Page 54 of Falling in Love at Pennycress Inn

‘Aw, how come?’ She frowned.

Shrugging, Charlie took another sip of his drink. ‘I don’t know. They’re just not my thing.’

‘How do you know if you’ve never been to one before?’

‘Because they’re old-fashioned and quaint. And I’m already doing my bit for the village by lending my tractors and trailers for the carnival. I don’t need to go and sit in a stuffy hall and be strong-armed into donating my right kidney or listen to twenty-five encounters people have had with the stray sheep.’ He looked back down at Trixie.

‘Oh, okay.’ Rubbing her forehead, Nicola tried not to sound or look disappointed. But she was. She’d hoped he’d warm to the village before the farm sold. She shook her head. What was she thinking? He wasn’t going to just magically wake up one day and decide that he suddenly hated all he loved about London. He was going back, and that was final. Her mum was right, she’d just have to get used to the idea, make the most of the time they did have left together and then try her best at making a long-distance relationship work. She needed to change the subject before he realised how upset she was. ‘So, umm, have you checked out how Miss Cooke and the netball team are getting on with their carnival float?’

‘Nope.’ He shook his head. ‘I don’t fancy getting caught up in whatever they’re doing. I get the distinct impression that if I ventured down there, Miss Cooke would have me painting, cutting or gluing something or other, and I’ve got enough to do as it is.’

‘You’re probably right. You’re best off staying as far away as possible.’

He chuckled. ‘I will, don’t worry.’

She took a deep breath, her lungs filling with the warm summer evening air and the aroma of lavender and roses. She loved her garden. When she and Nathan had moved in seven years ago, the flower beds had been taken over by an assortment of weeds and the grass had been at least two feet high, but over their first summer she and her mum had worked tirelessly during every spare moment they had and the small oasis full of blooming summer flowers, various evergreens and herbs had been created.

‘I thought I caught sight of Clau—’ Charlie looked across to the side gate and frowned. ‘Did I hear someone just call your name through the gate?’

‘I hope not. The last time someone shouted at me through that gate it was Miss Cooke and she then bundled me in the minibus to come to the farm so they could take measurements of the trailer.’

Charlie chuckled. ‘Well, it doesn’t sound like a woman’s voice, so I guess that’s a good thing.’

‘Umm.’ Tilting her head, Nicola listened as her name was called again. She knew whose voice that was. She closed her eyes momentarily before opening them and pushing her chair back. It was Nathan and if there was one thing she knew about her ex, it was that he wouldn’t give up.

‘I’m guessing it’s not a good thing, after all?’ Charlie gently coaxed Trixie off his lap before standing up. ‘Shall I get rid of them for you?’

‘No, it’s okay. Thanks though. It’s my ex, Nathan, and he’ll just carry on until he’s spoken to me.’ Taking a final sip of her wine, she made her way from the small patio area at the end of the garden towards the side gate and pulled it open, making sure to stand in the between the wall of the cottage and the gate so he couldn’t just barge his way through. ‘Nathan, can I help you?’

‘Evening, Nic. You can indeed.’ Resting his hand on the wall of the cottage, he grinned.

Making sure she refrained from rolling her eyes at his use of her nickname despite her having asked him numerous times not to call her by it, she set her jaw and kept quiet. Let him do the talking. She wasn’t particularly interested in the reason he was here. She was more interested in how she could get rid of him as quickly as possible so she could get back to having a nice evening with Charlie.

‘I’ve come for my half of the furniture.’ He stood to the side and waved his arm behind him. ‘I’ve brought the trailer.’

Frowning, she looked past him and, sure enough, his car, with a small trailer attached, was parked on the street out front. ‘What do you mean your half of the furniture?’

‘Just that. I’ve found myself a little one-bed place over in Stratford-upon-Avon and I need my stuff.’

‘You took all your stuff when you left. Bye.’ She began closing the gate.

Sticking his foot out, Nathan pushed against the gate, forcing it open again. ‘No, I’ve got my clothes and my stuff. I need the sofa or at least the armchair, the microwave or cooker, the…’ He continued ticking the items off on his fingers.

‘Er, no. For one thing, the cooker and washing machine are the cottage’s, so you can’t just take them out without the landlady’s permission. And two, you left, remember? You moved in with Kerry. It’s not my fault you’ve now broken up – with the person you cheated on me with.’ She spat those last few words out. This was becoming ridiculous, him just thinking he could turn up time and time again demanding things! She balled her fists, trying to keep her voice and expression neutral and calm. The last thing she wanted was for him to realise he was winding her up. He’d love that.

‘That’s all water under the bridge now. Me and Kerry are over and I’ve come to get what is legally mine.’

‘Nothing is yours.’ Water under the bridge? She’d always have to fight off insecurities because of him. It didn’t matter if he and Kerry were over or not, what they’d done had still happened. ‘In fact, you still owe me money for paying off your debt.’

Turning to the side, Nathan rolled his eyes before looking back at her. ‘Not this again.’

‘Not this again?’ Nicola crossed her arms. Was he being serious? ‘Yes, this again. You owe me money and we had a deal; you’d pay me back by paying the finance on my car. And you broke it.’

‘Nothing was legally binding.’

A loud guffaw escaped her lips. ‘In that case, nothing here in the cottage is legally yours. Now please leave me alone.’

‘Oh, come on, that’s different. Just let me in. Just give me half an hour and you’ll never have to see me again.’ He placed the palm of his hand against the gate as she began to close it, pushing it open again.

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