Sensing weakness, Ariel moved to stand beside her. ‘We’ll rent the flat out for now,’ Ariel suggested. ‘You’ll commute until Christmas, and we’ll find you a new job with a January start. Until then, Deacon’s offered us his spare room for a steal. He hates living alone and his roommate’s away in Thailand until February.’
‘You’ve already spoken to him?’
Realising her mistake, Ariel back-pedalled. ‘I was just exploring options before presenting them to you. You’re always telling me to be better organised.’
Neatly turning it around. Gilly grumbled, ‘We both know that’s not what this was. And I really thought we were happy here, with the challenge of the village rebuild and being part of a strong community.’
‘It’s been fun, but alongside a successful career there’s only one thing that’ll ever make me truly happy. Which won’t happen if we’re living apart.’
Back to becoming parents again. Gilly closed her eyes, utterly exhausted. They were going in circles, a roundabout spinning too fast to jump off safely. ‘Okay. You win. I’ll go.’ Opening her eyes, she picked up her water flask and took a long pull. Her voice hardened. ‘I want to be alone for a bit. I’ll see you up at the flat for dinner.’
‘Fine,’ Ariel huffed, abandoning the spade and gloves carelessly on the ground as she stalked away, calling over her shoulder, ‘Happy now?’
Gilly waited until she was out of earshot, before replying, ‘Not really.’
Walking through the back door into Peace Cottage (the worst irony, given their current state) she traipsed into the hallway and ran her hand along the flocked blue wallpaper they’d hungafter Theo had watched a YouTube video and plastered their crumbling walls. She laughed bitterly. Their relationship wasn’t just crumbling, their very foundations were disintegrating.
That fear, along with sadness at the idea of leaving the manor turned the laugh into a sob. Covering her mouth, she tried to contain her emotions. Before waving goodbye at Christmas, she’d make sure Little Beaubrook was okay. The picturesque little village deserved it, and they all deserved to see what it would become, even her despite being initially reluctant to get involved. The delegation from the developer hadn’t turned up yet, but were expected any day. She and Ariel must finish their cottage and rent it out to bring new blood in. Perhaps she could also organise a school event to spread awareness and get the wider community involved, coinciding with Vanessa’s social media campaign, which according to Kirsten was gathering steam. The champagne-filled celebratory pictures of Theo’s completed cottage posted online the day before had attracted a lot of attention. The close-ups of Kit and Theo in tight-fitting T-shirts probably hadn’t hurt.
It wasn’t just about the village though. Her friendship with Kirsten was the best she’d had in years, the good she was doing at the school was satisfying and important, and her stress levels had reduced with the country lifestyle and working on the cottages. Was she ready to give all that up?
God, everything was such a mess.
‘Hello? Only me,’ Albie called from the open front door. ‘Can I come in?’
Wiping the tears away, she steadied her voice. ‘Yes. I’m in the lounge.’
‘I have Colin with me, that alright?’ Without awaiting a reply, footsteps sounded, and he swished in carrying the brown miniature sausage dog.
Gilly hadn’t met Colin, but Kirsten hardly stopped raving about how adorable he was. Albie set him down on the bare floorboards, and although she’d never been an animal lover, she knelt to take a closer look at his tiny triangular head, floppy ears and liquid dark eyes.
‘With his legs being so short he takes a while to get anywhere, hence I end up picking him up.’ With a relieved sigh, Albie sank into an armchair spilling stuffing which needed reupholstering.
‘I bet,’ she murmured, ‘he’s quite close to the floor.’ At that, Colin swung around and gave her an insulted look. ‘Um, can I stroke him?’
‘Should expect so, though he’ll play first to keep you waiting. He’s quite sassy. Just put your hand out and be patient.’
Obeying, Gilly extended her palm, watching Colin dawdle around the room sniffing different scents, not in any hurry to do her bidding. She held back a smile and the instinctive need to call him over, refusing to lose the battle.
Aware of Albie studying her face, she gestured to his outfit. ‘Interesting choice. Some of my Year 2 pupils would be jealous.’ Immediately, she worried it sounded snippy. ‘Sorry. I just meant?—’
‘It’s fine, my dear. I have original tastes.’ He gestured to his yellow palm-tree splashed Bermuda shorts, twinned with a bright green shirt. A scarlet baseball cap sat atop his head, a pair of sunglasses perching on the brim. ‘I felt summery today.’
She was saved from answering as Colin nuzzled her palm with a small whining sound. ‘Aw, he is cute.’ Fondling his velvety ears, she stroked the soft fur on his back.
‘Yes,’ Albie said gravely, ‘and he knows it, the little bugger.’
‘Isn’t he well behaved?’
‘Oh, impeccably, other than when he’s weeing on my oak floors, nibbling my fingers or expensive furniture with razor sharp teeth, or trying to steal anything not glued down. Still, onelook from those big eyes and I can’t be cross. His companionship has brought me immeasurable joy, he’s the most special gift I’ve ever received. Now,’ his gaze sharpened, ‘enough about that. You don’t seem yourself. Has something happened?’
She’d normally pretend everything was fine, but after her bout of crying and as she petted Colin (strangely soothing), her defences dissolved under Albie’s concern. ‘I-I’ll be l-leaving at Christmas.’
‘Oh, no.’ He paled. ‘Both of you?’
‘Ariel first, me following later.’
‘The show in London?’ he guessed, astute as always. ‘I did wonder. Asked Ariel about it shortly after the gallery event.’
