Page 43 of Falling in Love at Pennycress Inn

‘Ooh yes. That’s exciting.’

‘It is. I can’t wait to be honest.’ Laura hugged the laundry basket towards her. ‘I feel as though we’ve been waiting forever for this. Although I know it’s not really, but I guess it’s just because we’ve known each other so long. He’s my brother’s best mate, so he’s been around forever.’

‘That’ll be great then when he’s all moved in.’ Nicola yawned.

‘Late night last night?’ Laura dropped the laundry basket by her feet and raised her eyebrows.

‘Haha, I went to see Charlie if that’s what you mean, yes, but we ended up spending the evening looking for a hen.’ Nicola stifled another yawn with the back of her hand.

‘A hen?’ Laura frowned.

‘Yes, just like I said. One of the hens from the farmyard just disappeared. Charlie had made me dinner, but just before we sat down to eat, he went out to make sure the hens had gone to bed for the night and to shut up the coop when he realised one was missing.’

‘Oh no, did you find her?’

‘Yes, but it took us about two hours of searching the barns, the yard and the closest fields. We’d all but given up and Charlie was convinced a fox must have got hold of her, and then on our way back to the farmyard to check on the others, we heard this clucking from beneath one of the trailers and there she was.’

‘She was hiding?’ Laura widened her eyes. ‘I didn’t realise they were that clever. She just didn’t want to go to bed or something?’

‘I don’t think she was hiding. I think she must have been off somewhere looking for corn or whatever and then came back when we were out looking for her.’ Nicola took a sip of the strong coffee she’d made herself when she’d first arrived at the inn earlier. The coffee was cold, but the caffeine would still do its job. Or she hoped it would. ‘They are clever, though. Apparently, they have the same intelligence as a toddler.’

‘Wow, seriously?’ Laura shuddered. ‘They always remind me of dinosaurs, the way they walk. And they’re not supposed to like red or something, are they?’

‘No, I remember one year when I was a teen, me and Jill visited the farm, and I was wearing flip-flops with my toes painted red.’ Nicola laughed at the memory of being chased around the farmyard by a group of hens trying to peck at her toes. She hadn’t even laughed at the time – she’d been suitably terrified – but looking back, she could see the funny side of it. ‘Suffice to say, I’ve never worn red nail varnish again.’

‘Oh, that’s brilliant!’ Laura threw her head back and laughed. ‘I’m so sorry, I probably shouldn’t laugh, but the image of you being chased by a hen…’

‘Laugh away. It’s a mistake I’ll never make again.’ Nicola grinned and nodded towards the front door as she spotted a group of children running up the path. ‘Are we expecting the forest school again today?’

‘Umm, not that I’m aware of. I know Jill is coming to garden in the evening because her husband is at work, so she’s got all the kids now the summer holidays have started but…’ Laura’s voice trailed off as the front door was pushed open and children ran into the hallway, carrying an array of art supplies just as they had yesterday. ‘Hello. Back again today?’

‘Yes! Mummy said we needed to ask you if we can paint in the garden again. We can’t go to the hall as there’s lots and lots of people still there and we can’t go to the forest school because in the holidays they let a lot of tiny children in, and they wouldn’t let us paint.’ Willow took a deep breath before continuing. ‘But we’ve had to bring Kasey as Mummy forgot to book him a place at the forest holiday school, so he’s with us, but we can’t let him ruin our paintings…’

‘I’m guessing you’ve explained everything, Willow, sweetie?’ After ushering the ten or so children into the hallway, Jill shifted little Kasey on her hip and closed the front door firmly behind her.

‘Yes.’ Laura smiled. ‘You need to work in the garden again?’

‘If that’s okay? Please? I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m usually so organised, but this year, I just, I don’t know, I assumed we’d be able to use the classroom at the forest school, but they’ve taken on more children for the holidays this year and so it’s being used.’ Jill shrugged.

‘No worries. Come on through.’ Laura kicked the laundry basket behind the reception desk before leading the way.

‘I’ll bring out some juice. It’s going to be a warm one today.’ Nicola picked up the notebook and began to fan herself. She loved the summer, the long days, the warmth even, but already today it was too hot for her liking.

‘Yes, that’s a point, set up your workstations beneath the trees. In the shade,’ Jill called ahead as she hurried behind them.

‘We will, Mum!’ Willow shouted back, her voice echoing in the hallway.

‘Sorry to just drop all this on you again.’ Jill sighed as she followed behind, carrying armfuls of stuff, bags of paints and supplies, a sheet of plywood clamped between her arms and her side, as well as her small toddler.

‘No problem.’ Rushing around to the other side of the desk, Nicola took the bags from her. ‘Let me take those.’

‘Thank you.’ Jill smiled. ‘I don’t remember the carnival ever being so stressful. The other groups are all working at the farms who are lending them the use of their trailers. That way everything is in one place, and they can check measurements and how things will look, little things like that which make a huge difference.’

‘Is that what you did at Little Mead last year, too?’ Nicola followed her through the kitchen towards the large patio doors looking out onto the decking and the garden below.

‘That’s right. I’m not complaining. I’m really grateful that Charlie changed his mind and is lending us them now.’ Jill frowned. ‘I don’t want you thinking I’m moaning about him. I’m not.’

‘Don’t worry. I know you’re not. He might not realise, remember. He’s never worked on the farm before and he’s not visited his uncle in twenty-odd years. He probably doesn’t realise that by giving you only a couple of days to assemble it all isn’t really long enough.’ Using her elbow, Nicola pushed open the patio door before holding it open for Jill and the sheets of plywood. ‘I can talk to him, if you like?’

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