But she had added, during a subsequent phone conversation, that she had lived there herself until a few days before Christmas, when she had moved into her partner’s cottage, just two doors away.
‘So if you need anything, you don’t have far to come to ask me,’ she had said.
Her name was Adele and her partner’s name was Marcus. She clearly liked to talk because she also told me that it had been her partner’s idea for her to rent her cottage out and that I would be the first person to occupy it.
‘Wow,’ I had said, somewhat surprised. ‘I hope I don’t put you off doing so again.’
I realised too late that I shouldn’t have joked about that, but she merely laughed.
‘Oh no,’ she informed me. ‘I need the money. I lost my job as head baker and pastry chef at a swanky hotel a few years ago and now I work as a waitress at Fairlight Bakes Café, in Fairlight Bay. The money isn’t as good as I was used to but the owners are lovely. Marcus has offered to help me out, but I want to pay my own way. Do you have a boyfriend?’
‘Yes,’ I had said, as I was dating Ted when I’d booked. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to tell her that it would only be me after we had split up, but she’d find out soon enough.
‘You’ll have seen there are three cottages here on Midwinter Lane,’ Adele had continued. ‘Obviously, Far Cottage is where you’ll be staying, and Marcus and I live in End Cottage. Our friend, Noelle lives in Middle Cottage. She moved in just over a year ago in December. She’s such a lovely person and we all get on splendidly. Her boyfriend, Alec is a plumber and he’s a good friend of both Marcus and me. Noelle owns Midwinter Cottage Decorations, an online business that she runs from her kitchen selling handmade decorations for all events and all seasons. She also rents a stall at the Fairlight Bay Market which is held every Thursday throughout the year. You’ll find almost anything you could possibly want in that market, so I hope you find the time to visit it. I’ve typed out a list of places to go and things to see and do, but again, please just pop round and ring our bell if there’s anything you can’t find or that you want to do but it isn’t on my list.’
‘That’s so kind, Adele,’ I’d said, astonished that she had told me so much. ‘I’ve been to Fairlight Bay before. It was ten years ago and I was only there for a week, but unless it’s changed a lot over the years, I should be able to find everything I need. If I can’t, I’ll be sure to ask.’
I had been tempted to ask if she or her partner knew Sam Worth, but it would’ve been a two-edged sword. If she’d said she didn’t, I’d simply have been disappointed, but if she had said she did, Sam might hear about me asking. And that was the last thing I wanted.
‘I’m looking forward to meeting you, Lucy,’ Adele had said. ‘You’re arriving on Saturday morning, is that right?’
‘Yes. I only live about sixty or so miles away, in Kingston upon Thames so it shouldn’t take me more than an hour and a half, depending on traffic and weather. I can call you if I’m held up or anything.’
‘No. Don’t worry. We’ll be here all day on Saturday. Just come and ring our bell at End Cottage, or, if you’d prefer, ping me a text once you reach the car park and I’ll come and meet you outside Far Cottage. It’s the one on the right as you face the cottages from the car park. The one with the red post box outside.’
Now, a pair of magpies landed on that post box and I smiled as I remembered that two magpies brought joy. Or so the rhyme predicted. They screeched a loud caw-caw-caw as I neared the fence and flew off before I reached them, but I could hear them chattering as I strolled up the front path. I remembered I was supposed to send a text when I arrived, so I dropped my bags on the ground at the front door, and did that.
Having sent the text, I peered through one of the windows, but only a second or two later, I saw from the corner of my eye, a woman in her forties, together with a man about the same age come out of End Cottage. I assumed they must be Adele and Marcus and I was obviously correct.
‘Hello, Lucy,’ she called out and waved. ‘I’m Adele and this is Marcus. Did you have a good journey?’
‘Yes thank you,’ I called back, as the door of Middle Cottage opened and a very pretty woman in her thirties, a handsome man not much older, and a young girl, stepped outside.
‘Oh, hello.’ The woman greeted me with a friendly smile. ‘You must be Lucy. We’re Noelle, Alec, and Melody.’ She pointed at all three of them in turn.
‘I’m Melody, not Noelle,’ the little girl clarified, grinning at me and placing her hands in Alec’s and Noelle’s.
‘Hello,’ I said, slightly overwhelmed to be meeting so many people at once. ‘Yes. I’m Lucy.’
Adele and Marcus hurried up the path towards me, exchanging greetings and smiles with their neighbours, as they did so. There was a key in Adele’s hand, dangling from a red ribbon, which she held out to me.
‘It’s lovely to meet you, Lucy. Here’s the key. Is your boyfriend still at the car?’ She glanced towards the car park.
‘Erm. No,’ I said, embarrassed that I was going to have to tell everyone that I no longer had a boyfriend. ‘Change of plan, I’m afraid. It’ll only be me.’ I took the key from Adele.
‘Oh,’ Adele said, looking concerned as she handed it over. She shot a look at Marcus as if she wasn’t sure what to say next, but he merely shrugged and smiled.
‘It’s okay,’ I added. ‘We’re still friends. Just bad timing.’
She gave a small sigh of relief, and smiled at me.
‘Tell us to mind our own business if you like,’ said Noelle, ‘but we’re a friendly bunch so if you want some company just knock on our doors. But if you want your privacy, that’s fine too. Welcome to Midwinter. Sorry we have to dash. We promised to take Melody out for pizza and the booking is for noon. Parking in town on a Saturday takes time. We’ll see you later.’
‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘Have a good lunch.’ And then I smiled at Adele and Marcus as they waved their neighbours off. ‘Thank you, Adele. The cottage looks lovely. It’s great to meet you both.’
Marcus beamed as he wrapped an arm around Adele’s waist. ‘Great to meet you, Lucy. We hope you enjoy your stay. And we agree with Noelle. Don’t be a stranger. Unless you want to be. Seriously, if there’s anything we can do to help you have an enjoyable time, just let us know. If you’d like to join us for a glass of wine, later, pop round at six-ish, but if you’d rather do your own thing, that’s fine too.’
‘There’s a welcome pack in the kitchen,’ Adele added, ‘but I can show you around if you prefer.’
