by Jenny Kane
‘Is Mabel okay?’
‘She sounded shaky but her usual determined tone was back in evidence down the line.’ Sam hugged Tina to his side. ‘She told me in no uncertain terms to take care of you and this place and not bother about the likes of them.’
‘That sounds like Mabel!’ Tina laughed. ‘I feel a bit better for knowing she got stern with you.’
‘I know what you mean.’ Sam pointed towards the kitchen door. ‘All going okay here? Everyone happy?’
‘Seem to be. All food has been consumed and rooms inspected.’ Tina got to her feet. ‘Helen and Tom are in the drawing room doing the rounds of tea and coffee.’
‘Should we relieve them?’ Sam looked across the garden. ‘It’s a nice evening, and we could take the guests over to the walled garden to meet the chickens.’
‘Good idea.’ Tina got to her feet. ‘I thought maybe we could give Tom and Helen a night off. If Bert does end up in hospital, with Thea gone, time off is going to become a precious thing.’
‘Excellent idea. They both work far longer hours than we pay them for anyway.’
Tina was halfway to the kitchen door when she suddenly remembered something. ‘Before we heard about Bert, you were going to take us all into the walled garden to tell us about an idea you’d had.’
‘So I was.’
‘Aren’t you going to tell me what it was?’
‘Nope. Not yet.’
Four
Monday March 16th
Helen sipped her cider as Tom settled down in the chair opposite, a pint of the Stag and Hound’s latest guest ale in his hand.
‘It was all I could do not to ask Sue if she’d had a bump on the head.’
‘Was it so out of character for her to offer to add you to the parent contact list at Dylan’s primary school?’
‘Completely. The Sue I know is selfish to the point of obsession. Although,’ Tom placed his pint back on the table, ‘I will admit she hasn’t been so self-absorbed since her latest house move. She must have had a lobotomy at some point between leaving Swindon and coming to Tiverton.’
‘She can’t be that bad or you’d never have got together in the first place.’
Lifting his glass back up, Tom hid in his pint for a moment, unsure if he wanted to tell Helen why he’d originally dated Sue. Helen was so different. So separate from the life he was trying to leave behind him. He was tired of wishing he didn’t enjoy her company, of thinking about her when he woke up, and all the other signs he knew meant he’d fallen for her.
Helen deserves far better than me.
Tom stifled a sigh. He knew Helen felt the same about him, but neither of them mentioned it. They just carried on as if they were good friends who happened to work together.
Maybe if I tell her about Sue, Helen will see I’m no good for her?
‘Meeting Sue was not my finest hour.’
‘And yet you have Dylan, so don’t tell me you wish her away.’
Smiling despite himself, Tom wiped some ale foam from his lips. ‘There you have me. If Dylan hadn’t come along, I’d have moved on and left my past behind as I always had before, but, as you say, I’d not be without my son.’
‘And who’s to say that, if you hadn’t had Dylan, you’d have calmed down? You may not even have realised your passion for archaeology, but carried on moving from poorly paid job to poorly paid job, never finding your calling.’
‘That’s true.’
‘And you wouldn’t be here in this lovely pub, doing the best job in the world.’
Tom could feel the unspoken, ‘and we’d never have met’ hanging in the air as he said, ‘I have a great deal to thank Dylan for.’
Helen grinned as she remembered the proud expression on Tom’s face when he’d bounded into the kitchen with Mabel’s groceries that afternoon. When he’d said Sue had been, her heart had stopped for a second – immediately assuming his good humour was because they were going to attempt reconciliation for their son’s sake. Helen’s moment of sadness, however, had been replaced with a rush of pride for Dylan, as Tom had told her about his reading prowess. ‘I’m so pleased his talent for English has been noticed at school.’
‘Me too. I can’t wait to tell Bert and Mabel tomorrow. I’m hoping the news will cheer Bert up a bit.’
‘Why didn’t you tell Mabel earlier?’
‘I wanted to tell you first.’ Tom took another sip of beer, not looking at Helen as he realised what he’d said, hastily adding, ‘All that reading you’ve done with Dylan when he’s been here must have helped him.’
‘I enjoy it. He’s a great kid.’ Helen smiled as she thought of the five-year-old’s cheeky face.
‘The thing is,’ Tom’s eyes dropped to the table as he spoke, ‘Sue and I only stayed together beyond a drunken one-night stand because she got pregnant. It was a disaster from the start, but we tried, for Dylan’s sake. The trouble is, the more we tried, the more we hated that we had to try. It soon disintegrated into resentment and hate. In the end…’ Tom’s eyes flicked to the empty fireplace, unsure if he should be as honest as he ought to be ‘… we both cheated on each other and the situation became insupportable.’
‘I see.’ Helen stared into the pale liquid remaining her glass.
Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Tom moved the conversation on. ‘When Sue moved to Tiverton, I wasn’t that surprised. She was always relocating from one home to another, with whoever was the man of the moment.’
‘Hence you giving up your job with the Wiltshire Archaeology Trust and coming here. So you could be near Dylan.’
‘Yes.’ Tom risked a glimpse at Helen. A coil of red hair had flopped over her eyes as her unruly curls shone in the pub’s low lighting. ‘But this time it was different. Rather than leave Swindon to follow a man, she left to have a new, more independent, start. One where Dylan could settle at school and stay there until his education was complete.
‘I didn’t believe Sue when she told me that at first. I assumed she was running away from something and using Dylan as an excuse. But then I saw how tidy their home is, rather than the usual bombsite, and how smart and clean Dylan’s school uniform was and, well…’
‘You think she really does want to give Dylan the secure start in life she didn’t have?’
‘What makes you think she didn’t have one?’
‘Educated guess.’
Tom drained the last few centimetres of ale. ‘So, as I said, she wants to see me for a proper talk about Dylan’s future, and me seeing more of him.’
‘That’s good.’
‘It is.’
Helen’s forehead crinkled. ‘You don’t sound sure.’
‘I can’t shift the feeling that, even though Sue has definitely changed of late, this is a roundabout way of getting something she wants.’
‘Such as?’ Helen’s throat went dry. She wants you back so you can be mum and dad to Dylan together.
‘I have to presume more money, but as I don’t have any that isn’t a wish I can grant – even if I wanted to.’
‘It might not be that. Maybe Sue really has realised that Dylan would be better off having two hands-on parents, albeit living in different locations?’
‘Perhaps.’ Tom stood up with his empty glass in hand. ‘Do you want another drink?’
Helen shook her head. ‘I’m fine, thanks.’
Watching Tom’s back while he chatted to Moira, the landlady, across the bar, Helen told herself off for jumping to conclusions. Although Tom was bound to be suspicious of his former partner, there was no reason for her to assume Sue wanted him back.
It’s nothing to do with me. Tom and I are friends. End of. If he wanted me to be more than that, he’d have made a move by now.
Tom returned to the table and, with a feeling of sadness she couldn’t shake, Helen asked, ‘When’s Dylan staying here again?’
‘Weekend after next if Sue is sticking to the plan we currently have. Depends if we meet up before then and alter things.’ Tom�
��s belly gave a voluble growl. ‘Oops, sorry!’
‘You can’t be hungry.’ Helen laughed. ‘You had more lasagne than anyone.’
‘Are you implying I’m greedy, Miss Rogers?’
‘No, I’m implying you have hollow legs! Where on earth do you put all that food you eat? There’s nothing of you.’
‘Fast metabolism. The calories don’t have time to touch the sides!’
Helen patted her hips dramatically. ‘Not a problem I have over here.’
‘I hope you’re not fishing for compliments!’ Tom smirked.
‘As if I would?’ Helen laughed again, a tiny flicker of hope igniting inside her.
*
Spacious and yet cosy, The Carthorse pub, with its traditional thatched roof and Cotswold stone features, was exactly as Thea imagined it would be.
The bar was lined with taps dispensing a variety of local beers, while blackboards proclaimed a generous list of homemade meals, which were served in the bar or a small restaurant to the left-hand side. Two open fireplaces, lit for the tourists despite the nice weather outside, sat at opposite ends of the pub, between which, tables, chairs and a few sofas, jostled for room, among the large numbers of locals and visitors.
Thea was about to ask Shaun how he thought The Carthorse would cope with the additional daily influx of post dig archaeologists for the next few weeks, when a man she didn’t recognise strolled through the crowd with easy confidence, and shook Shaun by the hand.
‘Shaun, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Julian. Julian Blackwood, Producer and Director.’
‘It’s good to meet you too.’ Shaun reached a hand out to Thea, resting it on her shoulder. ‘This is Thea Thomas, our guest expert.’
Julian immediately reoffered his hand, as Thea returned his greeting. ‘Phil told me all about you before he left. Former Roman Baths’ curator, no less. Impressive.’
‘That makes it sounds far grander than it was. I was co-curator to an excellent manager.’
‘Who couldn’t have managed without you, I’m sure.’
Aware of Shaun clearing his throat, Thea turned to her boyfriend. He had an odd expression on his face. ‘I expected Ajay, Andy and the others to be here. It’s not like any of the Landscape Treasures crew to be within a mile of a pub after 7 p.m., and not have alcohol to hand.’
Julian gave a booming laugh that sounded like it belonged to a much bigger person. ‘I was sent out here to find you both. The delicious Gina, landlady of this establishment, has opened up the function room for us. Providing there are no last-minute parties or wedding reception bookings, it is at our disposal.’
‘That’s great.’ Shaun nodded. ‘I’ll just grab us some drinks and order some food. Do you want anything, Julian?’
‘Only the privilege of escorting Miss Thomas into the other room. You can manage the order for you both, can’t you, Shaun?’
Before Thea knew what was happening, she was being propelled away, while hearing all about how important Julian thought archaeology was to the nation’s heritage and wellbeing, leaving a gaping Shaun by the bar, with no idea what she wanted to eat.
As they reached a wooden door at the far side of the pub, Thea wasn’t sure if this counted as old fashioned gallantry or plain rudeness.
*
‘Is he always like this?’ Shaun muttered to Ajay as he half ate a pile of cheesy chips while he watched Julian talking to Thea at a table across the room.
‘Apparently he’s a great producer.’ Ajay chewed a mouthful of garlic bread.
‘That isn’t what I asked.’ Shaun’s brow puckered as he observed Julian lean in rather closer to Thea than he would have liked.
Ajay shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I haven’t worked with him before. He mostly does documentaries and travelogues rather than this sort of stuff.’
‘If he gets any closer to Thea, he’s going to be in her bloody blouse.’
‘Chill, mate! He’s probably just asking her about Roman stuff and ideas for the dig.’
‘Maybe.’ Shaun pushed away his food. ‘He was a bit in my face personal space wise when we were in the pub’s main room, now I think about it.’
Ajay stabbed a piece of tomato with his fork. ‘That’s probably it then. I used to have a kid like that in my class at school. Bloody big he was as well, so intimidating. He wasn’t a bully or anything, just totally unaware of personal space issues.’
Realising he was in danger of becoming jealous for no reason, Shaun sighed. ‘Ignore me, I’m sure Julian is fine. Phil suggested him for the job, so he’ll be good at it.’
Glad not to have to reassure his friend any more, Ajay asked, ‘You seen the tents yet?’
‘No, we came straight here. I assumed Julian would want a meeting with me about starting tomorrow like Phil always did, but he doesn’t seem bothered at all.’
‘Well I can give you some good news about the accommodation at least.’
‘Tents that don’t leak?’
Ajay laughed, ‘Not only that, but the stars of the show – that would be you and Thea, myself, Andy and the producer of course – have campervans.’
‘Seriously?’
‘Yep. We have one each. They’re a bit small, but clean and dry.’ Ajay laid his knife and fork down with an air of satisfaction. ‘That’s why Andy isn’t here at the moment. He’s making himself cosy in his wheeled mini mansion.’
‘Wow. It’ll be Winnebagos next.’ Shaun raised his pint to his lips. ‘I wonder what bought that on?’
Ajay gestured his empty glass in Julian’s direction. ‘I don’t see him as a “sleep in a tent” sort of person, do you?’
‘Possibly not.’ Shaun grinned. ‘At least Thea and I don’t have to share an airbed. I’m heavier than her, which causes serious hassle with roll together.’
‘I can imagine!’
‘Shame this place doesn’t have accommodation, although at least we are guaranteed a good meal and a beer.’
Getting to his feet to fetch another pint, Ajay smiled. ‘I’ll drink to that.’
Five
Tuesday March 17th
Shaun cursed as he rolled over, knocking his head on the cupboard that ran adjacent to the campervan bed in the process.
‘You alright?’ Thea rose up on her elbow, her muscles stiff from two of them trying to sleep in a single bed.
‘No,’ Shaun snapped, before apologising. ‘Sorry, bad night. Did you get any sleep at all?’
‘Think I drifted off at one point.’ Thea rubbed her eyes. ‘I hope I don’t have to do any camera work today. I bet I look like death. Poor Hilda would have to use her entire supply of foundation on the bags under my eyes.’
Easing his legs to the floor, Shaun flicked on the travel kettle he’d taken the precaution of filling the night before. ‘At least we’ve got electric, so we can have our morning coffee.’
‘True.’ Thea pulled on some clean underwear. ‘And if it rains, we won’t have to deal with soggy clothes in a damp tent and potentially wet bed linen.’
‘It’s just sleep we’re going to be short of.’ Shaun ruffled a hand through his hair as a giant yawn escaped from his lips. ‘I can’t imagine why we were allocated a single camper each, rather than a double between us. It’s not as if they didn’t know we’re a couple.’
Thea suddenly stilled. ‘You don’t think that they forgot about me coming do you?’
‘You know they didn’t, Julian greeted you like royalty last night.’
‘I’m not sure about royalty, but you’re right. He knew I was coming.’ She paused. ‘But now I think about it… Does he know we’re a couple? Did you tell him, or did you assume that he’d know because Phil would have told him?’
‘I honestly don’t remember if I said or not, but he has to know. Everyone on the team knows.’ An unpleasant thought arrived in Shaun’s head. ‘Unless he knew, and decided to make life uncomfortable for us anyway.’
Thea pulled on her jeans. ‘How do you mean?’
‘He fancies you. P
erhaps he wanted to make it too uncomfortable for us to share.’
‘Oh don’t be so ridiculous.’ Thea couldn’t believe what she was hearing. ‘Firstly, he does not fancy me. Secondly, it wouldn’t matter if he did because I am in love with you, and thirdly, he hadn’t set eyes on me before last night and the accommodation would have been sorted out weeks ago.’
‘Yes. Right.’
‘We’ll get used to sharing a single bed. If not, I’ll move into the camper laid on for me and we can take it in turns to wake each other with morning coffee. It’s not for long. Now, if you’re a good boy, and stop being silly, I’ll make bacon sandwiches for breakfast.’
‘You remembered the bacon?’ Shaun sidled around the side of the bed, his neck bent so he didn’t hit it against the roof.
‘I’d like to claim I did, but it was Mabel. She slipped it into the food supplies she packed for us.’
‘That woman is a diamond.’
*
‘Sam’s back from seeing Bert. These are from Mabel.’ Helen placed three wedding magazines on the kitchen table.
Tina’s eyebrows rose in surprise. ‘When on earth did Mabel find time to go shopping for those?’
‘Apparently, she was going out of her mind sitting in with Bert all day, so Diane sent her to the newsagents. She didn’t need anything for herself, so she got these for you instead.’
‘That’s so kind.’ Tina flicked through the copy of Wedding Dreams. ‘Hang on, did you say she’s going out of her mind being at home all day already? Bert was only taken ill yesterday.’
‘Doesn’t bode well, does it?’ Helen smiled. ‘I haven’t known Mabel as long as you, but I quickly grasped that she’s not one for sitting still.’
‘How is Bert today, did Sam say?’
‘No worse, no better.’
‘Bit soon for the antibiotics to start working I suppose.’ Tina put the magazine down. ‘I better not sit with those now or I’ll waste the morning away.’ She shook her head. ‘It’s a weird thing. I have no time for magazines as a rule, but now I have a wedding to plan, I can’t get enough of them. Although, how anyone can afford anything that’s advertised in these things is beyond me.’
