Hair damp but bearing a parcel of fragrant food, Nate cursed as he always did when he forgot to duck. He was always bumping his head on the low beam and moaning about how poky the cottage was. It was small, but it had always been fine for Jenna, cosy on a winter’s night and cool on a hot summer’s day.
She couldn’t tell Nate, but she would miss it when they moved. Though it gave her a warm glow to think she would be able to let it to a couple or small family to build their own memories. Decent rented accommodation was like gold dust around here and Jenna was happy to know she could pass on part of her good fortune.
The chips were as good as ever – perhaps even better now that Jenna knew she probably wouldn’t be tasting them as often.
Afterwards, Nate poured another glass of wine and massaged Jenna’s feet as they rested in his lap.
‘So, want to talk about this tricky day?’
‘Not too much ...’ She was beginning to feel relaxed and mellow. ‘My appraisal went well.’
‘I told you it would. You’re so dedicated. I don’t know how you deal with all these people.’
‘I don’t mind. It can be a bit emotional, though. I’ve had a few welcome events and they can trigger some upsetting memories ...’
‘Hmm,’ said Nate, letting go of Jenna’s feet to check a message on his phone.
‘Then I had to do some more PR on the Kilt Challenge. Sholto Mackenzie issucha big draw. Cam’s even got his ex to do a TV feature.’
Nate’s head jerked up from his phone. ‘Cam’s ex isfamous?’
‘Yes, Carly DiLuca.’
Nate swore in amazement. ‘Is he having you on?’
‘No! And it was years ago, when they were at uni,’ she said, bristling at Nate’s scorn.
‘I bet she won’t leave London to go up to the arse end of Scotland,’ he retorted. ‘I can’t imagine living all the way up there.’
‘We live all the way down here,’ Jenna pointed out, feeling quite annoyed.
‘But it’s civilised here. There’s nothing for bloody miles at John O’Groats. It rains all the time and it’s dark in the winter. Plus, they all live on haggis.’
‘And whisky,’ Jenna said, hearing Cam’s soft Scottish burr sayingwee dramin her head, before shaking herself. ‘There’s a distillery there.’
‘The place has to have some consolations, what with the shitty weather, and the haggis and the long dark nights.’
Jenna laughed, pretending that Nate was joking and very glad that Cam would never hear his beloved home discussed like this.
‘Anyway,’ Nate said, topping up Jenna’s glass before she could refuse. ‘I have some news of my own. I got our Glass House extension past the planners.’
‘What?’ She lifted her feet out of his lap.
‘Yup. Told you our solicitor is a bloody genius. You’ll be eating fish – well, sushi – in the biggest kitchen you’ve ever laid eyes on. Plus, the council has agreed to the swimming pool and garden room. I knew he could get it through, even if he did have to twist a few arms.’
‘I – I thought we’d agreed that we were happy with the revised scheme?’ Without the extension, pool and garden room that had raised so many objections with the locals. It was an amazing house but far bigger and grander than Jenna originally expected, and would definitely stand out, literally looking down on the locals.
‘I never settle for anything, especially not where my own place – our own dream home,’ he corrected, ‘is concerned. Plus, we’re going to need the extra space for all the kids.’
Jenna almost choked on her wine. Children hadn’t been discussed. There might only be one, of course, or none at all, but they were still somewhere on the distant horizon.
She laughed. ‘You’ll be having this brood yourself, will you?’
Nate frowned then raised his glass. ‘Very funny. Though we probably do need to discuss it, because you’ll need to think about when you plan to take a career break, not that you’d need to go back to work after. Unless you wanted to, that is.’ He reached for the bottle while Jenna sat dumbfounded.‘Anyway, the house is all sorted. In fact, I also have another surprise: I called in at the new spa hotel today to see how the renovations were going, and guess what?’
‘I – er – can’t.’ Jenna was still processing the suggestion that she leave her beloved job to bring up a football team of kids.
‘The owner heard we were engaged and offered me a bloody amazing deal on being their first wedding, after we’ve completed the work, which if I say so myself is the absolute dog’s bollocks. Nothing like it in Cornwall in my opinion. Anyway, I snatched her hand off. She offered me a couple of dates in October ...’
