Pete the Plasterer rolled up with his shy apprentice and Phil suggested that Ella take the whole of the smallest room for her group, and she thanked him. She loved the idea of holding regular team meetings here and she was sure Phil would too. She dragged the tables together while Stan fetched their drinks. Pearl arrived with her knitting needles and wool, and Ella was admiring the beautifully patterned bouclé scarf in shades of ivory, cerulean, violet and olive that Pearl was making as a Christmas gift for her daughter-in-law when Max appeared and headed to the bar. Ella went over.
‘You’ve made good time. Are the children still settled with your mum?’
‘I hope so, I haven’t been back to check.’ There was amusement in his eyes, and she was sure her own smile was revealing her pleasure that he was here. ‘What’s this about camper vans made from gingerbread? Lily sent me a photo because she said they were going to eat it and it would be a shame if I didn’t have the chance to see it before it was gone and apparently it was all your idea.’
‘Not eating it all in one go,’ Ella protested, feigning horror but trying not to laugh. ‘I said they ought to make it last, so I’m refusing any responsibility for the consequences.’
‘Thanks. You might feel a bit more responsible if I’m banging on your door in the middle of the night to clear up the vomit.’
She was about to tell Max he’d have to drag her out of bed first, then hastily decided against it. Instead she pointed to where the others were gathered. ‘We’re in there, Phil said we could have the room to ourselves.’
‘Phil?’
‘The landlord.’ Ella tipped her head to one side. ‘Please tell me this isn’t your first visit to the pub, Max.’
‘All right then, I won’t.’
‘But it’s on your doorstep. Haven’t you even had Sunday lunch here or treated Stan to a quick fish and chips?’
Max held up his hands. ‘I know, it’s really bad of me. We usually end up at a farm or animal park when I take the kids out, so may I plead two young children and a lot to do?’
‘You may but it might be good for you to come here sometimes, even just for lunch. It would help Halesmere if you spent more time and money locally, and personal recommendations are always better.’
‘And how does treating Stan come into that?’ Max looked amused as Phil came over and Ella introduced them. They chatted about the pub and the house, and Max ordered another round of drinks for their table, switching the tab to his card instead. ‘You’re not paying for dinner, Ella,’ he said firmly. ‘They’re my staff and my builders.’
‘Yes, but they’re helping me, and they’ve been great. And as for treating Stan, it wouldn’t do you any harm now and again. He’s a gem.’
‘Is that right?’ Their drinks had arrived, and she was nearer. She picked up the tray. ‘Not sure I’d go as far as calling him a gem.’
‘You do know he’s sitting for your mother?’ Ella was weaving through the tables with the tray, Max following her.
‘Don’t tell me, it’s not something I want imprinted on my mind. What goes on in that studio stays in that studio as far as I’m concerned. I try to keep well out of it.’
She reached their table and put the tray down. Stan greeted Max cheerfully and he pulled out a seat, accepting the builders’ taunts about finally getting him in the pub to pay for a round of drinks. Sandy the rector and ceramicist had arrived along with a very attractive young man with short dark hair. Ella went over to say hello and Sandy introduced him as her son Marcus, whom she’d brought along as he was a web designer; they had thought Ella might find his work of interest. Sandy couldn’t stay too long, she explained; their church hall was out of action due to boiler failure and they were holding a parish council in another room of the pub later.
Ella shook Marcus’s hand and they chatted while Phil sorted out drinks for the new arrivals. She learned from Marcus that he was based in Carlisle but, like everyone, it seemed, worked remotely for clients all over the country. He promised to email her the link to his business and she invited him to Halesmere to see the house and studios the next day. Time was of the essence, and he’d said he might have the capacity to take on the work soon. She introduced everyone as menus were passed around and Stan wasn’t the only one going for an early Christmas dinner; Pete’s shy young apprentice decided to join him.
‘Sorry I’m late, I hope I haven’t kept you waiting.’
Ella hadn’t expected to see Ashley, who was hovering at their table, and Max quickly stood up. ‘Of course not. Glad you could make it.’ She took his place and Ella shuffled along, leaving room for Max between them. He passed Ashley a menu. ‘We’ve only just ordered. What would you like to drink?’
‘Oh, a glass of Shiraz please.’ Ashley slid out of her coat, saying hello to everyone and asking the builders about their workload. Sandy introduced her to Marcus and Ella didn’t miss how the younger man’s eyes lit up. She wondered if she should have worn something a little more sophisticated than striped tights with winter boots and a short wool skirt. The waiter returned to take Ashley’s order and Max brought her glass of wine and settled on his new seat on Ella’s left.
She opened her laptop and scanned through her notes. There was a sense of anticipation in the air as they waited for her to outline the reason for gathering them together.
‘Thank you all for coming.’ Standing seemed to make more sense and she pushed her chair back. There was a flutter in her stomach, reminding her of the days when she’d been competing, had relished the shiver of anxiety, had used it to push herself and drive away the doubts. She’d never been afraid of a challenge, and if they could all work together to pull off her ideas, then Ella hoped to leave in the spring knowing she had set something in place upon which Halesmere could flourish.
‘Couldn’t resist a free meal on the boss,’ Pete the Plasterer chirped up. ‘This gonna be a regular thing then?’
‘What, team meetings or free meals?’ she quipped, looking at Max to test his reaction. It could get expensive, and she didn’t want to presume, or blow his budget.
‘Not promising every week, Pete.’ Max glanced around the group. ‘But it might be nice to do it again after Christmas for anyone who wants to join us.’
‘I’m in.’ Stan’s first pint was gone and he clattered the empty glass to the table. Pearl, next to him, was busy knitting the scarf and Ella was astonished by how quickly the long needles clicked together as the garment grew. Pearl wasn’t working from a pattern, Ella saw, and her gaze could roam around the room without her needing to constantly watch her hands.
‘Thank you for giving up your time, free dinner notwithstanding. I really appreciate it.’ Ella grinned at Pete, and he gave her a wink. ‘I’d love to run you through Halesmere’s potential for the future and how we might work together to create exceptional experiences for guests.’
She sensed the silence becoming more thoughtful as she began with the idea of running the house as a retreat alongside artists and creatives who would be based in the studios. She spoke of the possibility of having an artist living in the flat and of using the barn for locals and visitors alike, offering craft mornings, exhibitions and maybe even church events, as their hall was currently unfit for use. Sandy gave her a surprised and appreciative beam, and Pearl was nodding as she knitted.
