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There was a restrained courtesy about Jamie and Jon’s conversations, but they were talking and it obviously meant a lot to Jon to be asked here. A shared glance between her and Jamie was enough for Anna to tag along with them, curious to see what he’d done in the rest of the house.
Jamie’s eclectic style was everywhere. In the dining room, a large polished table was surrounded by cabinets filled with books and a collection of plates, glasses and silverware, some matching and some not. Jamie walked straight past a corridor that led to the other side of the one-storey house, and Anna guessed that the bedrooms lay in that direction. Jon ignored it as well, which was probably just as well.
Only the kitchen and bathroom showed no trace of the building’s ancient shell, with gleaming floor-to-ceiling tiles and mirrors in the bathroom, and wooden cabinets in the kitchen. When Jamie led the way out of the kitchen door, Anna found herself on a long veranda.
‘This must be lovely in the summer.’ The view was spectacular, farmland and open countryside stretching off into the distance.
Jamie nodded. ‘I like it in winter, too. I’ve a couple of space heaters, and it’s quite cosy out here. Last year I sat and watched it snow.’
The thought of him sitting alone seemed a little sad. But the house was full of noise and activity now, some of which was heading their way. The twins burst out onto the veranda, and Thomas ran up to Jamie, pulling at his hand.
‘Why don’t you show Uncle Jon our cars...’
Jamie grinned, squatting down in front of the two boys. ‘What cars?’
‘The ones we’re building, silly... Uncle Jon would like to see them.’ Thomas turned to Jon for confirmation.
Jon was clearly torn, unable to say no to his nephew but clearly wanting to show how much he appreciated Jamie’s hospitality as well. ‘I’d like to see them later, Thomas. Uncle Jamie’s showing me around right now.’
The twins chorused their disappointment and Jamie smiled.
‘Okay, why don’t you two show Uncle Jon your model cars now, then? He might have some ideas about what colours to paint them.’ Jamie glanced up at Jon. ‘The garden will still be here later.’
‘Okay. Thanks.’ Jon grinned, holding his hands out to the twins and they started to pull him back into the house.
It was a nice gesture. The two boys were still a little shy with Jon, and Jamie seemed determined to include his brother as much as he could. He knew how much that meant to Jon.
He watched Jon go, and then turned to Anna. ‘Looks as if we have ten minutes for one of those adult conversations you promised me. Would you like to see what I’ve done in the garden?’
‘Yes. That sounds great.’ Anna glanced down at her high-heeled boots. ‘I’ve got a pair of trainers in my bag. Caroline said that I might need them if we all decided to go for a walk.’
Jamie nodded. ‘Yeah, good idea. I’ll wait for you here...’
* * *
The garden was much the same as the house. Seemingly artless, but everywhere there were things that made you want to stop and look. An old, worn stone birdbath nestled amongst the foliage. Blackberry bushes, forming a wide mass of ripening fruit that could be picked and eaten straight away, and the soft yellows of a brick-built outhouse contrasted with the new, dark slate roof. It was shaped by nature, but Jamie’s guiding hand had given it a touch of magic.
‘How long have you been here?’ They strolled together along a winding pathway that led away from the house.
‘Six years.’ Jamie looked around at the garden. ‘It’s not really finished yet.’
‘It looks like one of those things that will never quite be finished.’ There were no straight lines about this place, it seemed as if it might constantly evolve.
‘No, I’m not sure it will.’
‘I expected something different. A bit more under control.’ Anna smiled up at him and he gave her a Who? Me? smile.
‘You think I’m a control freak?’
‘You have goals, don’t you?’
Jamie chuckled. ‘That’s a different thing. I have goals, I just don’t make myself any promises about how I’m going to find my way to them.’
That made sense. The way that everything fitted together neatly, without necessarily matching. ‘Caroline said the place was pretty run down when you bought it. It must have taken a lot of work.’
‘It’s the closest thing I have to a hobby. I work hard, and then when I come down here I relax and go with the flow of the place.’ Jamie turned, his hands in his pockets, looking back at the house.
‘I had an inkling of its potential when I bought it, but after I’d had the rubbish and old furniture from the last owner carted away, it started to take shape. The plaster was damaged and rotten, but once that was stripped out and the carpets were lifted there was this amazing space. It seemed somehow wrong to cover it all up.’
