by Kim Nash
The thud of a tail thumping on the floor could be heard as she opened the kitchen door and there he was.
‘Hewo, my gorgeous boyyyyyy,’ she tickled Becks behind his ears and squatted down to his level where he leant into her, sat straight on her lap and knocked her off balance. ‘Hewo, my bootiful baby. Mamma’s home now! Do you need to go do a wee-wee?’ She laughed at herself and wondered why people talked to animals and babies in a stupid voice.
Since Becks came into their lives, she understood why dogs were used in therapy. Just stroking this gorgeous bundle of fluffiness always restored her spirits. He just seemed to sense that she needed to laugh and be loved. She was so glad that he was part of her life.
She opened the French doors, which led onto the patio, to let Becks out. Seeing how much of a state the garden was in, Grace remembered that she wasn’t the only thing in her life that desperately needed some love and attention. She glanced at her watch as she flicked on the kettle, and grabbed her favourite Cath Kidston mug from the cupboard. She had a bit of time before her big evening out.
Off came the high heels and she sighed in relief as her feet hit the cold stone tiles. She grabbed the slipper boots that had been warming on the radiator, slid her feet inside and soon started to warm up. It was early spring and even though it had been a day of bright sunshine, the afternoons were still a little chilly, especially when you had a tiled floor.
She went over to the huge chrome American-style fridge freezer and as she grabbed the milk from the fridge door, spotted a bottle of Pinot Grigio. Mmm! she thought. That might just hit the spot and give her some much-needed Dutch courage. She dreaded to think what Monica had planned for their big night out.
She grabbed a large wine goblet from the cupboard next to the fridge, filled it halfway and took a big swig. As the cool liquid hit the back of her throat, she sighed and took another large gulp. Rolling her shoulders in a circular motion like her Pilates teacher had taught her to, Grace closed the French doors after Becks wandered back in. He followed her through to the lounge, a homely room with two huge brown leather sofas opposite each other separated by a wooden coffee table. She switched on the two table lamps, which cast a low cosy glow into the room. Lighting her Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir candle, her decadent present to herself, she slumped down into her big comfy reading chair, in the large bay window, Becks curled up with his head resting on her feet.
Grace remembered the first time Mark had taken Archie away for a week’s holiday. All her friends had tried to comfort her, saying that they’d love a week off from their kids, but it broke Grace’s heart to hear people say that. She hated being away from Archie. He was the person she was closest to in the world. He was her best friend. She loved spending time with him, whether it was going to theme parks – which they could rarely afford these days – visiting friends or just chilling out at home.
When he was away from her it felt like she’d lost a limb and she had a constant dull ache in her heart. She thought she’d get used to it in time, but she never really had. The fact of it was that even before Archie was born, Grace realised why she’d been put on earth. Her job was to be a mum. Archie’s mum. It was the best job she’d ever had.
At first, she’d made sure that she planned to do something or go somewhere on the nights when Archie went to Mark’s flat. Then the nights that he was with her would be their special time. She hated sharing her son, even if it was only every other weekend and one night in the week. She certainly had never thought that she’d be in the position where she’d have to do that. She even wished sometimes in her really dark moments that Mark had died, so that she didn’t have to share Archie, but then she pulled herself back in check, realising that it was best for their son to have both his parents in his life, even if one of those was an arsehole sometimes.
When she and Mark were together, she’d been the main carer for Archie. Mark was always at work and when he did have some free time, he spent it on going to the gym, or out with his friends, or playing squash. At least that’s what he said he’d been doing. Grace found out later that it was just a ruse for going out for drinks with other women. He denied it of course, every time she asked him where he was. In fact, he used to tell her that it was nothing to do with her – where he was – and that he didn’t have to tell her anything. She had always found that suspicious – if he hadn’t got anything to hide, surely he would just say where he was going? Mark’s rejoinder was that they were two people in a relationship, not fused at the hip; they didn’t have to do everything together. But they actually didn’t do anything together, so Grace spent her time lonely and worrying what Mark was up to on the nights he wasn’t at home. She just wanted someone who loved spending time with her.
She spent her life making excuses for Mark, not telling her friends the truth about him. Whenever they came round, he always made out that he was the perfect husband, offering to make cups of tea and charming them with his sparkling conversation, but behind closed doors Mark treated her like she was his skivvy.
He certainly blamed Grace for their lack of sex life. His idea of foreplay most of the time was not speaking to her for a week, then getting into bed and asking abruptly if she fancied a shag. Strangely enough, that didn’t really do it for her, and nor did his mood swings, spinning between the roles of attentive husband and mardy bastard, so that she never knew which Mark she was going to come home to. The worst part about it was that because he was so manipulative, she always ended up questioning herself and starting to wonder if she was in the wrong.
On those occasions when she did agree to have sex with him, it was because she felt like she should keep the peace and because if she did it with him, it might shut him up for a week or two. His sexual technique left a lot to be desired too. He seemed to think that grabbing her boobs and twiddling her nipples like he was trying to tune into a radio station would be a big turn-on. Most of the time, she was glad the lights were off, so he couldn’t see her grimacing, wishing it would be over as quickly as possible.
But on his great days, he was the most attentive person ever; running her a bath, pouring her a G&T; she’d wished that she had that Mark all the time. That was the Mark she had fallen in love with; the Mark that had made her want to have his child. It wasn’t until afterwards that she found out the times he’d been nicest to her were when he’d been up to no good.
Deep down, Grace had known for a long time that things weren’t quite right between them, but she also knew that families stuck together through thick and thin, and marriages were forever.
Finding out about Lorraine was a blessing in disguise in a way, Grace thought now, as she wondered whether she’d have been brave enough to do anything about ending the marriage without a catalyst kicking it all off.
Grace’s train of thought was interrupted when the doorbell rang. She wasn’t expecting anyone, let alone the dashingly handsome, bearded man standing at her door. He had tousled dark brown hair, which he casually ran his fingers through as he spoke.
He introduced himself as Vinnie. He leant forward and his strong hand, slightly rough from hard work, shook hers as he stared deep into her eyes.
‘I’m so sorry to bother you on a Saturday. I’m from the landscaping company you left a message for earlier in the week. I didn’t have the chance to call you back so I just popped round on the off chance that you might be in as I was in the area,’ he apologised. ‘I wondered if I could take a look at those overgrown trees that you mentioned. Would that be OK?’
It would be more than OK, Grace thought. It was not every day that a hot sexy beefcake with a warm, seductive, yet soothing voice turned up on your doorstep and made your heart flutter. All her Christmases had come at once!
‘Yep, sure. Shall I take you round the back?’ Why did she say that? They both blushed.
‘Well, that’s the best offer I’ve had for a long time.’ Vinnie laughed and his whole face lit up, eyes sparkling. They were the most amazing, piercing, intense blue that seemed to lo
ok right through her to her innermost secrets. Crikey, Grace thought to herself. She hoped he didn’t know what she was thinking…
Becks came to investigate who was at the door and Vinnie bent down to stroke him. ‘Hey there, fella, you’re a beauty, aren’t you?’
Becks looked as if he was glowing with his compliment and stuck by Vinnie’s side, following him down the side path into the back garden as if he’d known him forever.
As she walked him into the garden, Grace took the opportunity to check out Vinnie. He was around six foot two, and broad, with lean long legs that ended in a rather muscly yet perfectly shaped bum. His hair was dark with a few grey streaks around the ears. He was wearing a royal-blue polo shirt with the company logo, jeans and boots. As they reached the bottom of the garden, he leant over the fence and his t-shirt rode up his back, giving her a glimpse of an Armani waistband. She was just pondering over whether he wore boxers or briefs, when he turned round and caught her staring at his backside. She quickly averted her eyes.
Blushing again, she pointed out one of the trees that really needed cutting back and as he reached up to grab an overhanging branch, the front of his t-shirt rode up, displaying the most ripped six-pack she’d ever seen on a man that wasn’t in an advert. Her breath caught in her throat as their eyes met.
‘Yoo-hoo!’ Belinda from next door stuck her head over the fence, breaking the moment. ‘Hello, favourite neighbour,’ she beamed.
Grace let out a breath that she hadn’t realised she was holding in. ‘Hey, lovely, how are you?’
‘I’m good, darling, thank you, are you? And who is this gorgeous young man you’re hiding away at the bottom of your garden?’
‘Vinnie, this is Belinda. Belinda this is Vinnie. He’s come to have a look at my bush.’ Grace blushed as red as a beetroot. She’d done it again.
‘Mmm, interesting.’ Belinda’s eyebrows rose. She was clearly trying not to laugh, but Grace could see her shoulders were shaking and her eyes twinkling more than normal. Grace breathed in a few times and tried very hard to control herself, not wanting to make Vinnie feel uncomfortable. But an uncontrollable laughing fit took over and she found herself giggling helplessly.
Once Belinda and Grace had pulled themselves together, she explained to Vinnie, who had turned away to take some photographs, that the trees were shutting a lot of light out of the garden and that she had to chase round the last bit of sunshine towards the end of the day through the summer.
Belinda nodded. ‘It’s a shame for poor Archie when he’s playing out, isn’t it, love?’
‘Archie is my ten-year-old son,’ Grace explained.
Vinnie slipped his phone back into his pocket. ‘Ah, I did wonder, what with the football goal and three hundred footballs by the patio doors. Although I suppose you might have been trying out for the England ladies’ team,’ he chuckled. ‘Well, we can’t have Archie playing football in the dark now, can we? We’ll try to get a bit more light sorted out for him then.’
They chatted about the landscaping for five minutes or so and Vinnie took more photos on his phone of the trees that needed attention. Then he turned round and snapped one of her too. ‘Just so that when I pass on the photos, the guys who come out know who to ask to make them a cuppa,’ he grinned.
Belinda’s eyebrows rose and she winked at Grace behind Vinnie’s back. Grace smiled. She had been truly blessed the day she moved into the house next door to Belinda and Bill. All she ever heard from their home was laughter. After many years of marriage, this wonderful couple were still the best of friends and madly in love with each other. It was a delight to see and gave her hope in love and marriage. They looked out for Grace and Archie, and Grace looked out for them. In fact, they were more like family than neighbours. They loved helping out with Archie, seeing him as a surrogate grandson, who they could make a real fuss over. They looked after him sometimes when Grace had to work in the evening and Belinda sometimes picked him up from school in an emergency. And Bill even gave into Archie’s demands to play football with him from time to time until he needed to have a sit down and get his breath back. It was good for Grace to have someone to support her; without her mum around. Her dad was not really well enough to look after Archie. She didn’t know what she’d do without her fabulous neighbours.
Vinnie rubbed his hands together. ‘Right then, I’d better be off. I have the pleasure of going out on a stag night with my mates tonight, for my sins. God help me! I’d better go and make myself look respectable.’
He looked more than respectable to Grace. Since she’d split up from Mark, she didn’t think she’d actually come across anyone that she even marginally fancied, yet here was a man that she couldn’t take her eyes off. It was a shame that he’d now walk out of her life and she’d probably never see him again. Vinnie said his goodbyes to Belinda and walked up the side path to the front of Grace’s house. A ping from his phone signalled a text message, and a frown crossed his brow when he looked down at the screen. However, it quickly disappeared as he turned to say goodbye.
‘It’s been really lovely to meet you, Grace. Thanks so much for letting me pop in on the spur of the moment. Perhaps I’d better arrange to come back and make sure my team are doing a good job. You never know, I might get a cup of tea and a Hobnob next time?’ They grinned at each other and their eyes held just a second longer than they needed to. ‘You’d better give me your number again… erm, if that’s OK, of course, and I’ll plan a date in the diary when the boys can come and get the work done and we’ll get you some sunshine back into your life.’
Grace smiled, as she realised that he’d already done that. ‘Thanks, Vinnie, that would be great.’
She waved as he drove off in his four-wheel-drive truck. Turning towards the house with a stupid, goofy grin on her face, like a teenager with her first crush, she literally bumped into Bill. Laughing, she said ‘Hello’ and gave him a quick hug before heading into the house.
Bill always made Grace laugh, particularly his ongoing feud with the local wildlife. Their side paths ran parallel and she often heard Bill yelling, followed by the sight of the top end of a broom above the fence. She took no notice now, but the first time she’d seen it, she’d wondered what the hell was going on. All she could see was Bill yelling and running up and down the path trying to shoo something up high with the broom. ‘Bloody shitting bastards!’ were the only words she could make out. She had gone over to speak with him and as they’d started to chat, he had suddenly broken off to yell into the sky: ‘Look at ’em, up there. They wait for me to jet wash the path then they shit all over it! Beady-eyed sneaky little bastards!’
Looking up, Grace had seen three pigeons sitting on the aerial of her neighbour’s house. As they stared, there was a swooshing noise followed swiftly by a sound similar to that of an egg splatting and she realised that one had pooped, missing Bill by mere millimetres. She had tried very hard to keep a straight face and muttered how naughty it was of them. Making a swift exit, Grace had closed her back door and couldn’t help but giggle. It was at times like that she wished she had someone to share a right good laugh with.
As she closed the door, her phone pinged to say she had a text from Belinda.
Phwoar, he was a bit of all right! Get in there! I’m going to christen him ‘fit bloke’.
Grace laughed out loud and texted back:
Not every day you get a hotty like that turn up on your doorstep. Must have been my lucky day!
Normally on a Saturday afternoon, she’d be in her dog-walking clothes with not a bit of make-up on and her hair in a ponytail. Thank God for Monica right now, as on this particular Saturday she had been dolled up and looking really rather fabulous when the hot gardener arrived. Perhaps Lady Luck was on her side for a change!
She looked at her watch and saw that she had time for a quick cuppa before the big night out that Monica had planned. While the kettle boiled, she looked out of the kitchen window at the garden and realised that there was an awful lot of w
ork to do, not just getting the trees cut back. She dismissed the thought that more work in the garden might mean more chances to meet the hot gardener, and laughed at herself.
Grace opened up the French doors and took her tea out to the garden, sitting on the cast-iron bench on a patio that had seen better days. Daffodils and snowdrops were starting to appear through the borders. Spring was her favourite time of year; crisp but bright mornings signified the start of a promising new season and the days getting longer made her feel so much brighter. She thanked her lucky stars for this beautiful house that she now lived in.
* * *
Grace fell in love with her home in Little Ollington the moment she saw the details at the agency, sitting on a pile for her to type up. It was a house that she drove past every day on the way to the office and she’d always loved it but never thought it would be within her price range. She immediately asked if she could go and see it before the FOR SALE board went up. She hoped and prayed that it was as lovely as it looked from the outside.
It exuded charm and character from the moment Mrs Robinson opened its duck-egg blue front door, and introduced herself and welcomed Grace and Archie inside. Grace’s heels click-clacked down the stone-tiled hallway, and she walked through the kitchen door and gasped.
‘Oh, Mrs Robinson, what a fabulous room.’
The kitchen was everything she’d ever wished for: cream gloss units and black marble worktops, with a central island breakfast bar to die for. If this was the first room, she couldn’t wait to see the rest of the house.
‘Call me Gladys, dear,’ she said. ‘Mrs Robinson makes me feel so old. Please do join me for a cup of tea. It’s nice to have some company for a change.’
Grace gazed out of the kitchen window looking at the huge garden as Gladys pottered around laying a tea tray with what looked like the best china.
