The Winter Garden

by Heidi Swain

  ‘In terms of calorie intake, perhaps not,’ said Finn, ‘although we’ve walked a fair few miles, and mentally it’s been a real boost.’

  ‘You’re right,’ I said, smiling across as him as I licked the luscious jam and cream combo from my lips.

  Even though I loved life in the square and my job in the garden, it was a treat to go somewhere else and do something a bit different, and in such great company. Every second I spent with Finn, the harder I found myself falling for him.

  I risked another glance as he poured us both a cup of tea, too engrossed to notice my scrutiny. His hair was tied tight back from his face which showed off his jawline and made him look even more warrior-like than usual. I let out a long breath as I realised that I’d never been in love before. I couldn’t have been because nothing I’d ever experienced had felt like this. I adored everything about the man sitting opposite me and that covered so much more than just the way he looked. I loved his bravery and his ambition and…

  He looked up and caught me staring.

  ‘What?’ he asked, making my cheeks burn as brightly as if I’d been caught saying the words out loud. ‘Did you want the tea poured before the milk? I can never remember which way you’re supposed to do it.’

  ‘No,’ I said, my voice catching as I quickly looked away, ‘milk in first is fine.’

  * * *

  We walked the length and breadth of the mighty cathedral and Finn pointed out his beloved green men before buying postcards of them from the well-stocked shop.

  ‘Do you want to come to mine for supper?’ I asked, as we hopped on a bus which would take us most of the way back to the square.

  It was already getting dark and, weighed down with our various purchases, we didn’t much feel like making the trek back on foot.

  ‘I would,’ he smiled.

  ‘Fantastic.’

  ‘But I’m not going to.’

  ‘Why not?’

  While we had finished drinking our tea, I had been devising great plans to make the end of the day as memorable as the rest of it had been.

  ‘Because I want you to have an early night,’ he told me.

  ‘I was planning to,’ I huskily replied.

  What was he doing to me? I’d never sounded so wanton.

  ‘Not that sort of early night,’ he grinned, ‘as much as I would love that.’

  ‘Then why don’t we?’

  ‘Because,’ he said, leaning around me to ring the bell for our stop, ‘I’ve got another busy day planned for tomorrow and both you and Nell will need to be ready early.’

  ‘Nell?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said, standing up and taking more than his share of the bags, ‘I feel bad that she’s been home alone, so tomorrow we’re taking her with us and she’s going to have a whale of a time.’

  Kind, considerate, caring and with an eye to the welfare of my beloved Nell, Finn really was the stuff of dreams.

  * * *

  He was true to his word, and early the next morning he arrived to take me and Nell, complete with an overflowing picnic basket, packed full of treats and cooked sausages, off on our next adventure.

  ‘I’m sorry we’ve got to take your van,’ he said, once we’d eaten more rolls from Blossom’s and everything was packed.

  ‘That’s all right,’ I told him, tossing him the keys, ‘as long as you’re happy behind the wheel.’

  ‘More than happy,’ he said, jumping into the driving seat.

  I knew he hated not having his own vehicle, so the evening before, in lieu of the early night, I’d added him as a named driver to my insurance so he was covered to chauffeur me about. I was looking forward to taking in the scenery, assuming there was going to be some. I still had no idea where we were headed.

  ‘So,’ he said, as he pulled to the side of the road and pointed at the view about an hour later, ‘what do you think? Any good?’

  ‘Very good,’ I nodded, clapping my hands together.

  ‘I know it won’t be warm, but there’s a great pub we can thaw out in. It’s dog friendly and they do a really decent lunch.’

  ‘Let’s go for it,’ I grinned. ‘It’s been ages since I’ve been to the seaside.’

  ‘Wynmouth has a stunning beach,’ Finn told me, ‘and I’ve checked the tide times so we should be able to explore the rock pools if you’ve packed enough clothes to keep out the wind.’

  It was a bit on the breezy side, but Nell had a great time tearing up and down the beach and the rockpools were surprisingly busy. Not in terms of visitor numbers – we had the whole stretch of sand to ourselves – but the pools were full of activity, the occupants seemingly unaware of the bitter temperature above their watery world.

  ‘Have you had enough?’ Finn asked Nell, once she had finally run out of steam and flopped down, panting at our feet.

  ‘I don’t know about her,’ I said, rubbing my hands together, ‘but I’m starting to feel it.’

  Looking at the colour of Finn’s nose, I guessed he was chilly too.

  ‘Right,’ he said, ‘let’s head to the pub. This sea air has given me an appetite.’

  I was in complete agreement and more than happy to while away the afternoon in The Smuggler’s, the only pub in the village and which had a roaring fire, a surprisingly exotic menu (Finn and I both had steaming bowls of curried crab) and a landlord with the most beguiling green eyes.

  All too soon, and because Wednesday was a workday for both of us, we climbed back into the van with a very sleepy Nell and headed back to Norwich.

  ‘Are you all right?’ I asked Finn, who had been quiet on the drive home.

  ‘Yes,’ he said, throwing me a smile. ‘I’m fine.’

  I really hated that word, because it always meant anything other than fine, but I didn’t push him further. Like me, he was most likely sad that our two days together had come to an end. At least, I hoped that was what had caused the dip in his mood.

  Back in the square, he followed me into the house. By the time we’d unpacked the picnic basket, he was sporting the oddest expression and I realised there was something on his mind other than going back to work.

  ‘What?’ I said, as he closed the gap between us and my back was pressed against the wall. ‘Whatever is it?’

  ‘I know I shouldn’t be saying this,’ he swallowed, as he pulled off the woolly hat I was still wearing and released my curls.

  ‘Saying what?’ I breathed, drinking the scent of him deep into my lungs.

  He was a heady cocktail of fresh sea air and aftershave. It sent my heart rate soaring and I could imagine my pupils dilating in response. His were wide and dark and I had no doubt that mine matched them. Surely whatever was on his mind couldn’t be bad, if he was looking at me like that?

  ‘We’ve only known each other for a few days,’ he said huskily.

  ‘It’s nearer six weeks actually,’ I whispered, thinking of the first time our paths had crossed. ‘I’ve been here since Hallowe’en and, in spite of all the ups and downs and misunderstandings, we’ve been in each other’s lives since then.’

  ‘That’s true,’ he said, leaning in so our bodies came together as he placed his hands on the wall either side of my head.

  I gasped at the contact, feeling my body respond. We were the perfect fit.

  ‘And as it’s been that long,’ he sighed, resting his forehead against mine, ‘then it can’t be too soon to say I love you, Freya, can it?’

  I felt my world shift on its axis.

  ‘No,’ I whispered, ‘it’s not too soon, because I—’

  He didn’t give me the chance to say it back because he was kissing my lips and his hands were in my hair.

  ‘Don’t say it,’ he whispered urgently, ‘I don’t want you to say it just because I have.’

  I was going to tell him that I was saying it because I meant it, not because he had gone first, but his hand slid under my shirt and his fingers began caressing my bare skin, making the words die in my throat.

  ‘O
h Finn,’ I gasped, as the seductive movement intensified.

  After that I was speechless and remained so for the rest of the night.

  Chapter 27

  The middle and end of the week was in every conceivable way as perfect as the beginning. In fact, it was all so wonderful that if Richard Curtis happened to be looking to set a future romcom in the east of England – be it festive themed or otherwise – then I was in no doubt that Finn and I could have provided plenty of inspiration for the leading roles.

  After that first exquisite night together, we knew we were going to struggle to keep our hands off each other and so settled on an agreement whereby we stayed apart during the day and kept after work and after dark strictly for each other. I still hadn’t told him I loved him, but given the passion and heat between us, I was pretty certain that he knew that his feelings were in every way reciprocated.

  I hadn’t told any of my friends about the seismic shift in mine and Finn’s relationship, not even Chloe. Although, given my constantly happy demeanour and wide smile, along with the evidence of my former beard burn, I’m sure she must have had her suspicions.

  ‘Freya,’ Luke beamed, when he came into the garden after lunch on Thursday afternoon, ‘how on earth have you managed to do all this in just a day and a half?’

  He was accompanied by Jacob and a few children from the school where he worked and who formed part of the new Bird and Wildlife Club they’d recently started. They had come to position some of the hedgehog homes Finn was so adept at making, as well as set up a few bird feeding stations. It was too late to get any hogs hibernating in the homes, but I had no doubt the feeders were going to be very much appreciated and there were plans to put up bird boxes in a few weeks’ time.

  ‘I’m capitalising on the weather,’ I told him. ‘It’s just over a week until the official opening and, as the ground has thawed, I’m making the most of it. And don’t forget, I’ve got Graham on the case, too. I might have taken a couple of days off this week, but he hasn’t. He’s been forging ahead.’

  ‘Making hay while the sun shines, hey?’ Jacob beamed.

  ‘Something like that,’ I agreed, my shoulders tensing a little as I remembered the last time I’d heard the expression. It was Jackson who had said it.

  I couldn’t be sure if Jacob was talking about getting ahead in the garden or if he’d seen Finn popping in and out of the square. His house was only a couple of doors away from mine and he and Ryan often walked Gus together in the evenings, so it was a possibility.

  ‘Well, whatever the reason,’ Luke continued, ‘it all looks even better than I could have imagined. It’s amazing that we’re only a few weeks into the project and so much has happened.’

  ‘I’m truly delighted you feel that way,’ I smiled, before turning my attention to the children who had started to shiver. ‘Now, let’s work out where to put everything, shall we?’

  With so many eager pairs of hands, the operation didn’t take all that long and Luke promised to get the special wildlife cameras, which the school had raised funds for, trained on to the feeders the following week. The livestream was to be beamed straight into the classroom so I would have to make sure Finn didn’t track me down for a clandestine kiss in full view of the local kids. That wasn’t the sort of wildlife they were hoping to see!

  ‘Are you coming to the carol concert tonight, Miss?’ asked one of the boys, as he helped carry the tools back to the shed.

  ‘Oh, I’d forgotten about that,’ I told him. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

  ‘I’m going to be singing a solo,’ he proudly told me.

  ‘In that case,’ I promised, ‘I’ll definitely be there.’

  * * *

  The church was packed, and I was pleased to see Harold in a pew just ahead of me. I would ask him after the service about how he used to decorate the house.

  ‘This isn’t quite what I thought you had in mind when you said we were going out,’ Finn, who was sitting tight up against me because there was such little space, said quietly. ‘I hope you aren’t expecting me to sing.’

  ‘Can’t you sing?’ I asked, pressing my thigh against his.

  ‘I can,’ he whispered back, ‘I just choose not to.’

  We quietened as the lad I recognised from earlier walked down the aisle and then turned to face the congregation. There was total silence as he sang the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’ without any musical accompaniment. His voice was confident, strong and pure, and when the congregation joined in with the second verse there were more than a few moist eyes being dabbed with crumpled tissues and neatly pressed hankies.

  After the service, throughout which Finn had sung with gusto I was amused to note, everyone stayed on to drink tea and enjoy the mince pies supplied by the school kitchen and the local Women’s Institute.

  ‘Are you keen to get off?’ I asked Finn.

  He’d sat down again once he’d collected his pie, because he took up so much space standing up.

  ‘No,’ he said, ‘I’m in no rush. I’ll wait for you and we’ll go back together, if you like.’

  ‘All right,’ I smiled. ‘That would be lovely.’

  I ignored the knowing looks coming from certain neighbours and friends and waved to Harold.

  ‘Just the person,’ he said, as he made his way over and Finn shuffled up so he could sit down too. ‘I was hoping I’d see you, Freya.’

  ‘Likewise,’ I told him. ‘I have a question for you, Harold, but you go first.’

  ‘Age before beauty, hey,’ he chuckled, slapping Finn’s knee. ‘It’s about my Christmas decorations.’

  Finn looked at me and smiled. He knew that was what I wanted to ask about and was clearly amused that Harold had got in first.

  ‘They’re all still in the loft,’ Harold explained. ‘They’re the only things up there, and in all the excitement of moving, I completely forgot about them.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ I told him, ‘I can drop them round to you in my van. It’s no bother.’

  Given that his family had lived in the house since it was built, I knew there were bound to be some vintage treasures among the tinsel and tree decorations. I wondered if he would mind if I had a peek in the boxes when I dropped them off.

  ‘Now, that would be grand,’ he said, ‘but to tell you the truth I only really want the wooden nativity set my father made and the angel for the tree. She’s even older than I am!’ he chuckled. ‘I was thinking that it might be nice if everything else stayed at the house.’

  ‘I see.’

  ‘But only if you don’t mind,’ he rushed on. ‘You don’t have to do anything with them, but if they’re taking up too much loft space—’

  ‘Actually,’ I quickly interrupted to stop him fretting, ‘I was wondering if you would mind if I carried on using them to decorate the house?’

  ‘They’re all a bit old-fashioned,’ he warned me.

  ‘That’s just what I like,’ I told him, as his eyes moistened with tears. ‘The house is still a bit old-fashioned, isn’t it? So, they definitely belong there.’

  ‘Well,’ he sniffed, ‘that would be wonderful.’

  ‘And when I’ve got them up, you can come and see them.’

  ‘Only if you’re sure. I wouldn’t want to intrude.’

  ‘We could have some of the cake I made at Carole’s Winterfest session,’ I told him, ‘and tea.’

  ‘Well I’d like that,’ he said, reaching for his handkerchief as Finn looked at me and smiled. ‘I’d like that very much indeed.’

  ‘That’s settled then,’ I said, bending to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.

  ‘Hey now,’ he grinned, ‘don’t be doing that, not with your strapping great fella sitting right next to me. I don’t want him getting ideas that I’m trying to pinch his girl!’

  Finn and I looked at each other and shook our heads. So much for keeping our relationship under wraps.

  * * *

  Even though I was keen to get ahead
in the garden, Harold’s kind gift of his family’s festive decorations had me yearning to clock out on Friday. I was planning to get the decorations down and start going through them before buying a tree at some point over the weekend.

  It was going to be a busy couple of days, what with helping my beloved with his Winterfest session on Saturday and saying a few words of horticultural wisdom before the start of Graham’s on Sunday, but I was determined to squeeze buying a tree into my already packed schedule.

  ‘Ta da!’

  ‘What on earth?’ I gasped.

  ‘It’s your tree,’ came Finn’s voice, from somewhere beyond the mass of beautiful pine branches, filling the porch when I opened the door to him that Friday evening.

  ‘But I haven’t ordered one.’

  ‘I know,’ he said, sounding more muffled than ever, ‘I did. It’s a present.’

  ‘Oh Finn,’ I laughed, clapping my hands. ‘It’s beautiful, thank you.’

  ‘It’s also heavy,’ he said, ‘so are you going to let me in, or what?’

  ‘How far have you carried it?’ I asked, opening the front door as far as I could in the hope that he could sidle in without knocking off too many needles.

  ‘Only across the road,’ he told me, carefully edging in. ‘I had it delivered to Prosperous Place so I could surprise you. And it’s container-grown, which is why it’s so heavy.’

  He’d barely got it into the sitting room before I flung my arms around him and kissed him deeply.

  ‘I take it you like it then,’ he said between kisses.

  ‘I love it,’ I told him, ‘almost as much as I love—’

  ‘Come on then,’ he said, denying me the chance to say it again. ‘Let’s get it in position and then we’ll get Harold’s decs out of the loft.’

  The tree fitted the space in the bay window beautifully. It was a little on the tall side, but I didn’t mind that. I’d never had such a beautiful tree and the fact that it was going to be returned to the grower to be re-used again next year, by me if I wanted it, made it sustainable too, which was even better.