Clover Cottage

This house was Rory’s childhood home; this was where they belonged. He couldn’t ever imagine them living anywhere else or anyone else living here.

‘Not this place!’ trilled Alana, chuckling.

Rory shook his head, ‘I don’t understand. What house?’

Allie didn’t say a word but tightened her grip around Rory’s hand on her knee. Unlike Rory she had guessed what was coming next.

‘The terrace on Love Heart Lane.’

Allie waited and watched Rory. She knew this revelation had taken him by surprise. There was no sharp intake of breath, just a rhythmic blink then the penny dropped. He drained his drink and looked towards the faces turned towards him. His expression was now completely aghast. ‘Sorry’ – he paused – ‘sorry, for a moment there, I could have sworn you said you were going to sell my house,’ he stated, in a distressed tone, a sick sensation washing over him.

Alana topped up her glass with wine and then Allie’s.

‘And what I don’t understand is why you would even smile about the fact you are making me homeless.’ Rory wilted back in his chair and glanced between his mum and dad, waiting for answers. What were his parents thinking? Rory had lived in the whitewashed terrace on Love Heart Lane since graduating as a vet, as he’d found it difficult moving back into the family home after being independent at university. The property was owned by his parents and he knew he was on a cushy number, living there rent- and mortgage-free, but he’d offered to pay his way and they’d refused.

‘What am I meant to do? I’m not moving back in with you two – at my age that’s ridiculous.’ Rory threw his hands up in the air. ‘If the house is going up for sale there’s a very simple solution – I’ll just buy it,’ said Rory, feeling satisfied with his decision. ‘That’s what I’ll do. Why am I even worrying about it? I’ll buy it direct from you … that’ll save your estate agent bills too. Win–win. I’m not losing my home.’ Rory was determined.

‘Don’t be daft, you don’t want to have a mortgage hanging around your neck,’ said Alana, ‘when you don’t have to.’ Her voice was upbeat.

‘Of course I do,’ argued Rory. ‘I have a good salary, the business is doing well … and I’m happy there; it’s my home.’

‘Unfortunately, buying the house is not an option for the next twelve months,’ cut in Stuart.

‘Why?’ insisted Rory, his voice tight.

‘Because we’ve agreed to rent it out.’

Feeling shocked – even she wasn’t expecting that revelation – Allie watched as Rory’s cheeks turned crimson.

‘You’ve done what? Why on earth would you do that?’ he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

‘It’s not a bad thing – if you will let us finish. We’ve signed a twelve-month lease to a man called Flynn Carter,’ announced Stuart.

Rory exhaled. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Stuart continued, ‘He’s a property developer looking into this area due to the increase in tourism, or something along those lines.’

Rory was shaking his head in disbelief again as he looked towards Allie then back towards his father. ‘You’ve already signed a twelve-month lease? Without talking to me first? So when are you actually making me homeless from?’

‘The first of the month.’

‘I don’t believe this … Marvellous, absolutely marvellous.’

Allie placed her hand on Rory’s arm to calm him, but she was feeling confused too. She knew Stuart and Alana were fair people and couldn’t quite understand why they would do this. Surely there was a reason behind this? But she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Trying to comfort Rory, she summoned up a smile. ‘You will be able to stay at mine – at the pub. Mum and Dad won’t mind,’ she soothed.

‘As if we are going to leave you homeless,’ said Alana, standing up, still with a smile on her face.

A bewildered Rory and Allie watched as Alana disappeared inside and returned clutching a brown envelope. She sat back down and slid the envelope towards them.

‘Let us put your mind at rest. Me and your dad aren’t losing our marbles, you know … Go on, open it,’ encouraged Alana.

Rory and Allie locked eyes before Allie took the envelope and opened it.

Both of them stared at the paper in front of them. Allie didn’t understand. ‘House details? Clover Cottage?’ she said, looking at the particulars and passing them to Rory. ‘Isn’t this James Kerr’s old place?’ she asked, puzzled.

‘It is indeed – and, would you believe, James left it to me in his will,’ said Stuart, pouring himself a beer and taking a sip.

‘Wow!’ exclaimed Allie, ‘I wish someone would leave me a house in a will.’

‘Well,’ said Alana hesitating. ‘That kind of is about to happen, except we aren’t dead yet.’ She chuckled.

‘Huh?’ said Rory, looking towards his parents.

‘We think Clover Cottage would be perfect for you – for you both. It was your dad’s idea really but I think it’s fantastic too.’ Alana smiled towards them both. ‘Allie would make the perfect daughter-in-law and we would love to welcome her into our family.’

It took Allie a second or two for the information to sink in then she squealed, grasping Rory’s arm, her hands visibly shaking. The excitement wired her body like she was plugged into the mains. She stared again at the details on the paperwork in front of her.

A cottage, their very own cottage.

She was genuinely shocked. ‘Oh my gosh, is this some sort of proposal? I’d love to be your daughter-in-law.’ Allie looked towards Rory with hope, a swarm of fireflies fluttering around her stomach at a speed of knots. ‘Rory, we have a house … a beautiful cottage … a place to set up home together.’ She barely took a breath.

Excitedly, she read out loud,

Clover Cottage, part of the Clover Farm estate, stands on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Heartcross, freehold detached dwelling

Modernisation needed. Plot circa 5 acres.

Even though the words were floating around in the air, Allie still couldn’t get her head around it … a cottage! Things like this didn’t happen to her; they only happened in the movies. This was all Allie had ever dreamt of, to set up home with Rory in such an idyllic setting, just like the one they were sitting in now, and it was right here on the outskirts of Heartcross. Already in her head she’d planned the decor, a new kitchen, roses tumbling around the oak porch and honeysuckle straggling through the hedgerows, the log fire burning away in the winter months.

‘Stuart, Alana,’ said Allie, looking up, ‘I really don’t know what to say … “Thank you” just doesn’t seem enough.’ Allie’s head was in an absolute spin. Her and Rory’s home together. This was her dream, cosying up with Rory every night.

‘Those particulars are current. We were going to sell the property when Stuart suggested gifting it to you both. We know how hard it is to get on to the property ladder these days and houses in Heartcross don’t come around that often.’

It was only then that Allie realised Rory had not said a word. She looked towards him and immediately sensed something was wrong. Rory looked kind of frazzled, like he was about to explode.

‘What is it?’ she asked, biting her bottom lip. She had a feeling something ominous was about to happen. There had been a sudden change of atmosphere.

Rory took the particulars out of Allie’s hand and slid them back across the table.

Feeling bewildered, she watched in dismay.

‘Thank you but no thank you.’ Rory’s eyes were wide and he didn’t even look in Allie’s direction. Scraping his chair back, he muttered, ‘I need some space,’ before exhaling, raking his hand through his hair and striding towards the kitchen.

‘Rory!’ a confused Allie shouted after him but he didn’t even give her as much as a glance over his shoulder. What the hell had got into him?

‘I’m so sorry,’ said Allie, quickly apologising to Alana and Stuart. She stood up and was about to follow Rory when Alana put a hand on her arm. ‘I’ll go,’ she insisted, and before Allie could object Alana was halfway up the path towards Rory, who was leaning against the kitchen worktop with his ankles crossed and his arms folded. Allie sat back down opposite Stuart feeling awkward.

***

As she sipped her wine Allie felt like all her dreams had come crashing down around her. All her fuzzy romantic feelings about setting up home with Rory were fading fast. Her mood slumped.

Alana and Rory’s voices travelled from the kitchen outside into the garden. Rory’s was irate. ‘How dare you both? I say when, I say where I want to live, and who with. This is typical of you and Dad, always trying to control me at work, and now forcing a home on me. I like living where I am and if I do have to move I would like to choose that property myself. And implying I should ask Allie to marry me. I might not even want Allie to marry me, I may not even want to set up home with Allie. Have you ever thought about that? What gives you the right to do this?’

‘We were only trying to help, and don’t you think it’s time?’

‘I’ll say when it’s time. I don’t need my parents pushing me into anything. My life, my choices.’

‘But houses don’t come up for sale in Heartcross very often. Clover Cottage will be the perfect family home for you both.’

Listening to Rory’s outburst, Allie felt numb. Her whole world had come crashing down around her. At first, she’d felt like a child at Christmas, one second ecstatically unwrapping the best present ever, and the next, devastated to find it wasn’t actually for her. She knew her mascara was about to run in all directions across her cheeks, and the wretched feeling in her stomach made her feel like she wanted to heave.

Unfortunately, Rory was locked in a heated conversation with his mother, and, feeling sick, Allie had exhausted all avenues of conversation with Stuart. ‘I’m so sorry, Stuart, please forgive me,’ she said, trying to keep her voice steady, though she couldn’t keep the anxiety out of it. ‘I feel I need to go.’

She stood up; she wasn’t going to hang around any longer. Rory’s reaction had hit her hard. Trying to hide her tears, she bent her head low, grabbed her camera and left the cottage feeling downhearted.

Walking back through the village, she dug her hands deep in her pockets of her jacket, her mood plummeting to an all-time low. She paused briefly and looked out over the village green, Rory’s words playing over on her mind: ‘I may not even want to set up home with Allie.’

Allie was in turmoil, her eyes full of tears. What the hell had just happened? With her head in a spin, she walked around the pond, past the tall rustling reeds, and sat down on the bench under the large oak tree, trying to make sense of it all.

This would be the ideal start for them both, a cottage in the heart of the village where their life was, with no financial burden of a mortgage. As far as she was concerned this was the best thing that could have happened to them. Alana was right; houses didn’t come up for sale very often and this cottage would be perfect for them. But after Rory’s reaction Allie was beginning to wonder. The only reasonable explanation for his outburst was that just maybe she’d got this relationship all wrong. Maybe she wasn’t Rory’s happy-ever-after at all.

Chapter 2

Ten minutes later, Allie hadn’t moved from the bench. She hugged her knees to her chest and, taking in a breath, she closed her eyes and sighed.

She didn’t want to go straight home and face a busy pub along with a barrage of questions from her parents about why her evening had been cut short.

Still close to tears she felt embarrassed by Rory’s reaction and didn’t like the feeling of rejection at all. Where did they go from here? Tonight could have played out so differently. Right at this moment they could have been celebrating, popping open the champagne, and Allie knew she would have dragged Rory straight round to the cottage to take a look inside. But instead, here she was feeling upset, sitting alone.

Taking a slow steadying breath, she stared at the view in front of her, one of outstanding beauty. It had been a while since she’d hiked to the top of Heartcross Mountain, where the views went on for miles and miles. She closed her eyes, remembering her and Rory’s first proper date, a picnic on the mountain. She smiled just thinking about it. The weather had been kind, with a slight breeze as they’d climbed the small incline towards the pass then walked along the rocky path. Around halfway up there was a small brick building, which, as children, Allie and her friends would use as their den during the long summer holidays, and that was where they’d laid out their blanket. Rory had brought the picnic with a little help from Bonnie’s Teashop and the whole time Allie had felt a flutter of excitement, too nervous to eat. They’d lain on their backs, their faces towards the sky, when Rory had gently entwined his fingers around hers and leant up on one elbow before kissing her for the very first time.

***

Ping! Allie dropped her gaze to her phone. Three missed calls and three texts messages, all from Rory. She tapped and swiped the screen and sat with her head bowed reading his messages.

Where are you? x

Please pick up your phone x

Ring me as soon as you get this x

It looked like Rory was desperate to get hold of her, but at this moment Allie didn’t know what to say to him. A snap of a twig behind her caused her to spin round, and standing there she saw her friend Felicity.

‘I’m jogging! Don’t ask, just trying to shift a few pounds and get fit. All those cakes are piling on my waistline.’ She patted her stomach but as soon as she locked eyes with Allie her smile faded.

‘Bad day?’ asked Felicity, narrowing her eyes.

Where do I start? thought Allie, blowing out a breath. ‘You could say that.’

Felicity sat down next to her and for a second both women sat in silence, staring at the view, before Felicity spoke.

‘What’s going on? Do you want to talk about it?’ she asked tentatively.

Allie had never been one for tears, and she knew Felicity would be surprised and worried to see her upset. ‘You know when you think life is great and then suddenly—’ Allie’s voice faltered as she wiped away a tear that was sliding down her cheek with the back of her hand.

‘Surely it can’t be that bad,’ said Felicity, trying to comfort her.

‘Do you think you will ever move in with Fergus?’ asked Allie, looking towards her friend.

‘That’s the plan,’ said Felicity, ‘but it’s not always that simple, is it?’

Allie knew Felicity’s life and relationship with Fergus were complicated. Her heart went out to her friend who had made some brave decisions in the past, including walking away from Heartcross for eight years and living on her own in London.

‘Both Fergus and I talk about it all the time and I would jump at the chance of living with him and Esme – they are my life. But the timing and house need to be right. Let’s face it, no one seems to move from Heartcross and there aren’t many houses going up for sale, are there?’

‘That’s my point exactly.’

‘Huh? You’ve lost me.’

‘If someone gave you and Fergus a cottage in Heartcross, what would you think?’

‘Either I’m dreaming or I’ve won the lottery!’

‘I thought I’d won the lottery,’ said Allie solemnly, before sharing all the details about the evening so far with her friend.

Felicity blew out a breath. ‘I wasn’t expecting that. Clover Cottage – wow … That’s amazing! And James left the cottage to Stuart and Alana in his will and they’ve given it to you and Rory?’ she said, obviously happy for her friend.

Allie nodded, ‘That about sums it up, except Rory doesn’t want it and gave it back.’

‘Really? Is he mad? I’d be looking round there right at this second.’

Allie wholeheartedly agreed. She looked at her phone once more. She’d switched it to silent but there was Rory’s name flashing away on the screen, trying to reach her again. She knew she should probably pick up the call, but she shrugged off any guilt, knowing she was going to let him stew for a little while longer.

Over the past eighteen months Allie had built up a picture of their future together and this could have been the start of it. She sighed to herself again. She really hoped things were fixable between them.

‘Ignoring his calls isn’t going to help,’ said Felicity, looking at Rory’s name flashing repeatedly on Allie’s screen.

Allie paused before she answered, and cast her mind back, thinking about Rory’s reaction to his parents’ offer more and more.

‘You know, Rory’s never even asked me to move into the terrace with him on Love Heart Lane. Do you think that’s strange when he already has a house and I’m living with my parents at the pub?’

‘I bet he just thinks it’s easier for you to live there, with your early starts. And you know, Allie, sometimes men just need a little push. Talk to him; find out what’s going on. There’s no point sitting here trying to work it all out without the facts. Rory is besotted with you, anyone can see that.’

Allie shook her head. ‘You should have heard him, Flick.’

‘It’ll all be fine,’ reassured Felicity in a soft tone.

Despite her worries Allie knew she needed to talk to Rory.

‘Ring him back,’ urged Felicity. ‘The sooner the better.’

But before Allie could answer and let all her jumbled-up feelings settle, Rory came tumbling towards them both, raking his hand through his hair.

‘Thank God, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.’

Allie looked up. Rory’s expression had changed from one of anger and now he genuinely looked deflated and upset.

Allie waggled her phone in front of her. ‘I know, I’m sorry,’ she said, staring at the ground and avoiding Rory’s gaze. ‘I just needed to get my head straight.’

‘I’ll leave you both to it,’ said Felicity, standing up and hoping both of her friends would be okay. ‘If I don’t see you before, I’ll catch you both at the summer fair on Saturday.’

Rory waited until Felicity was out of sight before speaking. ‘Why did you disappear?’

‘Why do you think? Probably overhearing the heated conversation with your mum … especially the part when you stated you may not even want to marry me or set up home with me. You could have broken it to me gently, Rory.’ Allie’s voice wobbled.

Saying the words out loud, she did her best to squash the feeling of dread rising rapidly inside her, but she felt her heart-rate quicken.

Since she had been a little girl Allie had always dreamt of the perfect proposal and the perfect wedding, and as far as she was concerned Rory was her happy-ever-after. She felt vulnerable as he perched on the bench beside her. She wasn’t sure where this conversation was heading.

‘Is it over?’ the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them, the comment hanging in the air between them. She braced herself, squeezing her eyes shut, preparing herself for the answer.

‘What? What are you going on about?’ Rory’s eyes were wide. ‘I love you—’

Allie looked up. ‘But—’ she interrupted. Rory exhaled. ‘Oh my God, you are saying it’s over,’ she said, immediately standing up, not giving him a chance to answer. Her eyes were brimming with tears, her heart thumping fast against her ribcage. She couldn’t do this; she just wanted to get away.

Rory pulled her back down to the bench and grasped both her hands in his. ‘God, I’m sorry. That’s not what I’m saying at all. It’s just—’

‘It’s just you don’t want to live with me,’ insisted Allie.

‘That’s not what I’m saying either.’

‘Then what are you saying, Rory? Because I’m sitting here not knowing what the hell is going on. One minute I feel like I’ve won the lottery and the next, in the blink of an eye, I feel like I’ve lost everything.’ Allie’s voice faltered but she held his gaze.

‘Do you not think the decision should be ours? Do you not think our future is our decision?’

‘I don’t understand, Rory.’ All Allie could think about was the cottage that he’d just handed back to his parents. ‘Clover Cottage is – was – perfect for us.’

‘Allie, I’m not saying it’s not perfect for us. What I’m trying to say is my parents always have a hold over my life. I work for them, I live in a house owned by them, they are now choosing where my future house should be and who I live there with! You know my frustrations with Dad; we butt heads all the time regarding business matters. I’m not saying he’s a bad guy, and the offer of the cottage is a generous gift, but I just want to make my own way in life. I feel stifled – suffocated – by them at times.’

Allie didn’t interrupt but sat listening to Rory, who loosened his grip on her hands now he knew she wasn’t going to leave.

‘I want to ask my girlfriend to move in with me when I’m ready to ask her. I felt like Mum and Dad were pushing for us to live together, inviting you to be their daughter-in-law. I’m over the moon they think of you in that way, I really am, but I couldn’t help feeling this was more about them than us.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Allie, confused.

‘I think they’ve decided they are ready for the next stage of their lives – grandchildren. They want to see me, their only son, settled down. But this isn’t about them, it’s about me … it’s about us. I’m enjoying this part of our journey, dating, looking forward to seeing you in the evening, getting ready to go out … It’s a time we don’t get back. And what’s the rush?’

Allie knew Rory had a point, but she felt ready for the next step. She was tired of living with her parents, waking up and working in the same place. Of course it was convenient but now she too wanted her own space and wanted to move in with Rory. The time was right for her.

‘Isn’t half the fun viewing properties and deciding where we want to live together?’ Rory continued. ‘When we are ready, I want us to look for a house together, choose where we want to live together.’

‘But houses in Heartcross don’t come up for sale often. This cottage could be the perfect answer,’ Allie pointed out gently. ‘And the garden is amazing too; it’s a perfect location …’ She bumped her shoulder against his lightly. ‘And we wouldn’t have to move out of Heartcross. Surely it wouldn’t cause any harm to take a look?’

‘You are beautiful and persuasive,’ he said, dropping a kiss on the tip of her nose. ‘But I want to make my own way in the world. Dad convinced me working in the family business was best for me yet I don’t feel equal and I’m convinced there’s more waiting out there for me.’

‘What’s wrong with Heartcross?’ Allie asked hesitantly.

‘Nothing – but there’s a big wide world out there to explore.’

‘Oh,’ said Allie, trying to read Rory’s expression before turning back to look at the scenery in front of her. Trying to digest the information, she felt confused, and a small tear slid down her face.

‘Please don’t cry, I’m just being honest with you. All I’m saying is there is more to life than Heartcross.’

Allie’s heart sank. She loved her comfortingly familiar life, surrounded by what she knew, the friends she grew up with. Her home was Heartcross, her life was Heartcross. But maybe she was so caught up in her own little world, she’d never realised Rory didn’t feel the same way.

‘I don’t feel I can stamp my mark on the business until Dad retires. I want to bring the technology into this century, build a new surgery, an animal hospital. I still feel like I’m living in the dark ages and banging my head against a brick wall. And now I have the added worry of moving out of my home in a matter of days. Everything in my life so far revolves around my parents’ aspirations for me.’

Allie knew she didn’t have the same frustrations with her own parents, but maybe that was because they weren’t as financially secure as Rory’s parents or as traditional in their views. And they certainly didn’t have more than one house. Money was tight at the pub: some months they barely made a living, but thankfully, due to Heartcross being put on the map over twelve months ago, there’d been an influx of tourists, which had helped to boost the business.