Promises of Spring

by Jenny Lane

  Sophie realised that she was soon going to have to make a decision about what she intended to do. She loved being in Penbridge, but couldn’t impose on Aunt Rose for ever.

  That afternoon she popped into the village to get a few essential groceries for Aunt Rose and decided to call in to the library.

  Crystal beamed at her. ‘Thanks for looking after Amy on Monday. She had a wonderful time. Don’t tell me Mrs Harding’s finished all her library books already!’

  ‘No, I just called in for a few minutes’ natter.’

  Crystal leaned across the counter. ‘OK, we’re not exactly rushed off our feet, as you can see, although we were quite busy this morning, and we had a group of school children in, up until half-an-hour ago, from the local primary school.’

  ‘Crystal, I’ve decided to stay in Penbridge for a while, but I’ll obviously need to get some work. Have you got any ideas?’

  Crystal thought for a moment. ‘There’s always plenty of voluntary work, but paid — that’s a very different matter. You might pick up a few waitressing shifts at that restaurant we all went to the other Saturday or there’s a garden centre. You could ask there. I’m so pleased you’re wanting to stay, Sophie. I’m going to my first evening class with Keir tonight. I’m sure you’d be welcome to come along too.’

  ‘Oh, I’m not sure if ...’ Sophie began.

  Just then an elderly couple came up to the desk with an enquiry and Sophie said goodbye to Crystal and left. The idea of spending more time with Keir was tantalising, but the thought of watching Glenda flirting with him made Sophie feel reluctant to join the class.

  ***

  On Thursday afternoon, Sophie did another stint at the gift shop and this time she managed to persuade Peggy Munn to allow her to do something about the window display which was faded and rather unappealing.

  Under her direction, Sophie removed all the items and carefully placed them in the small kitchen and then, leaving Peggy to wash them, Sophie cleaned the inside of the window and removed quantities of dusty lining paper. She spent a pleasant time creating the background for a new display.

  Looking up, she saw Keir grinning at her from the street. She clambered out of the window as he entered the shop. Her heartbeat quickened at the sight of him. She dusted her hands on her jeans, aware that she must look spectacularly untidy.

  ‘Well, you look busy and, er, rather dusty,’ he said.

  She coloured. ‘So would you be, but at least you can see in the window.’

  ‘I’m full of admiration for your diligence,’ he teased.

  ‘Have you brought us some more of your ceramics?’ she asked, eyeing the bulging bags he was carrying.

  ‘I certainly have, together with just a few pieces from my students this time. They’re so keen to display their work. Do you suppose Mrs Munn could be persuaded to let us put them in the window?’

  ‘I can ask her, but don’t hold your breath. She was planning to put back all the things we’ve removed, probably in the same order.’

  He laughed, and reaching up, rubbed her cheek gently. ‘You’ve got a speck of dirt just there. That’s better.’

  She caught her breath at his touch. She knew she felt an undeniable attraction towards him. Perhaps she was truly over Brett or was it just that Keir was such a charmer?

  He cast his eyes about the shop now and she wondered what he was looking for. ‘That indigo chenille cloth would make a perfect foil for our display.’

  She followed his gaze and her eyes widened. ‘You are joking — that table’s full of china! How am I expected to shift it, even if Mrs Munn agreed? Anyway, I’ve just spent ages recovering the shelving in the window. You really are the giddy limit, Keir.’

  ‘I know,’ he said with a devastating smile which made her go weak at the knees. He flung an arm about her shoulder. ‘Humour me, I’ve just had a brilliant idea.’

  Sophie pulled a face at him. ‘You have? OK, but if it means undoing what I’ve just spent the last couple of hours doing then I don’t want to know.’

  ‘Where’s Mrs Munn?’ he asked, taking no notice of this last comment.

  ‘Out the back. She was supposed to be washing the ornaments, but last time I looked she was having a snooze. Why?’

  ‘Then there’s no time to lose.’ Keir removed his jacket and carefully began to dismantle the display of china ornaments.

  For a moment Sophie just gaped at him and then she said, ‘Keir you can’t just barge in here and change things round without even asking.’

  He patted her shoulder. ‘Trust me. I know what I’m doing.’

  His closeness sent her pulse racing. ‘OK, but on your own head be it. This has nothing to do with me!’

  ‘Come on. I could do with another pair of hands.’

  She hesitated for a moment and then took the ornaments he handed her and placed them carefully on the floor.

  ‘Time is of the essence,’ he said. ‘Can you take this cloth into the garden and shake it?’

  ‘Hardly, I’d wake Mrs Munn.’

  His eyes glinted. ‘Then you’ll just have to go out the front. Don’t argue, Sophie. We haven’t got all day.’

  Sophie opened her mouth to retort and found herself meekly obeying. She was beginning to discover that Keir had a way of getting people to do his bidding. She wasn’t sure whether to be angry or amused at his nerve.

  Fortunately there was hardly anybody about as she stood shaking the heavy cloth free of dust. She returned to the shop and gave Keir a hand to get it on the shelf in the window.

  They had just finished arranging the pieces of pottery when Peggy Munn came into the shop. ‘Oh, dear. I must have fallen asleep. Hello Keir, whatever are you up to?’

  He turned on the charm and, taking her by the arm, steered her gently outside of the shop, leaving Sophie to follow.

  ‘Well!’ Peggy Munn exclaimed, gazing at the window display. ‘I have to say you’ve made a very good job of it, but you’re very naughty taking advantage of me falling asleep like that.’

  Keir looked contrite. ‘I’ll dismantle it all, if that’s what you want.’

  She chuckled. ‘You know how to twist me round your little finger, don’t you? But just tell me whatever I’m supposed to do with all that stuff you’ve left on my shop floor?’

  ‘How long have you had it?’ he asked as they went back inside.

  Peggy Munn sighed. ‘Too long. I can’t seem to shift it.’

  ‘Well, I might be able to help you there. One of my evening class students has a bric-a-brac stall in one of the markets. If we box this lot up, I’ll see if we can sell it for you — that’s if you’re in agreement, and then the stuff that was in the window can go back on display here.’

  ‘No, I’ve made my mind up that can go as well — thank you, Keir. I’d have a bit more space without that table in here, wouldn’t I?’

  As Sophie and Keir left the shop a little later, Keir paused to look at the window display again. ‘Well, that’s looking pretty good, don’t you think?’

  Sophie nodded. ‘Just so long as you’re not planning to remove your pottery from the shop once the craft centre is up and running, and leave Peggy Munn high and dry. It’s as well she isn’t going for a makeover or she could be well and truly out of pocket.’

  Keir saw the reproach in her beautiful eyes and had an overwhelming desire to take her in his arms and kiss that lovely mouth and quell her fears. Instead he said, ‘That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it? I’m sorry if you think that, Sophie. Not everyone has an ulterior motive, you know,’ and he shot off towards the car park, leaving her staring after him and wishing she could have retracted the comments.

  ***

  Sophie had a long chat with her mother on the phone that evening.

  ‘Darling, I’ve got a bit of a problem on my hands,’ Anne Burnett told her daughter.

  ‘What’s wrong, Mum?’

  ‘Are you still happy to stay with Rose for the time being?’

  ‘Well, yes, although
if I stay too much longer I’ll need to get some work. Why, have you let my room out?’

  ‘Not exactly, but you’re on the right lines. Your Uncle Tom’s going to America on business for a few weeks and Aunt Judy’s got the opportunity of going with him. The thing is, Sophie, they don’t like to leave your gran on her own, so I’ve said she can come to us.’ Anne Burnett paused. ‘For about a month.’

  ‘Gran — a month! Then I’d better come home. You’ll need some help.’

  ‘No, I’ll manage perfectly and it will be good to have some quality time with my mother. The thing is, Sophie, it’ll be easier to put her in your room than Tim’s. His is always in a perpetual muddle and I don’t think she’d like the colour scheme!’

  Sophie was silent for several seconds and her mother said, ‘Sophie are you still there?’

  ‘Yes, I’m just trying to get my head round this. So, even if I wanted to come home, there wouldn’t be any space?’

  ‘Of course there would, dear, there’s always the put-you-up downstairs or Tim could sleep there and you could have his room.’

  ‘No way! I’d like to see Gran though — it’s been ages.’

  ‘Well, you could always come up for a weekend. Anyway think about it. But, I do need to know about your room by the weekend.’

  ‘Tim could always go to stay with Natalie,’ Sophie suggested.

  ‘Yes, he has suggested that,’ Anne Burnett said doubtfully, ‘but Natalie’s parents have got both her brothers also living in that small terraced house already.’

  When Sophie came off the phone she went to speak to Aunt Rose.

  ‘Sophie, you know I love you being here. If I could afford to pay you to be my companion, I would. You’re a wonderful help and I enjoy your company, but you need to get out and about.’

  At Sophie’s insistence, they discussed a reasonable amount of money for her to pay into the house-keeping purse each week and, having burnt her boats for the next month, Sophie decided to set about finding herself some form of work.

  After an early lunch on Saturday, Sophie set off for the village to pick up Aunt Rose’s bread order and to settle the paper bill. It was chilly, but a watery sun filtered through the clouds. Sophie took a deep breath. It was a good mile into the village, but she was glad of some exercise. She was halfway along the lane when Keir’s red Vauxhall pulled up in front of her.

  ‘Going anywhere in particular?’ he enquired.

  ‘Just the village — one or two errands to run for Aunt Rose.’

  ‘Are you in a hurry?’

  ‘No, why are you intending to delay me?’

  Keir laughed. ‘Hop in, there’s somewhere special I’d like to show you. It won’t take long.’

  Intrigued, Sophie climbed into the car and settled herself beside him.

  ‘This sounds very curious. You haven’t changed Peggy’s window back again, have you?’

  ‘What?’ He chuckled. ‘No. Have you forgiven me, yet?’

  ‘I’m not sure. You are rather high-handed you know,’ she teased.

  ‘Goodness, no-one’s ever told me that before. I’ll have to think about that one. Now, I wonder where I can park.’

  ‘Where are you taking me?’ Sophie asked. Keir had waited patiently whilst she’d collected the bread, paid for the newspapers and stowed them away in the car. And then he had marched her off down a side street. He didn’t answer and she had to hurry to keep pace with him. A few minutes later, he stopped in front of an elderly looking building.

  Several cars were pulled up outside. Keir raised his hand in greeting to someone standing by the door.

  ‘This,’ he told Sophie proudly, ‘is the old chapel, soon to be the new craft centre. I thought if you took a look inside you might get a clearer idea of what we’re proposing.’

  Sophie stood stock still. ‘You’re hoping to get me on your side, you mean! What I don’t understand is why you would take all this trouble to fight for this cause, when you’re not a local, and are only living here on a temporary basis.’

  He looked at her in astonishment. ‘I can’t believe you just said that, Sophie Burnett! You’re not a local either and you’re also living here temporarily. What’s the difference? Am I missing something?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve known Aunt Rose and Peggy Munn all my life. When we were children, my brother and I used to come to Penbridge with our parents, to stay with Uncle Hugh and Aunt Mary, so this village and the people in it are special to me and I don’t like to see things spoilt.’

  ‘Nor do I,’ he said gently. ‘The problem is, time marches on whether we like it or not and sometimes change is for the best. I really do have other people’s interests at heart, you know, but there are one or two things I can’t talk about quite yet, not until I’m quite certain they’ll come to fruition.’ He slung an arm about her shoulder. ‘Trust me, Sophie, that’s all I’m asking you to do.’

  She caught her breath, feeling as if his fingers were burning into her flesh. The magnetism between them was palpable. Was she being disloyal to Aunt Rose for allowing him to try to influence her like this?

  ‘OK, but you’re going to have your work cut out to convince me,’ she said shakily. ‘Come on then show me inside this building.’

  She followed him inside where a group of people were assembled. They greeted Keir and some of them looked curiously at Sophie.

  ‘This is Sophie Burnett. She’s staying with my neighbour and I’ve invited her to take a look round, because Hugh Mercer was her father’s cousin and we all know how passionate he was about this place becoming a craft centre.’

  There was a murmur of agreement.

  Sophie was surprised. It was the first she’d heard of Uncle Hugh’s interest in the place.

  ‘As you can see, Sophie, they’ve made a good start on the alterations and we hope to have the whole thing up and running by Easter.’

  ‘So soon.’ Sophie was amazed. She supposed she must have been inside the old chapel before, but couldn’t remember. The leader of the group pointed out the various areas that had been marked out and they all pored over a plan pinned to the wall.

  Reluctantly, Sophie had to admit to herself that she could certainly see the possibilities, plenty of room, lots of light, well situated.

  ‘So what do you think?’ Keir asked her, as they wandered round the space with its high roof.

  ‘It’s a bit difficult to envisage what it might look like when it’s finished, but yes, I’m sure it’s got a lot of potential,’ she conceded reluctantly. ‘And obviously, you’ve got enough people interested to make it a viable proposition. They’re all very keen, aren’t they?’

  Keir nodded. ‘They certainly are. There are several artists and craftsmen living in this vicinity. But it’s so much more than that, Sophie ...’ He trailed off as a tall, thin man with greying hair approached them.

  ‘Hello, John — good to see you here. Sophie this is John Munn — Peggy Munn’s son. If anyone was opposed to this idea at the outset, he was.’

  ‘So what made you change your mind?’ Sophie asked curiously.

  John stroked his chin. ‘Oh, I could see I was fighting a lost cause. I mean, there’s so much enthusiasm from this lot. Anyway, I thought, if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em. Deep down, I realised my old mother would have to face facts sooner or later. That shop is getting beyond her nowadays, but she’s loved being there and it’s given her a purpose in life since my father died. We’ve been talking to her about moving into a bungalow in a sheltered accommodation complex near us for some while now, but it has to be her decision.’

  ‘It’s unfortunate things can’t stay as they are for ever,’ Keir put in, ‘but that little shop is in a bit of a timewarp, John.’

  He nodded. ‘I guess so. I’m afraid it just isn’t paying its way. I’m grateful for what you’ve done, by the way — the pair of you. That window’s looking fantastic and I don’t know how you’ve managed to get Mum to part with some of that clutter, Keir. She’s an unbelievable hoarder a
nd you’ve achieved more than my wife and I have managed in months. My mother can be rather stubborn about change.’

  ‘We enjoyed ourselves, didn’t we, Sophie?’

  ‘We certainly did. We were only too pleased to help,’ she affirmed.

  ‘I think my mother saw herself as being in the shop until the end of her days, but we’ve gently pointed out this might be a golden opportunity for her to have a bit of time out. She’s always wanted to visit her cousins in Devonshire and used the shop as an excuse for not going. We’d be only too happy to take her there.’

  ‘So, you really believe that once this venture is up and running it would be the end for the gift shop?’ Sophie persisted.

  John rubbed his ear. ‘Not immediately, but this place would be a much better outlet for people’s work — more spacious — you must surely see that. We feel it would be better for Mum to move now, rather than wait until business grinds to a halt altogether.’

  ‘And what about Aunt Rose’s dolls’ house furniture? Where would she sell that?’ demanded Sophie.

  The two men exchanged meaningful looks and she wondered why.

  ‘Look, let’s not worry about any of that just now,’ Keir told her. ‘As John has said, the craft centre’s not going to be completed overnight. I’m sure we’ll come up with some solution by the time it’s up and running.’

  Chapter Six

  As they made to leave the centre, Keir took Sophie’s arm and gave her a keen look from his expressive brown eyes, sending her heart thumping against her ribcage.

  ‘Thanks for coming with me, Sophie. I know it’s a lot to take on board in one go, but I think it’s a very worthwhile project.’

  ‘Actually, I didn’t have much option, did I?’ she said unsteadily. ‘You virtually frog-marched me here and didn’t say where we were going.’ She saw his expression and added, ‘Oh, don’t worry, it’s been an enlightening experience. I always like to understand both sides of an argument, but don’t think you can win me round that easily!’

  ‘I wouldn’t dream of it,’ he told her evenly, meeting her grey eyes steadily with his, so that her pulse raced. ‘You’re much too intelligent a person to allow yourself to be brainwashed.’