‘You’re very welcome. It’s nice to meet you at last. Carrie talks about you such a lot. Just sorry that it’s not under happier circumstances.’
Jules swallowed and nodded.
‘Anyway,’ he continued, ‘I hope everything’s okay for you. Rita’s fantastic, of course, and now Carrie’s on board, too. Well, the place should be perfect, but everyone’s different and there’s bound to be the odd thing you need that we’ve forgotten to cater for or something that goes a bit awry.’
‘No, everythingisperfect. It’s just so welcoming and peaceful and having Carrie here last night was an extra comfort. I’m sorry to drag her away from you.’
‘Don’t apologise. I wouldn’t have expected her to do any differently.’ He glanced through the sitting room door. ‘Is she around?’
‘Oh, she’s just wandered up to the gardens to find you.’
‘We must have missed each other. I came the back way because I was working in the woods over to the right.’ He checked his watch. ‘Do you mind if I wait until she gets back? There’s no point sending a message. It probably won’t come through until much later, if at all.’
Jules wondered if he registered the ridiculous alarm she felt because he then slapped his thigh and called Wilbur to his side.
‘I’ve got a few things to do in the garden in the meantime. Carrie won’t be long and then I’ll leave you in peace.’
And with a reassuring smile he strode outside and headed towards the little shed to the right of the weeping willow. Jules watched from the window as he extricated a few tools and strolled over to the rockery, dropping on to his hands and knees in order to fork through the soil. She should have at least offered him a tea. This was his house, for goodness’ sake, and she was staying in it for free when he could be getting a good income in peak season. What on earth must he think of her? She was justpouring some milk into a small jug and setting it on a tray next to a steaming mug when Carrie burst back into the kitchen.
‘Is Guy here?’ she asked.
‘In the garden,’ Jules replied. ‘I’m just making him a drink.’
‘Oh, that’s nice. I bumped into The Major who said that Guy was heading here to find me and then we got chatting or I’d have been back sooner. Thought I might have missed him again.’
‘Nope, he’s still here, waiting for you.’
Jules watched enviously as Carrie’s eyes lit up when she looked out of the window towards where Guy was carefully pruning a small plant.
‘What do you think?’ she asked. ‘Do you like him?’
She placed her palms together as if in prayer.
‘Please say you like him!’
‘We’ve barely met,’ Jules said and then, seeing the disappointment cloud Carrie’s features, ‘but yes, he seems lovely.’
‘Is there enough tea in that pot for me?’ Carrie asked. ‘We can take it into the garden and you can get to know him better.’
‘It’s you he wants to see, not me,’ Jules said, pouring an extra mug and handing the tray to Carrie. ‘Besides, I’m not up to small talk at the moment. There’ll be plenty of time for us to bond, I’m sure.’
She didn’t like to add that she really couldn’t bear to be around other people’s happiness right now.
People said that happiness was infectious, but that wasn’t always true. If you were feeling in the depths of despair, seeing other people’s joy could make you feel even worse. She felt churlish and small-minded and while deep down she really was pleased for Carrie she just didn’t need happiness shoved in her face, however unintentionally. She hoped to God that Carrie didn’t ask him to stay for supper.
‘I’ve booked us in,’ Carrie said, later, after Guy had finally gone.
‘To what?’ Jules asked, panic immediately forming a clenched ball in her stomach.
‘A day course at The Pottery.’
Jules stared at her in disbelief. How could she have done this?
‘Why?’
Carrie came over and placed her hands on Jules’s shoulders.
‘Because I think it will do you good. Take you out of yourself as my grandma used to say.’
