Page 52 of The Forever Cottage

Hannah walked into her mum’s embrace and Tess squeezed her tight before Hannah pulled back to look at her.

‘Thanks, Mum. I’ve decided I’ve been mooning about for long enough. I can’t put off the inevitable any more. I need to take back some control in my life.’

Tess nodded, feeling relieved.

‘You’ve got this,’ she told her daughter with a reassuring smile.

37

‘Mum, there’s someone here to see you,’ Hannah called from the house.

Tess had been mooching about in the garden, picking some runner beans which they would eat with supper tonight, and watering her flower pots with the old-fashioned watering can. She had a hose, of course, with all the attachments, but there was something pleasing and therapeutic about using the vintage galvanised metal receptacle to tend to her plants and herbs. It was still far too hot to do anything strenuous so mainly she had been enjoying the fruits of all her hard work, and soaking up the sunshine. She hadn’t heard the front door go.

‘Hang on. I’m just coming.’ She peeled off her gardening gloves and threw them in the wicker basket that housed all her gardening tools, wiping her hands together.

‘Who is it, darling? Oh…’

Tess stopped as she entered the house, unable to hide her surprise at seeing Rob standing in the hallway. She wasn’t sure if it was the heat or something else that set off her palpitations.

‘Hey, this is a lovely surprise. I can see you’ve met my daughter, Hannah.’

‘Yes, I hope this is not a bad time,’ he said, looking between the pair of them.

‘Not at all, come through. Are you stopping for a drink?’

‘Well, if that’s okay. I don’t want to intrude at all.’

‘Don’t worry on my account,’ said Hannah. ‘I’m going out to meet a friend so I’ll leave you two to it. It’s okay to take the car, isn’t it? I’ll be back for dinner.’ There was a glint in her eye as she flashed a smile at her mum. She picked up her bag, throwing it over her shoulder, and headed for the door. ‘See you later, Mum. Nice meeting you, Rob.’

They waited until they heard the front door slam shut.

‘Ah, so I can see it’s all change around here,’ said Rob with a grin. ‘Were you expecting Hannah back so soon?’

‘No.’ Tess appreciated the fact that Rob had obviously listened and remembered when Hannah was supposed to be returning home. ‘It’s a long story, but basically, she fell out with her boyfriend and so made an early return. It was a surprise because she hadn’t told me she was coming back. I found her on the doorstep in the early hours of the morning: the best surprise ever. It’s lovely to have her home again, though. We’ve been doing lots of catching up. Beer, or tea/coffee?’

‘A beer would be great, thanks.’

Tess went across to the fridge, pulled out a chilled bottle and handed it to Rob. She poured herself a glass of elderflower cordial.

‘So, how are you? I’ve been thinking about you…’ there was a moment’s beat where her gaze snagged on his ‘…wondering how the new job is going and how you’ve settled into the new place?’

‘Yeah, it’s been great. It’s good to have something to focus on, something positive. The job suits me perfectly for now. It’s practical, outdoorsy, I don’t have to think too much so it’s everything I was looking for really, and the people seem great too. It’s good to be in my own place as well, although that’s not to say that I don’t miss the sanctuary of my beautiful garden room,’ he said with a smile. ‘There is definitely something about that space that is healing to the soul.’

‘I know, I’ve been spending some time out there, sitting and watching the world go by; it’s a really good spot to sit and think.’ Especially recently, when she had had plenty to think about. ‘Hannah has been using it too. I need to be careful though or else she might hijack it as her own.’

‘I’m sure you wouldn’t really mind that.’

Tess shook her head. ‘It was funny, but in the days after you left, Barney would go running out to the annexe and wait to be let in. I had to open it up and show him that it was empty, that you weren’t inside, ready and waiting to take him out for a walk. Honestly, it was quite heartbreaking, actually.’

‘Ah Barney, you’ve been missing me, boy.’ He spoke directly to the dog, who had made his feelings patently clear by curling up on the floor next to Rob. ‘I’ve missed you too. I’ll tell you what, maybe we can organise one of our walks with your mum soon?’

‘Only if I’m allowed to come too,’ said Tess with a smile.

‘I was hoping you might say that,’ said Rob, his gaze catching on hers.

‘Look, should we go and sit in the garden?’

They wandered outside with their drinks and sat on the cushioned seats at the table on the patio and while Tess was extremely happy to see Rob, she sensed there was something he needed to say. She cast him a glance, inviting him to speak.

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