by Anna Jacobs
He’d make lists for readers to print out and tick off when they’d seen the creatures or plants. Children loved the achievement of completing a list and he suspected many adults did too. There was something very satisfying about hunting down every last creature.
He went into his studio and switched on his laptop, then scowled at how it felt to sit there at the rickety fold-down card table. The room was so lovely and spacious, he wanted a permanent desktop computer in here. Laptops were useful for taking out and about, but he was a lot more comfortable at a desktop when working long hours. He’d have to go out and buy one. Not today, though. He wanted to get his preliminary thoughts down straight away, planting seeds in his imagination, he always thought of it as, then sorting them out and firming the patterns up later as the ideas blossomed.
He had trained himself to take regular breaks, for his body’s sake, but today these consisted only of brisk walks round the house, a couple of climbs up and down the stairs and a few arm exercises. He worked hard until nearly half past five, by which time he’d had enough and was ready for a good, hearty meal.
Just then he heard a car draw up and watched Simone come back. He almost went out to ask her in for a drink. Then he remembered that he hadn’t bought any wine, only visited the fresh food market set in the middle of nowhere. He really ought to have gone to an off licence on the way home, or bought a bottle from the hotel, but he’d got so tied up in ways of making a new series interesting in a different way that he’d just wanted to get back to work.
He could invite Simone up to the hotel for a drink. Unfortunately, just as he was debating this, a car drew up
outside her house and a tall, thin chap got out. There was something about the way he stood looking at her house, calculating was the word that came to mind. He didn’t like the look of that fellow, Russ decided abruptly, moving forward to see better what was going on.
She opened the door, but didn’t invite her visitor straight in. She came further out, still barring the way. Unless he was very much mistaken, she’d looked surprised when she saw who it was and not pleased to see this guy. There was no sign of her lovely smile.
Russ went out at the front and pretended to weed the nearest section of his small front garden bed, half hidden behind some shrubs, unashamedly eavesdropping.
‘Simone?’ the caller asked the minute she opened the door.
She recognised his voice immediately and instinctively pulled the door closed behind her, keeping him outside. ‘You must be Lance.’
‘Yes. I was passing and thought I’d call in on the off-chance that you’d be free now. How about we go up to the hotel for a drink and a meal, get to know one another as relatives should?’
She wondered why he was pursuing her so relentlessly and what to do about it.
He gestured towards the house. ‘Aren’t you going to invite me in?’
Cheeky devil! she thought. You’re pushing your luck, fellow. But she had no real reason to deny him entrance. ‘Only for a minute or two, I’m afraid. I really do have something arranged for tonight.’
As she gestured to him to come in, she had a sudden idea because she knew Russ was home. ‘I’ll just have to nip next door and tell my friend that I’ll be a few minutes later than planned.’
She saw annoyance flicker briefly on Lance’s face then he took on what she always thought of as a ‘shuttered look’ when she saw someone with that expression. It was as if he were guarding his real feelings. And his smile didn’t reach his eyes. You could nearly always tell when smiles weren’t genuine.
‘Do sit down for a minute.’ She fled next door.
Russ stood up from near his little garden just before she reached him and she came to an abrupt stop. ‘You look as if something’s wrong.’
‘There is.’ She looked over her shoulder as if to check that she’d not been followed. ‘That man who just arrived – he seems to be a sort of cousin and well, he keeps pestering me. I told him on the phone yesterday that I had something planned for today and he tried to call me again yesterday evening. And now he’s just happened to be passing and popped in to ask me out.’
‘Bit pushy.’
‘A lot pushy. Um, I told him I’d agreed to go out with you tonight. Would you mind? Could I buy you a drink at the hotel and, um, pretend that we’d already arranged to go up there?’
She’d tried to speak calmly and confidently, but she looked at him as if worried she was asking too much.
He grinned and dusted his hands. She cheered up even before he spoke because his smile did reach his eyes.
‘I’d love to go out with you, Simone, any time, no excuses needed. Let’s have a meal there again, and if this guy persists we can even pretend we’re in the process of getting together.’
‘You’re sure you don’t mind?’
‘Of course not. Did you mind helping me with Justine?’
‘No. That’s what friends do. Great. I’d better dash back and get rid of him.’
‘I’ll be ready in a couple of minutes and come across to hammer on your door like an impatient lover, if you like.’
‘Wonderful. Do I swoon at the mere sight of you?’
‘Oh, yes, please. At the very least, we could kiss one another. If you don’t mind.’
‘I don’t mind at all.’
She walked slowly back, her smile fading. Once again they’d found humour in a situation. Why hadn’t she taken to Lance? She’d taken to Russ immediately.
When she went in, she said apologetically. ‘Russ and I have arranged to go out together in a few minutes, I’m afraid. I’ve told him I’ll be a little late.’
‘Then can you and I arrange to see one another tomorrow?’
‘Don’t you have to go to work?’
‘I have flexible hours and what’s more important than making a cousin from Australia feel welcome?’
The old Simone would have given in to this pressure, the new one said, ‘I’d rather not, if you don’t mind. Russ and I have been planning a few days’ sightseeing. He and I are just – you know, quite interested in getting to know one another.’
The sour expression reappeared briefly on Lance’s face but was quickly replaced by another glassy-eyed and patently false smile.
She couldn’t get rid of him fast enough, was wondering how to nudge him to leave when she heard the door at Russ’s house shut with a bang.
Lance leant back, making no attempt to stand up. ‘How are you planning to spend the rest of your time here?’
Russ rushed round getting ready. He grabbed a light jacket and locked up the house, then banged his door shut as loudly as he could. He forced himself to slow down and tried to stroll casually next door but he wanted to hurry. Oh, he did. She was such a nice person. Very nice. And he wasn’t going to let this guy whose face he didn’t like go on annoying her.
On impulse he didn’t knock on the door and wait for it to be opened, but walked straight in. ‘Ready, Simone love?’
She had a wooden expression on her face. ‘Almost. This is a distant cousin of mine who’s just leaving. Lance – Russ.’
The two men nodded to one another and Russ continued to follow his impulses, going across to put an arm round her shoulders and kiss her cheek, pleased when she stayed close to him.
Lance studied them, eyes narrowed.
Simone reached up to kiss Russ’s cheek in return, then said as cheerfully as she could manage, ‘Nice to meet you, Lance. I’ll be in touch when things have settled down.’
It wasn’t until she held the door open that he even stood up. She closed it quickly behind him, not waiting to wave goodbye as he drove off. When she went back inside, she found Russ peeping out of the window, so joined him.
‘He hasn’t set off yet, Simone. Why is he just sitting there? Look, shall we move closer to the window so that I can kiss you while he’s watching?’ ‘I’d be delighted if you did.’
She looked towards the window and saw Lance still peering into the house, so when Russ swu
ng her round and put a lot of effort into the kiss, so did she.
Which took her breath away.
As they started to pull apart the car drove off. She moved away from Russ with reluctance and it was a moment before she spoke. It had been an excellent kiss. ‘Phew! You saved my life. He’s being very persistent. I wonder why.’
‘Who can tell? I didn’t like his face. However, I’m grateful that he gave me the opportunity to kiss you. You can ask me to help you out that way any time.’ He chuckled. ‘I don’t know why you’re blushing. I merely followed your lead. I have to say, you’re a red-hot kisser, Simone.’
Her blush deepened. ‘So are you.’
He took hold of her hand again. ‘Come on. Let’s stroll up to the hotel. I’m ravenous. I’ve hardly eaten anything today, I’ve been so busy. I’ll share my news when we’re settled at our table.’
She stopped to study the hotel car park before they went in. She wouldn’t put it past Lance to be watching and checking she had meant what she said. But she couldn’t see any sign of him, thank goodness.
When they’d disappeared into the hotel, Lance moved from behind a tree and got back into his car, which he’d parked behind a large van.
Damn! She’d hooked up with this guy quickly.
He’d wondered if she’d been making it up but they looked to have been chatting away happily as they strolled up to the hotel. And they’d been holding hands.
He wasn’t giving up. He wanted to keep an eye on her one way or another. He didn’t want her charming old Henrietta, not after all the work he’d put into the old bat. He’d had to be particularly careful with the old lady because she’d once worked for the government in a secret capacity. She would never talk about it.
Why did the women in his family live so long?
And who had Henrietta left the big house and her other possessions to? She had been very tight-lipped about it all when he tried to find out.
Chapter Twelve
Simone and Russ were shown to a table in the corner of the hotel restaurant, and he suggested a glass of wine while they looked through the menu. ‘I could get a bottle.’
‘I think one glass will be enough. I know it’s been a week but I’m still a bit jetlagged.’
They clinked glasses then sipped appreciatively as they studied the menu and discussed their favourite dishes.
Before the waiter could return to take their order, a woman came across to them. ‘Excuse me, but I’m not mistaken, am I? You’re Russell Carr, surely?’
Simone was surprised by this and wondered why he didn’t immediately correct the woman about his surname. In fact, he looked rather embarrassed and as the woman stood waiting, he muttered, ‘Yes, I am.’
‘I thought so. I adore your nature programmes. Well, my whole family does, even my teenage son. I’m so glad you’ve recovered from the accident. I wonder if you’d be so kind as to give us your autograph?’
‘Um, yes, of course.’
‘I’ll have to go and ask at reception for a piece of paper. Won’t be a minute.’
When the woman walked away, Simone stared at him. ‘What was all that about? You told me your name was Russ Carden.’
‘It is. My real name is, anyway, but don’t tell her that. I work as Russell Carr.’
She stared blankly. The name clearly wasn’t familiar to her.
He grinned. ‘I do nature programmes on the telly. My first series was set in Lancashire, about the local fauna there. And I shan’t take offence if you don’t recognise me. I was only just taking off, so to speak, when I had the accident. I’d treated myself to a trip to Australia to celebrate, part holiday and part to suss out the possibilities for future programmes.’
‘What was your series about?’
‘What’s living in your back garden or the nearby park. I’m planning to feature the smaller scale wildlife of the various regions in the UK. My first one was about Lancashire and the Pennines. My next will probably be about Wiltshire.’
The woman who’d accosted him returned, beaming and brandishing a piece of paper and holding one of the hotel’s giveaway pens out to him.
‘Here you are, Mr Carr. My son will be thrilled to have your autograph.’ She spoke so loudly, other people turned round to stare and to Simone’s amusement Russ blushed.
He took the paper and pen, asked for the son’s name and wrote a few words before signing the page.
‘Are you filming round here, Mr Carr?’
‘No.’
She opened her mouth to ask something else and he interrupted, ‘Look, no offence, but I’m trying to have dinner with a new friend.’ He gestured towards Simone.
‘Ah, sorry!’ The woman winked at him and walked off, waving the paper at the group sitting round a table on the other side of the room and calling, ‘I’ve got it!’
‘You really are a celebrity!’ Simone exclaimed.
‘Only a very minor one and only in the UK. You didn’t know about that side of me at all and I was so glad of that.’ He glanced quickly round the room, but no one was looking at them now, thank goodness. ‘It’s annoying to be interrupted by people wanting autographs, however pleasant they are.’
‘I’m sure her son will be delighted.’
‘You’re not into nature programmes?’
‘I’ve lived in Australia all my life. I’ve seen a few but they’re not my favourite viewing, I must admit. My husband was into the ones showing big animals killing and eating smaller animals. Sorry, but I covered my eyes at the gruesome bits.’
‘Don’t apologise. That’s not my favourite viewing either. But just for the record, my programmes are more about the social life of small creatures, and the way they interact with humans. They’re just starting to be shown in other countries, so it’s looking quite hopeful.’
‘I’m glad for you. I must look out for your programmes.’
He leant forward and took her hand. ‘You don’t have to, Simone. I’ve really enjoyed you treating me as a real person not a celebrity. Actually I was going to tell you what I do later when I told you my good news.’
‘Let’s place our orders, then I’m all ears. Who doesn’t love to hear a friend’s good news?’
After the waiter had left them, she waited for Russ to speak, smiling happily at him across the table. He loved her smile.
‘I had a phone call from my agent today. The company who did my first TV series was expressing interest in a new one and they’ve waited patiently for me to recover. Hopefully there will be a linked book as well. So I’ve started working out what to offer them.’
He added, ‘But the good news isn’t that. My agent thinks we’re going to sell the original series to the US. The money for that would be rather nice.’
‘Well done, you. I’d be interested to see gentler nature programmes, especially what’s in the garden here. This being my first visit to the UK, I don’t recognise everything.’
‘Just ask me. I promise you instant personal service.’
‘I’d like that. I’m enjoying the differences here.’
‘I must say I’d like to go back to your country. I was enjoying the differences there too. But I don’t want to go anywhere near bushfires.’ He couldn’t help shuddering. ‘I can still remember the black smoke and the red sky, not to mention the roaring sound the fire made. It sounded like a monster coming to devour us.’
‘It’s horrible the destruction it can cause.’
‘The firefighters were wonderful, and the police. We tourists would have got away safely if it hadn’t been for that idiot.’
He closed his eyes for a moment, then pushed the memory of the accident away, glad of the waiter’s arrival with the food.
When they’d eaten a few mouthfuls he said, ‘Go on. You were talking about the differences here. I’d be interested in what’s struck you.’
‘Well, I’ve got one question for a start. Some of the creatures I’ve seen have the same names as similar ones in Australia but they aren’t exactly the same, s
o are they the same species or not? The wagtails, for example. They’re my favourite birds in Australia and I’ve seen some here. They’re not quite the same but they’re just as cute, and they do wag their tails.’
‘Yes, but the Aussie bird wags its tail from side to side and the English one goes up and down – and our bird is more delicately built.’
They concentrated on the food for a while, then she asked, ‘How long will it take you to film a new series?’
‘Depends. I think I’ll just stick to filming creatures during the warmer months. I have to get cracking on that to catch the spring activities. There’s far more going on from now onwards than there will be in winter, and I’ve already got quite a lot of footage from round here. Every time I came to see how my house was going on, I took a walk on the wild side as well. I always keep my eyes open.’
‘I shall keep my eyes open for you creeping through the undergrowth, acting the sleuth.’
He chuckled. ‘If I didn’t creep they’d fly or run away. If I see anything interesting near the houses, I’ll try to call you out to watch it with me. I must get a bird table set up soon on my back patio. Anyway, that’s enough about me. What do you love doing? You must have some hobby or passion.’
Her smile faded. ‘I have all sorts of small domestic activities that I quite enjoy, but no great passion like yours. It’s one of the reasons I broke free of my family for a while. Since we lost their dad, they’ve been smothering me, and also using me to support their lives. They haven’t exactly encouraged me to develop a new life of my own. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind doing some family support jobs like baby-sitting, because I love my grandchildren dearly, but I need to find something for me to achieve.’
‘I’m sure you’ll find a focus. The fact that you’re even thinking of it says something positive about you.’
‘I hope so.’
After their plates were taken away, they decided to indulge in a dessert and both chose cakes from a small trolley, sharing them as they continued to chat and exchange views of the world.
