Shooting her a grateful look, Kit added, ‘Helps me catch up on sleep. I wish you’d let me pay you?—’
‘Friends help each other, and I know how hard it is raising a child alone. Wish I’d had someone around for support when Rosie was little. Unfortunately, I was estranged from my parents.’ A shadow crossed her face, and she switched her attention to Albie. ‘Besides, we can’t forget about strong community bonds and the Roseto effect, can we?’
‘That’s right.’ He agreed, knowing prolonging life expectancy wasn’t the reason she helped others.
‘Laurie adores her too.’ Vanessa strode in wearing stilettos and a tight black dress with a row of gold buttons down the front. She tipped her golden head towards her son, who’d trailed in after her, toy dog stuffed under his arm and waving excitedly at Kirsten. ‘I appreciate having time to myself.’
Harley frowned at Kirsten. ‘You’re taking on too much. Are you trying out for superhero status or something?’
‘I’m happiest when I’m busy.’ She dismissed, jiggling Ezra on her hip. ‘And it’s none of your business. Bit rich talking about superheroes when you’re rocking the black-haired, blue-eyed Superman look.’ Her cheeks flushed deep pink, and she looked mortified. ‘Uh, we should start the meeting.’
Following her lead, Albie pointed to the gilt chairs lined up against the wall. ‘Yes, let’s put those out in a circle.’
Just as they finished setting up, Gilly and Ariel arrived. After an initial glance at the baby, who Kirsten had swaddled and tucked back in his pushchair, Ariel pulled her fiancée into the seat beside her.
Albie caught the drift of Clover’s perfume as they sat down, fighting the temptation to inhale.
‘There’s certainly some interesting dynamics in this group,’ she whispered, ‘but they’re quite something, aren’t they?’
‘Yes, they really are.’
‘And that’s Harley Bellmont, yes? I knew he was familiar, and now I know why.’
‘Yes, but he’s fiercely private?—’
‘I’m not interested in all that,’ she waved her hand, ‘it’s his name I’m fascinated by.’
‘Oh. What does his mean?’
‘Well, Bell can derive from the French belle, meaning beautiful or pretty, and mont is mountain. Hmmm.’ She cocked her head, staring at the ex-tennis superstar. ‘Beautiful mountain. He’s certainly got the face to carry off beautiful, andhe’s tall and broad, so majestic fits. There’s something lonely about him too, as if he’s set apart from others.’ She grinned wickedly. ‘I’m sure Kirsten would love to climb him.’ Arching an eyebrow, she added, ‘If I were thirty years younger, I would.’
Albie gaped, before bursting into guffaws. The joyous feeling began in his stomach, spreading upwards into his chest and ringing out, bouncing off the ballroom walls.
Once he’d wiped away tears of mirth, and Rosie was entertaining Laurie carrying out a full veterinary inspection of his toy dog, he called the meeting to attention. ‘So, to the cottages. We’re making fantastic progress,’ he ticked items off on his fingers, ‘mine’s more than half done, with the repointing being completed this week, along with the roof thatching. We’ll start wallpapering once the plaster is dry, and a firm’s been booked to polish and wax the original wooden floors once the messy work is done. Theo and Kit have done an excellent job weeding everybody’s front gardens with Ezra strapped to their chests in turn, and we’ve now started clearing out Tori and Theo’s cottages.’
‘You mentioned at the BBQ they have names?’ Clover prompted.
‘Yes, Tori’s is Grace, and Theo’s is Faith.’
‘Interesting.’ She straightened in her chair, looking like a regal queen in her green dress. ‘And yours?’
‘Friendship.’
‘How delightfully apt, given how you’ve brought everyone together and made them friends.’
At Clover’s observation, the group exchanged smiles. Even Tori, initially so against the idea of getting involved, reached over and squeezed Albie’s arm.
Kirsten chirped up, ‘Youhavemade us friends, a kindness tribe and community with purpose. Rebuilding the village is making us happier and healthier. With all the hard work andhelping each other, I can practically feel the oxytocin flowing. And making this place whole again matters. Not just for Rose, but for the local area.’ She regarded him fondly, eyes shining. ‘Thank you, Albie.’
He flushed under the attention. ‘Oh, stop. Besides, I should be thankingyouall. It was my late wife’s dream to bring Little Beaubrook back to life, and I can’t wait until it’s done for her, but we’ll also have something to be proud of…’ Emotion caught in his throat, tears blurring his eyes. ‘Which we’ve done together.’
Clover touched his other arm. ‘Quite an accomplishment, in more ways than one.’
Gilly gave a resigned sigh. ‘Okay. I’m in. I’ll do the finances. I have to, after that.’
Ariel whooped. ‘At last!’
‘Th-thank you,’ Albie’s fingers played with the pleat of his brown tweed trousers, overcome with gratitude. ‘If you’re sure.’
