Page 54 of The Twilight Garden

Even Leo is no longer annoying! Or only a little bit anyway. They say time is a great healer, and perhaps it is. Mum’s birthday was obviously hard but he bought me a beautiful copy of The Language of Flowers. Do you remember the one I used to have? The one Mum gave me? Anyway, he tucked a bunch of dried forget-me-nots inside it which was lovely. I forget sometimes how much he loved my parents too. I think it was a real shock for him to hear that Mum had died, and it was such a sweet thing to do.

Anyway, how are you doing? I hope everything at Mayfield Dawson is good and that you’re not working too hard. I promise I’ll come and visit soon so we can have a proper catch-up, and to hear about Shiny Rachel, of course. When are you free, and I’ll see what I can do? Let me have all the gossip, too.

Speak soon, much love xx

She sat back and reread what she’d written. She didn’t really have much to say and yet her days were always so busy. Perhaps it was just a different kind of busy than before. She pressed send on her message and shut down her laptop just as Vicky brought over her coffee and sticky bun.

‘How’s it all going?’ she asked. ‘Last time Willow dropped the eggs down she looked as if her head was about to explode. Still smiling though.’

‘She always is,’ replied Gemma, realising it was true. ‘But it’s peak growing season so we’re especially busy at the moment. That’s apparently so that come autumn we can just sit back and reap the rewards, but I think that was just Willow trying to put a positive spin on things.’

‘You look as if you’re enjoying it. I’ve always been a tiny bit envious of Willow, to tell you the truth – hair and skin glowing like she bathes in the fountain of youth, and you’re beginning to get the same look. Maybe I’ll give up the tearoom some day and come and join you.’

Gemma put her palms over her cheeks. ‘Am I?’ She was genuinely surprised. ‘I’d hardly been outside for months before I came to the farm, and as my dad used to say, fresh air and exercise is all you need. It must be true.’ She smiled. ‘And much as I’m sure Willow would love to have you, don’t give up the tearoom just yet. Where would I get these if you weren’t here?’ She picked up her bun, eyes closed in pleasure as she took a large bite. ‘Heaven.’

Vicky flapped at her arm. ‘Get on with you. I dare say either you or Willow could bake one just as good. Rowan too, I shouldn’t wonder.’ But she was grinning as she moved away.

Gemma savoured the next few bites. It hadn’t been flattery; Vicky could bake a seriously good cake. The only trouble was they didn’t last nearly long enough. She sighed as she downed her coffee and popped the last sticky morsel of bun in her mouth. Time to get going.

Her phone pinged as she got back in her car and she fumbled to pull it from her pocket while doing up her seat belt at the same time. It was probably from Willow, with a request for something she’d forgotten. But it wasn’t from Willow, it was from Cat.

Can’t talk now, got a meeting to run to. But ring me later this afternoon. After three – v important! X

She frowned at the screen. Cat never usually asked her to call, especially not when she was at work. She definitely preferred messages over conversations and could text faster than anyone Gemma knew. She hoped everything was okay.

Dropping her phone into the cubbyhole by the handbrake, Gemma checked her mirrors before pulling away from the kerb. She’d be back at the farm this afternoon, and would try to call Cat then. She very much doubted she’d have any signal, but she could try. She paused at the junction waiting for a small van to pass and, as it drew level, she realised that Ashley was in the passenger seat. She raised a hand to wave, but it was too late, they’d already flashed past. She wrinkled her nose. Another reminder that the garden was also something Gemma would need to think about.

The library had only just opened when she arrived, but she was pleased to see Hannah behind the desk. She had a pile of books to return and among them was the book about Flora’s garden. She had renewed it the maximum number of times she was allowed, and today was the last day she could keep it.

She slid the books onto the counter, with the gardening book uppermost. ‘I’m sorry I have to bring this back, but here you go. Time for someone else to have the benefit of it.’

Hannah smiled. ‘The sad thing is, probably no one will. I imagine before you requested it, it had sat on the archive shelves gathering dust for quite some time. And I’m guessing that’ll be where it’s going back to. It’s been useful, though, has it?’

‘It’s been the key which unlocked everything. I can’t thank you enough for getting hold of it in the first place. Without it we’d have been clueless.’ She stroked a hand across the cover. ‘We would possibly have found the location of the garden without it, but we would never be able to restore it to its former glory without the secrets this holds.’

Hannah gave her a quizzical look. ‘You don’t look very happy about it though.’

‘No…’ Gemma was surprised by the librarian’s astuteness. ‘I was so excited on the day I collected this. I had a feeling it would turn out to be something of a good luck charm – a sign that we were meant to find the garden and bring it back to life. Trouble is, I’m not sure we can carry on with its restoration. I didn’t think I was particularly superstitious, but in my head it feels as if once I’ve returned this, it’ll be the end of the garden too. I know that sounds stupid, but it’s one of those thoughts which, once they pop into your head, there’s no getting rid of.’

‘But why won’t you be able to finish the restoration? Has something happened?’

Gemma shook her head. ‘It’s just circumstance. At the moment, much of what we’re doing in the garden isn’t costing us anything aside from our labour. But very soon we’ll need to start repairing things and eventually replanting, and all of that could prove to be very expensive. It’s money the owners of the farm don’t have. The original garden would have been quite an attraction in its day, and we were hoping we could create a replica of it, bring a little bit of history back to life. I think we all got a bit excited. I got a bit excited. I didn’t really think it through.’

Hannah’s face fell. ‘I’m sure you’ll think of something,’ she said. ‘Don’t give up. Even if it’s not quite like the original, it can still be beautiful.’

‘I know. But even that could cost a fortune.’

‘Is Ashley still helping you out?’

‘Yes, but she volunteers, so that isn’t a problem. I’ve just seen her actually. She passed me on the road, in a van.’

‘It’ll be her husband’s,’ replied Hannah. ‘They’re probably going off to inspect one of their gazillion properties.’

Gemma nodded automatically but then checked herself. ‘Sorry, gazillion properties?’

‘Okay, so I might be exaggerating just a tad, but yes, that’s what they do. Well, what she does anyway.’ She slid a glance along the counter. ‘I’ve always thought it was a bit dodgy, actually, which I know makes it sound as if I’ve got sour grapes about them rolling in money, but I thought there were rules in estate agency. I’m not saying they do buy up stuff illegally, but it does make you wonder.’

Gemma stared at her. ‘Say all that again. I have no idea what you’re talking about.’