Eighteen
The weather had been lovely on Friday, but on Saturday morning Lara woke up to a heatwave.
And to the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Where was that coming from?
She sat bolt upright in her bed and laughed.
She had forgotten Jenny was here. How crazy was that? And Jenny always got up early. But why did the coffee smell so good?
‘Good morning, sunshine!’
Jenny walked in to Lara’s bedroom carrying a tray and two large mugs. One of which was identical to the mug that Jenny had previously bought her and that Nicodemus had smashed to smithereens.
‘Good morning to you,’ Lara trilled. ‘Did you buy me a new mug to replace the broken one?’
‘I did.’ Jenny handed Lara one of the mugs and perched on the edge of the bed with the other.
Lara closed her eyes and smelt the coffee.
‘Oooh. This smells like heaven. How come?’
‘I also bought you a coffee machine. It’s a house warming present.’
‘You shouldn’t have bought me a present,’ Lara said.
‘Oh shut up and enjoy it. Not that this house needs any warming. Is your heating on the highest setting? It’s like an oven in here.’
‘No. The new boiler is temperature controlled and set to about nineteen degrees, I believe. Unless it’s broken already. I think this may be due to the temperature outside. They did forecast an Indian Summer for October. I think it’s arrived.’ She glanced around after taking a few sips of the delicious coffee. ‘Have you seen Nicodemus? He’s usually on my bed.’
‘You say that as if he’s lived with you for years and not just days. But yes. I sent him packing. Oh, don’t look at me like that.’ She laughed. ‘As if I would. I’ve fed him. He was sitting just outside the kitchen door when I came upstairs. I opened it because your kitchen is like a sauna. He is cute, isn’t he?’
‘He is. You love him too, don’t you?’
Jenny shrugged and waved one hand back and forth as if she could take him or leave him.
‘Are we shopping for clothes or stuff for the cottage today?’ Jenny asked.
‘The cottage, mainly, but if this is a heatwave, I’ll need to get a couple of summer dresses or something. I only brought jeans and T-shirts and jumpers with me. It is October after all.’
‘Same here,’ said Jenny. ‘Shall we leave early and have breakfast out? Or do you need to be here for anyone?’
‘Roger the roofer. But he’ll be here by eight. I would’ve suggested we go to Bonnie’s Diner in the village for breakfast. I had one there yesterday with … you know who, and it was the best I’ve ever had. I’d rather not go there today though, in case he’s there.’
‘I understand. After that delicious supper last night, I’m not starving. We could have toast here and then a slap-up lunch, as we discussed yesterday. Will Roger let the cleaners in, or will you need to be back for them?’
‘I can leave him a key to give to the cleaners, and they’ll drop it through the letterbox when they leave.’
‘Everyone is very trusting down here, aren’t they?’
‘I haven’t got that much here for anyone to steal,’ Lara said. ‘But yes. Everyone is trusting. A little too trusting in the case of me and a certain … No. I won’t mention him again. I’m sorry. Give me a slap if I say his name again.’
‘Whose name?’
‘Jas … Oh no! You’re not catching me out that easily.’ Lara burst out laughing. ‘It’s so good to have you here, Jen.’
‘It’s so good to be here, Lara. Now let me see this view. The view from my room is breathtaking.’
Jenny went to the window and opened the curtains letting the sun blast into Lara’s bedroom like a massive laser beam. Lara had to shield her eyes as did Jenny.
‘That sun is strong for this time of year. I’ll have to squint to see the view. All I can see right now is a big yellow ball and a lot of bright blue. But even that is spectacular.’
Jenny turned away from the window and walked towards the door. ‘Shall I shower first?’
‘Yes,’ said Lara. ‘It’ll give me more time in bed with my coffee.’
‘And people say romance is dead.’
