‘Sorry to interrupt, here’s the book you asked for,’ I call out when I get closer and I can’t help beaming with happiness to see Izaak’s flushed pink cheeks and the slightly dazed loved-up look these two are sharing.
‘Jude! Come and meet Leonid.’
I shake hands with the blue-eyed stranger who has the most adorably gappy front teeth, and I stand expectantly, trying not to rock on my heels with anticipation. ‘And Leonid is… visiting?’
‘He’s my boyfriend,’ Izaak beams back.
‘You are Jude with the books?’ Leonid asks and I can hearDr Zhivagoand Tolstoy in the melody of his accent.
‘She is,’ Izaak tells him, and I’m surprised to find Leonid delivering an effusive double kiss on my cheeks which makes me grip the gingerbread tubs tightly while Izaak makes a protective grab for them.
‘Put those down… ah, what a nice edition,’ Izaak says, spotting the book as he sets the cookies safely upon the ledge beneath the open booth window.
‘Love songs and poems,’ I grin, looking expectantly between them. Leonid’s looking at the book with wide eyes too.
‘Thank you, Jude,’ Leonid says. ‘Izaak, you don’t have to buy me more books now I’m here.’
‘All the books you were requesting? They were for Leonid?’ I say.
Leonid answers first. ‘We have been apart for a long time, and at night we read to each other over Skype. Izaak in English or Russian, and I would read in Polish. That way we improve our language skills and we don’t get so lonely.’ Leonid accepts theTreasuryfrom Izaak and they exchange soft smiles.
‘You’ve known each other for a long time?’ I’m fizzing with happiness, thinking how romantic this all sounds and how quiet Izaak had been about Leonid’s existence – mind you, I never asked him if he was seeing anyone.
Izaak tells the story. ‘We met when Leonid visited Clove Lore with his university colleagues – they were touring the gardens of the south west and came here to see the camellias – and we spent a few days together here before he had to leave. That was two years ago, we haven’t met in person since.’
‘Until now,’ I say, most definitely misty-eyed again.
Leonid takes over. ‘I flew in on Wednesday. I am a botanist in Russia, but I lost my job when I stood in a protest outside my university one day. I always try to be discreet but that day I couldn’t help myself. I picked up a flag and shouted with my students. The police came. I wasn’t arrested but the university authorities found out and somehow my landlord heard too.’ Leonid smiles grimly.
I already know what kind of protest he means before Izaak clarifies it was an LGBT rights demonstration of only ten or so brave students. I’m winded by the thought of their selflessness and vulnerability, and by the steadfast look behind both men’s eyes.
‘Leonid’s been trying to get a work visa for a long time so he can join me here,’ Izaak adds.
‘A long time,’ Leonid echoes and the pair gaze at each other once more.
‘Thank God for Minty,’ Izaak adds.
‘Minty? What’s she got to do with it?’ I say.
‘She asked about the books I was buying – my old favourites from when I was learning English as a teenager, by the way – books I wanted to share with Leonid. I told her about Leonid’s situation and she worked hard to create a job for him here. It took a long time and we had to wait for the paperwork but… meet the estate’s new camellia specialist. He can stay permanently as long as he’s at the estate.’
‘Minty did this?’ I say again, flummoxed. ‘Minty?’ Somehow I can’t imagine her stepping in to help these two reunite. They laugh at my incredulity.
‘You’d be surprised how kind she can be,’ Izaak smiles. ‘She’s a true romantic, unlike Mrs Crocombe. I didn’t tell her about us. The villagers can lose all their bets about me too. Serves them right for making assumptions.’
Smiling, I shake my head in amazement. ‘So you’re staying, for good?’
‘Hopefully,’ Leonid nods, reaching an arm around Izaak’s waist and it’s only now I see the tentativeness and the newness of their bond. It makes me smile and it makes my heart crack a little at the sight of them, together again after months of patient waiting.
I’ve been missing Elliot for less than a week but it strikes me, if somehow itcouldall come right in the end, like Leonid and Izaak, I too would wait years for him. What a pity he clearly didn’t feel the same way. I try not to sigh in front of them.
‘Areyou a camellia expert?’ I say. My voice is strained but I’m trying to keep smiling.
‘I will be,’ Leonid replies, and the pair lean their heads together contentedly, still smiling down at me.
That’s when I remember what I’m supposed to be doing and I start flustering, grabbing the Tupperware tubs again.
‘Oh my goodness,Minty! I have to get these cookies to her.’ I lift the lid on the top box and quickly offer the lovers a gingerbread.
