‘What if I wanted a glass of wine or two?’ her brother asked.
‘Then you’ll manage without,’ she replied, not skipping a beat. ‘Ah, that’s great. I’m going to ring Mum and let her know.’ She pulled her phone from her apron pocket. ‘See you Sunday if not before,’ Julie said, touching my arm as she left, her phone already to her ear.
I turned slowly back to face Jesse. ‘What just happened?’
‘She might look like a stiff breeze would blow her over but she’s a steamroller when she wants to be.’ He stood from the table, placing his napkin on top of it now that he was finished. ‘Guess I’ll see you Sunday, then. If not before.’ He echoed his sister’s words then held out a hand, indicating for me to go first as we made our way out of the café, its windows now steamy with the heat being generated inside. Outside, the sky was a leaden, flat grey with the promise of yet more rain. A gust of wind howled around the corner. I wrapped my ankle-length, fitted, wool coat around me and knotted the belt.
‘I need to make some calls about getting some replacement windows fitted sooner rather than later I think,’ I said, casting the sky a disapproving glare.
Jesse nodded, his gaze dropping to my stiletto heeled shoes. ‘Kind of amazed you made it out in those.’
‘I have some most unflattering wellies in the car that I found in the boot room for commutes between my car and house until I get some paving laid.’
‘I see you’re learning.’
‘I wish I’d learned that huge spiders like to hibernate or whatever they do in said wellies before I put them on my feet.’ I shuddered again at the feel of long, furry legs tickling my feet as I’d shoved them into the oversized boots earlier today. ‘I’m amazed you didn’t hear the screams, to be honest. I was sure half the county did.’
‘Not a fan of spiders?’
‘No, not terribly. Especially not on my person.’
He looked down at the scuffed toes of his work boots before suddenly returning his gaze to me. ‘I’m really sorry about this, you know. I had no idea what a state the house had been left in.’
‘It’s hardly your fault,’ I replied. ‘Even though I know now that the place was supposed to go to you.’
‘Ah.’
‘Your sister told me. I can understand why you don’t like me?—’
‘I never said that.’
I stopped mid flow. ‘Well, no. But… I can see how irksome it must be to have me swoop in from out of town and buy the house of your dreams.’
‘To be honest, that’s not the house of my dreams.’
‘Oh!’
‘It looks a hell of a lot better in my dreams. For a start, it’s got functioning windows.’ He gave a flick of the dark brows.
‘Hilarious.’
‘What’s that for?’ He nodded towards my car. Two straw bales were stuffed into the back seat with another on the front.
‘Bedding for the chickens, according to Google. I know it’s not enough, before you say anything, but it’s a start. The chap at the supply store said he’d drop the rest round for me.’
‘Brendan?’
‘Yes.’
‘Blimey. Special privileges there. He must have taken a shine to you.’
I flicked him a look. ‘Hardly.’
‘Coming round to the idea of them now, then, the chickens? Didn’t seem so keen on them when you first met.’
‘Thank you for reminding me of that particular moment in time but, yes, I think I am. They’re really rather sweet, if a little untrained when it comes to being herded back into their house.’
‘Herded?’
