“I’m not going, Mother. I’ll probably still be here on Saturday. In fact I’m actually enjoying it here so it might be a while,” I lecture back.
She gets annoyed with my answer, and I can hear it in her tone. “Well, don’t think we’re going to fund you, Harriet. I’m all for holidays and what not but this… this silly little episode is just ridiculous now. You’ve met them. You’ve had more than a week there. It’s time to come home before this goes too far.”
“How will it go too far?”
“Cerci and Aradia will get attached and you’ll end up being odd and weird. And poor Greg, you know he’s been beside himself. You really think he’s going to want to fix it if you turn all hippy dippy and smell of cow pats. Let alone the business deal between us and the Belfours. You know Gregory managed to get a deal with a bank in Switzerland. Think of the money, darling. And the Montgomerys and Belfours taking over London together…” She speaks like I’ve started doing hard drugs instead of visiting family because my fiancé cheated on me while I was very much having a mental breakdown, which actually could just be me realising I am different and want to be different.
“Mother, Greg and I… there isn’t anything to talk about.” I sigh.
“Harriet Montgomery, you will marry Gregory and that’s it. Just stop it and come home.”
I put the phone down and throw it on the bed. Why is she so obsessed with me and Greg being together? Is her image that important to her that she’s willing to risk what’s left of our toxic relationship?
And do I smell of cow pats? I go and take a quick shower before a certain village butcher brings over some frozen pheasants. How romantic.
Eight
The doorbell rings late afternoon when the sun is just descending down out of the chilly autumn sky. Aradia opens the door and invites Sam in. He awkwardly agrees and brings in a cooler which I’m guessing has the frozen pheasants in. He places them on the sideboard and notices me in the kitchen and smiles. He’s still in his black hoodie and muddy jeans. However, they now seem to also have motor oil on them. The scent mixes with his aftershave creating what I can only imagine as the manliest scent on the planet. My lower stomach flutters as it hits my senses. My eyes dart to his hands which are also matching his jeans. Now all I can imagine is what else he can do with those hands.
“Thank you again, Sam, for bringing these to us,” my aunt coos while opening the cooler and pulling out the birds.It brings me out of my ridiculous daydream.
“You’re welcome, Aradia,” he says back.
“Why don’t you stay for some supper?”
“Ah, that’s lovely, but I’ve got to get back and help Nana close down the cafe and I’ve got to get Lola from Lois and Hannah’s.”
“Harri, why don’t you go and help? Maybe Sam can show you around the village a bit more? She doesn’t know anyone hereapart from me and Cerci. Might be nice to mix with someone your own age, don’t you think, Harri?” She gives me a lopsided smile. She knows what she’s doing.
I can’t even give Aradia the death stare because Sam is in my eyeline.
“I’m sure Sam has better things to do than show me around,Aradia.”
Emphasis on Aradia there so she knows I’m glaring at her in my mind. But bless him, Sam thankfully doesn’t pick up on it. Instead he looks at me with those big green eyes and smiles. Of course, I’d like to get to know him but maybe not in a desperate “my aunt forced it because I have no friends” kind of way.
“Sure, I’d be happy to show you around. The temperature’s dropped though and it is getting dark so you might wanna wrap up. I drove the van here so are you OK coming back to the shop with me to park it? Then I can give you a quick tour of ourextremely excitingvillage.” He laughs.
By looking at him, he looks like he can fight a bear with his bare hands. His forearms are huge, and his shoulders can probably carry all three of us on them. But all he oozes is sweetness.
“Only if you’re sure. I don’t want to intrude,” I say.
“It’s fine. I’ll get you back once I’ve got Lola and my nana home. If that’s OK with you?”
My granny appears in the kitchen doorway. “Midnight at the latest,” she jokes.
“Thanks, guys,” I say sheepishly, my cheeks burning with embarrassment, and go and find the wellies I’ve now adopted, along with a big duvet coat and the pink scarf I have also added to my adopted clothing items from my gran and aunt.
I step outside with Sam. The sun is just starting to set under the horizon. The sky is turning a beautiful shade of red. We both feel a bit awkward and it’s noticeable.
“You know what they say…” He gestures at the sky.
I’m unsure what they say, so just stand there adding even more awkwardness to the already very awkward date. Not a date. Thing. I’m not even sure what this is. More a pity tour of the village. Let’s go with that.
“Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight…” he continues.
“I’ve not heard that.”
“Oh, do they not have red skies in London?” He looks at me confused.
