‘Er … who is?’
‘Oh, I should have said. Sorry! It’s my brother, Oliver.’ So not a girls’ weekend after all? ‘He gatecrashed,’ she adds, lowering her voice. The sound quality has changed, as if she’s stepped outdoors. ‘He has stuff going on. But it’ll be fine, I promise …’
‘Okay, if you’re sure,’ I start.
‘Absolutely. He’ll be with you in ten minutes so sit tight.’
So I wait as rain spatters my windscreen. And when a Land Rover pulls up I spring out of my car like a dog being released for a walk. ‘Thank you!’ I exclaim, bounding over to the driver’s side window.
Suki’s brother seems to pause before lowering it. It feels like a reprimand; a light tap on the wrist. ‘You must be Oliver? I’m Carly. Honestly, I thought I knew where I was, but then it all went wrong and I lost signal …’
‘No problem,’ he remarks in a tone that says,It actually is.I take in the cool blue eyes behind black-framed spectacles, and the resigned expression. He is regarding me like a beleaguered teacher dispatched to round up an escapee on a school trip.
‘Anyway, sorry,’ I bluster, pushing back my damp hair. ‘And thank you.’
Oliver nods. ‘Let’s get going, shall we?’ The window closes, and I scamper to my car and we set off.
As I follow, Oliver makes no concession for the fact that I don’t know the roads around here. It takes intense focus to keep him in sight as the Land Rover whips aroundcorners and bumps along narrow lanes. By the time he slows down, and a scattering of golden lights comes into view, I have already decided that coming here was lunacy on my part. I only said yes because Frank assumed I wouldn’t come, and Dad was mad about the pies. ‘I’ll show them!’ I decided. Show themwhat, exactly? They’ll barely notice I’ve gone.
Oliver turns into a clearing where several A-framed log cabins are clustered at the edge of the woods. All is quiet and still as we park and climb out. ‘Thank yousomuch,’ I gush again as I lift my bag and the hamper from the back seat.
‘Here, I’ll take that,’ Oliver says, and I hand the hamper to him.
‘Thanks.’ As we make our way towards the cabins I glance at this tall and slim, rather stern and reserved-looking man. It’s hard to reconcile that he and Suki are brother and sister. Physically, there are clear similarities: the fine features, the clear blue eyes and rangy build. But of course there’s no reason why he’d be all bubbly and gregarious, all ‘Let’s have champagne!’ like his sister.
‘What an amazing place,’ I announce.
‘It is, yeah,’ Oliver agrees. The cabins are all uniquely beautiful, each decking area immaculate with potted shrubs and hanging bird feeders. Some are occupied, their lights glowing invitingly. Strings of lamps, placed high up in the trees, bathe the settlement in a pool of golden light. Now the rain has stopped and the heady scent of pines pervades the cool night air.
‘D’you come up here a lot?’ I ask.
‘Not really.’ No further information supplied. He’s probably just arrived, I tell myself. The last thing he wanted was to be dispatched to rescue some woman he doesn’t even know, and then be expected to make small talk. However, walking together in silence feels awkward, so I plough on.
‘So, whereabouts are you from?’
‘Gloucestershire,’ he replies.
‘Oh yes, of course. Suki told me …’
‘But I’m in the process of moving,’ he adds vaguely, and I stop myself from asking where from, and where to. Because clearly, he’s interested only in ferrying me to Suki’s cabin; job done. ‘That’s the one,’ he adds, indicating a cabin set a little away from the others, tucked into the woods.
‘It’s beautiful!’ I gush, and now Suki has appeared on decking strewn with twinkling fairy lights.
‘You made it! Hi!’ The grin lights up her face as she hugs me, and Oliver and I follow her into the cabin.
‘Yes, finally. I’m so sorry about getting lost. And thanks, Oliver,’ I reiterate as he places the hamper on the counter top.
‘Ooh, what’s that?’ Suki asks.
‘Only a few things I brought …’
‘You needn’t have. Youarelovely.’ She unbuckles the hamper’s leather straps and gasps in delight at the selection of wines and cheeses and chocolates as if everything is box-fresh. ‘How lovely! You’re so kind.’
‘Honestly, it’s nothing …’ I look around the cabin’s spacious open-plan living area. A squashy pale grey sofa and comfy chairs, strewn with fluffy sheepskin throws,are arranged around a flickering wood-burning stove. The sleek kitchen has an island unit with chrome stools neatly lined up. At the large window, looking out onto the clearing, a rustic oak table is set for dinner.
‘This is gorgeous,’ I announce.
‘Thank you.’ She beams.
