‘Neither’s Harriet. She thinks it’ll be over by Christmas.’
‘I’m not sure your daughter hasn’t got more sense when it comes to relationships than the rest of us put together. Even if she is only fourteen.’
‘Hmm.’ Pippa took another mouthful of beer, wondering why everything seemed to be running out of her control. Even Gil was being a bit nicer to her, although she had pretty much flashed her breasts at him in the wet T-shirt, which had probably helped. She wouldn’t be doing that again, even if he did go back to treating her as an enemy out to ruin his business and probably his life.
‘Hey, are you even listening? You were miles away.’ Raf stretched out a leg and shoved hers with his foot.
‘Sorry,’ she replied hastily, hoping he couldn’t read her mind as well as he once had.
‘Thinking about the hot vet?’ he enquired, and she huffed out a laugh.
‘No. Maybe. What were you saying?’
‘I was asking when you last saw Cassie.’
‘A few days before we came up here. Why?’
‘No reason.’ Raf leaned forward to place his empty glass on the table. ‘Just wondered how she is, that’s all.’
‘When did you last see her?’
‘After I got back from Melbourne, before I went to the island with Lina. Cassie invited me for lunch. I wanted to see Rory and Isla, check in with them. And Cassie, of course.’
‘I know, she told me. She said how lovely it was of you to make the time and Isla and Rory were so excited you made it.’
‘Do you think she’s all right? I mean, I know she can’t be, not after losing Ewan, but I worry about them.’
‘I think she’s as okay as she can be right now.’ Pippa got up to give Raf a hug, suddenly needing to hold him close. ‘Everyone who loves and understands her and the children is priceless right now.’
Chapter Fourteen
Sunday morning was a lazy one, with Raf sleeping in and Pippa cooking breakfast before a car arrived to collect him for the return trip back to London. Harriet had already said her goodbyes after introducing him to Posy, and it seemed the pony was as keen on Raf as he was on her. Posy had flattened her ears and backed away, and Harriet hadn’t been able to contain her laughter as she assured her uncle that Posy probably thought he was another vet and about to inject her.
He held Pippa close as they hugged goodbye, promising to look after himself and come and stay just as soon as the tour was over in November. Harriet and Alfie were meeting some of his friends on a farm to practise calf-handling skills, and she rolled her eyes at Pippa’s instruction to be very careful and wash her hands afterwards.
Pippa couldn’t settle to sketching in the garden, not with Gil power washing his Land Rover in the yard. The noise and the sight of him without a T-shirt was too distracting, so she shut herself indoors with a book instead. The house felt heavy with the weight of history all around, but she wouldn’t go searching, not after last time, when he’d discovered her with the photograph album and had taken it away.
The afternoon sidled into evening and she ate alone, leaving a pasta dish ready for Harriet to heat up when she returned. She’d read Rose’s newsletter, learning that her brother James bred highly prized pedigree Shorthorn cattle and ran a large flock of Rough Fell sheep. He and Rose were third-generation farmers and from what she’d seen of Alfie so far, it looked highly likely he would be the fourth. He had the look of a farmer about him, a sense that the landscape was bred into him every bit as much as the city was a part of Harriet.
Pippa was finding new pleasure in being up early to run most mornings and then she’d settle in the garden with a coffee and her sketchpad before she went to the vets, hand flying over the page as she captured the views around her. A dahlia just coming into flower, a robin perched on a branch and a sheep staring and wary, poised for signs of danger.
Out there, she didn’t have to think about decisions concerning the house and she was loving working so freely, with no pressure or expectation on the results. She didn’t do it often enough at home, where there always seemed some task she must accomplish, either for work or Harriet. Even her career and teaching students didn’t provide quite the thrill it once had. When she’d spotted a job in a gallery a couple of months ago, she’d talked herself out of having a go in favour of sticking with what she knew.
Tilly was still pressing her for contact with the social media influencer and Pippa had given in, sending a cheery DM, and putting the two women in touch. She’d also agreed to Phoebe using the house for a shoot and had booked the caterer as requested.
On Tuesday evening she decided on impulse to accept Rose’s invitation for an early walk. She was enjoying getting to know her and it would make a change from measuring the miles on her Fitbit. The next morning Pippa headed into the village in her running gear; she hadn’t got anything better for walking the fells. Dorothy shot past on the quad bike, a couple of sheep in the trailer and the terrier on her lap. She raised a hand, which Pippa took to be an improvement in their relationship as Dorothy had actually acknowledged her presence. Despite the gathering clouds threatening rain, she felt her mind easing, a sense of problems unravelling and slowing her feet.
‘Pippa, hi, so glad you could make it.’ Outside the pub Rose stepped forward to greet her. ‘Everyone, this is Pippa, who’s staying at Home Farm. Pippa, this is my neighbour Audrey, who was a GP in town until she retired and is now a volunteer ranger with the National Park Authority. Maryam farms down the road from us and in her spare time creates the most gorgeous handmade chocolates. Hazel here has a cottage in the village and works up at the Hall for the family. Occasionally we have one or two more, but this is the core, we’re usually the ones out in all weathers. And don’t worry about remembering names, you must meet loads of people.’
‘Not as many as you might think. Thank you for welcoming me to your group, it’s very kind.’ Pippa was smiling at each woman in turn, trying to lock in those details and attribute them to the right person. Audrey looked to be the oldest, with Hazel and Maryam somewhere in the middle.
‘Mostly I’m the mum of a teenage daughter, and an art teacher.’ Pippa pushed away thoughts of the sketches she’d done and the pleasure they’d brought since she’d arrived; they were only for her, and no one would ever see them. ‘It’s my dad who loves to travel and meet people. My life is pretty quiet compared to his.’
‘Harriet’s delightful, she’s been spending time with Alfie. Haven’t they made plans for tonight, Pippa? I think they’re going bowling with Young Farmers’. There’s a minibus taking them into town.’
‘I think so.’ Pippa smiled brightly, hoping it wasn’t obvious that Harriet hadn’t mentioned it yet, or asked if it was okay for her to go out with a group of people Pippa had never met. She would have to catch her before Harriet disappeared to Dorothy’s, probably for the rest of the day.
‘So this morning we’re going to a waterfall, it’s about a mile and a half each way and a decent climb. We usually gather there for a swim or a chat, or even just to sit in silence.’ Rain was beginning to drizzle, and Rose zipped up her coat. ‘Feel free to take part or sit as quietly as you like. No expectation.’
