Anna’s initial instinct was to say no but Leo forestalled her.
‘What else were you going to do? I’ve never been mushroom picking.’
She considered for a moment and looked out of the window at the crisp autumn sky, blue, dotted with the odd wispy cloud, lit with low golden sunshine. The truth was, aside from washing and changing the sheets on her bed, she had no real plans.
‘I don’t know anything about mushrooms,’ she said.
‘You don’t need to worry about that. Apparently Michaela’s an expert. We can learn from her.’
* * *
Half an hour later, Leo was waiting by the front door, looking like a poster boy for the rugged outdoor life in blue cargo pants, a pale blue Henley stretched across his chest – had it always been that broad? – and a navy beanie hat crammed onto his blonde curls, which made them fan out around his face like a naughty cherub. He was talking to Ludmila, who as always looked immaculate. Today she wore an elegant full-length cashmere coat in a rich burgundy that matched her lipstick.
Anna touched her own hair self-consciously. She rather liked its slightly longer length now, and feeling feminine for a change. A memory trickled into her brain of being taken to the hairdresser by her aunt. ‘She needs to have it cut short,’ she’d told the hairdresser. ‘I can’t be doing with the tangles. And I don’t do braids.’ Anna had cried when she’d seen her hair on the floor. ‘Don’t be silly, Anna, darling,’ her aunt had said. ‘Short hair is much more practical.’ But to Anna it was a symbol of all she’d lost. Her mother had brushed it for her, plaiting it into an elaborate fishtail each morning when she was at primary school.
Tears pricked at her eyes at the recollection.
‘I love your hair slightly longer,’ said Leo with that unerring ability of his to read her mind.
‘Thanks.’ The word rasped hoarsely from her constricted throat.
‘You okay?’ asked Leo, and it struck her yet again how he easily he was able to tune in to her emotions.
‘Mmm,’ she murmured, repressing her feelings. Being practical. ‘Fine.’
Of course, he shot her a sceptical glance and, of course, he didn’t say anything as he ushered her out of the door. That was Leo all over, always empathetic – but was that to her or everyone?
‘I hear you are going to pick mushrooms,’ said Ludmila. ‘I hope your trip will be fruitful.’ She looked at Anna. ‘You look lighter, my dear.’
‘Lighter?’ Anna stared at her.
Ludmila gave her an enigmatic smile. ‘Lighter in spirit. When I saw you last, I felt you were weighed down.’
Anna blinked at her, wondering what Michaela had been telling her. Lighter? How was one lighter?’
‘You’ve lost some of the load you were carrying. It suits you.’
Leo raised an eyebrow at Anna and Ludmila turned to him. ‘And you, perhaps you should think about picking up a load now and then. You can be too light. Sometimes you need to take things seriously.’
With that she left, her beautiful wool coat flaring behind her as she disappeared through the doors.
Jan, jangling his car keys, passed her in the doorway. He caught Leo’s eye. ‘She’s very wise, that one.’
Anna and Leo exchanged a dubious glance. Anna was left feeling a little unsettled by Ludmila’s words.
* * *
‘Perfect conditions forhoubar,’ said Michaela, who was clutching a wicker basket as she almost bounced out of the car into the chilly morning air. ‘That’s Czech for mushroom picking.’ Despite the walking trousers, she wore what looked like a dozen colourful scarfs and a big stylish jumper with a woolly knitted hat that almost tamed her flyway blond hair. Even dressed for a day outdoors, she looked stylish and feminine. Anna studied her and resolved to buy herself a nice scarf and cuter headgear. The bobble on Michaela’s woolly hat bobbed about with her excitement, her face bright and intent. Even the normally imperturbable Jan seemed up for an adventure.
Their enthusiasm was infectious, especially after the hour-long journey to get there, and Anna felt a little frisson of anticipation. Initially, she’d said yes to the trip because it was something to do and she didn’t want to be left out, but now she was here, her interest was piqued. The back-to-nature vibe of the morning appealed to her, as did the thought of foraging for their own food. It wasn’t something she’d ever done or even considered before.
From the bottom of her basket Michaela produced several small pocket knives. ‘We need these because it’s best to cut the mushroom stem low to the ground.’
They left the car park and began to walk along a trail straight into the forest, their feet making papery rustles through the ankle-deep golden leaves. Autumn was making its mark, coating the forest floor with a russet spectrum of yellow, oranges and browns. Impulsive puffs of wind whipped the leaves into the occasional flurry, like wild animals startled into flight. Anna found herself glancing over her shoulder as if she might catch sight of something flitting from the shadow of one tree to another, dancing on the very periphery of her vision.
Shaking off the fanciful thought, she focused on the task in hand. Already Michaela and Jan, their heads bent, were scanning the ground. Anna searched for the telltale white mushroom caps. That was, she assumed, what they were looking for, although it was a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Leo fell into step beside her and the two of them followed the Czech couple as weak sunshine filtered through the branches overhead, creating pockets of dappled light.
