Walter’s peering past us to the hay barn. ‘How did the contractors get on? They charge me an arm and a leg, and they never stack the bales as tight as I tell them.’
Ross looks over his shoulder at the barn we’ve just left. ‘They’ve done a great job, the hay smells wonderful.’
Jen laughs. ‘I should hope so, seeing as they’re family.’ She turns to me. ‘Nell’s dad’s brother and his son did the first hay cut for Walter. He just won’t let any of us forget how much it’s cost him.’
Walter gives Ross a wink and grins at me. ‘If you’ve had a roll in it, no one’s going to mind.’
I pull a damp hay strand out of my hair. Sometimes the best way of closing something down is to tell the whole truth, then people assume you have to be joking. ‘No such luck. I asked but Ross wasn’t up for it.’
Joanie shakes her head at me. ‘Take no notice, my beauty, Walter’s only being cheeky because he’s pleased with himself.’
That sounds like an invitation to ask the question I’d have hesitated over otherwise, knowing how ill he was when I first arrived. ‘So did it go well this afternoon?’
Jen and Walter are beaming, and Joanie replies. ‘The consultant was very pleased. He called our Walter a walking miracle!’
Walter butts in. ‘When he saw me in spring, he thought I was a goner.’
Joanie pats his arm. ‘All Jen’s good food and making you take your tablets at the right time, she’s properly brought you back from the dead.’
Jen is quietly proud as she smiles at Joanie. ‘I suspect the love of a lounge full of good women also helped with that.’
Walter chuckles. ‘I reckon the manure I put in my boots helped too.’
Joanie laughs at Walter. ‘All that grumbling you’ve done – Kittiwake Court hasn’t done so badly for you.’
Walter lets out a grunt of indignation. ‘Grumbling? When have I ever grumbled?’
Ross turns to them. ‘We’d maybe best not get into that. There’s more good news too. Cressy just heard, she’s landed a book contract.’
As they all turn to look at me, I’m suddenly shy. ‘I’m very pleased, but honestly, it’s nothing compared to yours.’
Ross shakes his head at me. ‘That’s why I had to tell them, I knew you’d underplay it.’ He laughs but he isn’t smiling. ‘We’re having so many deliveries from her sponsors, we’re running out of space at the flat. That’s what it’s like living with a celebrity.’
Joanie reaches over and gives my arm a squeeze. ‘Well done for that, Cressy. I hope you’re going to treat yourself, my love!’
The sudden idea of buying myself some pretty lingerie is completely ridiculous, given the flat-out knock-back I just had ten minutes ago, so I push the thought of balcony bras and matching knickers out of my head and think of something more grounded. ‘The fish, chips and fizz are on me tonight!’
Ross winks at Joanie. ‘Not forgetting, the ketchup has to be Heinz.’
Walter waves his stick at the farmhouse and turns to Ross. ‘Are you two still up for a look around inside the house before you head off to celebrate, lad?’
Jen looks at her watch. ‘Walter had me breaking the speed limits so we’d get here in time to catch you.’
I’m trying to hide my surprise, because I’d rather they didn’t know I had no idea this was coming. I can’t say how much I’d love to know what’s inside those honey-coloured stone walls, to look out of those small-paned sash windows, instead of only seeing as far in as the tattered net curtains as I pass.
It’s only as I’m standing here now by the front door, with its paint that’s so old and faded you can’t tell what colour it was meant to be, looking across to the quaint old caravans where I collect the eggs up by the orchard, thinking how sweet they’d be to stay in, that I ask myself: am I really ready to go back to London? Or would I rather hide away here, and let my holiday go on for the rest of the summer? Carry on feeding the calves. Maybe help Clemmie when she comes back and starts up her proper Little Cornish Kitchen again.
Ross glances at my soaking dress clinging to my legs. ‘All things considered, we’re probably best to leave it for a time when we’re drier.’
If I needed confirmation that I accidentally got in the way here, that is it. And that’s another thing I’d need to consider. If Ross is staying here, how hard would it be for me to be here too? It’s not even as if we’d be hanging out together. And I know that I hated being round him at the start. But somehow I’ve come to enjoy being around him. And being here, but not seeing him, would actually be excruciating. Which confirms my idea of living in a caravan for the summer as the total non-starter it is.
I see their three faces fall in disappointment at Ross’s rebuff, but I’m sensing he isn’t about to change his mind, so I hand him the out he needs. ‘Truly, I wouldn’t feel comfortable making puddles on your carpets.’
There’s definitely a tension, and Joanie’s trying to ease it by joking. ‘You have carpets, Walter? All these years you told us you had straw on your floor!’
Jen gives Ross a hard stare. ‘You’ll never know if you don’t go in. Now’s your chance. Surely you don’t want to miss it?’
I’m not sure what they’d arranged or how exactly it’s gone wrong, but I’m going to tell the truth again, and bring the awkwardness to an end. ‘I’m actually really cold. I’m so pleased your appointment went so well, Walter, but I’d best head home for a shower now.’
