Thank the Lord that was over, thought Fletcher, as he was passed the expensive looking carrier bag. He added it to the others neatly lined up on the floor. Good job he hadn’t parked too far away with all this clobber to carry. Still, it had been worth it, seeing Lilly so happy with her new clothes. As she joined him, he bent down to pick them all up. On doing so he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He quickly straightened. Steadying himself he took a deep breath.
‘Everything all right, sir?’ asked the shop assistant looking concerned. Lilly hadn’t noticed, she was too busy fastening her coat.
‘Yes, yes, I’m fine,’ Fletcher replied, waving his hand dismissively. ‘Just had a big lunch, that’s all,’ he laughed. Yes, that’s what it was, his body digesting the hearty steak and kidney pie he’d washed down with a pint of ale.
*
Adira was in the library sat at Jasper’s desk. She had devised an itinerary for the wedding, to make sure all the timings co-ordinated. They were scheduled to have the ceremony at three p.m., followed by mini mince pies and mulled wine instead of canapés and bubbly, with photos at four p.m. The sit-down wedding breakfast was being served at five thirty by which time it would be dark. The firework display was to blast off at seven p.m. and then dancing until they dropped. All the guests would be staying at The Laurels, or in the shepherds huts on the glamping site, so they could relax and drink without worrying about driving.
Adira’s excitement was building momentum. Next week would see the start of December. Lilacwell was beginning to dress for Christmas, with colourful lights decoratively illuminating the high street. All the artisan shops had gone to town with festive window displays and a huge fir tree had been hoisted up on the village green, ready to be switched on by a nominated member of the village. To her delight, Ruby had been asked to perform the honourable task this year.
Adira loved the community spirit of the village that Christmas brought, it was a new experience which she knew she would treasure in years to come. It also made her reconsider the guest list. Originally it had comprised of just immediate family, but now, having been made so welcome and a part of Lilacwell, Adira was having second thoughts. There were villagers who she’d like to include – Max, for one, as he’d been a big help to Jasper with The Cobbled Courtyard, and his granddad, Dickie. Plus there were all the other tenants: Fitz, James, Tom and Tess. Then she thought of Lisa, who was eternally grateful for the advice Adira had given her on pregnancy (whether it had helped or not). Each and every one had had some form of impact on hers and Jasper’s life; it only seemed right and proper that they should be there to share their special day. She had to make the final decision on numbers as soon as possible, so would run it past Jasper that evening.
As she switched the computer off, she noticed a picture frame face down on the corner of Jasper’s desk. She reached out to look at it. It was an old sepia photograph of a wedding couple. Who was it? she wondered. And what was it doing here? She studied their faces, the groom grinning widely into the camera, confidently poised with shoulders back, holding one arm round his new wife possessively. The bride radiated a classic beauty and gave a coy smile, but did it quite reach those mesmerising eyes. Adira was drawn to them, pulling her in, signalling… uncertainty? The photo intrigued her.
Just then Jasper entered the room. ‘Jessie left that behind. I found it on her windowsill,’ he explained, seeing her examining the picture.
‘This is Jessie?’ Adira asked in surprise.
‘Yes, look.’ He came to stand behind her and pointed to the birthmark by the bride’s cheekbone. ‘That’s definitely Jessie.’
‘Oh yeah,’ said Adira peering closer, ‘so it is.’ Then frowned. ‘Why would she leave her wedding photo?’
‘I thought the very same.’
‘Maybe she simply forgot to pack it?’
‘Hmm, it was face down. Something tells me it was deliberately left.’
‘Really?’
Deciding the picture deserved to be seen, she placed it on the middle shelf behind Jasper’s desk. ‘There, it seems a shame not to have it on show.’
‘Even though they’re no relation?’ Jasper said half laughing at her sentiment.
Hearing Fletcher shut the front door in the hall, they expected him to come and join them with tales of his shopping spree with Lilly. Instead his footsteps could be heard climbing the stairs. Jasper called out to him.
‘Fletcher! Good day with Lilly?’
‘Grand! Off for a lie down,’ he shouted back.
Adira and Jasper faced each other in puzzlement.
‘He sounds tired,’ said Adira.
‘He’s had a full day.’ Jasper paused in thought. ‘I sometimes forget just how old he actually is sometimes.’
‘I know.’ Adira nodded her head in agreement, a sad smile on her lips.
‘I’ll check on him later.’
Chapter 20
Rory closed the door of his apartment and checked his watch. He only had quarter of an hour before his next viewing. Since putting it on the market he had been inundated with prospective buyers. Rory hadn’t thought his property would take too long to sell, having a desirable address in a decent location, but even he’d been surprised at the level of interest created. So far the estate agents had arranged seven viewings. He was finding it tiresome now showing total strangers round his home, intrusive almost. But, as he kept telling himself, it was a means to an end. Three offers had been made, but not quite the asking price, so Rory was holding out. He’d taken great pleasure in reporting back to Cassie on FaceTime in the evenings about how the viewings had gone. He made her laugh at his descriptions and impersonations of the varied people who’d looked round his flat. There’d been the tall, quiet, well-dressed man, who’d spoken in hushed tones and appeared rather anxious; Rory had him down as a politician buying a love nest for his mistress. Or the chic-looking thirty-something-year-old who reeked of expensive perfume, wore a smart suit and stilettos; she, according to Rory, was a high-class escort buying new headquarters. Or the couple with Brummie accents who sported designer tracksuits and heavy gold jewellery – they were drug barons, wanting to sink dirty money into property. Cassie had roared at his far-fetched assumptions and tall tales. She in turn, would give updates of the comings and goings of Lilacwell.
It wouldn’t be long now before Adira and Jasper’s wedding. Rory was so looking forward to being back there. He’d researched property in that area extensively and was amazed at what he’d be able to afford. Initially his search had been for fairly large houses with substantial gardens, but he soon realised that together with his savings, his budget would provide far more. It would allow him to buy farmhouses with outbuildings, renovated barns with spectacular views, or indeed land to build his own house. The possibilities were endless and to Rory, very exciting. His future could suddenly be taking a new turn. Not only would he be back home in Lancashire, but a whole new way of life was potentially on the horizon.
It had long been a dream of Rory’s to live a simpler existence, firmly believing that less is more. His principals on saving the planet were real and now he could just have the opportunity to go the whole hog and truly commit to living an eco-friendly lifestyle. He had visions of owning a smallholding and becoming as self-sufficient as possible. Solar panels, wind turbines, even water wheels were his choice of energy supplies, rather than paying astronomical bills to gas and electricity companies destroying the planet. He warmed to the idea of keeping livestock and growing his own fruit and vegetables. The more he considered it, the stronger his aspiration became.
