‘Of course it is. Where are you going?’
‘The cinema in Berwick and then for a pizza. I don’t know what to wear. I’d better pick something and get ready. He’ll be here at six.’
‘Welcome back, Maddie Coates,’ Jude said when she was out of earshot. ‘I’m so relieved for you both.’
‘Tell me about it! What do you fancy doing tonight? I’m conscious you’ve barely left the farm. Do you want to go out for a drink?’
Mam was going to Briar Stones Farm to babysit for Lola and Max while Hope and Nick went out for a friend’s birthday so, with Maddie out on a date, it would just be Jude and me.
Jude pondered for a moment. ‘How about we do drinks tomorrow night? I quite fancy a bath tonight and I could really do with ringing my parents before they forget who I am. Why don’t you try to catch Caleb now that he’s back?’
I’d been watching out for him to thank him in person for the beautiful flowers but I hadn’t seen him or his van all week so had assumed he’d gone away. We’d seen him returning about an hour ago.
‘I might do that.’
‘You could ask him if he wants to share a bottle of wine.’
‘Absolutely not! Crashed and burned with that one last weekend but I will knock and thank him for the flowers. It was sweet of him.’
* * *
Jude mentioning Caleb’s name earlier had sent butterflies stirring in my stomach and, now that I was ready to head up to Peartree Cottage, they’d increased their activity. Why was he having this effect on me? It made no sense when I wasn’t certain I even liked him thanks to the confusing hot and cold thing. I understood his initial cool reaction after what he’d been through with the Garstangs but I was struggling with how he’d been a week ago. He’d smiled and waved on Sunday, though, and he’d sent me flowers. Perhaps I’d caught him at a bad moment last Saturday and it wasn’t anything personal towards me but, because of my struggles with Maddie and Laurie, I’d taken it to heart.
‘No need to rush back,’ Jude said, grinning at me.
‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’
‘Obviously not but I’m just saying that, if the man offers you a drink, I think you should accept. And if a drink turns into something more…’
‘I’m not listening,’ I said, attempting to look and sound stern. ‘We’re neighbours and I’m thanking him for the flowers – that’s all. And if he invites me in, it’ll be because he’s interested in hearing how the first week went. Nothing else.’
‘You keep telling yourself that.’
Her laughter was ringing in my ears as I left the farmhouse and made my way to Peartree Cottage.
‘Apologies for dropping by without warning,’ I said as soon as Caleb opened the door, cringing at what an incredibly British thing that was to say.
‘It’s no bother. Do you want to come in for a drink?’
‘Erm, no, it’s all right. I just wanted to thank you for the flowers. That was lovely of you.’
‘My pleasure. You’re sure you don’t want a drink? I’d love to hear how the first few days have gone.’
‘Go on, then.’ I followed him into the kitchen and Scampi bounded in from the back garden, making a beeline for me.
‘Hi, gorgeous,’ I said, giving him a scratch.
‘We were just having a bottle of lager in the garden,’ Caleb said. ‘Obviously Scampi wasn’t drinking. You know what I mean.’
I smiled and nodded. When he offered a range of drinks, I decided a bottle of cold lager might hit the spot for me too.
‘There’s still some sun in the garden,’ he said, indicating that we should head outside.
‘Wow! I wasn’t expecting this.’
Caleb’s back garden was stunning and looked like it had been designed by a professional.
‘Fancy a tour?’ he asked.
