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She stepped back, reminding herself this was not the time or the place. ‘Doris’ll be marching in any moment. It’s not right. And, I’ve got far too much to do. Go.’ But she was grinning.
‘Okay, okay, I know where I’m not wanted. I should have let them all turn up on you without warning.’
He headed for the swing door.
‘Thanks,’ she finished.
He gave her a wink as he exited.
They’d been married for over three years now, meeting at her first ever interview for the lease on the Claverham Castle teashop. He was the estate manager, tall, with dark, slightly floppy-fringed hair – he had it cut a little shorter nowadays – and she was a rather naïve twenty-six-year-old, coming straight from her uninspiring insurance job in the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, armed only with her love of baking, her Nanna’s cookbook, and her teashop dream. Nanna’s slightly charred Be-Ro Recipe book still held pride of place on a shelf in the teashop’s kitchen – that was another story.
Now, five years on, her husband was still as affectionate as ever, probably more so. Love and trust, and tenderness, having grown between them. But at hectic times like this, she really had to focus on running the teashop. They would catch up later, back in their castle apartment, and hopefully they might carry on where they left off.
The afternoon flew by, in a flurry of making vanilla and chocolate frosting for the spare cupcakes (yay – she’d had some in the freezer!). She also found an extra batch of choc-chip shortbread in a tub in the store cupboard, and after rearranging the remaining cakes and biscuits in the counter display of the teashop, it looked a pretty good selection.
Irene (the newest addition to the teashop team and Ellie’s wonderful, sixty-something, baking assistant), Doris (waitress, gossip-lover, difficult at times, yet with a heart of gold) and Lauren (a lovely girl from the village who helped on weekends and holidays) were in full swing too.
Serving fifty additional people in a teashop that was nearly full as it was, was a challenge. Luckily, they had some extra tables outside in the courtyard, and as it was a sunny day that worked well, but it meant even more to-ing and fro-ing for the waitresses. The coffee machine was spluttering and frothing, very much on overdrive but still sending out those gorgeous, rich aromas. The cakes and scones were plated up – the lemon drizzle proving to be a hit.
Ellie’s feet were sore, her back was aching. It was nearly four-thirty, and they normally closed around now. But there were still several stragglers, sat chatting and sipping their drinks like they hadn’t a care in the world. And, that was fine. Let them enjoy their trip out, and their treat at the end of their castle tour, that’s what it was all about. But boy, she’d be looking forward to soaking in a deep, bubbly bath tonight.
They were wrapping up for the day, it had just gone five-twenty, well past their normal closing time, and one remaining middle-aged couple were still lingering over a pot of tea they’d been sharing for the best part of an hour.
Ellie was behind the counter restacking the crockery and cutlery from the dishwasher tray, ready for the next day. She felt that telling nag of period pain, along with a dull ache of disappointment.
Oh no, not this. Not again.
It was early days, she knew that. She and Joe had been trying for a baby for five months now, but she couldn’t help but get excited this time; she’d been four days late, and her hopes had soared. She’d already planned to get a pregnancy test on her next day off, and had pictured herself telling Joe the wonderful news.
Bloody hell.
Doris was clearing up around the couple who still remained seated, chattering away, oblivious to the time. The waitress made herself busy wiping down all the other tables, encircling theirs, but to no avail. Then, she started with the broom, sweeping loudly in their direction. Tact was not her thing. Ellie couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
‘Doris, I just need to nip out a minute. Are you okay to stay on a little while?’
‘No problem,’ she announced noisily. ‘We’ll not be long now, anyhow.’ Doris smiled across at the couple, stirring them from their comfortable reverie. ‘Everything all right?’ she asked them, the message as clear as if she had come straight out and told them to leave. How did she do it? Ellie had tried her best with training Doris in customer service over the years, but there were some elements of her waitress’s nature that just couldn’t be curbed. And in a strange way, Ellie had grown fond of them.
Ellie traipsed off to the ladies. Sure enough, the telltale not-pregnant-at-all bloodstain was there. Bloody hell.
It was okay, she reminded herself, as she washed her hands at the sink, all early days stuff. Her face looked pale in the mirror, tired. No wonder, after the hectic day she’d had. Her thick blonde hair was tied back in its work-style ponytail. She sighed at her reflection. It was just one of those things. After all, she’d read only recently that most couples took up to six months to conceive. She’d just hoped, hadn’t she? She’d been so excited at the thought of telling Joe. They both felt so ready for a family, to move on to this next exciting phase of their lives together, they had talked about it so much of late.
She had extra help at the teashop now with her fabulous assistant Irene, who made the most wonderful cakes and quiches. Deana was also getting on well, helping her with all the wedding bookings they had been taking. It seemed like a good time for her and Joe to plan for their family. She’d keep up her work, of course, the teashop and the castle were so much more than a job, they had a huge place in her heart and life, but she’d take a step back, and allow the team to help some more.
Ellie loved doing the wedding coordinating – making a couple’s wedding day as special and unique as she could for them. The weddings were a fairly new venture for the castle that Ellie and Joe had developed in the last few years. The castle was now growing a good reputation as an up-and-coming wedding venue, being one of the most beautiful locations in the area. A stunning old stone castle, surrounded by formal gardens, small lakes, and the most beautiful rolling countryside.
If anything did happen baby-wise, Ellie planned to stay on and carry on working, doing less hours naturally, and with some childcare help she’d still keep her hand in with everything. It wasn’t as though she lived far away – just one floor up in the West Wing in Joe’s original suite of rooms!
Anyhow, she stopped her daydreaming, it wasn’t to be, not this time. Despite the sinking feeling of disappointment, she knew she’d have to just keep her chin up and keep going. They could wait, she told herself. They’d have to wait.
She dried her hands on a paper towel, and headed back to the teashop.
Sure enough, the middle-aged couple had disappeared and Doris was mopping the tearoom floor.
‘Thanks Doris, I’ll take over here.’
‘You sure, pet?’
‘Yes, get yourself away. You’re running a bit over time as it is.’
‘Okay, thanks then, Ellie. See you in the morning.’
‘See you, Doris.’
All was quiet. She looked around the teashop, Ellie’s Teashop in the Castle, and felt a sense of pride. She’d really made a go of it. It was looking lovely, with a little late-afternoon glow of sunshine coming in through the leaded windows. She’d kept the vintage-flowered oilcloths, though she was on her second set now. And the tables were set with the posy jars she’d originally bought from Wendy’s flower shop, in the nearby town of Kirkton. Today, they were full of pretty lilac and pink sweet peas, that Colin had let her snip from the walled gardens as they were in abundance. They smelt absolutely gorgeous.
She had kept some of the handmade bunting from her own wedding day and swooped it around the old stone walls. The log fire was burning; come summer or winter it was always lit, keeping the chill off. It really was such a cosy, pretty spot. Just the place to while away an hour with a cup of tea and a slice of Victoria Sponge or chocolate cake, or whatever might take your fancy.
The door swung open. ‘Nearly done?’ Joe’s dark hair and smiling face appeared. That smile that still melted her heart.
‘Yes, just give me five minutes.’
‘Do you fancy a walk out? It’s such a lovely evening?’ he asked.
‘Yeah, okay. Sounds good.’ That might be just what she needed. A nice stroll and some fresh air. It had been a tricky day to say the least.
‘We could take an evening picnic? It’s still warm out there.’
Even better. ‘I’ll pack up a few of the leftovers. There’re some slices of Irene’s quiche left – a bacon, leek and mushroom today. It looks scrummy.’
‘Any lemon drizzle going spare?’
‘Yes, just a couple of slices, I think. You’re as bad as Derek and Malcolm. I think you’ve all got a lemon drizzle fetish.’
‘Absolutely.’ He gave Ellie his cheeky look that always made her smile. ‘You know I’ll do anything for a slice of your lemon drizzle.’ With that, he left the tearooms, turning at the last to give her a cute wink. ‘See you upstairs shortly, then.’
Despite the challenges of the day, she felt a little better.
The valley stretched out below them, in late-summer shades of green and gold; rectangular crop fields patterning the landscape, a tractor trundling in the distance, sheep and cattle grazing. The purple-tinged Cheviot Hills of Northumberland rose majestically on the horizon. And looking down below them, they could just make out the stone turrets and crenulations of the rooftops of Claverham Castle, there at the base of the hill they had just climbed, nestled in the valley and sheltered by a host of centuries-old trees.
‘You seem a bit quiet, Ellie. All okay?’
‘Yeah.’
She nestled in beside him, the pair of them sat with their backs against a limestone rock. Ellie remembered when they had first looked out at that stunning view together, sharing apples, and their first kiss.
‘Joe … it still hasn’t happened.’ Her voice was small.
He looked at her quizzically.
‘Not this month, anyhow.’ Ellie couldn’t hide the disappointment in her tone.
‘Oh.’
‘Sorry,’ she whispered.
‘Hey.’ He tightened his arm, which was already around her. ‘No need to be sorry. It’s just one of those things … It’ll happen soon enough, you’ll see.’
‘Hope so.’
‘And … I’m quite enjoying practising.’ He gave her another of his cheeky looks.
For a second his comment seemed a touch callous, but she realized he was just trying to cheer her up. She was probably being hypersensitive. Her emotions felt like bare wires at the moment.
‘Yes, that bit is quite fun.’ She tried to join in the lighter tone of the conversation. But already it had changed for her, she knew. Sex, had moved to something more. Something wonderful that might produce a child. A child with Joe. And that yearning had grown in her.
‘Come on, don’t worry. It’s really early days yet. We’ll have a whole tribe of them soon enough. And then you’ll be desperate for five minutes peace. And hey …’ he looked more serious then, reached up to touch her cheek, ‘whatever happens, we’ll always have us.’
‘I know, I know. I’m just being silly.’
He gave her a little squeeze. ‘No, you’re not. You just really want to be a mum. And you’ll be a great one, I know it. And, I can’t wait to be a dad, too. But maybe we’re just going to have to wait a bit longer, by the looks of it.’
Life was good, Ellie realized that. They should just be enjoying the here and now. She had so much to be thankful for. Being married to Joe was just wonderful. She loved him as much as the day she had fallen for him nearly five years ago, probably even more so. And life in the castle was working out great. The teashop kept her busy, as well as all the wedding coordinating. There were the usual ups and downs, of course. A huge part of her dreams had already come true. But a child, Joe’s child, would make it all the more special.
Ellie leaned into him, let her head rest against his chest. She felt the rhythm of her heart slow to the strength of his, and closed her eyes for a few seconds.
2 (#u1b319481-55ae-553e-9c12-fcb00b411bb7)
‘Hi Ellie, it’s Lucy.’
Just four words, but there was something in her tone, seemingly flat at first but then that lilt of panic, that made Ellie’s heart freeze. It was the day after Bank Holiday, Ellie was back in the teashop kitchens, preparing salad, ready for the lunch session. She’d just picked up the phone.
‘Lucy, is everything okay?’ This was not how a bride-to-be, just two weeks from her wedding day, should sound.
‘No.’
Oh, no. ‘What’s happened?’
‘It’s Daniel … We-we’re going to have to cancel the wedding.’
But they had seemed so well suited. Ellie had got on really well with both of them during the wedding planning. They had come to feel like friends. Was it just pre-wedding jitters?
‘He’s had an accident, Ellie. Come off his motorbike … he’s in a real mess.’ A sob echoed down the line.
‘Oh, no. Is he going to be all right?’
There was a little hiccuppy noise, ‘I think so … but it’s not good. He’s broken that many bones, his left leg in I don’t know how many places, his ankle, collarbone, wrist and … he’s lost the feeling in his legs.’
‘Oh Lucy, how awful. I’m so sorry.’
‘But the wedding … We’re going to have to let you and the castle down. There’s no way it can happen now. And, there’s the florist, and the band booked, and you’ve probably made the cake already, and all the catering …’
‘Hey, that’s the least of your worries right now. What’s important here is Daniel’s recovery. We can sort out all that other stuff. Just leave it to me to contact the florist and the band.’
Yes, some food might be wasted, Ellie realized. They had hired caterers for the main wedding meal, but she was catering for the arrival drinks and canapes, and breakfast for the overnight guests. Her special-recipe fruit cake was already made, ready to be iced, but that could be used up somehow.
Dear God, wasn’t life precarious. They were such a lovely couple, in their early thirties. They seemed very much in love, what a terrible thing to happen. Ellie felt a little queasy. She so hoped Daniel would be okay. But, if he’d lost the use of his legs, how bloody frightening.
Ellie remembered vividly when they’d first turned up to view the castle as a potential wedding venue, with some friends on a trio of Harley Davidson motorbikes roaring up the driveway. Yes, she should know better than to judge by appearances, but she couldn’t help but imagine some kind of Hell’s Angels types as they’d rolled up in their black-leather biker jackets. Then they’d taken off their helmets, given her broad smiles, shook hands, and had been so warm and friendly. They had clicked and chatted easily as she’d shown them around, and they had just loved the quirkiness and character of the castle as a wedding venue.
‘Honestly, don’t worry about us, Lucy,’ Ellie took up, ‘You just concentrate on getting Daniel better. Then you can make a decision about the wedding at a later date. Let’s think of it in terms of a delay, that’s all. Just let me know in time, and we can rebook. Okay?’
‘Okay … thank you. Can you hang on to the deposit then, and I’ll keep you posted.’
Bless her, she sounded in shock.
‘Of course, if that’s what you’d like. And, I’ll go ahead and advise the other parties involved, as far as postponing the booking here. Don’t worry, I’ll sort all that out.’
‘Thank you so much.’
‘Is there anything else we can do to help at all, Lucy?’
‘Not really, I don’t think so. Dan’s still in the hospital for now. The Royal Victoria in Newcastle.’
‘Okay, well send him our best wishes … Which ward?’
She’d send a card, maybe some of her homemade fudge – he’d loved it when she’d served it with their coffee as they were chatting through their wedding plans. It wasn’t a lot, but it might just help to cheer him up. It was hard to know quite what to do to help, in such circumstances.
‘Ward Seven. I’m popping to see him again this afternoon, I’ll say you’re asking after him …’ There was a long pause. ‘It was a lorry, you know, that did it. Cut across on the wrong side of the road on a bend, just took him right out.’
‘Oh God, how awful … I’m so, so sorry, Lucy.’
‘At least he’s still here. He might be all bashed up, but oh God, to think …’
It was almost too dreadful to go there, to let your mind take that next step.
‘Take care now, both of you. And don’t go worrying about anything here. It’s just one of those things. It’s fine, we can rebook whenever you are ready. Just let us know how things go for you both.’
‘Thank you … for being so understanding.’
‘Hey, it’s no problem. He’ll get through this, Lucy. I’m sure he will, my lovely. After all, he’s got a wedding to get to.’
Ellie was stood in a bit of a daze after putting the receiver of the landline down. Deana had put the call through to her in the teashop kitchen. Joe came in, found her stood stock-still, staring at the work surface where she’d been slicing tomatoes and cucumber.
‘You okay?’
‘Oh … I’ve just had a bit of a shock. You know Daniel and Lucy, the next wedding booking?’
‘Uh-huh.’
