Page 25 of The Forever Cottage

Suzy and Tess glanced at each other, wondering what Gina had in mind.

‘Well, that’s something we can definitely do at some point,’ said Tess. ‘We’ll have to get a weekend in the diary and decide where we want to go.’

‘No, I was thinking specifically the end of this month. To a hotel in Annecy, right on the lake. It was all booked for Ryan and me to go together, and I thought about cancelling it, but then I reasoned, why should I? It’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go. I mean, I could go on my own, but it would be much better if you two could come with me? It’s for three nights in a beautiful hotel right on the shores of the lake. We’d have the best time. I gave them a call earlier and they have space available in the next door room that we could book. What do you think?’

‘Well, it sounds like a good idea,’ Tess ventured, her mind already conjuring up a number of reasons why she couldn’t or shouldn’t go. ‘But why don’t you two go together this time, as it’s already booked, and then we can get something else planned for another time, maybe next year.’

‘Are you busy that weekend then?’ Gina pulled up the calendar on her phone to show Tess when she had in mind.

‘I don’t think so, but it’s not that far away. Mum only came out of hospital today and then I’ve got Barney to think about too. What about you, Suzy? How are you fixed?’

‘Yes, I’m in! Gina mentioned the date earlier when I phoned to confirm the arrangements for tonight and I thought what a great idea it sounded. Getting away for a couple of nights might do us all good. Well, if you can make it, of course. I had thought Marjorie was on the mend… I’m sure she’ll be perfectly well looked after in your absence, and you can always keep in touch by phone. As for Barney, couldn’t Charles look after him while you’re away?’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t need…’ She stopped herself in the nick of time from blurting out that she wouldn’t need Charles’s help when she had Rob at home to look after Barney, assuming he might agree. She bit on her lip, uncertain why she was reluctant to tell her friends about Rob. Now might be the perfect time. They would be fascinated to hear about the good-looking guy living in the annexe, eager to know his life story, but Tess wasn’t sure she was ready to share that information with them, anticipating their good-natured ribbing. For the time being, she would keep shtum, until she got to know Rob better herself.

‘Come on, Tess, it will be good fun!’ urged Gina now, breaking into her thoughts.

Tess plastered on a smile, wondering why she was filled with apprehension at the thought of going away. It wasn’t as if she had anything to keep her at home and it was only for three nights. Three nights when she would be away with her friends in a gorgeous location, having fun. Her mum was back in the safe care of the home, and Marjorie would be urging her daughter to get away if she knew she had the opportunity. She thought of Charles and realised with a sense of freedom that she didn’t need to tell him, she could do exactly what she liked, whenever she liked, and the cottage would be well looked after with Rob living on site and Dilly keeping a friendly eye out from next door.

‘I wouldn’t want Charles looking after Barney. Did I tell you he suggested that Melody might enjoy having Barney stay with them? She likes dogs, apparently! Ha ha ha!’ Tess said, with only a touch of mania to her voice. ‘Not content with stealing my husband, she wants my dog as well! That’s not going to happen.’

‘The bloody cheek of the woman!’ exclaimed Gina, suitably outraged.

‘Exactly!’ said Tess, grateful for the moral support.

‘No, but you could find someone else to look after the dog?’ Suzy said, trying to get the conversation back on track. ‘What about that slightly odd woman who lives next door, wouldn’t she help you out?’

‘You mean Dilly.’ Tess paused for a moment, mulling over that idea. ‘She probably would actually. Funny thing is, I’ve got to know her a bit better over the last couple of months and she’s not odd at all.’ Tess felt guilty knowing that Suzy would only have got that impression from what she’d told her. ‘I admit, I always thought she was too nosey for her own good, but I think that’s her way of being friendly and neighbourly. She’s been a bit of a lifeline to me recently, a much welcome friendly face over the fence.’

‘There you go then,’ said Gina, who was sensing Tess was on the brink of agreeing. ‘Let me show you the hotel. It looks wonderful. It should be a proper peaceful retreat.’

‘What, with you leading the party?’ said Suzy. ‘I don’t believe that for one moment.’

‘Fair enough,’ Gina giggled, ‘but it will be amazing all the same.’

Tess sensed she wouldn’t be able to say no even if she wanted to, but the funny thing was, as she craned over pictures of plush hotel bedrooms and beautiful sunsets, she realised she didn’t want to say no.

‘Yes! Why not?’ she breezed impulsively. ‘As long as I can make sure Mum will be okay and make arrangements for Barney, then yes, I’d love to come,’ she said, feeling a fizz of excitement already building inside.

19

It was no coincidence that Tess found herself pottering in the kitchen at around the same time each morning, as part of her normal daily routine. She would flick on the kettle, pop a teabag in a mug and let Barney out into the garden while she prepared his breakfast ready for his return from his sniff-about. Then with her tea made, she would have a quiet half an hour to herself perusing the Sunday papers which were scattered across the island, as it would take her very nearly the whole week to read every article that was of interest to her, and add some answers to the crossword and sudoku puzzles.

A new but welcome part to that routine was seeing Rob as he emerged from the annexe, a tall, broad, distinctive figure, with his dark, close-cut hair and strong jawline. He would shut the gate behind him and head off down the lane and Tess would stand out of sight to one side of the leaded windows and watch until he disappeared from view. Only today, as she stepped forward to see which way he was going, he turned around and must have caught sight of her inside the house. He waved and stopped, obviously having a change of heart, and turned back towards the cottage, heading in her direction. She wandered towards the front door to meet him, just stopping momentarily by the hall mirror to check her appearance, zhooshing up her hair and running her tongue across her lips, feeling an anticipation flutter in her chest. She couldn’t even begin to make sense of what her body was telling her. She pulled open the door, a smile on her face, thankful that she’d already showered and brushed her teeth.

‘Good morning! I hope I didn’t stop you on your way.’

‘Not at all. I just spotted you and thought… well, it’s such a beautiful morning…’ Rob held his open palms up to the sky. ‘I thought I’d come and say hello. I’m off for my daily walk. Do you fancy coming with me? We could do the shorter version, if you fancied it?’

‘Hey, what are you suggesting?’ Tess placed a hand on her hip in mock outrage. ‘Do I look as though I’m not up to the longer route? I might not be as fit as you, but I’ll have you know that Barney and I have hundreds of miles under our belt.’

‘I promise you, I wasn’t making any assumptions about your level of fitness.’ He paused, eyes wide, and Tess could see the amusement flickering in his gaze. ‘I just wondered if you might like to join me, but no worries if not.’

Barney went dashing out onto the drive, running around in excitable circles as though he thought the idea was a great one.

‘Well look at Barney, he’s up for it, so I think that’s the decision made! Can you give me a minute? I’ll grab the lead and I’ll be right with you.’

Tess had been wanting to catch Rob. There was something she wanted to ask him so this might be the ideal opportunity. Inside, she grabbed her keys and her crossbody bag that held all the dog-walking paraphernalia, took a breath, before joining Rob again outside.

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