His words hung in the air between us for a few seconds. ‘Lonely?’ I repeated and glanced at him.
‘Your nan has been dead for ten years. I miss her every day but she’s not coming back. I spend my days alone in my shed, listening to the radio and wishing I had someone to talk to, someone to laugh with and hold my hand. When I look out of the window in my living room, I see couples walking by chatting and laughing. Some days I even open the window just so that I can hear people again. The world is going on without me. It makes me very sad.’
The gloom in his voice brought tears to my eyes. I had to blink them away and stay focused on the stretch of the motorway. ‘Why don’t you go to the community centre? They have lots of events for seniors.’
He shook his head. ‘Not that kind of lonely, Rachel. I would like to fall in love again.’
I gasped and imagined Mum’s face hearing that her father wanted to have some romance over Christmas. That wasnoton Aunty Karen’s list. ‘Really?’
He let out a heavy sigh. ‘I want to experience life again. Live dangerously for a few weeks and make Harp Brook a Christmas to remember.’
His words made every part of me clench. With the back of my hand, I wiped my forehead. It was glazed with sweat. All this car drama had sent my bladder into a tailspin. I was desperate for the loo, and I sensed Christmas at Harp Brook was not going to give me the relaxing break I needed.
CHAPTEREIGHT
Frank and Maddie’s country home was set amid the rolling Surrey Hills and tucked neatly behind the picturesque village of Harp Brook. As we drove through, we admired the quaint red-brick cottages, the two snug country pubs, old church and the handful of shops on the high street.
Frank and Maddie lived in the biggest property in Harp Brook; a Grade II listed, red-brick, eight-bedroom manor house with a vast garden, a quadruple garage, stables, a gravel driveway, and iron gates.
Once Grandpa and I had passed through the gates, the beautiful old manor house came into view. Set against a backdrop of swirling snowflakes it was like an illustration from one of the winter fairy-tale picture books we had as kids. It made me gasp in awe. Grandpa muttered under his breath about Frank having far too much money.
Maddie was in the doorway waving at us and holding an excited Humphrey. As my car got nearer the spaniel escaped from Maddie’s arms and raced towards my tyres, barking his head off. Slamming on the brakes to avoid running over Humphrey, I let out a yelp of frustration.
‘That dog is out of control,’ moaned Grandpa, as Humphrey jumped up at his car window. Humphrey’s ears were way too big for his head and his pink tongue hung to one side as he cast us his best deranged dog look.
‘Maddie told me he was calming down,’ I groaned, turning off the engine.
Grandpa chuckled. ‘She can’t say no to that silly dog.’
Maddie squealed at Grandpa before throwing her arms around his neck. ‘Grandpa – it’s so lovely to see you.’
‘Hello, Maddie,’ he cried, giving her a kiss. ‘Your Christmas dog sitters have arrived.’ Humphrey barked and started to run in circles around them.
‘How’s married life?’ Grandpa asked.
‘Busy,’ she said, planting a kiss on his cheek. ‘Come inside, as it’s cold out here and the snow is coming down.’
‘Is Frank about?’ Grandpa asked.
She pointed back towards their huge wooden front door, which was encased within an impressive stone arch. ‘He’s talking to the cleaner.’
Opening the boot of my car I was about to haul out our suitcases when Maddie raised her hand. ‘Frank’s driver will bring those in, Rachel. Leave them in your car for now.’
Normally I would have brought the cases myself, but Grandpa and I had both packed far too much and they needed a stronger pair of arms.
Maddie led the way through the front door and into the reception hall. Humphrey followed in a mad pursuit and nearly tripped up Grandpa.
As the reception hall opened, we were greeted with a vast curved staircase, made from solid oak, leading the way upstairs. To our right on the ground floor was the east wing, and three closed doors. One led to the large sitting room, which I recalled, from previous visits, was the room with the giant open fireplace, the high ceiling, teak flooring, and French doors opening out onto a sun terrace. One door was for the cloakroom and the other led to the annex.
To our left was a set of closed doors which led to the west wing. Maddie pointed to them. ‘These will remain locked, and I have asked the cleaner to keep hold of the keys. Promise me you won’t go in there.’
Both Grandpa and I nodded obediently.
We headed to the rear of the house and the large old kitchen. My bladder was about to burst, but loud voices drifting along the wood-panelled corridor as we approached distracted me.
‘Please don’t let me go, Mr Baxter,’ begged a young female voice. ‘I’m sorry that it happened again but I have nowhere else to put him.’
‘Layla, I’m sorry, I have told you several times and it keeps happening. This is not acceptable,’ Frank barked in his New York boardroom voice. His tone made me flinch and even Grandpa cast me an alarmed look. Maddie rushed ahead and clapped her hands. ‘Frank, my grandfather and sister are here.’
