Anita gladly accepted Tess’s offer of a full English breakfast and while Tess got the frying pan on the go, Anita chatted away happily about her visit to her elderly aunt in Bristol yesterday, and how she tried to get to see her every four months or so. Anita was a lecturer in economics, apparently, had never married and lived alone with her three cats, although it sounded to Tess as though she led a busy life, as she was involved with the local amateur dramatics group and a local photography club too.
The aromas of sizzling bacon and sausages permeated the air, so much so that Tess decided she would join Anita for breakfast and sat down with her at the table with both their plates overflowing with mushrooms, tomatoes, hash browns, eggs and beans. There was plenty of brown and white toast too.
It occurred to Tess that this is what she enjoyed most of all: meeting people, learning about their lives and providing good food.
‘I must admit, I do feel a bit guilty about your annexe door. If I hadn’t turned up last night then it might not have happened.’
‘It could have happened at any time so don’t worry about that.’ Tess was quick to reassure her. ‘There must have been a weakness in the hinge for it to come off like that. It’s a good thing in a way because it means I can get it thoroughly checked out and repaired in time for the start of the season next year.’
‘Oh, so it sounds as though I’ve done you a massive favour then,’ she said with a smile, appreciating Tess’s efforts to make her feel better.
After a leisurely breakfast where Anita seemed determined to get her money’s worth by demolishing her fry-up, having a couple of slices of toast and marmalade, cutting up an apple and then popping a pastry in her handbag for later, she looked around reluctantly.
‘Well, I could sit here all morning enjoying your hospitality, but I should make a move. The cats will be wondering where I’ve got to.’
While Anita fetched her few belongings from the bedroom, Tess started tidying up the kitchen and quickly prepared Anita’s bill. That was her second letting under her belt, and while it didn’t go quite as she planned, she considered it a successful visit in the grand scheme of things.
‘That’s very good value,’ said Anita as she settled the bill. Hannah had set her up with a credit-card machine and Tess had held her breath when she’d handed it over for the first time, uncertain of the new technology, but it worked perfectly. ‘I feel I’ve made a new old friend in you; it’s as though I’ve known you forever. I will make a point of staying here when I next visit my aunt. Make a little break of it.’
‘Well, I’ll make sure The Garden Retreat is in perfect working order for you next time.’
As Tess waved Anita off, she felt a sense of pride at having got through that awful night on her own and managing the situation in the best way she could. It might be an inconsequential event for others, but she had always left Charles to sort out the property-management issues around the cottage, and being an old building, there were plenty of them. There was a moment last night when the situation threatened to overwhelm her, where she could have easily given in to the tears that were brewing, or called someone out to help, but she’d quickly dispatched those emotions, pulled up her big-girl pants and told herself that she was more than capable of dealing with it on her own. The sense of satisfaction she felt this morning realising that she was much more adaptable and resourceful than she gave herself credit for was immense.
‘Right, come on, Barney,’ she said brightly. ‘You’ve been a very patient dog. Let’s go walkies.’
Tess didn’t have to venture far into the village to realise that ‘Harold’ had wreaked havoc over several properties. There were upturned wheelie bins, ripped upFor Salesigns, fallen trees and broken branches and leaves everywhere. Her neighbours were already out with brooms and wheelbarrows making a start on the clear-up, their moods cheery and stoical.
Today would be a quick walk around the village which Barney seemed to be enjoying immensely, sniffing out all the new smells blown in by the storm. Tess didn’t really fancy going across to the woods, knowing that many of the trees would have fallen across the paths, creating a hazardous trail. Besides, she wanted to get home to get started on her own big clear-up.
Walking through the gates of Hollyhocks, she was relieved to see Rob’s pick-up parked on the driveway. Hearing voices coming from the back garden, she walked through the gates to find him chatting with Danny and Dilly.
‘Hey, how are you?’ He came across to greet her, wrapping his arms around her and planting a kiss on her lips. ‘You survived then? Sounds like you had quite an eventful night from what Dilly was telling us.’
Dilly gave an apologetic shrug of her shoulders.
‘You could have called me, you know,’ Rob said, bending down to look into her face. ‘I would have come round.’
‘Well, it was late and I wasn’t sure there was anything you’d be able to do in the dark. I would have worried about you driving in those conditions too. I think there are a lot of trees down in the lanes from what I’ve heard.’
‘There are, it’s a bit of a mess out there, but at least hopefully, that’s the worst of it over. Harold has wreaked his havoc and done one,’ he said with a smile. ‘Look, we were on the way to the builder’s merchants anyway. We’ve had a measure up of those fence panels, so we’ll pick some up for you. We can probably come back tonight after work and make a start on fitting them.’
‘Are you sure? You must be really busy today.’
‘We are, but you come first,’ he said, smoothing her hair off her face. ‘Remember, that’s what I’m here for,’ he said with a smile. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll get it sorted and we’ll also see if we can get that door fixed for you.’
‘Thanks, Rob and you, Danny. I really do appreciate your help. Do you have time for a coffee before you go?’
‘That would be great,’ said Rob, rubbing his hands together keenly. ‘We’ve not had one yet this morning.’
In the kitchen, Tess regaled Rob, Danny and Dilly about her eventful evening. ‘Honestly, I did feel sorry for Anita. She was such a lovely lady, but she was running around, asking for buckets, getting soaking wet in the process. It was just fortunate that I had the guest room to offer her.’ Tess took a sip of her coffee. ‘I do wonder if someone somewhere is trying to tell me something: that letting out the annexe isn’t perhaps the best idea. With my first guests, I almost lost my dog, and then my second guest ended up having to decamp to the cottage. What could possibly go wrong with my third set of guests coming over Christmas?’
‘There could be a huge snowstorm and they could get stuck in The Garden Retreat for weeks on end,’ Dilly said not very helpfully, even if it was delivered with a big smile.
‘Please, no! Although Anita’s visit did get me thinking that I could let out the guest room upstairs if that was something I wanted to do during the peak seasons.’
‘That’s not a bad idea,’ said Dilly.
‘Yes, and what you have to remember is that you’re bound to have some teething problems,’ Danny was quick to reassure her. ‘You’re just getting all the issues out of the way now.’
