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12
Gus couldn’t be happier that Heritage Cove had a local pub and secondly that the pub was as welcoming as it was traditional, with dark timber beams it was necessary to duck beneath in some places, and a brass rail that curved around the bar. Plenty of village pubs were run-down, others it was hard to enter when they were filled with locals who didn’t like anyone new or any hint of a change, but the Copper Plough had been as welcoming as the tearooms. Recognised as someone new straight away the day he brought Joan and Abigail in here for lunch, landlord Terry had introduced himself and his wife Nola, as well as head chef, Benjamin, and Gus had left that day certain this pub would become his escape whenever he needed it.
And he needed it tonight. Not that anything terrible had happened today – Abigail had had a good day at school, Julie hadn’t shown up unexpectedly and had assured him yet again via text that she would definitely turn up on Friday, he’d had three new patients today and he had bookings for another three. But what he really needed was some adult company. He hadn’t realised how much he’d miss Joan’s daily chats, especially in the evenings, and so this morning, between patients, he’d gone over to the Heritage Inn and met Sandy. After chatting with her for less than five minutes, he could already tell she’d be good with Abigail.
In fact, when he picked up his daughter from school and told her he was going out, she was almost more excited about that than going to the stables first. She’d ridden Denby in the outdoor school with her dad watching, although he’d been keeping one eye out for Hazel too, and Abigail had been ready to leave at the time Gus had said they’d have to go. Usually she stalled, but not today. And when she and Sandy had got stuck in with making cupcakes while he was still getting ready in jeans and a casual navy-blue shirt, he left them laughing and chatting away as though they’d known one another for months rather than minutes. The sight of the pair of them had been enough to propel him out the door, confident that even though he’d almost cancelled the childminder more than once, this was a good thing to do for both him and Abigail.
And now, Gus was here at the Copper Plough again, alone this time, and he’d spent the last half an hour talking to Benjamin, who had just come off shift. Benjamin filled him in about Heritage Cove. Gus knew it was going to take some time to get to know the locals properly in this way, their histories, what led them each here, but he was in this for the long haul.
It turned out Benjamin’s family owned the local Christmas tree farm, which Gus had seen signs for but hadn’t yet had the opportunity to explore. There wasn’t much incentive out of season and with his hands full with Abigail, their horse, and the business, it was something he hadn’t got to.
‘My sister will eventually take it on,’ Benjamin explained. ‘Charlotte has always wanted it. She’s not local at the moment, she’s still working full time elsewhere, but you’ll meet her at some point. She’ll be here this winter for sure, she’s got lots to learn about the tree farm.’
‘I’m sure she has.’ Gus sipped his pint of Guinness. It was summer and the beer garden was packed, so he’d chosen to stay inside by the bar. But it had its perks; he wouldn’t have bumped into Benjamin when he came off shift otherwise. ‘Abigail was pretty excited when she heard there was a tree farm around here. We’ve always had the same artificial tree and to be honest, it’s on its last legs.’
‘Can’t beat a real tree,’ Benjamin assured him, a smile behind well-trimmed stubble. ‘Just head on down to the farm when the season starts, bring your daughter, you’ll never look back.’
Gus laughed. ‘I don’t doubt it.’
Benjamin smiled at the group of women who’d just filed in. ‘Here comes trouble.’ But his claim was said in good humour and Tilly came over to plant a kiss on his lips. ‘You two have met already, am I right?’
Gus nodded and smiled at Tilly. ‘We have, good to see you.’
‘How did your daughter like the bottle you bought?’
‘Loved it, of course.’ It was hard to keep his focus because one of the women who’d come in was Hazel. And he hadn’t seen her, not properly, since that day on the beach. She was always busy, never had much time to stop. Although he was a bit put out she hadn’t made much effort to chat with him, he’d thought they were on better terms than proprietor and horse owner. He’d even begun to feel as though they might be heading towards something more than friendship, but she seemed to be avoiding him.
The women Tilly was with, including Hazel, had headed over to a spare table next to a window and with Hazel facing his way as Gus chatted with Benjamin and Tilly, he could tell Hazel had seen him. But he was also pretty sure she was doing her level best not to make eye contact. He couldn’t help glancing her way, though. She usually had her hair wound in an obedient plait at the nape of her neck with wisps escaping the second they could, but tonight, she’d let her wavy shock of blonde hair hang loose and he wondered if Benjamin or Tilly could tell he’d had to almost pick his jaw up off the floor when he saw her. This was a different Hazel compared to the in-order businesswoman who ran the stables. All he wanted was for her to look over, to smile and acknowledge him, but she still hadn’t by the time Benjamin left for home and Tilly went to join her friends.
It was a good half an hour later and after a conversation with Barney and Lois and then local teacher Linc, who told Gus that Abigail was enjoying music at school, that Hazel came over to the bar. It wasn’t the biggest space, so she couldn’t do much to avoid him, and Tilly had already had a turn buying drinks, so had Lucy, so now it looked like it was Hazel’s round. And call it timely, but there was suddenly a decent gap as well as a spare stool next to Gus.
‘Sit down while you wait,’ he suggested. She was dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a T-shirt that was fitted at the top and flared out at the waist. Her outfit suggested relaxed, yet she seemed anything but.
‘Thirsty people over there, better not.’ She placed her order with Nola and exchanged a lot more friendliness with her. She gave him nothing but a curt smile.
‘Forgive me asking, but have I done something?’ He was glad he wasn’t talking with anyone now she was here. He was certain she’d been avoiding him. ‘I haven’t seen you since that day on the beach and I’m pretty sure I haven’t done anything to upset you, but correct me if I’m wrong.’
She faced him and her chest rose as she considered his question. But then she let it go. ‘No, you haven’t done anything.’
He wasn’t convinced but he sensed accusations would get him nowhere. ‘Abigail has been asking after you.’
This time she found a smile. ‘Say hello to her for me. I’m sorry I’ve been so busy at the stables. Where is she tonight? With her mum?’
He shook his head before his pint glass made it all the way to his mouth. ‘No, why do you ask that?’
She shrugged. ‘No reason, just that you’re usually together.’
‘Sandy is childminding. I left them making cupcakes.’
She at least didn’t pick up the drinks straight away. ‘Sandy is a legend around here for those with kids. She works hard at the inn but doesn’t let up when she’s childminding.’
‘So I’d heard. I wouldn’t leave Abigail with a stranger usually but…’ He ordered an orange juice next. He’d decided that with his business so new he wasn’t ready to have more than one drink on a weeknight. He had a clientele to build, after all.
‘You and Abigail will both be happy with Sandy.’ She almost looked as though she was going to hang around but with all her drinks ready, she picked up a couple and Lucy came to collect the others.
Before Hazel could go back to her friends, his voice followed her. ‘I wanted to ask again about the lessons for Abigail.’ He saw her shoulders tense and she turned around. ‘I thought perhaps seeing as I sorted out Cinnamon, maybe you could teach her once, fit her in.’
In her eyes he saw regret; she looked torn, like a part of her wanted to say yes but the rest of her, for some reason, couldn’t.
