Gemma couldn’t talk. Her mouth had been blocked with envy; her heart was lead. She wasn’t proud of herself, but she felt more alone than ever. She felt like an observer to this scene, as if she were watching from behind a pane of glass. Excluded by herself rather than by other people. But she couldn’t feel part of it; perhaps she felt she didn’t deserve to be. No, she knew she didn’t really deserve to be. This was her pattern in life – she didn’t feel good enough for other people, so she built a wall between them. And just as she thought it might be on the verge of being torn down, here she was putting it back up again. Why was she so weird? Why couldn’t she enjoy being a part of this?
‘Is that what brought this on?’ Gus asked.
‘I think it was the fact that Madonna is pregnant.’
Freddie spat his sherry out. ‘Sorry!’ He had the grace to blush.
‘Madonna, the cow. It seems that David might not be quite as gay as we first thought,’ Harriet explained.
Even Gemma managed to smile at this.
‘David has impregnated Madonna?’ Pippa was incredulous.
‘Seems so, and of course that led to Connor thinking he should do the same to me. Sorry, Gwen,’ Harriet said again.
Gwen shook her head.
‘Freddie, don’t you dare tweet that,’ Gus said suddenly.
Freddie looked sheepish and put his phone down.
‘Give me that phone!’ Harriet lunged for it, and after a tussle she grabbed it, threw it to Pippa, who deleted the tweet and then threw it to Gus.
‘Spoilsports,’ Freddie said, laughing. ‘We could have gone viral!’
‘So we’re getting a baby cow?’ Pippa asked.
‘Calf, I believe that’s what they are called.’ Harriet rolled her eyes.
‘Pip, should name it, you know, to make up for this whole thing,’ Gus suggested.
‘Yes, because just when yet another man tries to ruin my life, naming a calf makes it all better,’ Pippa said, but her eyes were sparkling with mirth.
‘That could be your new motto,’ Gemma surprised herself by saying, and they all seemed to remember she was there as they burst out laughing.
‘Could we possibly open some champagne to celebrate the cow pregnancy?’ Freddie said. ‘I really bloody hate sherry.’
The knock on the door made her jump. After champagne and dinner, Gemma had cried off as she had some work to catch up on. It seemed the Edward business occupied more of her time than she could spare, and she had a few documents she needed finalising. Although, actually, she’d had a few glasses of champagne, so it wasn’t exactly getting done. But she was fretting slightly – her six-month contract date was approaching and there was still so much to do.
‘Come in,’ she said.
Pippa’s face appeared. ‘Before you say anything, I know you’ve got work to do, but …’ She walked in clutching a bottle of wine and two glasses.
‘But you are going to ply me with wine regardless?’ Gemma said, closing her laptop lid in defeat.
‘Well yes, actually. Firstly, all work and no play and all that, but also I think I really need to thank you for all you’ve done for me.’
‘You mean ruining your love life?’
‘Or saving the hotel, you can see it either way. Harriet was really cross with me, actually; she said I didn’t appreciate fully all you’d done. I mean you didn’t pass the buck onto her, or even Gus, but you came up with a plan, roped Freddie in and sorted it, and that was a lovely thing to do for me.’
‘You know, Pippa, I was hoping that Freddie and I would have a fake date and we wouldn’t find anything … I was just suspicious when I heard his mum in a coffee shop. But I’ve told you all that. I’m sorry, though, that it turned out like this, but glad we’ve got to the bottom of it.’
‘Yes, me too. I might be upset about Edward for a while, but I mean it now, I am off men – clearly I have the worst taste in them.’ Although she wiped a tear away, showing she wasn’t as OK as she made out.
‘So do I. I mean Chris, well he was just so pompous and not even nice to me. I am only concerned about the hotel. And about you – I want you to be with someone who deserves you, Pippa.’
‘Well that makes two of us, so let’s drink to that.’
As they settled back on Gemma’s bed, with wine and lots of giggles, she felt a sense of fulfilment that had eluded her so far, and it was one of the nicest feelings in the world.
Chapter 25
‘But you do realise I have a lot of work to do on the hotel?’ Gemma pointed out as Freddie demanded she come with him to the sanctuary.
‘I do know, Gemma, as you never tire of reminding me, but it’s Saturday and you’re not meant to be working, and also Harriet’s orders. We’ve got the open day coming up and she wants all hands on deck.’
‘But what I am I supposed to do?’
‘She wants both the cat and dog houses to be cleaned, spruced up, you know, made to look good. So I guess you’ll be with the cats. Think yourself lucky, we’ve got to clean up the outdoor barns and make the pigs look presentable.’
Gemma glared at him to see if he was joking. He wasn’t.
Harriet had decided to add a sanctuary open day to the Meadowbrook events. She had managed to get it well publicised locally; her motive was to attract people who were looking to adopt a pet. Entrance was free, but there were going to be donations tins everywhere. Thankfully, Harriet had organised this low-key event without a committee. Some of the members were upset that there was no raffle, and of course John was put out about the lack of morris dancers, but Harriet won them round by saying that the spotlight had to be on the animals, and she didn’t want to detract with their fabulous entertainment. They grudgingly accepted it.
‘You guys do know the hotel will never be open if I have to keep getting involved in everything else, don’t you?’ Gemma got up from her desk.
‘Tell Harry, although if I were you I would just do as you’re told.’
‘Gemma.’ Fleur joined her in the cats’ quarters, where Gemma had added cleaner to her job description.
Gemma was sweeping the floor before mopping it. She hadn’t protested – she might get on with Harriet quite well now, but Freddie was right. And, actually, it was heartening to see how much this meant to her.
‘Aunt Harriet roped you in too?’
‘Yes, and Hayley and Amanda. They’re on the dogs. I said I’d help you, but it looks OK in here, doesn’t it?’
‘Not according to your aunt. We need to clean so it sparkles. We also need to groom the cats, but not until next week, which they won’t like.’ Gemma laughed.
‘No, they won’t, but I’m happy to help. Maybe one of us could hold and the other brush,’ Fleur suggested.
‘You look happy,’ Gemma said. Fleur seemed more buoyant than she had been lately.
‘Well it’s a bit thanks to you. I met a girl, Lisa, when I was in the village shop, and I started talking to her. She lives in one of the new houses, at the edge of the village, and she agreed that it’s boring here, so we arranged to hang out. I’m seeing her and some of her friends tonight, and she’s a bit older than me but so cool!’ Her eyes shone.
‘Well I’m pleased. Does your dad know?’
‘He said I could go out as long as I’m not back too late. It’ll make it easier for me having a friend here. I really like Hayley but she likes different stuff to me. She’s into sport and I hate sport.’
Harriet arrived, shouting orders at Connor.
‘Well it’s beginning to look a bit better in here,’ Harriet said. ‘Connor, when the guys arrive can you get them to hang bunting along one wall?’
‘Bunting?’ Fleur asked. ‘Isn’t that going a bit far?’
‘No, Fleur. When we open our doors to the public, I want the place looking amazing. Even the animals who aren’t up for adoption. Amanda’s going to make flower garlands to put round the ponies, and the barns are all going to have flags hung around them – actually, that’s being done now.
Even the pigs will look smart. I want this to be the best animal sanctuary in Somerset, if not the whole of England.’ There was no irony in her voice.
‘And re-home a few more of our guys,’ Connor said.
‘Well that goes without saying. Right, Fleur, I need you to come and help me, I need to get the field looking nice.’
‘Auntie Harry, the open day isn’t until next week, surely we’ll have to do all this again?’
‘If we get it looking good now we’ll hopefully have less to do last minute. Anyway, the goats – do you think we should get them collars, so they look smart?’
‘Yes, and we could also put jewels on their horns,’ Connor said sarcastically.
‘Not a bad idea,’ Harriet said.
The three of them glanced at her but, again, she didn’t appear to be joking.
‘Right, I think apart from the grooming, this is pretty good,’ Gemma said to Connor after they’d gone.
‘I know this is nuts, but Harriet doesn’t do half measures.’
‘Yeah, I’m getting that.’ Gemma grinned. She also knew how everything with Harriet was competitive. But her heart was really in this.
‘Anyway, next week, if we can get more interest in the place, either homes, volunteers or donations, then that would be great.’
‘Understood, but really, bejewelling the goats?’
‘I know, don’t worry, I’ll talk her out of that one.’
Gemma was in her room in her joggers when she heard Freddie’s voice screaming up the stairs. She quickly glanced at the clock – it was eleven and she ran downstairs. Pippa was right behind her, still in her day clothes.
‘Fire!’ Freddie shouted. He was doubled over, winded, trying to breathe.
‘Where?’ Pippa screamed.
‘At the sanctuary! Quick! Get in the buggy, we need to go.’
Pippa ran to the back, grabbed some boots, which she thrust at Gemma, and the three of them ran out of the door and threw themselves into the buggy as Freddie hurtled off. Both Gemma and Pippa were still putting their boots on.
‘Is it …?’ Gemma started, but her voice was lost in the wind as Freddie drove, flooring the buggy.
Pippa’s face was ashen as they saw smoke in the distance and as they stopped at the field. The stable where the ponies and Gerald slept was on fire, and it was getting dangerously close to the goats’ barn, which was next door, and also Agnes and her lamb, Abigail’s quarters, which was next to that.
As the flames grew and shrunk, flying in the air like aggressors, Gemma felt absolute terror; she had never been so close to a real fire before. What about the animals? The smell in the air was of intense heat and Gemma almost froze. This was the most horrible thing ever.
‘Shit,’ Freddie said, ‘shit, come on, quickly!’
They ran to where Harriet was trying to calm down the three small ponies, Clover, Cookie and Brian, as Connor was tending Gerald, who was lying on the ground making an almighty noise.
‘What can we do?’ Pippa shouted.
‘We need to get the goats out.’ Connor’s voice was full of urgency. ‘I can’t leave Gerald, he’s hurt.’ There was panic in his eyes and sweat on his brows as he tried to keep a braying Gerald still.
Gemma and Freddie ran over to the second barn which, thankfully, the fire hadn’t quite reached. But the air was thick with swirls of smoke and the warmth, a heat that almost felt fake, enveloped them as they got closer. Freddie unlatched the door, and Gus arrived, puffing his way towards them. Gemma tried not to breathe in the smoke, although it was curling away into the night.
‘I came as quickly as I could.’ He gasped for breath.
Freddie and Gus went in where the goats, obviously sensing something was wrong, were huddled in the corner. Freddie quickly passed the baby, Kayne, to Gemma, who ran out with him. She handed him to Pippa who was waiting near the door. She then went back inside. The heat was getting worse, as if it were creeping up on them. The goats were bleating and distressed. Romeo wouldn’t budge as Freddie and Gus both tried to haul him out. Gemma, driven by pure adrenaline, rugby tackled Romeo, grabbing on tight so he couldn’t kick her and then using all her strength, she half pulled, half pushed him out. It took strength she didn’t know she had, and her muscles ached at the effort. Once safely in the field, she collapsed and Romeo, looking at her with disgust, gave her a kick as soon as she loosened her grip on him.
‘Ow! You ungrateful sod,’ she said, but she was trying so hard to breathe the words might have been said in her head.
Pippa managed to lead Agnes, the blind sheep, and Abigail to safety, but the female goats were still resisting.
She felt tears of relief or stress fill her eyes as she saw Gus and Freddie emerge with the other two goats, just as the air filled with the sound of sirens approaching. They were just in time, as the fire had now spread to the barn; the stables were all but destroyed.
Gus and Freddie took charge. For once, Harriet seemed at a loss as she sat, stroking the ponies, tears running down her face. Gemma touched her own cheeks and was surprised to find them wet with tears too. She hadn’t realised she’d been crying.
The firemen put the fire out in no time, making it look easy, although the smoke and the mess was a stark reminder that it had been serious. The air burned with an acrid smell. Connor organised them, moving the animals to the other side of the field out of the way of the commotion. They were all making an almighty noise apart from the sheep, who seemed nonplussed.
It transpired that Gerald had injured his leg bashing the stable door – either to escape or draw attention, it was unsure, but either way it made him somewhat of a hero. Connor had called the vet’s practice to get someone to come and help him, and Jenni and Amy were on their way. Connor had fetched his vet’s bag and with Gus’s help, he’d given Gerald an injection to sedate him. Connor seemed calm but his face showed how stricken he was.
‘Too close,’ he kept saying over and over. ‘We could have lost them.’
Gwen arrived with Gerry; they had been at the cinema and saw the fire engine on their way back. Gerry immediately started trying to survey the damage. It was clear the stable and the barns – pretty destroyed, not to mention waterlogged – were out of bounds.
‘Oh, love,’ Gwen said, giving Connor a hug. ‘What happened?’
Connor just shook his head. Gemma went to speak to Freddie, who was with the fire officer.
‘Do they know what started it?’ she asked.
‘Not yet,’ Freddie replied. He shook his head.
‘Once the place is clear we’ll do a survey,’ the fire officer, who introduced himself as Joe, said. ‘But there’s no electrics and so I can only guess at the moment.’
‘You don’t think it was done on purpose, do you?’ Freddie asked as the colour drained from his face.
‘Well we’ll do a full report in the morning. I promise we’ll get to the bottom of it.’ Joe gave a reassuring smile.
‘Right, well let us know if you need anything,’ Freddie said as they made their way over to Connor.
His colleagues had arrived with an animal ambulance which, with the help of Freddie and Gus, they loaded Gerald onto. Apparently, donkeys were heavier than they looked. Gemma didn’t know about that. He looked pretty solid to her and she had struggled with Romeo who was less than half his size.
‘Will he be OK?’ Gus asked.
‘Yes, his leg probably needs pinning. We’re going to take him to the animal hospital,’ Connor explained.
‘Where are the animals going to go for now?’ Gemma asked.
‘There’s a barn over that side of the field.’ He pointed to the field where the large pigsty also was. ‘Thankfully, we had it built not long ago and it’s still empty; they’ll be OK in there for now. The ponies might be a bit confused by being in with the goats and the sheep, and I’ll need you to stay with them all night, if you can do a rota or whatever is best, please,’ Connor said. ‘Jenni and Amy will be here any minute, so they’ll help. I wis
h I knew what had caused it, though, and if Harry hadn’t seen it straight away when letting Hilda out …’ His voice broke.
‘Don’t worry, mate,’ Freddie said, patting him on the back. ‘We’ll take care of it.’
As Connor left, it took a while to get the goats into the next barn, even with Jenni and Amy to help. Kayne was fine, he could still be carried, but the others resisted yet again as they tried to use leads to get them in. It took three of them to move each goat, and they were all exhausted by the time they were safely in the barn. Gemma didn’t know goats could be so stubborn.
Agnes settled down quickly, Abigail curled up next to her, as if nothing had happened. The sheep were the calmest, and Gemma wished she could be half as tranquil as they seemed. The ponies were still traumatised, but they were being checked over by Katherine, a junior vet from Connor’s practice. She gave medicine to those who needed something to calm them – Freddie had asked for something, but she’d assumed he was joking – and declared that it seemed they were all thankfully unscathed.
The Singers were also in a state. Harriet was crying, refusing to let go of Brian as the tears ran down her cheeks. Freddie, although he had shown himself to be very practical when the fire was underway, was now pale-faced and slumped against the shed wall. Gus was mopping sweat from his brow and speaking on the phone to Amanda, and Pippa was sobbing. Gemma’s heart was pounding outside her body. The adrenaline that had kept them going was disappearing like the smoke and she felt exhaustion creeping in.
They all stayed there in silence until Amanda broke it by arriving and hugging Gus.
‘I’m so sorry, guys. I came as soon as I could; I was at home with the girls.’
‘Fleur is there?’ Gus asked.
‘Yes.’
‘She wasn’t there when I left. She said she was at a friend’s in the village tonight.’ He seemed confused.
‘I didn’t stop to chat, Gus, but she’s there now. Do we know what happened?’ Amanda asked.
‘Nope, not yet, but as there aren’t any electrics …’ Freddie said.
Secrets at Meadowbrook Manor Page 20
