Hattie's Home for Broken Hearts: A heartwarming laugh out loud romantic comedy

by Tilly Tennant

  ‘Is there a trial period?’ she asked.

  Jo sniffed, wiping a hand on the back of her jeans. ‘Stay if you want, go if you’ve had enough. I don’t need to trial you – Norbert looks happy enough.’

  If Hattie took this job, it would possibly be a more stupid and impulsive decision than the one she’d made to leave for Paris. Her dad would say so, but something about the idea was pulling her in and wouldn’t let go.

  ‘Alright,’ she said finally. ‘When would you need me to start?’

  ‘Sooner the better,’ Jo said, starting to walk to the gates to the field.

  ‘Next week?’ Hattie asked, needing to put some sort of date on it.

  ‘If you like.’

  Jo continued to walk away.

  ‘Don’t you want details from me?’ Hattie called after her. ‘Name, address, previous employment…?’

  Jo waved a dismissive hand as she shut the gates to the field behind her and started to march up the gentle slope to the main group of donkeys.

  ‘My name’s Hattie!’

  ‘Great!’

  ‘Hattie Rose!’

  At this, Jo stopped and turned around. ‘Dr Rose anything to do with you?’

  ‘My dad.’

  Jo nodded, seemingly satisfied, and turned back to the donkeys.

  Hattie watched for a moment, uncertain whether she ought to stay or go. But then she left Norbert with a last neck rub and began to walk back down the cliff path. She wasn’t altogether sure how it had happened, and she had no idea what to expect, but it looked as if she was moving into Sweet Briar Farm with the strangest woman she’d ever met.

  Chapter Seven

  ‘Well,’ Lance said as he placed a pot of tea on the table in front of Hattie, ‘I can’t say I’m surprised at any of it. I told you she was a one.’

  Hattie had arranged to meet Melinda at the Willow Tree on the day after her encounter with Jo. Lance and Mark were used to dealing with Melinda’s brood and even had a corner of the café set up with toys to keep them occupied, along with any other little ones who might visit. So far, Melinda had failed to materialise, but Hattie noted from the Disneyland clock on the wall that it was only twenty minutes or so past their agreed meeting time and she wasn’t worried. With four young children in tow, Hattie would be surprised if Melinda ever got anywhere on time.

  ‘After what you’ve told us,’ Lance continued, hands in the pocket of his apron as he stood back, ‘I’m more surprised you didn’t turn tail and run.’

  ‘I’m not really sure why I didn’t,’ Hattie agreed. ‘I might have to get Dad to look at my head in case I’ve bumped it without realising.’

  ‘And all your common sense fell out?’ Mark laughed as he came over to join them. ‘Perhaps you should.’

  ‘When does Phyllis start working for you?’ Hattie asked.

  ‘Why? Are you going to sabotage her shift so you can have the job rather than having to go off to the scary house on the hill?’ Lance asked.

  Hattie giggled. ‘I’m just curious.’

  ‘Next week,’ Lance said. ‘She’s a little sweetie, of course, but I do wish we’d known you were on the market. You’d be faster than her for a start.’

  ‘She’s not that slow,’ Mark said.

  ‘Coastal erosion is faster than Phyllis,’ Lance shot back.

  ‘They do say slow and steady wins the race,’ Hattie said, pouring her tea.

  ‘Slow and steady might win the race but it also gets you cold bacon sandwiches,’ Lance said pointedly as he looked at Mark, and Hattie guessed immediately which of them might have pushed harder for Phyllis’s appointment and who might not have been so keen.

  ‘It’s probably for the best that I didn’t get a job here,’ Hattie said. ‘I’m not sure my dad would have been any happier about me taking a job with you than he will about me taking the one with Jo when I tell him. No offence,’ she added quickly.

  ‘None taken,’ Mark said cheerily. ‘I realise working shifts at the Willow Tree is not everyone’s greatest ambition.’

  ‘But we do have fun,’ Lance added.

  ‘I’m sure you do,’ Hattie said. ‘I can’t pretend I’m not a bit sorry that Phyllis beat me to it but I’ve taken the post with Jo now so I’ve got to give it a go.’

  Lance looked at Mark and twirled his finger at his temple to indicate a less than stable mental state. Hattie laughed.

  ‘Oi!’

  ‘All I can say,’ Mark replied, ‘is that if she’s mean to you, come and tell us and we’ll sort her out.’

  ‘I hope it won’t come to that,’ Hattie said. ‘She’s a bit gruff but she didn’t seem all that bad to me. I actually think underneath it all she might even be a big softy.’

  ‘Wow, now I know you definitely did get that bump on the head,’ Lance said. He looked up as the bell above the door tinkled. ‘Here comes your date, by the way.’

  Hattie followed his gaze and leapt to her feet as Melinda came in, the two older children walking at her side, the third on safety reins and Daffodil in a pushchair. She wore jeans and a simple cream ribbed top, and she looked as trim and perfect as ever – incredibly so for a woman who’d had so many children in such quick succession. Her peachy complexion was glowing and she wore her tawny hair gathered up in a loose bun.

  ‘Hattie!’ she cried, throwing her arms around her. ‘How are you?’ she asked, stepping back with a broad grin.

  ‘I’m good!’ Hattie said. ‘You look great!’

  ‘I can assure you it’s good make-up,’ Melinda said with a musical laugh. ‘Most of the time I look like an extra from The Walking Dead. I’ve only made an effort today because I’m out in public and I don’t want to frighten anyone. You’re looking pretty good too – I love the dress!’

  ‘Well, you know, if you can’t look good after living in Paris for two years then there’s really no hope for you. French clothes even make me look good!’

  Melinda took hold of Hattie’s hands in hers and squeezed them as Rain – the child on the reins – took advantage of her sudden freedom to toddle off at top speed. Mark was one step ahead and grabbed hold of the trailing handles. Melinda glanced across but didn’t seem too concerned – her second-youngest child was never really going to come to serious harm with the two best babysitters in Gillypuddle on duty.

  ‘It’s so exciting that you’re home!’ Melinda squeaked, turning back to Hattie. ‘And you’re really staying this time?’

  ‘That’s the plan. At least for now.’

  Hattie looked down and smiled at Sunshine and Ocean, while Mark brought Rain back.

  ‘You’ve grown,’ she said. ‘You’re completely enormous!’

  Sunshine smiled shyly while Ocean giggled and puffed out his chest. Hattie peered into the pushchair.

  ‘Hello, Daffy the Daffodil,’ she said. ‘You’ve grown a bit too.’

  Mark pulled lollipops from the pocket of his apron and handed one each to the older three.

  ‘For my favourite kids in the world,’ he said. Then he tickled Daffodil under the chin to make her laugh. ‘Sorry kiddo, no lollies for you just yet.’ He straightened up and turned to the other three. ‘The toy corner awaits your patronage, my young prince and princesses.’

  Sunshine, the oldest girl, looked up at her mum uncertainly. ‘I want to talk to Hattie.’

  ‘Maybe in a little while,’ Melinda said. ‘For now, could you play with your brother and sister for me so I can catch up with Hattie first? She is my very best friend, after all, and I’m sure if you hadn’t seen Suri for a long time you’d want to catch up with her too?’

  Sunshine nodded, though she looked disappointed.

  ‘It’s just the same for me and Hattie,’ Melinda said patiently.

  ‘Come on…’ Mark offered his hand. ‘Give the ladies half an hour to gossip and then we’ll all have ice-cream sundaes – how does that sound?’

  While Sunshine, Ocean and Rain followed him to play in the corner, Melinda parked the pushchair containing Daff
odil at Hattie’s table and took a seat herself. She handed her youngest child a juice cup and a jumble of bright plastic keys and stuffed animals attached to a teething ring.

  ‘So, come on.’ Once satisfied that Daffodil was suitably occupied, Melinda turned to Hattie. ‘Fill me in. What’s happening? How come you’re home? Why didn’t you want to tell me about it on the phone?’

  ‘It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell you, it was just that it’s a bit complicated to do on the phone – I’d rather have seen you.’

  ‘So, now you can see me. Tell me everything.’

  ‘Don’t you want to order something to drink first?’

  Melinda waved an airy hand. ‘Lance knows what I like – he’ll bring something over. Right now, I’m more interested in what’s been happening in the world beyond Gillypuddle. Sometimes I forget there even is a world beyond Gillypuddle.’

  Hattie smiled and gave a vague shrug. ‘It’s not as exciting as you might think. In fact, I’m looking forward to forgetting about the world beyond Gillypuddle for a while.’

  ‘Oh dear – things have been that bad?’

  ‘No – it’s just that life is calmer here and I need a little calm right now.’

  ‘You mean dull.’

  ‘I don’t think it’s dull. It’s certainly less competitive. You’re not constantly comparing yourself to everyone else, worrying that you’re falling behind, that you’re not popular or clever or funny enough, and you don’t wake at night worrying that you’ve forgotten to do some really important thing that you need to do.’

  ‘I wouldn’t say that’s entirely true,’ Melinda said mildly. ‘People have different worries here. Try having four kids for a start – that’ll keep you awake at night worrying about important things you might have forgotten to do.’

  ‘I know,’ Hattie said. ‘I sound a bit whiny, don’t I? I can’t really explain what I mean, only that I think it will be nice to just be myself for a while – just plain old Hattie Rose – rather than spending all my time pretending to be someone far more exciting.’

  Melinda looked blank. Clearly she still didn’t see what Hattie was trying to say. Perhaps Hattie didn’t really see it either. She’d simply had a vague notion of something missing from her life, of something not quite in its right and proper place, and that was the thing that had brought her home. The incident at Alphonse’s show had been only the catalyst that brought the change – Hattie could see that now. She couldn’t give the exact feeling shape or form, but it was there just the same. Nor could she say what she wanted from her life now; she only hoped that it would become clear as the weeks and months went by.

  ‘You said something had happened at a show,’ Melinda pressed. She wanted gossip and Hattie supposed the least she could do was oblige. She couldn’t help a sheepish smile, though.

  ‘I sort of burnt a building down.’

  Melinda’s mouth fell open. ‘Talk about not doing things by halves! How the heck did you manage to do that?’

  ‘Alphonse had designed this real gothic-inspired, vampy collection and finally, after months of me begging, he agreed to let me dress the set for the showing. I went all out with candelabras all over the place and the most gorgeous red drapes. Turns out his collection might have been manufactured from flame-retardant material, but the cheap drapes I bought to go along with all the candles weren’t. All it took was a nudge from a wobbly model, the candles fell onto the curtains and everything went up like dry grass.’

  Melinda let out a gasp.

  ‘Nobody got hurt,’ Hattie added quickly. ‘Thank goodness everyone evacuated tout de suite. Alphonse wasn’t best pleased though.’

  ‘I can imagine.’

  ‘I thought I’d been so clever saving all that money by going to the flea markets for the set dressings. I was trying to make him so pleased he’d let me do the job again instead of Colette, who always got all the best jobs. Goes to show, he should have asked Colette after all. I suppose he always asked her because he suspected I’d be crap – that’s why he’d never given me anything important before.’

  ‘Rubbish!’ Melinda huffed. ‘He gave you a job in the first place and you had no fashion experience back then. He must have seen something in you or he wouldn’t have taken you on.’

  ‘Cheap labour?’

  Hattie raised her eyes to Lance, who was approaching with a tall mug topped with a peak of swirled cream.

  ‘Madam…’ He grinned, handing it to Melinda. ‘Just as you like it.’

  ‘Cream as well?’ Melinda scooped some onto her finger and licked it off.

  ‘Mummy’s got to keep her strength up.’ He turned to Hattie. ‘Anything else for you, my love?’

  ‘A slice of that Victoria sponge would be good. I’ve got to have something for lunch.’

  ‘An excellent choice,’ Lance said. ‘Nutritious and delicious.’

  ‘I’ll get one of those too,’ Melinda said. ‘To hell with the housekeeping budget.’

  ‘I’ll get it—’ Hattie began, but Melinda held up a hand.

  ‘No – it’s fine. You need your money right now.’

  Hattie didn’t push it, because Melinda had her pride like everyone else. It didn’t mean that Hattie wasn’t aware that sometimes things were a bit tight for Melinda and Stu. A young couple trying to raise four kids were bound to have money worries, but Melinda would never say so to Hattie, and she would never ask for pity. It had been their decision to have every single one of their children and they were happy with the life they’d chosen, even when the bills waited to get paid just a little longer than they’d like.

  Melinda’s grey eyes crinkled into a smile as Lance left them to get their order. Hattie often thought that the old saying about the eyes being a window to the soul had probably been invented for Melinda, whose inner joy and peace with her life shone out.

  ‘I haven’t had a Victoria sponge for ages,’ Hattie said.

  Melinda wrinkled her nose and grinned as she licked another blob of cream from her mocha. ‘God, I’m going to be a whale eating that along with this. But it’s soooo good! Lance just knows how to make a mocha like nobody else.’

  Hattie looked across at Melinda’s three oldest children, chatting happily amongst themselves as they worked their way through Mark’s treasure trove of toys. Sunshine had taken charge and was playing a more supervisory role as she instructed the other two how to organise their game; already it was easy to see Melinda’s more maternal, caring traits in her. Mark glanced across every now and again as he wiped the counter down, surreptitiously keeping an eye on things – though he needn’t have. Melinda might have looked relaxed and unconcerned as she chatted at their table, but Hattie knew she was keeping a close eye on things too.

  ‘Well,’ Melinda continued, ‘I know I shouldn’t say this but I’m glad you set fire to Alphonse’s show and had to come home.’

  ‘Maybe it will turn out to be a good thing…’

  ‘Of course it will. And even though it’s totally selfish on my part, I get my best friend back.’

  ‘Isn’t Stu your best friend?’

  ‘Sort of. He’s my best friend with benefits.’ She laughed lightly. ‘But I can hardly complain about Stu to Stu, can I? That’s what you’re for.’

  Hattie laughed now. ‘I’m glad to hear I’m useful for something.’

  Melinda scooped another fingerful of cream from her mocha and stuck it into her mouth. ‘So, have you found a job yet?’

  Hattie’s reply was cut short by Lance coming back to their table with two generous slices of Victoria sponge.

  ‘So when do you start your job with Medusa on the hill?’ he asked, winking at Hattie as he set their cake down on the table.

  Melinda’s eyes widened. ‘What do you mean – start your job with Medusa on the hill? You mean Jo Flint?’

  ‘You know Jo?’ Hattie asked.

  ‘Everyone in Gillypuddle knows Jo,’ Melinda said with another light laugh, but it wasn’t the laughter that suddenly unnerved H
attie, or that everyone in Gillypuddle knew Jo, it was how easily Melinda had recognised who Lance was talking about from the nickname he and Mark had given her.

  ‘So,’ Hattie began carefully, not certain she wanted to hear the answer to her next question, ‘what do you think of her?’

  ‘Soooo friendly,’ Melinda said.

  ‘Life and soul,’ Lance added.

  ‘Always the first to get stuck into community projects,’ Melinda continued.

  ‘Always down for coffee mornings… such a gossip…’ Lance grinned, and Melinda returned it.

  ‘Alright, alright – very funny,’ Hattie said. ‘I did manage to speak to her and she didn’t seem all that bad. I mean, she’s a bit gruff but she seems OK.’

  ‘A bit gruff?’ Melinda pulled her plate towards her and dug the delicate silver fork into her sponge. ‘Well, I suppose you have been surrounded by Parisians for two years so you’d know what gruff looks like. Anyone else would call her downright misanthropic.’

  ‘What’s that mean?’ Hattie asked.

  ‘She hates people,’ Lance replied as Melinda chewed on a mouthful of sponge with a look of zen-like contentment on her face.

  ‘Maybe she’s just socially awkward,’ Hattie said. ‘A bit shy. That can come across as stand-offish, can’t it?’

  ‘Or she could just be rude,’ Lance said.

  ‘Or she could be harbouring some secret heartache that makes it hard to interact with people,’ Hattie continued.

  ‘Or she could just be rude,’ Melinda said, exchanging another grin with Lance.

  ‘So, do you know how she managed to pay for that farm?’ Hattie asked, curiosity getting the better of her even though she ought to have been telling Lance and Melinda off for their comments about Jo.