by Minna Howard
‘You must speak to him, Mum, we need it open for Easter,’ Sophie demanded. ‘I mean you know him quite well, always seem to be going over to his uncle’s house. Just tell him to leave us alone. We’ve told the council what we’ve planned and so far, there’s been no objection.
Sophie’s request unnerved her. She hadn’t heard from Jules since that lunch and she couldn’t just ring him to complain about his views on rebuilding the kennels, for all she knew they could be unsafe.
It happened that she saw him coming out of the shoe-mender’s, on her way back to the school, having nipped out at lunchtime. She called out to him.
‘Oh, Amelia, how good to see you. All well?’ He smiled, warming her heart. She pushed her feelings for him away, she must risk his annoyance and ask him what was wrong with the plans for the kennels.
‘Yes… well, no, not with Sophie and Rufus. They are very upset that you thought their plans for the kennels were too unsafe to use.’
He sighed trawled his hand through his hair. ‘Have you seen them?’
‘No, but Colin, Rufus’s friend, has been in the building trade since he was a child and it was he who wrote them up. Apparently, he’s built one before with his father, who’s a builder too.’
Jules looked puzzled. ‘But they were so amateur, no decent builder would send something out like that. Look, I’d better see them, explain why they will not do. I’ve got to go that way now, visit a farm nearby. Will they be there?’
‘I don’t know, let me call Sophie.’ She took out her mobile and dialled her number.
‘Soph, it’s me, I’ve just met Jules in the street… Okay, listen.’ She threw him an apologetic look as Sophie kicked off, blaming him for being so difficult. ‘He’s passing your way and will drop in and talk to you, if you are both there, and your builder friend.’
Sophie reluctantly agreed to see him and Amelia, seeing she must scurry back to be in time for her next class, made a quick goodbye and left.
It was not until she got home that she checked her messages. There were three from Sophie. The last text read:
We showed Jules our plans and they were quite different to the ones he saw in his office. Someone has sabotaged them.
That made Amelia feel cold; who could have done this to Sophie?
She rang her at once. ‘What do you mean, Sophie, “sabotaged them?”’
‘What I say, Mum. We sent through the plans to his surgery, and somebody must have changed them.’
‘So how could that happen? Are you sure you sent through the right ones?’ she asked, knowing there had been lots of ideas thrown about.
‘Of course, Mum. Rufus and Colin did it together. We sent the same one to the council and they haven’t said we can’t do it.’
‘But nor have they said you can,’ Amelia said carefully, not wanting to antagonise her further.
‘They take time, but the important thing is, Jules, having seen the right ones, says they are fine and so we can make a start. He or rather his uncle will talk to the council, he knows people there.’
Amelia put down the phone. How strange that the wrong plans had been sent out to Jules. It must have been a mistake, there seemed to be so many people working on the project, someone must have slipped up. Sophie, who was very familiar with office work wouldn’t have done it but perhaps Rufus or Colin were not used to such work and had sent the wrong ones by mistake. Anyway, it had all worked out now and they could start building soon.
49
A couple of days later Amelia happened to park near the veterinary practice while she collected some dry cleaning. She saw Jules and an attractive young woman laughing together as they crossed the road and went into the practice. She must be the new vet.
Amelia was hit with a pang of good old, never out of fashion, jealousy. No wonder he hadn’t rung her to tell her about giving Rufus the go-ahead to get on with the kennels when he had such an attractive workmate. She wondered how Cynthia was taking it.
She was being foolish. She’d never minded when Esmond had talked about the attractive women he worked with. He’d admired them, said it was about time women had top jobs, and she’d never felt threatened by them, though she’d always felt secure with her husband’s love.
Just because Jules was the first man since Esmond’s death she’d felt attracted to, didn’t mean he owed her anything.
Jules looked up and saw her, ‘Ah, Amelia, this is Frannie, the new vet.’ He introduced them.
‘Oh, you must be the saintly woman who had all the animals for Christmas,’ Frannie said, smiling at her. ‘Well, it seems you won’t have to do it again as Jules tells me your daughter is determined to rebuild the kennels again.’
‘Yes, she is.’ She turned to Jules. ‘I understand the wrong set of plans was sent to you, early ones I suppose. It was a good thing you went round to Birchwood and sorted it all out.’
He looked embarrassed and turned to Frannie. ‘You go in, I’ll only be a moment.’
‘Fine, bye, hope we meet up again.’ She smiled at Amelia then turned and left them.
‘The thing is…’ Jules started. ‘Well, I’m afraid Cynthia was at fault here. The plans came through and she changed them… to the ones I read.’
‘What? Why ever would she do that?’ Amelia was horrified. She’d never much liked Cynthia but she’d never imagined she’d do something so dishonest.
Jules sighed. ‘She said she thought they would cause too much trouble to the practice, there would always be some drama attached to them.’
‘But couldn’t she have discussed that with you instead of deciding herself to change them to something obviously unsafe which you couldn’t sanction?’ Amelia said.
‘You would have thought she would, but anyway,’ he sighed, ‘that’s how it is. I’m glad I went over and saw the real plans. They look very good, with all the safeguards needed today.’ He smiled, a softness in his eyes that made her long to embrace him.
‘Sophie has calmed down and is very relieved that I’ve given them the go-ahead. Now I must get back to work, we’ve a lot on today.’ He turned and left her and she wished she’d ask him if he was going to stay here or now the new vet had arrived, would he move on?
*
The school term progressed, the children looking forward to Easter. They made presents for their family: nests and eggs and Easter bunnies as well as discussing the religious story.
One afternoon very near the end of term, Dickon approached her with a cardboard bunny, that he’d coloured in with a small Easter egg half attached to a basket by its feet.
‘I made this for you, Amelia.’ He thrust it at her. ‘It’s for Easter.’
She was momentarily taken aback. ‘Oh, Dickon, it’s beautiful, thank you so much.’ She took it, touched by his action, wishing she could hug him, but that was not encouraged at school.
‘We had to make things for our family for Easter and you’re like family,’ he said, before giggling at his friend who had crept up behind him and poked him in the back, and the two boys jostled together.
Amelia couldn’t speak for a moment as she gulped back tears. Family – was that how he thought of her? If only his father thought the same.
50
Sophie kept her informed about the progress with the kennels; she was also very indignant about Cynthia meddling with the plans.
‘Can’t think what she’s got against us, but it was her who changed them, making them obviously too unsafe, so that Jules would refuse to let us do it.’
‘I know, Jules told me. I can’t think why she did that,’ Amelia said, thinking that if Cynthia had her sights on Jules, surely she’d do all she could to help not hinder him.
‘Well, I heard on the grapevine that she wants to move away from here, so if she wants Jules, she must take him with her,’ Sophie said.
‘What you mean make him so unpopular that he decides to take that job in Hampshire and she go with him?’ Amelia said.
‘Well, I suppose yes, we know he’
s been offered a job there and is tempted to take it, though now his little boy is happy at school here. So, I suppose she had to do something drastic like turn us against him and hope he’d leave.’ Sophie announced this proudly as if she’d solved a difficult riddle.
‘It sounds a bit drastic,’ Amelia said, wondering how much more Sophie knew about this saga.
‘Jules turned up with the new vet, Frannie. She was very excited about us rebuilding the kennels and I think it was her who really made him agree to it,’ Sophie went on. ‘She’s much more upbeat about it than he is, though we must change a couple of things, but they won’t be much trouble.’
‘Well, that’s a relief. So when will it be ready?’ Amelia had almost decided that she’d go to Scotland to visit her sister at Easter, so she could escape having to take in any more animals.
‘Jules and Frannie say we will be able to take in a few at Easter – the dogs, cats and small things like hamsters – but not birds yet.’
‘That’s fine. Cleo will be staying at home as Easter is one of Jamie and Wilfred’s busiest times at their garden centre,’ Amelia said.
‘Anyway, you must come over and see it, we are going to have a grand opening the Sunday before Easter, and you mustn’t miss that,’ Sophie said. ‘I’m amazed Jules agreed to most of it after all the fuss he made about it being so unsafe, but I suppose if he does leave the district, it won’t affect him anyway.’
Her words chilled Amelia’s heart. She knew he had to do the best for Dickon and probably the job in Hampshire would be more interesting than the one here. He might now feel he’d stayed with his uncle long enough. She understood, the job he’d been offered came with a house for him and Dickon to live in. But after the trouble she’d caused, would Cynthia go with him?
Jules rang on her mobile her late one afternoon when she’d just got back from work. There were only a few more days of the term left, Easter being at the end of the following week.
‘I’m sorry I haven’t rung before, but I’ve been very busy, settling in the new yet and – well, all that fiasco with Cynthia.’ He paused and she waited for him to tell her they were moving away. ‘I’m…’ He stopped and took a breath. ‘I must tell you that I have feelings for you, probably have had since I first saw you with all those animals. I’m not sure of how things might work out between us. We are both in the same boat, losing the people we loved. There’s no time span over such a thing, but all I know is that I’d like to see you, get closer to you. Do you feel like meeting up?’
‘Yes… of course I… I… feel the same way,’ she admitted, feeling like an adolescent on her first date.
‘I so hoped you did, I felt it that day Luna went missing, but I wanted to wait while I wondered what to do about it. But we need to meet, don’t you agree?’
‘Yes, we do.’
‘What about this Saturday? Dickon has a playdate and is out most of the day.’ Jules went on to suggest that they meet on a beach away from the village, where hopefully they’d be unlikely to meet anyone they knew. He gave her the postcode, also telling her the route. ‘I look forward to seeing you,’ he said softly.
‘Me too,’ she said, her spirits soaring.
‘You sure you know the way?’
‘Yes, I can get there, and… well, you surely know that the kennels are opening on the Sunday?’ She felt it better to get that out of the way before they met in case he didn’t know.
‘I do, we mustn’t miss that.’ He laughed.
She arrived late feeling nervous. She didn’t know the place though it was not far away. She saw his car as she arrived. She parked and, taking a deep breath, got out and went towards the beach, where the sea was lazily washing up on the shore.
He was watching for her and came up to meet her. He walked slowly towards her, watching her as if he wanted to absorb every part of her. He reached her and wrapped his arms round her, holding her close, and they stood there together in silence, the cold wind nipping at their faces, and their bodies melting into each other.
For the first time since Esmond’s death, she felt at peace.
‘I don’t know how to start this conversation,’ Jules said, releasing her slightly. He smiled. ‘I think I fell for you when you thought that tortoise was dead.’
She laughed. ‘You certainly made fun of me.’
‘I didn’t mean to.’ He kissed her then and she felt her body come to life again; it had lain dormant for far too long. They walked on together along the beach, arms round each other, teasing each other, until he became more serious and said, ‘This would be much easier if Dickon was older. It’s been just the two of us for so long.’
‘He made me an Easter bunny at school, because he said I was family,’ she said quietly.
‘Did he? He never said. I know he’s made some things for us, he’s not very good at hiding them. He’s very fond of you, which is the main thing, though he must come first in my life.’ He stopped and faced her. ‘I’ve been turning it over for ages in my mind, I don’t want to lead you on and then find it wouldn’t work out, until he’s older, got more of a life of his own. Your daughters are grown up now, though,’ he laughed, ‘I doubt Sophie will be pleased to have me around.’
‘I know, I’m sorry. She gets a little obsessive if she finds a cause that interests her.’
‘Well, she’s done well. Part of it will be open for Easter and the rest by the summer holidays so you will not have to take in any pets yourself.’
‘That’s a relief. I was about to invite myself to stay with my sister in Scotland for Easter to avoid having to turn any down,’ she said.
‘Now you can stay here,’ he said, ‘unless of course you’ve already made plans to go.’
‘No, I haven’t, it’s just an escape route should I need it.’
‘I hope you don’t need it.’ He kissed her. The sky had been getting darker and it began to rain. ‘We’d better get inside.’ His voice was soft, seductive.
‘Let’s go to my house,’ she said. ‘We will be alone.’
He followed her in his car. They spent the rest of the day making love in her bed, until Jules realised it was time to pick up Dickon from his playdate. ‘We’ll see each other whenever we can,’ he kissed her, ‘but let’s keep it quiet until I’ve explained it to Dickon. He might find it difficult to share me, as we’ve been so close for so long, so we must be patient.’
‘I understand, and I’ll have to explain to my girls. Grania will understand and Sophie has told me I should now make an effort and find someone new.’
‘But probably not me.’ He laughed and kissed her deeply again before tearing himself away to go and pick up Dickon.
The part of the kennels which were up and running, were officially opened the following day. There was quite a crowd there, many of whom Amelia knew: Stacy with Ziggy, who greeted her warmly, Bryony and her family, Jamie and Wilfred, and Micky and his mother, Pia.
Frannie, the new vet, and her boyfriend were there, and she congratulated Amelia again, for having such an inspiring daughter.
‘Jules told me the sad story about the elderly couple who struggled so hard to keep the kennels going, and now we have these wonderful new ones, which will be a godsend for anyone who needs to leave their animals somewhere safe when they go away. I understand there are quite a few booked in for Easter,’ she enthused.
Giles and Leonora were there, as well as Dickon, running around determined not to miss anything, asking if he could help with the pets.
Looking round the crowd, Amelia wondered if Cynthia would be there. She asked Sophie when she came to stand beside her.
‘No, she’s gone. I’m not sure where, but Jules sacked her after what she did. Frannie has a friend near here who she wants to work in the office, and apparently there’s also been a retired person who used to work there who helps out, so Cynthia’s not needed, or wanted for that matter.’ She frowned.
‘Well, that’s a relief,’ Amelia said, having dreaded having to put up with Cynthia’
s scorn when she found out about her and Jules.
‘Well done, darling,’ Amelia turned to Sophie. She’d hardly seen her these last few days as they’d all been working so hard to get it up and running for the opening. ‘You’ve saved the kennels and they look wonderful. Dodi and Jim would be so proud of you.’
‘I hope so. Rufus is going to see if they want to come and stay here later,’ she said.
‘So, now you’ve achieved what you set out to do, what’s the next thing on your agenda?’ Amelia asked her.
‘I’m going to the US to see Dom,’ Sophie said. ‘I miss him dreadfully and he asked me to come. I think he’s finding it a bit difficult to settle out there.’
‘That’s a great idea.’ Amelia felt pleased that their relationship was still on.
‘Rufus gave me some of the money we raised to get these parts open as wages, and I’ll use that for my fare.’ she said.
‘I’m so glad you are going to see him.’ Amelia hugged her. ‘Will Rufus manage without you?’
‘Yes.’ Sophie smiled. ‘Oh, didn’t I tell you? He’s found a girlfriend, Becky, who is animal-mad. She’s moved in and will help him out, and he’s managed to rent out three rooms to people who work at the hospital. It’s all good for the moment.’
‘That’s a relief, so you’ll have a wonderful time with Dom,’ she said.
‘Thanks, Mum, and I’m pleased that that you and Jules are an item. He’s not so bad after all.’
‘How ever do you know? We haven’t told anyone.’ Amelia turned to her in surprise, steeling herself for Sophie to say something derogatory.
‘It’s been pretty obvious,’ Sophie said. ‘Everyone’s waiting for you to make it official.’
‘We can’t yet,’ Amelia lowered her voice, ‘not until Jules tells Dickon.’
‘He doesn’t have to. Dickon has told me already. He said he’s been looking for a new mum for ages and he thinks you’ll do, so he can share you with me.’ She laughed. ‘He hasn’t quite got it that you have Grania as well.’
‘As long as he’s happy with it.’ Amelia smiled. ‘It will be wonderful. I’ve grown so fond of him.’
