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‘You’ll get there.’ Clover smiled. ‘Give Ethan Morris a call and see if he can help.’
‘I will do. But it’s not just the size of this room, it’s how the light floods it and the gorgeous view from the windows. It’s also relaxing being able to sit here and watch the birds on the feeders, to see the blue of the sky and the trees… even if they are currently quite bare. Plus, the best bit is that your garden isn’t overlooked by any other houses. I love the privacy and the feeling that you can be yourself here without anyone else looking in.’
‘I know what you mean.’ Clover gazed at the windows. She’d spent many hours sitting at the table gazing outside. The kitchen table held countless memories as she traced her finger over its worn surface. The house had a formal dining room, but she rarely used it, preferring to eat in the kitchen where it was warm and cosy and where happy memories filled the air like the fragrance of summer flowers.
There was a click from the utility room and the sounds of boots being removed, so she got up and switched the kettle on.
‘Hello?’ The familiar voice rang through the kitchen, making her heart lift as it always did when he arrived. ‘You there, Grams?’
‘Through here, darling,’ Clover said as she dropped tea bags into the pot.
When Nolan appeared in the doorway, he grinned at her, but then his eyes flickered to Brooke. ‘Oh … hello.’ He bobbed his head. ‘Sorry, Grams, I didn’t realise you had company.’
‘This is Brooke. She recently moved to the village. Brooke this is my grandson, Nolan.’
Brooke smiled at Nolan as he shook her hand, and her cheeks turned pink. Clover wondered if it was because she was surprised he’d arrived, or because she thought he was attractive. It could be a combination of the two, she thought. Either way, she noticed how Brooke sat up straighter and how she worried at her bottom lip as if her formerly relaxed state had gone and now she was anxious once more. That was not what Clover wanted at all because she’d been pleased to see the younger woman relaxing as they’d walked around the gardens and while they’d eaten egg mayonnaise sandwiches with salted kettle chips and washed it all down with cloudy lemonade. She’d been pleased to see Brooke eating, even if she didn’t finish everything, and she hoped that she’d be able to help this lovely young woman with her healing journey. It seemed to her like Brooke had no one else to turn to and so Clover would be happy to be there for her. She’d also enjoyed Brooke’s company this morning and believed that despite their age difference, they could become good friends.
Clover poured milk into three mugs, then stirred the tea in the pot before pouring it into the mugs. She gave one to Brooke and then handed Nolan one.
‘Thanks, Grams,’ he said, pushing his blond hair back from his smooth forehead. She’d always thought him a handsome young man, but now she saw him as Brooke might do. Whatwas it someone in the village had said to her recently? That was it … Nolan reminded her of that actor Ryan Gosling, albeit when he was younger. Clover had to admit that she could see the resemblance. The blond hair, blue eyes and kind smile that emanated warmth made him very similar to the actor. Of course, Clover knew she was biased because she adored Nolan, but even so, he was a man with a heart and any woman could do a lot worse than him. Not that Brooke would be looking right now, having been so recently widowed, poor love.
Nolan pulled out a chair and sat down, then placed his mug on the table. ‘So what have you been up to this morning?’ he asked.
Clover filled him on the work she’d done with Brooke at The Pottery Shack and then he asked Brooke a few questions about how she’d found it and if she’d like to make more things out of clay. As Brooke replied, Clover noticed how Nolan gave her his full attention, how he responded to everything she said, and it filled her heart with pride. As a social worker, Nolan was used to working with people with all sorts of issues and his philanthropic nature made him the perfect person for that, but she wondered now if he could sense that not all was well with Brooke and that she needed some support. Knowing her grandson, he could probably tell, and it occurred to her it would be good for Brooke to spend some time with him too.
‘Are you done for the day then, Nolan?’ she asked when Brooke had finished speaking.
‘I have a three o’clock meeting, but I thought I’d pop in for a cuppa and see how my favourite grandmother is.’ He gave her a cheeky grin.
‘I’m your only grandmother these days,’ she said.
‘I know that but you’re definitely my favourite.’ He winked.
‘Could I use the bathroom?’ Brooke asked, rising from her chair.
‘Of course, sweetheart.’ Clover pointed at the doorway to the hall. ‘Through there, along the hall and third door on the left.’
‘Thanks.’
Brooke left the kitchen and Nolan leant closer. ‘She seems nice.’
‘She is. But also struggling with being recently widowed,’ Clover said quietly, not wanting Brooke to overhear.
‘I thought there was something about her … an air of sadness and, I guess, shock,’ Nolan replied.
‘That’s what I thought when I first met her.’ Clover sighed. ‘She’s been through a lot and has moved here with her young daughter. She’d bought the house with her husband apparently, but he passed away before they had a chance to move.’
‘That must be tough,’ Nolan said.
‘Definitely. However, she has a fresh start here now so she can try to heal and care for her daughter.’
‘Well if she needs any help with anything, I’m happy to do what I can.’
‘That’s my boy!’ Clover reached over the table and patted his hand. ‘The house is on Sunflower Street. It needs some work so I’ve suggested that she contact Ethan Morris to see if he can help.’
‘I’m sure he will,’ Nolan said. ‘But I can always help with painting and the like at the weekends. Unless…’ He pursed his lips. ‘I have a few lads who are quite handy with a paintbrush. They painted the village hall, in fact. It would do them good to do something nice for someone. I’ll have a chat with them and see if they’re up for it.’
‘Sounds like an excellent plan,’ Clover said. ‘Get them on board and that house could be painted in no time at all.’ She knew that Nolan cared about the adolescents he worked with and they usually liked him because of his easy way with them and the fact that he made them feel valued.
