‘Wish me luck for my first day?’ Silence. She huffed, straightening her jacket. ‘Fine, well, see you tonight. Assume you’re painting today, or will be with the other residents?’ Ariel was okay with everyone else, only Gilly would receive silent treatment. ‘Bye, then.’ She was too cross and hurt to add,I love you. Turning on her heel, she picked her handbag and laptop bag off the counter and left, hoping by moving here to try and save their relationship, she hadn’t instigated the beginning of the end.
Driving home that evening, her shoulders were so tense they practically touched her ears. Work-wise, it had been a successful day. She’d had a productive meeting with the smiley but no-nonsense Chair of Governors, Estelle, who ran a software company when not overseeing school affairs. Greeting parents on the playground during drop-off proved fruitful, with interesting chats about their opinions on the facilities, previous headteacher and falling pupil numbers.
There’d been a whole-school welcome coordinated by the lovely Pastoral Care Lead, Karen, and the Head of Key Stage 1, Mr Tolly, who looked in need of a defibrillator to charge some life back into him. The theme of the assembly had been friendship, and the primary school pupils had delivered readings and sang songs with gusto, if not finesse.
Walking the corridors afterwards, she’d been pleased to see pupils largely behaving as they moved between classrooms, stopping to chat with some and learning their names. They were so cute and eager at this age. Eating in the staff room at lunchtime had been a good idea as some people were brave enough to approach her, asking questions about her career and previous headship in the capital. She’d also held a positive after-school meeting with her new senior leadership team, some of whom she’d met during her two-day interview process. Openly listening to their thoughts and asking curious questions about the post-Ofsted action plan had also landed well.
However, the whole time, she’d be on edge worrying about her relationship. She hadn’t heard from Ariel, despite sending a breezy message with a picture of her swish office with kisses underneath. So, the closer she got to home, the more tense she became wondering what awaited her. Would Ariel be there? What if she’d packed her things and left for London?
Slowing on the curved road leading to Little Beaubrook, guilt crept in for her flippant comment at the meeting about it notbeing a proper place. Buzzing down the window, she took in the view of the springtime evening. A babbling brook ran (oddly enough) up the lush hill and turned into a river at the back of the manor, and verdant green trees cast sun-dappled shadows onto the footpath parallel to the road. In the distance, a cow mooed but somewhere closer a bird was singing sweetly. The smell of freshly mown grass filled her electric car as the bend straightened onto the short main road. Pale grey stone cottages and buildings in various states of disrepair nestled against narrow worn pavements, however with the abundance of roses on their facades, there was a quaint prettiness to the scene. Maybe therewaspotential to do something special here. Just without her involvement, because she had enough on her plate. She swept aside a twinge of regret.
A group of people exited one of the cottages, congregating in the weed-choked front garden as they chatted, and Gilly clocked a mass of shiny brown curls. Relieved, she pulled over at the kerb. When Ariel spun around to point at the gate, she caught sight of Gilly and waved with a grin. Hmmm, the cold war was over – for now.
Saying something to the group, Ariel ran over, flung open the door and jumped into the passenger seat, before planting a smacking kiss on Gilly’s mouth. It was the familiar pattern of enthused affection after an argument. ‘Hi, how was your day? I have a surprise for you.’
‘Good, thanks,’ she replied, heaving an inward sigh and signalling to pull out. ‘A surprise? A nice one, I hope?’Please don’t let it be about IVF.
‘Of course.’ Ariel smirked as they drove through the large black filigreed gates.
‘Can’t wait.’ As they rolled up the gravel driveway, she added, ‘So, what did you do today?’ That prevented you from answering my messages.
‘Yoga, a walk, painting and a few other things. Oh, look at the way the pink cherry blossom petals are swirling like confetti on the wind! How gorgeous.’
‘Uh-huh.’ Gilly smiled as she pulled up in their parking space, used to Ariel’s artistic gaze being distracted by visually appealing sights. She only hoped the reference to confetti wasn’t a hint about their wedding, which they couldn’t afford.
But her fiancée simply wiggled her eyebrows. ‘Come on, let’s go.’
Once Gilly grabbed her stuff from the car, Ariel towed her past the bubbling circular fountain and through the manor’s entrance hall. Passing the study, dining room, ballroom and library, they made their way into the east wing and up the stairs to their first floor flat. Letting them in, Ariel danced around the rooms, excitedly showing off a sketch she’d started of the back garden pergola with a little blonde girl peeping out from behind an ivy-covered post. Next, she pulled Gilly into their bedroom, flinging open the double wardrobe to reveal clothes, hung up rather sloppily.
‘See, I listened to what you said about helping.’ Tugging her into the kitchen where a pot of something delicious was bubbling away on the stove, she puffed out her chest, eyes sparkling. ‘Made it myself. I wanted to cook a meal to celebrate.’
‘Celebrate?’ There was a hint of something acrid in the air covered by the scent of a lemongrass candle, but Gilly didn’t comment. Perhaps it was her second attempt. Ariel had never been good at cooking, unsuited to the discipline of following recipes.
‘Yes.’ Crossing to the fridge, Ariel withdrew a chilled magnum of branded champagne, sliding it into a silver bucket filled with ice cubes. ‘This morning, there was a sign in the entrance hall that reminded me of something important:celebrate special occasions.’ Waving at the bottle in ata-dagesture, she added, ‘And it’s the special occasion of your first day in a new job.’
‘Right. Thanks.’ Gilly chose not to comment on the cost of the high-end champagne, or their currently limited funds. Lowering her voice, she asked, ‘Are you sure?’ They both knew she wasn’t only asking about the celebration.
‘Yes, darling. Absolutely.’ Ariel wrapped her arms around her, pressing kisses along her jawline. ‘I promise never to mention moving out of London again. And you’re not a miserable cow, you just caught me in an off moment.’ It was her version of an apology, acknowledging her behaviour wasn’t right without saying sorry.
Gilly knew she should call her on it, telling her how disheartening and hurtful it was when they fought and ended up in the same old cycle. Pointing out the way Ariel used silence as a weapon, followed by sex and affection. But as her skin heated and prickled, all she could think was:Yes. This is where I belong.
Cupping Ariel’s face between her palms, she kissed her hard, before lifting her head and agreeing. ‘Okay, lets celebrate the special occasion.’
‘Whoop! But first…’ Ariel towed Gilly into the lounge, settling her on the edge of the sofa and kneeling in front of her. Unbuttoning the white silk blouse to reveal Gilly’s lacy bra. ‘We’ll open the champagne after we’re done.’
‘Yes,’ Gilly shuddered as Ariel traced her tongue along her collarbone, their argument pushed aside.
The chandelier lightbulbs, which had trembled the night before, dimmed by a few degrees to create a more romantic atmosphere, and a hairline crack in the corner of the ceiling quietly repaired itself.
Neither of them noticed, and their dinner burned.
CHAPTER 9
Albie
Build a Kindness Tribe
Albie ran trembling fingers over the index cards he’d made after posting today’s rule for living on the noticeboard at dawn, which had given him another idea. Hardly anyone wrote by hand, but it wasn’t in his nature to use mobile phones to communicate with people living under the same roof.The old-fashioned ways are the best ways, Rose used to say. She’d been the wisest person he’d known.
