“Sure you don’t want us to wait for you?” he asks.
“Anyone that’s going to bother me will end up in a worse way. I’ve been doing karate and yoga at the village hall, Harri. You should come and see sometime.” She flexes her arm under her floral dress.
It makes me laugh. “Wow, Gloria, nobody will be messing with you then.”
She nods smugly and Sam shakes his head joining in thelaughter. He grabs the crate of buns with one hand and opens the door for me with the other. We get outside into the frosty night and make our way down past the stream to the houses on the side.
“Thank you, Samuel,” I mock with an edge of flirtation.
“Urgh.” He rolls his eyes in response. “She refuses to call me Sam. Anyway, you can’t talk! Your parents definitely didn’t name you Harri.”
“Harriet,” I mutter quietly.
“So, let’s make a pact. You don’t call me Samuel, and I won’t call you Harriet.”
“Deal.” We shake hands on it. His grip again makes me feel weak at the knees.
We make our way to the last cottage before the village hall. The curtains are closed but the log burner’s smoke bellows out of the chimney and the glow of warmth can be seen in the windows. As we walk over the small bridge leading to the front door I make note of the window boxes full of lavender and the pile of different sized wellies sitting just on the step outside the pink front door.
Sam knocks the silver flower knocker and stands back with me to wait for the knock to be answered.
Hannah from the market appears at the front door in a pink fluffy dressing gown and cow slippers, her blonde hair tied up in a scrunchie at the back. The sound of children laughing comes out into the night air. I can feel the warmth from the house coming out to invite us in.
“Sam! And, oh gosh, Harri, wasn’t it? Cerci’s granddaughter? Come in, she’s just finishing her rice pudding.” She smiles and moves to allow us into the warmth. I notice her give Sam a look, not a bad look, but a “talk of the village” cheeky look.
We stand in the hall and Hannah shouts for Lola. Sam places the crate of buns down on the side table.
“Er, Nana sent these for you guys,” he says, his voice gruff.
“Ah, amazing. Your nana, God send! And yours.” She turns her attention to me. “Both of them are the queens here in Brindlewood.”
Lola appears from round the corner, rice pudding around her mouth and down her school uniform. She runs and gives Sam a hug and looks me up and down. She turns to Hannah and gestures for her to come down to her level. She whispers something into Hannah’s ear that makes her laugh then runs back towards the kitchen.
“Oh God, what did she say?” Sam laughs.
“She said that your new friend is the prettiest lady she’s ever seen, and you go all goggly eyes when you talk about her.”
Right on cue Sam’s face turns red. “Right.” He claps his hands together. “Lola!” He disappears into the kitchen to catch his sister.
Hannah and I laugh, my cheeks also blushing with the compliment from little Lola.
“Lois,” she calls. “Come and meet Harri.”
A woman comes from the kitchen door, wiping her hands on a tea towel. Her black hair is in a short bob around her petite face. She smiles, a little more reserved than her wife but just as kind looking.
“Nice to meet you, Harri!” She puts her hand out to shake mine and I oblige. “Hannah told me you bought her Japanese inspired blanket? Beautiful piece, right? She’s so talented.” She places a sweet kiss on her wife’s cheek. “How are you finding your time in Brindlewood?”
“Great, thank you. It’s a much-needed rest from the city.”
“Ah, so just a break then? You returning back to the city soon? I pop in for work myself now and again.” She places her hands on her hips.
“Erm, I’m not too sure to be honest. I mean, yeah, eventuallyI’ll have to return, I guess, but I’m not really in a rush.”
“What about work?” Lois questions.
“Lois…” Hannah touches her wife’s arm tenderly. “We don’t need to do twenty questions with Harri.”
“Sorry, I’m just interested, you know. It’s nice to talk with someone who isn’t afraid of the big bad cities.” Lois smirks.
