“Well, I’d like to meet the Johnsons,” she said. “Their honey is the best I’ve ever had. And I’ve had swamp honey from Georgia. I know good honey.”
Grantham looked utterly bewildered, and Frankie patted his shoulder. “Our friend Mae is very well travelled. She doesn’t really like to talk about it, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
A comically outraged Mae elbowed Frankie in the side. “Oi, shut your— Oh, look, is that them?” She pointed across the fence where two men could be seen, heaving around what looked like aluminium siding.
“Yes!” Grantham said. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
The trio followed Grantham over to the fence. Pippa could barely see over it but was able to smile a greeting to the guys that ambled over.
“Patrick and Todd Johnson, meet Pippa Munro.” Grantham pointed. Patrick was tall, husky, with sandy hair and kind, deep-set eyes. Todd was smaller than his husband, but well-built, with a pristinely smooth bald head and a friendly grin. They made a handsome couple, dressed in worn workwear and boots.
“Hello. Are you the new housesitter?” Patrick leant over the fence to shake her hand.
Todd followed suit then smiled at Grantham. “We’re gonna miss you.”
“Don’t be daft,” Grantham said. “I’m only down the road. I’m hardly going to the moon.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Pippa said, arm aching from stretching it over the fence. “I thought I knew everyone in this town, so it’s a novelty to meet new people!”
Patrick grinned. “We’re notthatnew,” he said. “It’s already been well over a year.”
“What brings you here, Pippa?” Todd asked. “I hear you used to work at Goodman’s?”
“Work there?” Frankie exclaimed. “You mean, ran it like a boss!”
“Well, yes, Iusedto.” She flushed. That was the thing about Hurst Bridge. Everyone knew everyone and word travelled fast. She had hoped that due to the Johnsons being relative newcomers to the village that she wouldn’t have to explain her situation, but as Todd and Pat exchanged a subtle glance of knowing, Pippa burned with humiliation.
Mae breezed in. “Mae Grant,” she said. “I own The Hand and Flower,on the green?”
Todd’s face brightened. “Yes, I know it. Great pub.”
“Thanks!” Mae glowed. “I bought it a few years ago once I returned from traveling … sometimes I wonder why!” But the proud grin on her face gave away her happiness. Mae loved that pub. “Anyway, I hear you have pigs?” Mae shot Pippa a small smile and Pippa thanked every God in existence for Mae’s amazing powers of deflection.
“Yup,” Todd said, beaming. “We used to be based out in Derbyshire but our land was sold out from under us to developers and so we had to uproot, set up here. We specialise in pork, but we also have a berry patch and a little chicken run and—”
“Their eggs are the best I’ve ever had,” Grantham interrupted.
Todd beamed his thanks. “And of course, our special beehives.”
“The beehives that were a pet project,” Patrick said, somewhat ruefully, “became something a bit more substantial.”
“Honey is so fashionable; we’d have been mad not to invest!” Todd said somewhat defensively. “People like honey and they’ll pay for the good stuff. Evenyoucan’t deny it’s lucrative.” He leaned conspiratorially towards Mae. “We sell it at Whole Foods now.”
Pippa was hugely impressed. “That’s great! Exclusively?”
“For now,” Todd said modestly. “But we’re looking for further opportunities. Sometimes we have too much work to cope, but this is our dream.”
“Beats pushing papers around.” Patrick pretended to yawn. “I mean, look at my office now.” He gestured behind him. “I love it. Even in the pissing rain. There’s nowhere we’d rather be.”
Pippa could only nod in agreement. They were her sort of people.
“Yes,” Todd agreed. “And, oh, Juniper!” He looked down at his feet and there was a massive snort. Intrigued, Pippa and her friends craned their necks to follow Todd’s gaze and there, rooting around Todd’s feet, was a huge ginger pig with bristly hair and large ears. “Don’t mind Juniper,” Todd said. “Just on her daily perambulation.”
“She’s supposed to be in her pen,” Patrick said. “Plenty of perambulation space there.”
“Can she help it if she’s curious and likes to break out?” Todd shot back. He bent down to caress the pig’s face. “You’re a queen is what you are.”
“She’s a Tamworth,” Patrick said to Pippa. “Rare.” At Pippa’s confused look, he hurried to explain. “We don’t rear her for pork. She’s more like a pet. We’re hoping to breed from her but—”
