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She went back through the doorway and turned the radio on. Music filled the space, some uplifting tune that made her feel like shaking her hips. So she did, gently, warming her body up. When the song changed, she grabbed a cup and placed it on the small shelf of the coffee machine and pressed the button. Steam rose into the air and dark brown coffee flowed into the cup, its scent making her mouth water. Clover enjoyed a cup of tea but also liked coffee, especially on a cold winter morning.
When the machine stopped, she reached for the coffee and, cradling it between both hands, she went to the door and peered out through the glass. She had a group from a local residential home coming in later on for a throwing class, so she had some preparation to do for that, and would most likely see some of her regulars through the course of the day too. Most days brought villagers in for coffee and cake, as well as a chat, but the beauty of owning the shop was knowing that, on any given day, someone entirely new could come in and ask to join a class, to learn a new skill or to buy one of the ready-made pieces Clover had on the shelves. The shop was not just a place of learning or a retail establishment; it was a social spot and she enjoyed being there for exactly those reasons.
Spotting a familiar face from the village, she opened the door and smiled, looking forward to catching up with one of her friends.
Chapter 6
Brooke
Brooke had walked Allegra to school and watched from the gates as her daughter met up with her new friends and chatted excitedly about her weekend and what they were doing that day in class. It was only Allegra’s third day at the village primary school, but she’d settled in well already in the easy way that children seemed to do. Brooke was happy to see her daughter so comfortable, but she also felt bereft because she didn’t feel settled herself. The village felt strange, the house wasn’t home, and she didn’t know anyone. Her primary feeling was one of overwhelming loneliness and it sucked. On Saturday, she’d gone to the supermarket with Allegra, and they’d pushed the trolley around, filled it with their favourite food and drink, but everywhere Brooke had looked, she’d seen women with husbands and partners, with families and friends. It had made her chest ache to see so many people with their loved ones. Brooke knew how lucky she was to have Allegra and she was incredibly grateful to have her beautiful daughter in her life, but it didn’t stop her missing her husband or wishing that he was with them. At night, when Allegra was tucked up in bed in her new room, Brooke had found herself unable to settle. When Aidan was alive and not on tour with his band, they’d snuggleon the sofa together and watch TV, read at opposite ends of the sofa while massaging each other’s feet, or browse the internet on an iPad together looking at holidays, paint, and furnishings. And even on those days when he’d been away somewhere because of a gig, she’d known he would come home and that she could contact him whenever she needed to do so. Aidan had been her husband, her best friend and her rock as they’d journeyed through life together and she missed him more than she could articulate. The loneliness felt like it would choke her at times, and when she went to bed and lay down, the covers pulled up to her chin, she’d feel it settling over her like a suffocating blanket and sit up gasping for breath, tears running down her cheeks. Grief, she knew all too well, was a cruel companion, and it was doing its best to break her in two. All she could hope was that time would help her heal, but right now, it was hard to see how that would work when all she wanted was to feel Aidan’s strong arms around her again, to breathe in his familiar scent and to know that they had a future together.
Brooke was on her way home, or back to the house that was meant to be home, but she turned on her heel and marched back through the village. Right now, she couldn’t bear to unpack another box or to clean another cupboard. She was sick of trying to decide upon paint colours and light shades, of trying to place things in the rooms in a way that created a cosy feel. And there was so much dust around that old house that she didn’t think she’d ever get rid of it all. Just yesterday she’d ripped up a carpet in the box-room and nearly choked as a cloud of thick dust flew up into the air and covered every surface. These jobs were ones she should have had Aidan’s help with but instead she was trying to figure it all out on her own.
Keep walking!
She looked around. The voice had been so clear and loud, but it had been in her head.
Yes, she needed to walk, to get her body moving, her heart beating fast.
And so she did.
She walked through the village and down towards the wooded area where the park and lake were. When she reached the spot, she strode around, taking in five things she could see, five things she could hear, five things she could smell. Sometimes, it was hard to think of five smells, but just the act of trying distracted her from the pain and the panic and anything that helped with that was positive. She was hanging in there for Allegra’s sake, but some days she worried she was about to crack and that her daughter would see the extent of her grief. And that was something she did not want. While she was aware that Allegra needed to know that she missed Aidan, there was no need for the little girl to see how much her mum struggled.
Brooke marched around the lake four times, then went to the map of the village that was displayed on a signpost with the local walks and trails highlighted. She placed a fingertip on the red cross that saidYOU ARE HEREand looked at what was nearby. Her eyes found a small wooden construction labelled The Pottery Shack that seemed to be not far away along the path. Just beyond that was a glamping site she suspected was closed right now but that would probably attract tourists come the warmer months.
Without even thinking too deeply about it, she found herself heading in the direction of The Pottery Shack, hoping with all her heart that it would be open because right now, she needed somewhere to go. Somewhere she’d never been before. Somewhere to help her forget about the fact that she felt utterly lost and alone.
Chapter 7
Clover
‘That’s right, Ellie, pinch the clay between your thumbs and forefingers … that’s the way.’
Ellie smiled, then pushed a few strands of her red-brown hair back from her face with her arm. ‘Thanks, Clover. I’m really enjoying this.’
‘I’m glad, Ellie. And you’re a natural.’
Ellie Porter had returned to Wisteria Hollow back in the autumn when she’d come to sort out her aunt’s house after she’d passed away. Ellie had been reunited with a childhood friend, Finn Harman, and they were now very much in love. Clover enjoyed seeing couples enjoying their time together as well as how being in love gave them a sparkle in their eyes and a spring in their step. Ellie had been through a painful divorce, but she’d come through it and now she had the lovely Finn in her life. It was definitely a tale with a happy ever after.
The small bell above the door tinkled and Clover looked over to see a young woman closing it behind her. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were bright pink from the cold and as her eyes scanned the shop, she reminded Clover of a nervous animal.
Anxious. Restless. Afraid of being caught.
Caught?
Trapped?
Hurt?
Clover tilted her head as she tried to work out what it was that she could see on the woman’s face. There was something very wrong and so she made her way over to the front of the shop and smiled warmly at her.
‘Hello, there. Can I help you?’
The woman turned her hazel eyes to Clover and pulled her bobble hat off, revealing light brown bobbed hair. ‘Hi. Hello. Uhhh … This is a pottery shop?’
‘It is and we also have a workshop here where you can come to learn how to model clay.’
‘Oh. Right. Good.’ The woman nodded.
