скачать книгу бесплатно
‘Where are you going?’
‘My friend Diane’s.’
Anna pushed the minor detail of her friend not even knowing of her plan to the back of her mind. Diane would never turn them away.
‘Where does she live?’
‘London.’
He nodded slowly.
‘I made a mistake coming here.’
A shadow appeared to pass across his features. ‘Anna, I don’t know how to tell you this… What I’ve been trying to say, but badly is…’
She furrowed her brows, interrupting him. ‘Why do you look so serious?’
‘When your aunt died, this house actually rightfully became part of my family’s property again.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Or, at least, that’s the message I was given by my mother. I’m looking into it, but, to be honest, it’s news to me too.’
She stood, unmoving, her mouth slightly gaping. Eventually she spoke. ‘No, I’m afraid there’s a mistake. My aunt owned it through and through.’
‘I’m afraid that, for whatever reason, my father gave your aunt this cottage, but it was with the proviso that we retained ownership of it.’
She gritted her teeth, her heart hammering. ‘Well, I’m sorry, Mr Horatio, but you’re wrong and you’re going to have to leave.’ She stared at him defiantly, her tongue moving fast around her mouth. ‘NOW.’
He nodded and shifted, turning on his heels. ‘Look, I will talk to my mother again. I don’t agree with it, I just want you to know that.’
Anna shook with anger. ‘Get out.’
He nodded, looked at the doormat. ‘You know there’s a letter there for you.’
Anna followed his gaze to the mound of catalogues and unopened mail to her aunt. Sure enough, there was a letter addressed to her. Anna put the glass and bottle unsteadily on the floor and picked it up, frowning.
‘It’s my aunt’s writing,’ she murmured.
Anna ran her forefinger along the breadth of the envelope and pulled out a gold chain with a heart-shaped locket, a letter on cream Manila paper and a notebook. She read quickly, mindlessly caressing the locket.
‘All OK?’ Horatio said eventually.
She looked up, confused. ‘I’m not sure.’
‘Are you sure?’ Horatio furrowed his brows. ‘You’ve gone a bit pale.’
‘Yes, please go,’ she said firmly and moved towards the door, opening it.
‘OK.’ He stood on the doorstep, his face twisting with regret and hurt.
‘It’s just a shock to receive something from my aunt.’ Anna indicated the bundle and the chain. The locket twirled in the glow of the naked bulb.
A throaty rumble built in his throat. ‘Anna,’ he started and, catching her look, shrugged his shoulders. ‘Oh, never mind.’ He gave her a small, hopeful smile. ‘I’ll talk to mother. See what I can do.’
She shut the door and leant against the rough wood. Opening the letter once more, she mumbled aloud her aunt’s short note to her.
‘Dearest Anna, I’m sending this from the hospital. I didn’t tell you about the cancer because I didn’t want to concern you. Please don’t be cross. I’m an old lady who’s had a good innings. It’s time for me to go. By now, you will have arrived at Primrose Cottage. She’s yours. You’re probably thinking of leaving already (I know how much like me you are and don’t take this as a criticism), only I’m asking that you give her a chance. I didn’t have the energy to do much over the last couple of years. She is magical and the children and you will be very happy there.’
Anna paused, biting down on her lips as warm, salty tears coursed down her cheeks. She berated herself for her own selfishness. She should have been there for her.
‘Please stay, do her up with the small amount of money I’ve left you and be happy. In return, I ask you to do me one favour. I’ve been keeping this diary for many years, ever since I moved to Primrose Cottage. I’d like you to read it. I wanted to tell you my story but I was too afraid you would judge me for what I did. The Spencervilles at Ridley Manor will no doubt introduce themselves to you. Just tread carefully. It gives me comfort to think someone will know my secret and, hopefully, forgive me.’
Freddie appeared at her side and hugged her leg. Anna smoothed his soft hair with her hand and read the final part of the letter to herself.
‘Anna, I’m so proud of you. Please wear the necklace (my mother’s) and find your own happiness. You will, I know it. Love, Flo.’
Antonia arrived at her other side and put her small arms around Anna’s waist. ‘I love you two, you know that?’
They nodded and yawned.
‘Right, bedtime.’
‘Not go Dee-Dee?’ Freddie asked, his eyes wide with tiredness.
‘Not tonight. I’m going to get the bedding out of the car and then you’ll sleep upstairs, OK?’
By the time Anna had managed to retrieve the black bags filled with duvets and pillows from the car, Freddie and Antonia were asleep on the sofa. She draped a duvet over them and looked adoringly at her children. They looked like angels. She glanced at the letter, then back at her children, before softly climbing the stairs to see if she could get any reception at the top of the cottage. It was time to ring Diane.
Dee-Dee and the Longest SleepoverKnown to Man (#ulink_260c2cc6-4c85-5e34-a944-a220fa5a9d39)
The conversation with Diane did not go according to plan: somehow (and Anna blamed the one bar of signal and not the fact she had polished off most of the Merlot).
‘Hi, Dee-Dee, me ol’chumster can youzhearmez?’ Diane made some sort of sound at the end of the phone and Anna ploughed on regardless. ‘So, herezthing, thcottageisrubbish.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Wathwonderinifcouldstaywivyou? ThereizamancalledHorathio and he sayth house not mine.’
‘What do you mean? Your aunt left it to you.’
Anna hiccupped. ‘Yesth, I know. But he says not mine so maybe best I come back London.’
Diane sighed. ‘You’re giving up that easily? You were given it in probate so it’s yours.’ She paused. ‘Why don’t I come and stay with you, darling?’
Anna shook her fuggy head. Conversation was not going to plan. ‘No, Dee. Thingisitzhorridhere.’
‘Bet it’s not that bad.’
‘Really, itizth.’
‘Darling, I’ve been thinking I should stay with you until you get on your feet. She paused. ‘I mean, also I spoke to Barry yesterday. He said he could do with a freelance photographer for your column, so, Anna, is it OK if I come and stay?’
‘Yesth?’ Anna fell forward, her head hitting her knees.
‘Great!’
‘Whatzth?’ Alarm rang around Anna’s head. She realised she wasn’t thinking straight.
The line had gone dead and Anna lurched the other way, falling onto the mattress, the low-beamed ceiling shifting unnervingly above her. She thought about the direction her life was taking and nearly vomited.
She did, however, feel a renewed sense of ownership of the cottage. How dare a man, a stranger, tell her his family owned it and that he would effectively be making her homeless? Her aunt would have been mortified and her letter specifically asked that she stay there. She wouldn’t go away that easily.
Anna nodded resolutely and then thought about Diane…
She couldn’t seriously contemplate having mad London girl Diane staying with her when she was… She stopped. Tried to clarify what she was drunkenly saying to herself. OK, bluntly, it went a little bit like this: she could not have Diane come to stay when she was hoping to find some fit earl, lord, farmer (or similar). Was that what she wanted? Or was that the wine talking? She knew she needed to make friends. She knew already that Diane might be a bit much for the country lot, but then, Anna thought, chuckling to herself, maybe Trumpsey Blazey needed a bit of livening up.
Of the dates she had been on in London, very few had moved beyond the solidarity of trying to find a taxi together and then, being so drunk, realising it was probably best, or safer, to just smile goofily and go their separate ways. But even Anna Compton had managed two dates where things had moved at a more normal rate and they had stumbled into a taxi together. However, the first time, she had found there was nothing more sobering than a German babysitter (her name actually was Heidi) standing at the front door, tapping her foot and looking at the both of them like they were five. The second time, when looking for a babysitter, she had opted for a dear friend called Alfie, who’d said he would do her this favour in the name of getting her out of her onesie and into something ‘vaguely more sexy, darling’. What she hadn’t banked on was bringing her date home to find Alfie watching a male-only version of Baywatch produced in Bulgaria.
She squeezed her eyes shut and immediately regretted it. It was one thing being single with two children and getting drunk with a mate. But being single and getting drunk ALONE; that filled her with self-loathing. It hit her then: Diane should come and live with them, if for no other reason than it would be nice to have someone to help her with the twins, help them get settled.
Anna dragged herself off her bed and tiptoed halfway down the stairs to check on the twins. She could hear their gentle snoring and watched Freddie’s face looking suddenly so cherub-like. It was moments like this that made her more determined than ever to make life better for her children.
Yes, she thought, nodding to herself, filled with a renewed sense of purpose. Their new life was going to start tomorrow.
*
Diane arrived bright and early. Too early.
Anna had just about managed to get the children bathed, after which they had eaten the rest of the beef stew (Anna made a mental note that she might actually have to visit a supermarket today). They were now playing happily outside and she walked to the front door and watched them. The scene was something out of a fairy tale. Until she looked closer. Freddie had his sister’s hand and was whizzing her round and round to the tune of ‘Mummy is sick, Mummy is green, Mummy looks like a seasick bean’.
A car older and crankier than her own was chugging its way up the hill and she recognised it in a heartbeat. Diane parked her Citroen Saxo next to the Nissan and clambered out of the car, throwing her arms wide.
‘My darlings,’ she announced, ‘I am here.’
Freddie whooped at the sight of his favourite surrogate auntie and released his sister’s hand mid-spin, causing Antonia to break away and spiral like a spinning top to the ground. Her lower lip started to quiver but, on seeing Diane, she got up directly and ran over with Freddie.
Diane walked up the path, her eyes darting over the cottage, and took Anna in a firm embrace. Freddie and Antonia put their arms around Diane and they stood like that until Diane pulled away and broke the spell.
‘You look awful,’ Diane commented jovially.
‘Thanks,’ Anna said.
‘Mummy is sick, Mummy is green, Mummy looks like a seasick bean,’ Freddie started up again.
‘OK, you two,’ Anna said, wishing they would quiet down an iota: her head was about ready to explode. ‘We’re heading off to Waitrose soon, OK, so don’t get too mucky. Dee-Dee and I are going to have a quick cup of coffee.’
Diane gave herself a whistle-stop tour of the house and, when she returned to the kitchen, smiled. ‘Not quite The Good Life.’
‘I did try and tell you on the phone last night.’
‘Yeah, but it’s got a charm about it.’ She laughed. ‘The outside looks a bit like the end of the world has come.’ She paused. ‘But I like it.’
‘So, you want to stay?’ Anna poured the coffee out.
‘Oh, yes.’ She barked a laugh out. ‘Don’t worry, I’ve still got my flat in London in case I piss you off or cramp your sex life.’
Anna giggled. ‘Please. Don’t make me laugh.’ She clutched her stomach. ‘Drank a bottle of Merlot to myself.’
‘You’ve got a hangover on that? Lightweight.’ Diane wafted her hand dismissively. ‘That’s what I’m here for. To help you with this place and to have fun and… Girlfriend?’ She adopted her slightly strange Bronx meets Welsh accent. ‘Girlfriend, we are gonna have ourselves some fun.’
‘And look after the children.’
‘Yeah, course.’ Diane slurped at her coffee. ‘I mean, I decided to forego my feminism while I’m here.’
‘Can you do that?’ Anna hid behind her mug, stifling a smile.
‘What?’
‘Just stop being a feminist and then pick it up again? Not sure it’s exactly in line with The Female Eunuch and all that.’
‘No, I suppose not.’ Diane appraised her friend. ‘But who could resist a good shag?’
Anna clinked her mug against Diane’s. ‘Hear, hear!’
A knock at the door startled them both. Anna went to see who it was.
‘Hi.’ A man with sandy-coloured hair and the brightest blue eyes Anna had ever seen stood on the doorstep, smiling broadly at her. ‘I wanted to say hello.’ He handed her half a dozen eggs and a zip-locked bag of bacon. ‘And welcome.’
‘Wow, thanks.’ She took them from him and wondered if it was possible to never go to a supermarket again and live off the land for ever more. OK, not the land, but everyone else in the village. ‘That’s really kind.’
‘I’m Richard.’
Anna held out her free hand. ‘Anna.’
His grasp was warm and strong, his hands slightly calloused, and then, as if reading her thoughts, he announced, ‘I own the farm you drove past on your way in. Briars Farm?’
Anna nodded. ‘Yes, I think I saw it.’
Anna flushed under his intense stare and turned her attention to the children, who had come to spy on the stranger. ‘Say hello to Richard. Look, he’s brought us breakfast. Isn’t that kind of him?’
Richard turned to the twins, who nodded shyly. ‘Do you guys want to come and see around the farm some time?’
‘Yeah!’ Freddie loved farms. ‘Can I drive a tractor?’
‘I don’t see why not.’ Richard looked at Anna. ‘Come?’ She nodded. ‘Soon?’ He turned on his heels and walked off. ‘Enjoy your breakfast!’
Anna started to walk back towards the kitchen but spied Diane peeping out of the front window.
Diane grinned. ‘Ding-dong! Now that’s what I’m talking about.’
Anna smiled. ‘He was quite good-looking, wasn’t he?’
Diane rushed up to her and held her hand to Anna’s forehead. ‘Quite good-looking? Quite good-looking? The man’s the finest specimen I have seen for a long time.’ She nodded. ‘A really long time.’ She looked at Anna. ‘Do you think “breakfast” is a euphemism in these parts? Like, I’ll give you eggs and bacon, if you butter my bread.’ She puckered her lips. ‘Delicious.’
‘You are incorrigible,’ Anna said, picking up a cushion off the sofa and throwing it at her.
