring rain?'
She shrugged. 'I'd like to talk and I'm already soaked to the skin. I can't possibly get any wetter.'
He raised his brows and looked her up and down before holding the door open and stepping to one side. 'I'm not. You'd better come inside.'
She shook her head. 'I'm allergic to animals.'
'That's okay. These are birds.'
He grabbed her arm and yanked her inside and she stumbled and fell against him. She quickly regained her composure and pushed away from him, brushing herself down even though she had no reason to.
'Sorry. You took me by surprise,' she said, blushing profusely.
'That makes two of us. Why are you here, Mia?'
'I owe you an apology.'
He glared at her. 'You can say that again.'
She smiled sheepishly. 'I owe you an apology.' Again, that tiny twitch caught her eye.
'Okay. Let's hear it. But just so that we're clear, are you apologising for what you said to me when I came to see you? Or are you apologising for telling everyone in the village my business? Or are you apologising for telling everyone in the village that I had sex with Mattie in exchange for a loan?'
Mia cringed. 'All three. Although technically, it wasn't me who told everyone in the village you had sex with Mattie, or about your business.'
He gave a sarcastic laugh. 'You told Hettie. That's as good as telling everyone.'
'No. I actually told Ella. Hettie simply overheard.'
He tutted and turned away. 'Oh well. That makes all the difference.' He turned back to face her. 'Do you have any idea how I felt when I heard that? Any idea how hard I've worked to get where I am? Everything I've given up to be here? No, of course you don't. And it's not just my reputation you could've so easily ruined. Has it even occurred to you what you might've done to Mattie's? Everyone loved and respected Mattie. She may not have opened up and shared the story of her life and she may have had a few odd ways, but she was highly thought of. It makes me angry to hear her name dragged through the mud.'
It hadn't occurred to Mia. 'But I didn't say that's what happened. It was all a simple misunderstanding. If everyone is so ready to believe the worst of Mattie, and of you, then they couldn't have thought much of either of you in the first place. If someone said something like that about me to Ella or Garrick they'd laugh and tell the gossiper to get a life. I don't think anyone in the village actually believed it. I'm sure they think we were the ones spreading gossip and they made it clear they weren't having any of it. I think your reputation's pretty much as it was before, and so is Mattie's. But it wasn't any of us who started the story about you being a guy who goes around breaking women's hearts. That story was out there long before we arrived. But I'm sorry if we made it worse. If I made it worse.'
He met the look in her eyes and held it with his for what seemed like an eternity but was merely a matter of seconds as water dripped from her hair and trickled down the bridge of her nose. She wiped it away with her hand.
'Okay, fine,' he said, turning away from her. 'Apology accepted. You can go now.'
Without thinking, she reached out and touched his arm. 'I'm truly sorry, Jet. I didn't mean any of this to happen. If it makes you feel any better, I think the entire village is sending me, Ella and Garrick to Coventry for this. They hardly spoke to us in the pub last night.'
He looked at her hand as if it burnt through his jacket to his skin and he waved his arm to brush her off. 'Fine. But that doesn't make me feel better. That's the last thing I'd want. Little Pondale is a friendly place. I don't want three Londoners to change that overnight.'
She persisted. 'I mean it. I'm really sorry. Tell me what I can do to make it up to you. I'll do anything you want. Anything at all.'
He raised his brows and stared at her. 'Anything? Absolutely anything?'
She narrowed her eyes and met his stare. 'Within reason. But I'm not having sex with you, if that's what you're going to suggest.'
A burst of laughter escaped him. 'It's always sex with you, isn't it? I hate to disappoint you, but that wasn't what I was going to suggest. It's far, far worse than that.'
'Worse? What could be worse?'
He laughed again. 'You do realise that you're still insulting me, don't you? I have it on pretty good authority that there are many things far worse than having sex with me.'
'I didn't mean it like that. I'm sure sex with you would be …'
'Would be …?'
'Fine,' she said, hastily clearing her throat.
'Fine? Okay. I'll take that.'
'So … what were you going to suggest I do?'
He tipped his head to one side and looked her up and down.
'Go for a walk with me.'
Mia brightened. 'Yes, I'll happily do that.'
'Along the beach?'
'Er. No. Anywhere but the beach.'
He shrugged. 'Take it or leave it. My chickens need feeding.'
'You want me to feed your chickens too?'
He grinned at her and Mia relaxed a little. 'No. Although I think you owe me that as well as a walk along the beach.'
Mia looked around at the barn filled with chickens, all clucking and scratching and leaping in the air. 'Do they bite? They look pretty wild. Do you let them out or do they live in here because that seems cruel to me?'
'You're not helping yourself, you know.' He threw her a serious look but the twitch increased in size. 'But I let them out. They're certified free range. If you look over there, you'll see the other door at the end of the barn is open.' He pointed across the barn. 'They can come and go as they please, and w
hen the door is locked at night, they can still get out into a fox-proof area, through a chicken door. They're just sensible enough not to get themselves soaked in the rain.'
'Meaning I'm not as bright as a chicken?' She stuck her chin in the air.
'You're the one who's soaking wet.'
'Because I came here to apologise.'
'I told you. Apology accepted. I'll call for you at nine on Sunday morning. We're taking that walk along the beach, Mia, and I won't take no for an answer, but I will let you off feeding the chickens. For now. And if you give me ten minutes or so, I'll give you a lift home.'
'I can walk, thanks. And I'll do anything else apart from a walk on the beach.'
'And having sex with me,' he reminded her.
'Yes. No beach. No sex. But anything else, I'll do.'
'I'll see you at nine on Sunday. You'll need beach shoes.' He glanced at her feet and nodded. 'Those boots will do if it rains, but if it's good weather, you might want to wear flip-flops. Easier for paddling.'
'Paddling!' Mia shrieked. 'Did you say paddling? There is no way on this earth you'll get me to go paddling. I'm getting out of here before you think of something even more ridiculous.'
'See you Sunday morning,' he called after her as she shoved the barn door open and rushed headlong into the pouring rain.
Chapter Five
On her way back from Little Pond Farm Mia nipped into Justin's bakery and casually mentioned that Ella hadn't said who it was he was bringing along on their date.
'That's because I didn't tell her,' Justin said. 'It's going to be a surprise.'
He had an odd grin on his tanned face which seemed to be a darker brown today. Was that why he wasn't at the pub last night? Was he having his tan topped up? The grin was somewhere between devilish and uncertain. Perhaps he hadn't said who, because he hadn't found anyone who wanted to be Mia's blind date. That was a depressing thought.
It was even more depressing when she mentioned it to Ella and Garrick over breakfast and Garrick said that with so many single men around, there must be one who'd want to go out with Mia.
The Cottage on Lily Pond Lane_Part Two_Summer secrets Page 3
