‘Haven’t seen you do that before.’
‘I found this sketch pad and the pencils in a drawer. I thought you’d put them there.’
Carrie shook her head.
‘Maybe Rita then,’ Jules replied. ‘I used to draw all the time when I was in my teens. I just loved it. Then, when Dad died, I put my pencils and paper away and that was it.’
She held up a delicate drawing of the willow tree.
‘It’s beautiful.’
‘I might see if I can get some watercolour paints tomorrow and then I can put a wash on it.’
‘I told you that creativity can help with stress,’ Carrie said.
‘I’m a nurse. I knew that!’
‘It’s one thing knowing it and another doing it, though, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, it is,’ Jules said. ‘I wonder why we do that? We allow the things we love doing to get pushed to the sidelines when deep down we know how much they can benefit us.’
TEN
They headed up the lane and crossed the road by the church where a sign pointed towards the Longstone. The dappled shade of the holloway was welcome, the high banked sides like an embroidery of moss and roots and ferns. Underfoot the ground was pleasingly uneven, Jules thought. You had to concentrate on each step, but they paused often to study a leaf or a flower or just to absorb the atmosphere.
‘Think how many people have walked up here over the years,’ Jules said.
‘Thousands,’ Carrie replied. ‘All leaving a little bit of themselves.’
‘And hopefully taking something away, too, metaphorically speaking.’
As the holloway levelled out and the path snaked around between the trees, they paused to look down into The Manor gardens where, a way in the distance, Guy was moving some pots around the vegetable patch. As if sensing Carrie’s presence, he looked up and waved. That’s love, Jules thought. That connection which meant he knew she was there, just at that moment.
Further on, as the climb got steeper, Carrie pushed open a gate and they passed out of one part of the woods and into another.
‘Nearly there,’ she said as Jules trailed along behind her.
‘I’m so out of shape,’ Jules said, ruefully. ‘And I’ve no one to blame by myself. Too much chocolate and terrible food.’
‘You’ve been working pretty hard,’ Carrie said. ‘There hasn’t been much time for home cooking and exercise between your shifts.’
‘I had that stupid gym subscription and barely used it. I’m regretting that now.’
‘Having it in the first place?’ Carrie said with a grin. ‘You were never going to get the most out of that. You’re just not the gym type.’
‘It was super expensive, too.’
‘Have you cancelled it?’
‘Can’t. Not until the end of the year. There’s no point worrying about that now, but I could do without that extra money going out of my account. Thank goodness I don’t have a massive mortgage. If Grandad hadn’t left me that bit of money and I hadn’t been sensible and paid off some of it, I’d be in a right pickle.’
She squared her shoulders.
‘What are we waiting for? Let’s get going. I’m not going to get fitter standing here looking at the view, however beautiful it is.’
Carrie grinned and gave a mock salute.
‘Fall into line then, trooper, and follow me!’
