‘I’m afraid my budget doesn’t stretch to a new dress,’ Lisa said. ‘Unless it’s in the sale and about twenty quid.’
‘Don’t worry about that,’ Harrie said. ‘This is my treat.’
Lisa’s mouth dropped open in protest.
‘Now, no argument! I want to do this. It’s my way of thanking you for being here this summer.’
‘Thanking us?’ Audrey said. ‘But we should be thanking you!’
‘Rubbish!’ Harrie cried. ‘I’m just so grateful that you took time to be here for me. You’ve no idea how much that means to me. Now, there’s someone I need to call, but then I think we should go straight into town.’
An hour later, the three women were standing outside a rather beautiful boutique in the backstreets of Wells.
‘Isn’t this place a bit over the top?’ Lisa asked, looking at the gowns in the window.
‘Yes, shouldn’t we just go to that nice department store on the high street?’ Audrey said.
Harrie glared at them both. ‘How many times in our lives do we get a chance to dress up? And I don’t just mean a pretty day-dress – I mean a proper glamorous red-carpet number. I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress like that, unless it was for my own wedding.’
‘She’s right,’ Audrey agreed. ‘I can’t remember either.’
Lisa nodded. ‘I’m always flicking through those celebrity magazines, ogling the acres of satin and lace, but there isn’t really the opportunity to wear such things when you’re a supply teacher.’
‘Exactly!’ Harrie said. ‘And I want our last night at Melbury to be special and sparkly, and that means looking our best.’
‘Hey, isn’t that Mrs Ryder?’ Audrey said as their housekeeper came stomping towards them, looking perplexed.
‘Mrs Ryder!’ Lisa said in surprise and then she leaned towards Harrie and whispered in her ear. ‘What’s she doing here?’
‘She’s with us.’
‘You’re buying her a dress too?’
‘Of course!’
Mrs Ryder went straight up to Harrie. ‘Now, what’s all this?’ she asked, shoving her handbag further up her arm. ‘What might I have forgotten on the menu this time?’
‘A dress,’ Harrie said, linking her arm through hers. ‘Come on, Mrs Ryder, we’re going shopping.’
The young sales assistant was a gem, but perhaps she was a little too enthusiastic for she’d managed to pull virtually all the dresses from the rails and had filled the tiny changing rooms with acres of fabric.
‘These are much too extravagant, Harrie!’ Audrey shouted over the cubicle.
‘Nonsense!’
‘My arms are stuck!’ Mrs Ryder called through.
‘I’ll be right there,’ said the sales assistant.
‘I can’t get the zip done up on this one!’ Lisa cried.
‘You want a hand?’ Harrie called.
‘No, it makes me look like a huge strawberry anyway.’
Forty minutes of huffing and puffing later and the four of them emerged from the changing rooms, laughing and gasping at each other.
Audrey had settled on a cherry-red knee-length dress in a satiny fabric which looked so wonderful with her long dark hair, and Lisa had chosen an emerald-green figure-hugging dress which skimmed her ankles, giving her a sort of femme fatale look when she swept her chestnut hair up. Harrie had picked a sky-blue gown which reminded her of the one she’d always loved in a Grace Kelly movie and was just right for her pale colouring, and Mrs Ryder was absolutely transformed in a midnight-blue dress which did wonders for her hourglass figure, making her look like a cross between Jane Russell and Ma Larkin.
‘Well I never!’ Mrs Ryder exclaimed. ‘Will you look at the three of you!’
‘Look at you!’ Harrie cried. ‘You look like a movie star, Mrs Ryder.’
She batted her hand at Harrie, but her cheeks were tickled with pink. ‘I think it’s about time you called me by my Christian name. After all, I’ve seen you all in your undies now!’
Harrie grinned. ‘Yes, what is your name?’
‘Gladys.’
Lisa giggled and Harrie glared at her in warning.
‘That’s a very charming name.’
‘Not many Gladyses around these days, I warrant you,’ Mrs Ryder said. ‘It’s a little old-fashioned, but it was an aunt’s name. An aunt that my mother was very fond of and she said she couldn’t think of anything better.’
Harrie could see that Lisa was biting her lip in an attempt not to laugh.
‘I think it’s a beautiful name,’ she told her, and then turned to the sales assistant. ‘Now, what have you in the way of tiaras?’
‘You can’t be serious, Harrie,’ Audrey said.
‘Why not?’
‘Because . . .’
‘There, you see, you can’t think of a single reason!’
‘If Harrie’s having a tiara then I want one too!’ Lisa said.
‘Let’s all get them, shall we?’
There then followed twenty fun-filled minutes where every single tiara in the shop was tried on every single head. Gold, silver and copper-coloured glories were ogled and cooed over. Even Mrs Ryder got into the spirit of things, settling on a beautiful rose-gold-coloured one decorated with a delicate garland of leaves. Lisa and Harrie chose pretty silver tiaras decorated with diamante and Audrey chose a simple gold design.
Then came shoes. After all, as Harrie pointed out, you couldn’t have new dresses without new shoes.
‘You look like glorious butterflies!’ the shop assistant told them when they had finally finished.
Flushed from the excitement of so much concentrated shopping, the four women left the boutique with bulging bags.
‘I can’t believe you just did that,’ Audrey said.
‘I’ve not finished yet,’ Harrie told her. ‘I thought we could all get matching necklaces too.’
Lisa sighed. ‘What a lovely idea!’
‘There’s a little jeweller’s across the way and we’ve just enough time, haven’t we, Gladys?’
Mrs Ryder checked her watch. ‘You’ll have to be quick.’
‘Why do we have to be quick?’
‘Gladys has kindly booked us all in for a wash and blow-dry. A manicure and pedicure too,’ Harrie told them in delight.
Audrey shook her head. ‘You really are the limit, Harriet Greenleaf!’
Harrie smiled. ‘Come on – let’s go and get some jewellery! We’ll see you back at the priory, Gladys!’
Mrs Ryder waved at them and left.
The jeweller’s was a perfect cocoon of a shop and Harrie immediately fell in love with it. Together, they looked at an assortment of chains, pendants and lockets, but Harrie felt drawn to one design in particular. It was a simple gold chain with a pretty round pendant featuring a tree, its delicate leaves so wonderful to touch.
‘The tree of life,’ the jeweller told them. ‘The symbol of harmony, positive energy and eternal life.’
Harrie liked that and asked for three of them.
They then made their way to the hairdresser’s, where they were treated to a luxurious wash and blow-dry before enjoying a manicure and pedicure.
‘I’ve never been so spoilt,’ Lisa confessed.
‘I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner,’ Harrie said. ‘I mean, I’ve been organising the food.’ She gasped.
‘What is it?’ Audrey asked.
‘That was meant to be a surprise.’
‘This is all a surprise!’ Lisa said.
Harrie smiled. ‘Good!’
It was as they were coming out of the hairdresser’s, their hair shiny and swishy and their nails perfectly painted, that Harrie spotted the second-hand bookshop.
‘Can we?’ she asked. ‘Just a quick peek?’
They walked across the road and looked in the window. Harrie saw the book straightaway. It was a small hardback with a plain blue cover with gold lettering on the front and sides. Medieval Buildings of Somerset.
They went into the shop and she picked it up, flicking through it quickly and soon finding what she’d hoped would be there – Melbury Priory. There were only two beautiful old black-and-white photographs of the priory, but one of them was of the chapel and Harrie could just make out the little bump of Samson’s angel. There was also a whole page dedicated to the little church he’d taken her to visit, giving special mention to his beloved misericords.
She took it to the counter and paid for it. Audrey bought a Penguin classic and Lisa found a book about yogic breathing. All in all, it had been a tremendously successful shopping trip.
Chapter 21
Mrs Ryder had done them proud. When they returned to the priory, the trestle table was laden with enough food to feed the whole of Somerset. How glorious it all looked, set with candles and sparkling glassware, and how incredible Mrs Ryder looked too in her new dress.
‘Is this really just for us?’ Lisa asked.
‘Of course!’ Mrs Ryder said.
‘You’ve not invited anyone else, Harrie? Like Honor or that stone man?’
‘No!’ Harrie laughed. ‘This is our night. Just for us ladies.’
The three of them embraced right there in the kitchen, their heads pressed together and their arms tight around each other’s waists.
‘Right!’ Harrie said at last. ‘Let’s get dressed up!’
Squealing with girlish excitement, the three women went to shower and change into their new dresses, returning to the kitchen half an hour later, where they admired each other once again, reaching out to touch one another’s dresses and tiaras and sighing with pleasure at their matching necklaces.
Naturally, they all wanted photos taken together and Mrs Ryder did the honours with the cameras, following them around the priory and the garden as they posed in alcoves and under arches, leaned against walls and apple trees.
‘We must have one with you, Mrs Ryder!’ Audrey cried as they were about to go back inside as the sun was setting.
Mrs Ryder batted them away.
‘Yes, come on, Gladys!’ Harrie agreed.
‘Well, if you insist.’
‘We absolutely do!’ Lisa told her.
They each took it in turns to take selfies, grinning into their cameras like loons, the majestic backdrop of the priory looming behind them.
It was with some reluctance that they returned indoors, leaving a blush-pink sky. But they had supper to look forward to and Harrie, Audrey and Lisa were soon grabbing plates and stacking them high before filling their glasses with the champagne Harrie had insisted on buying for their special night.
There was salmon and quiche, baguette and cheese, heaps of rocket and watercress, a plate of pasta salad, mini jacket potatoes, a meat pie which Mrs Ryder had made especially for Harrie, sausage rolls, buttered asparagus, roasted Mediterranean vegetables served with quinoa, and an enormous bowl of Eton Mess as well as fresh mango and grapes and a large strawberry cheesecake.
‘It’s a good job we’re eating this after buying these dresses,’ Lisa said. ‘Although you may have to unzip me a bit as I work my way through dessert.’
‘Mrs Ryder – Gladys,’ Audrey said, ‘this is really something else!’
‘Yes, and I hope you’re going to join us,’ Harrie said.
Mrs Ryder looked genuinely shocked by this. ‘I couldn’t!’ she said.
‘Of course you could!’ Harrie told her.
‘Yes, we insist!’ Lisa added. ‘We can’t possibly eat it all ourselves.’
Mrs Ryder looked up and down the table, as if eyeing her hard work and wondering if she dared to partake of any of it.
‘Come on – grab a plate!’ Audrey took charge and handed one to her.
Mrs Ryder glanced up at her and then down at the plate. ‘Oh, go on then!’
Everyone laughed and got to work with the very serious business of eating, and what a treat it was. There was only one tiny accident when Lisa dripped butter from her asparagus down the front of her dress, which necessitated an urgent rush to the sink before her emerald gown was stained.
When everybody was fully sated, Harrie made a move to start tidying away. Mrs Ryder slapped her hand.
‘Don’t you dare!’ she said. ‘That’s my job. You just go and enjoy yourselves. Have some more champagne and I’ll soon have this looking shipshape.’
‘But it’s so late,’ Harrie said, glancing at the clock and seeing that it was after ten.
Mrs Ryder put her hands on her hips. ‘It’s the last evening of your holiday and I won’t let you spend it in the kitchen!’
‘In that case, I’ll top up the champers,’ Lisa said.
Harrie approached Mrs Ryder and, before she could protest, she’d wrapped her arms around her.
‘Thank you!’ she said.
‘Don’t be silly! Now, go and enjoy yourself.’
The three friends left the kitchen and Audrey drew the curtains in the living room as Harrie switched on the lamps, realising that it would be the last time they went through this simple nightly ritual. As she turned on the last one, she let her fingers lightly touch the blue-and-white porcelain of the lamp base, her eyes soft as the warm amber lit the room.
‘Come and sit down, Harrie,’ Lisa said, and Harrie took her glass from the table and sipped it. She then noticed Audrey.
‘You’ve got a great fat smile on your face,’ Harrie told her.
‘I was just thinking of Mike.’
‘I bet you can’t wait to show him your new dress,’ Lisa said.
‘Yes, but I’m not sure what he’ll make of the tiara!’
They laughed.
‘Have you heard from Alfie?’ Audrey asked Lisa.
‘Yes. He texted me yesterday.’
‘So he has your number?’ Harrie teased.
‘Of course. We’re good friends. He’s started at the outdoor-activity centre.’
‘Already?’ Audrey said.
‘Yes, and he loves it.’
‘Where is it?’ Harrie asked.
‘The Lake District. On the banks of Windermere.’
Audrey gave a knowing look. ‘Oh, yes?’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘I mean that Cumbria isn’t that far away from Leeds, is it?’ Audrey pointed out.
Lisa gave Audrey a weary sort of look. ‘It might be hard for you to believe, but we were only ever friends. That’s all. Just a nice easy-going summer friendship. Like Harrie’s with that stone guy.’
‘Samson! His name’s Samson!’
‘Yes, tell us what’s been going on with him,’ Audrey said.
‘Nothing’s been going on with him,’ Harrie stated. ‘We’ve just been – I don’t know – sharing time together.’
Lisa smiled and her eyes shone in the lamplight. ‘Sharing time together,’ she repeated. ‘I like that.’
Harrie nodded. ‘I do too.’
They sat sipping their champagne for a few moments.
‘I can’t believe the summer’s nearly over,’ Lisa said at last.
‘What will you do when you get back home, Aud?’ Harrie asked.
‘I was just wondering that myself,’ she said. ‘I don’t think Mike’s going to let me return to the school straightaway.’
‘Maybe you can have that Norfolk holiday you were talking about,’ Harrie prompted.
‘Maybe.’
‘What will you do, Harrie?’ Lisa asked, her face anxious now.
Harrie took another sip of champagne. The truth was, she hadn’t thought much further ahead than the summer holidays. Everything beyond that seemed so vague and tenuous.
‘I don’t know,’ she said honestly with a little laugh. ‘There are some things that – you know – need sorting out.’ She gave a little shrug and smiled.
‘Anything we can help with?’ Audrey asked.
Harrie took a deep breath. ‘Yes. There probably is.’
‘Good,’ Audrey said.
‘Yes. You mustn’t forget to let us help you,�
� Lisa said.
‘I won’t. I promise,’ Harrie told them, and she really meant it.
It was then that Mrs Ryder came into the room.
‘Dishwasher’s on and all the leftovers are wrapped up and in the fridge.’
‘You’ve done all that already?’ Lisa said in amazement.
‘Not much to it, really.’
‘Please take some of the leftovers home with you, Gladys,’ Harrie said.
‘No, no. That’s for you girls.’ She took off her pinny, revealing the splendour of her midnight-blue gown again.
Harrie stood up. ‘Well, we can’t thank you enough for tonight and for the whole summer too. It wouldn’t have been the same without you. It really wouldn’t.’ Harrie opened her arms to give her a hug and Mrs Ryder graciously accepted, her face flushing in delight.
‘I have to say, this is one of the nicest jobs I’ve ever had,’ she told them. ‘It’s not every day I get to work in a building like this and for such appreciative people either.’
Audrey and Lisa stood up and joined in with the hugging.
‘I wish I could take you home with me,’ Audrey told her. ‘I’m going to miss having my meals prepared and my bed made for me.’
‘Yes, thank you so much,’ Lisa said. ‘I have to admit that I was a bit scared of you when we first met, but you turned out all right in the end.’
Mrs Ryder’s mouth dropped open in surprise. ‘Scared – of me?’
‘I think we all were,’ Audrey admitted.
Mrs Ryder tutted and shook her head good-naturedly. ‘You young women!’
Harrie laughed. ‘Oh, how I love being called a young woman!’
‘You take care of yourselves now, won’t you?’
‘We will!’ Lisa said.
‘And thank you for your kindness, Harriet,’ Mrs Ryder added, her hands stroking the silky blue folds of her dress.
‘You’re more than welcome.’
They all embraced again and everyone’s eyes filled with tears as Mrs Ryder walked into the kitchen and picked her handbag up for the last time and left the priory.
‘That’s really it, then,’ Audrey said. ‘That’s the end of the holiday.’
Lisa sighed and brushed the tears away from her cheeks. ‘Are you sure we can’t stay, Harrie? Can we not lock ourselves in and refuse to go?’
One Last Summer Page 26
