Summer of Love (2 page)

Sian led the way into the cottage. It seemed dark after the bright June sunshine outside and smelt of damp. But, as her mother had pointed out, it was very cheap to rent, had a big garden and the landlady, who lived in France, had expressed herself happy for Sian to make necessary improvements provided they weren’t extravagant. She found space for the flowers on the table and instantly everything looked better.

‘Excuse the mess,’ said Sian, removing a half-unpacked box of crockery off a chair. ‘I couldn’t bear to be inside when the weather is so lovely. Do sit down. And thank you for the flowers. They make the place look so much more homely, somehow.’

Her guest popped the jar of jam on the side with a ‘For you’, pulled out an unoccupied chair and sat at the table. ‘Well, as this might be our entire summer it would be a shame to waste the sunshine unpacking.’ She paused. ‘I brought the flowers in a jar so you wouldn’t need to hunt round for something to put them in. Nothing is more irritating when people turn up for dinner with flowers that mean you have to abandon your guests, the dinner and the drinks to find a vase. I no longer have a husband,’ she added. ‘Single-handed entertaining.’

‘I’m a single parent, so ditto.’ It wasn’t really a test but Sian had discovered, in the four years since she’d had Rory, that people who were unlikely to become friends would flinch a bit when she said this.

‘I’ve been that, too. The boys’ father died when they were quite young. It’s tough.’

Sian smiled at Fiona across the half-light of the gloomy hallway-cum-dining room. She had a feeling she’d made a new friend already.

‘I’ll put the kettle on. What kind of tea would you like?’

‘I can’t believe you’re so organised as to have a choice already,’ Fiona replied, perched on the chair as if ready to leap up and help at a moment’s notice.

Sian smiled. ‘My mother stayed with me for a few days. I drink builder’s, she drinks Earl Grey. Those are the choices unless you want herbal tea.’

‘Builder’s is fine.’

‘I’ve got some biscuits. My mother brought a huge tin of them. I’ll be back in a moment,’ Sian said as she disappeared off to the kitchen.

‘I do think Luella ought to take that wall down and make this room into a big kitchen diner!’ called Fiona. ‘Why don’t you suggest it?’

‘Do you mean Mrs Halpern? She’s been very cooperative and said as long as I don’t go mad I can make changes. But I think she might consider taking down a supporting wall as going mad,’ Sian called back.

She was no longer alone in the galley kitchen. Her guest, apparently not one to sit around and be waited on, had joined her.

‘Look at the damp on the floor!’ exclaimed Fiona. ‘It’s appalling. Mind you, it might only be the gutter that needs clearing. Would you like me to send someone round to look at it?’

‘If it’s only the gutter I can probably manage it myself,’ said Sian. ‘If I can’t, I’d be grateful for the name of someone reliable.’ Sian liked to be as self-sufficient as possible but she knew there would be things she couldn’t deal with. Since she’d moved her dad was no longer round the corner to do those things for her.

‘Well, just say. I’ve lived here so long – since Noah and Mrs Noah were courting – I know more or less everyone. Oh, hello, Rory,’ she said as he appeared in the doorway.

‘Can you take the biscuits?’ Sian handed her son the tin. ‘Why don’t you take them out into the back garden?’ She turned to Fiona. ‘There’s a table and chairs there. I’ll make the tea.’

‘Good idea. Rory and I can go and get settled and have a chat. My name is Fiona,’ she said to the boy.

‘Wouldn’t you rather be Mrs Matcham?’ asked Sian.

‘Oh no,’ she said firmly. ‘Fiona is much better.’ She smiled, possibly to offset the firmness.

‘Would you mind taking the milk out?’ asked Sian.

‘Oh, just put it in the mugs in here, why don’t you? Then when you and Rory come over to visit me, I can be my usual slutty self.’

Sian smiled and put tea bags in mugs. She could just imagine her mother’s delighted reaction when she told her about Fiona. She would see her as a wise older friend and a potential babysitter, not to mention someone who lived in a lovely house and so might perhaps be a customer for her daughter as well. Richard would be pleased too. Although it was because of him that she had moved to this particular village, and he had taken her and Rory under his wing, he’d be glad that the neighbours were being friendly.

Fiona Matcham and Rory were up the far end of the garden when Sian brought out the mugs of tea. Sian sat down on one of the chairs and sipped hers, watching them together. She was pleased that Rory had forgotten to be shy and was making friends. She had been a bit worried about taking him away from everything he knew in a busy city out into the country, although, as Richard had pointed out, it was in a village, not a remote location miles from anywhere. There was a school, a pub, a church and two shops, one of which was also a post office. ‘Which makes it a heaving metropolis,’ Sian’s father had said dryly. He was less sanguine than his wife about his daughter moving away with his only grandchild, although both her parents accepted she was moving for very good reasons. ‘Tea’s up!’ she called. ‘And biscuits!’

Rory turned and ran back down what would be a lawn one day – if Sian was able to stay that long of course, she thought wistfully, and her landlady didn’t object –followed by Fiona.

‘I don’t suppose you could spare me some of that wonderful cow parsley?’ Fiona said as she reached the table. ‘I’ve got to do church flowers tomorrow and a huge display of just that could look stunning!’

‘Oh yes, of course. Take anything you want.’

‘Thank you. You could come and help me do them if you want. My opposite number is away so I’ll be on my own. Rory can help.’ She paused. ‘Although not if you’re busy, or morally opposed to church flowers.’

Sian laughed. ‘No, I’d like to help. I don’t actually go to church …’

‘That’s all right, just help me do the flowers.’ Fiona picked up her mug and sipped. ‘Your reward will be an introduction to the Yummy Mummies. There are at least three I know moderately well. Will Rory be going to the school later?’

Sian nodded. ‘In September. He actually started last year in London but it was a disaster. Having a summer birthday he was only just four and it was such a big school. His teacher wasn’t very nice either.’

‘How awful! I can’t imagine anything worse. Poor Rory. Poor you.’

Sian smiled. ‘I’m glad you don’t think I’m a dreadfully over-protective mother. One of the reasons I wanted us to move away from London was the schools. I home-educated him when I finally gave up trying to get him to go to school, but we’re going to start again here.’

‘Our local school is brilliant. I was a governor for years. I’m sure he’ll be fine there.’

‘I am too. And when you get to the secondary stage, London schools are even more frightening.’

Fiona nodded. ‘And you probably didn’t want to send him away to school. Don’t. I did – it was expected – and it broke my heart, nearly.’ She frowned. ‘Although maybe I wouldn’t have minded so much if my first husband hadn’t just died.’ She drank some more of her tea. ‘So what were the other reasons for moving?’

Sian made a gesture. Usually she was quite a private person but something about Fiona made her feel comfortable about elaborating. ‘There are lots. The country life, wanting to grow vegetables, be more self-sufficient. A friend suggested we came down here and found me this house. His sister – whom Rory knows well and loves – is starting up a nursery and play scheme here which means I can work through the summer holidays, which I really need to be able to do.’ She paused. ‘And I couldn’t go on more or less living right next door to my parents for ever, even though they did do quite a lot of childcare.’

‘No?’ Fiona looked thoughtful. ‘One of my sons is going to be living with me quite soon.’

‘Oh no, it’ll be fine!’ Sian hurried to reassure her, although she had no idea what sort of relationship Fiona had with her son. ‘What I meant was, if London was the wrong place to be living in every other way, I couldn’t go on doing it just because my parents were so close. It wasn’t fair on them in a way, me expecting them to drop everything if I had a lot of work. They have their own lives.’

‘And how did they take the news you wanted to move away?’

‘Obviously they were a bit unhappy but once Richard – he’s the friend – found me this place they were fine.’ Sian counted her new home’s advantages off on her fingers. ‘It’s in a village so I won’t be too isolated. There’s a lovely school within easy walking distance. It’s only just under an hour to London by train and the station’s not too far away. It has a huge garden so I can grow vegetables and the rent is extremely reasonable.’

‘Because the kitchen is cramped and damp,’ said Fiona.

Sian laughed too. ‘I can put up with that, or even change it.’

Fiona laughed too. ‘Luella probably isn’t the most attentive landlady, but she’s very nice.’

‘She sounded nice on the phone and while we were arranging things.’

‘She doesn’t really need the money for renting this place and she’ll probably sell it eventually, but she thought she’d like to keep a foothold in England while she’s in France.’

‘I’ve got a three-month lease that will probably be extended,’ said Sian, suddenly chilled by the thought that she might have to leave her cottage if it was going to be sold. It might be damp but it was perfect for her and Rory.

‘And I’m sure you can stay much longer than that if you want to,’ said Fiona, suddenly realising she’d worried Sian. ‘Last time we emailed she said she had no intention of coming back to the land where you drink tea instead of wine. I missed her when she went to France. She was my best friend locally.’ She took a chocolate finger. ‘I love chocolate fingers. There’s something about them, isn’t there? Nothing else tastes quite the same.’

Sian agreed. ‘Would you like another one? Otherwise I think I should take the tin inside to stop them all melting. Rory? One more?’

Rory helped himself to another biscuit and then leant against Sian’s chair, playing distractedly with a toy truck he’d retrieved from under the table, whilst his mother went off with the tin.

‘So tell me your plans?’ said Fiona once Sian had returned with a damp flannel for Rory’s face and everyone’s fingers. ‘Or haven’t you got any yet?’

‘Oh no, I have plans. For one thing I want to get going on the garden. I’ve never grown vegetables before but I’m longing to try. It’ll be quick-growing plants to start with, spuds and things later. Then I need somewhere to carry out my business in. I’m hoping to rent something.’ She didn’t mention the possibility of settling down with Richard. She was by no means sure she would, although sometimes the idea seemed tempting. He was a dear friend and definitely a ‘catch’, as her father would have said.

‘What sort of business? I mean, do you need an aircraft hanger or a garret?’

‘Something in between, but more hanger than garret. I paint furniture, customise it.’

‘Oh?’

‘If you’re really interested I’ll show you some pictures.’

‘Oh do! I’d be thrilled. Rory, would you like to take me up the other end of the garden again while your mother gets the pictures? There seems to be a little house.’

‘All right,’ said Rory after a moment’s thought. He clambered to his feet and they set off.

Sian found her albums easily and turned the pages on her own while she waited for Fiona and Rory to come back – they were engrossed in what looked like the remains of a summer house at the bottom of the garden. Sian hadn’t had time to investigate it yet herself. She was pleased to have met someone so soon – she’d been a bit worried about her and Rory becoming too dependent on each other and Richard if they had no one else to talk to. She might meet some mums at the play scheme Rory was booked into, but she might not. And Fiona seemed so good with Rory, friendly without being patronising. She sighed. Richard was a bit of a worry to her. She liked him very much but she wasn’t in love with him, not in the way he so obviously was with her, and while he knew this and accepted it, he clearly hoped she would come to love him as more than just a friend. Sian hoped that too, in a way. He was perfect in so many respects. But she couldn’t marry a man she didn’t love, not even for the financial security she longed for.

Rory dashed back when he saw his mother, Fiona following more sedately behind. ‘That’s my one!’ he said, pointing to a picture of a chest of drawers covered with dragons, castles and seascapes.

Fiona inspected it. ‘It’s wonderful! What beautiful painting! How did you get the idea?’

‘Well, Rory was obsessed with dragons at the time –still is, to some extent. My mother had bought this chest of drawers for half nothing at an auction – she’s addicted to auctions – and as it needed something doing to it I decided to do more than just sand it down and put on a coat of white gloss.’ She chuckled. ‘I went to art college. I wanted to earn my living doing something that was actually connected to my degree but I could do from home. This is perfect – or it will be, when the business has built up a bit.’

Fiona turned the pages. ‘But not all these are yours –your furniture, I mean?’

‘Oh no. But when my friends saw the chest of drawers they started getting me to paint things for them. Now I have a website and stuff, but I need somewhere where I can paint bigger items. I’ve done one or two adult pieces, too.’

‘So what sort of premises do you need?’

‘Do you think you might know of somewhere? I need a barn or something. Some of the paint is a bit toxic so I need plenty of air around if possible.’

‘I might indeed know of somewhere – my own barn in fact, just by my house – but it’s absolutely full of stuff.’

‘Well, if you did think you wanted to rent it out, I could help you clear it first.’

‘That would be worth it, even without the rent. I’ve been meaning to do it for years and have never been able to face it.’

‘I think that sort of thing is fun.’

‘I suppose I’d think it was fun if I didn’t have to make decisions about everything, but if you can help me with that, well, I’d be thrilled.’