‘I doubt it, I’m sorry. He’s on holiday and then he’s touring again in Australia. I don’t expect to see him for months.’ Or dust, Pippa thought grimly, given the situation he’d got her into. When she returned to London, she was going to practise saying no to the family every single day, and mean it. One of the messages she’d scanned earlier was from her sister Tilly, who ran a B&B on a Greek island and wanted to know whether Pippa thought Vanessa would manage her PR, and would Pippa mind finding out.
‘Of course, Jonny was a few years younger than me, but I remember him and Bryan running wild. All the girls were in love with them, and they were always getting into scrapes. Then when he brought your mum here, he only had eyes for her.’
‘Bryan?’ Another name Pippa didn’t recognise, and her thoughts caught on Jonny; of him as a boy and growing up in Hartfell. How strange it was, to be meeting those who’d known him back then, before he became a rock star and everyone had heard of him. People here had memories of Jonny, and maybe even her mum, that she didn’t. Their life together had begun in this place and suddenly Pippa felt ambushed by the past coming at her without warning, dragging long-buried thoughts of family to the surface.
‘Bryan Haworth, Gil’s dad. The boys were best friends all their lives, until Bryan died, anyway. Far too young, it was such a tragedy. I don’t think his gran ever got over it.’
Chapter Five
Back at Home Farm, Pippa was relieved that Gil’s Land Rover hadn’t returned so she wouldn’t have to face him again just yet. After the conversation with Daphne and Violet in the shop, she was wondering about doing a little research on the house and her family’s history here. It might help her understand more of her own story and where it fitted in this place. And then there was Gil. Who was his gran and where had he been until now? And even more importantly, why was he back?
Pippa found antibacterial spray under the kitchen sink and wiped down the worktops and cupboards before unloading her bags. She ought to learn more about the vet practice on the property too, and for that she needed to speak with Elaine. She realised, as she put the shopping away, that she’d forgotten to buy coffee. She’d have to and soon; she couldn’t be without it, and she was not going to be beholden to Gil for anything.
But first, Harriet needed breakfast. She filled a bowl with granola and made toast with marmalade, carrying it upstairs. At home she’d usually text Harriet when meals were ready, but her daughter might ignore it in her current mood. And however angry she was with Pippa right now, food could only improve things.
‘Harriet?’ Pippa knocked gently on her bedroom door. ‘I’ve brought you some breakfast.’
A few seconds stretched by before she heard a muffled ‘Come in.’ Opening the door awkwardly with one hand, she pushed it aside to enter, just in time to see Harriet swipe at her face.
‘Are you all right?’ Pippa put the tray down beside the bed. Her question probably hadn’t been the right one. Too direct, because Harriet nodded fiercely as she lunged at the toast. This room was chilly, and Pippa tried not to feel oppressed by the gloom. It was no more attractive than her own, but the furniture was at least a nice set of antique oak.
‘When did I ever eat granola, Mum?’ She scowled and Pippa took in a slow, silent breath as she perched on the end of the bed, ignoring the sting in her heart at such a greeting.
‘On occasions, in an emergency.’ She pasted on a smile, working hard at her patience. ‘And I thought this might qualify as one, given the state of the house and barely any food in it.’
‘Gil’s right,’ Harriet said resentfully. One slice of toast was half gone, and her stare was accusing. ‘You should have told me about the Wi-Fi.’
‘But then you wouldn’t have come. And I didn’t know for sure until we got here.’
‘I might,’ Harriet replied eventually, and Pippa felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe there was still time to salvage something of their adventure. ‘But I want to go home. I’ve got loads of homework to do and I can’t FaceTime Isla or message anyone online.’
‘You can’t stay at home on your own, Harriet, not yet,’ Pippa replied carefully, preparing herself for a fight as the hope faded. ‘And your dad’s away again, he’ll only be back in time for your holiday at the end of the summer.’
‘So? Brooke will be there. She can keep an eye on me. It’s not like I need looking after anymore. Plus, Isla’s around until netball camp and then we’ll be together anyway.’
Pippa’s quiet optimism was swiftly replaced by alarm. She needed to knock that notion on the head right now.
‘I’m sorry but that’s not a feasible option.’ Nick’s current girlfriend, Brooke, was a thirty-three-year-old model who occasionally had to be reminded of Harriet’s own name. Nurturing she was not and right now Pippa felt her daughter needed loving care more than she needed Wi-Fi, whatever Harriet thought. ‘You know Brooke is at home even less than your dad. Besides, I might have a plan about the Wi-Fi. I’m going to have a chat with Elaine, who’s the receptionist at the vets.’ Pippa hoped Harriet was feigning her disinterest as she picked up the second piece of toast. ‘Maybe she can find you a quiet corner where you can hang out, do your homework and keep in touch with Isla and everyone else.’
‘Mmm.’
‘Mmm good or mmm bad?’
‘What if Gil says no?’ Harriet took a bite and swallowed it. ‘It’s his decision, he’s the boss. And you haven’t exactly made a good impression.’
Pippa didn’t enjoy knowing that Harriet must have overheard more of the row with Gil in the kitchen than she’d realised. ‘Well, neither has he,’ she replied briskly. ‘So let’s just see what Elaine says and take it from there.’
Harriet did have a point though, and Pippa really hoped her own standing with Gil wouldn’t count against her when it came to getting Harriet access to the Wi-Fi. He had children of his own, surely he wouldn’t deny her to spite Pippa.
‘So how did you sleep? I didn’t get a chance to ask you earlier.’
‘When you were arguing with Gil, you mean.’ Harriet ceased twisting bedclothes between her fingers and leaned across to slide her empty plate onto the bedside table. ‘Who is he, Mum? Grandad never said a word about a lodger.’
So Jonny and Harriethaddiscussed Hartfell, which was more than he’d done with Pippa. ‘I really don’t know. I had no idea there was someone else in the house either, but he’s moving out later.’ When he had time in between all the life-saving heroics, presumably. ‘At least not having a tenant in the house will make a sale easier.’
‘Where will he go?’
‘I don’t know that either and it’s none of our business anyway. What do you think of your room?’ Pippa decided a swift change of subject away from Gil was opportune.
