Thankfully, unlike mine, their house looked untouched by the storm. I entered the run, making sure the catch was in place, and opened the door to the coop. As I did so, the birds clucked and squawked their way out, hustling and bustling until they got to the bottom and began pecking around at the grass, apparently unbothered by the previous night’s events. A couple toddled over and began pecking at my laces.
‘Right, yes. I suppose you want food.’ I walked over to the storage unit within the compound, scooped out some of the feed, and scattered the grain onto the ground. The birds descended with zeal and began happily pecking away. I moved around them and pulled open the egg door. There sat at least a dozen fresh eggs waiting for collection.
‘Bugger,’ I said, realising, in my haste to see whether my chickens were scattered far and wide, that I’d come out without the basket. Hurrying back, I rushed into the utility through the back door and walked slap bang into a solid chest.
‘Oof!’ I bounced backwards as Jesse grabbed me to stop me falling on my backside. He hadn’t moved at all from the impact. It was like an ant bumping into a rhino.
‘Sorry. I was coming out to find you. How are the hens?’
‘Fine,’ I said, reaching past him to grab the wicker basket I’d bought to collect the eggs in, which was not something I’d ever thought I’d be carrying, if I’m honest. I was more used to hooking a Hermès bag over my wrist, but then my life had taken a massive swerve and right now that was the least of my problems. And I had to admit, I’d never tasted an egg so flippin’ delicious.
‘Want some company?’
‘Sure you’re not just checking that I’m pretending I’ve managed to keep the chickens alive?’
He smiled as we walked. ‘Not at all. The way you dashed out of there told me all I needed to know.’ We approached the run. ‘You painted it?’
‘I know it’s a bit of a mess, so please don’t criticise it.’
‘I wasn’t going to. Looks good.’
It didn’t but I appreciated the compliment.
‘Did you buy the preserver from Brendan too?’
‘No, that was already here. Actually,’ I asked, having popped the last egg in my basket, ‘you couldn’t give me a hand putting the lid back on it, could you?’
‘The paint? Of course.’
‘Great, it’s back in the utility. I don’t suppose you’d like some eggs, would you?’
‘Love some, if you’re sure.’
‘Perfectly. I still have yesterday’s.’ I ran a hand back over my hair, smoothing my ponytail, my go-to hairstyle for the last however many years. ‘I can’t believe I forgot about the hens. I’m not sure I’m cut out to be responsible for other living creatures.’
‘Don’t be so hard on yourself.’ Jesse dismissed my comment immediately. ‘It sounds like this is all quite a different lifestyle for you. You’ve barely been here five minutes. Give yourself a break.’
‘It’s different when something is relying on you for its well-being though. Thank God I’d remembered to put them away last night. That’s one miracle.’
Jesse gave a brief smile. ‘Where’s the paint? Let’s do that and then we can discuss the roof.’
I pulled a large tin out of the cupboard that I’d covered with foil – a tip from the Internet to keep the paint from drying up. It didn’t seem a long-term solution, in case it got knocked over, so I’d kept the tin lid just in case. I lifted it and placed it on the counter.
‘Was it the right stuff?’ I asked, suddenly panicking I might have put something toxic on my birds’ enclosure.
Jesse was removing the foil, a frown settling into place between his brows. ‘Yep, it’s the right stuff.’ He peered at the tin, then the lid, then the tin again. ‘Felicity?’
‘Yes?’
‘Did you remove this lid with a tin opener?’
‘I… yes. It’s a tin, isn’t it? I must admit it seemed a little odd because I’m not sure how you’re supposed to keep the rest. Or is it a one and done? That seems quite wasteful. Could I decant it into something? Why are you looking at me like that?’
He shook his head. ‘Nothing.’
‘No. Tell me. Obviously, there’s something obvious I’m missing here. I’d rather you told me than I be the butt of the village joke.’
‘I would never laugh at you, Felicity.’ His eyes were serious now.
