Page 7 of The Forever Cottage

One of the changes Tess had resolved to make in her life was to stop saying yes to things she didn’t want to do for fear of upsetting the other person or simply to please them, which she had been guilty of in the past. Today though, it wouldn’t hurt to give her neighbour a little time, especially when she’d been so kind as to bring cakes.

‘Goodness me, I’d forgotten how beautiful this place is,’ said Dilly, walking in and craning her head to look all around her. ‘I think I came in once several years ago for Christmas drinks and can remember how lovely it was, but you’ve clearly done a lot of work since then.’

Tess flicked the kettle on and pulled out a couple of mugs from the cupboard, feeling a pang of guilt. The Christmas drinks party, a drop-in, all-day do, was an annual event bringing together their friends, family and villagers, over some glasses of fizz and some festive canapés. Tess had always loved those occasions with the house looking its best festooned with garlands and the tree sparkling enticingly in front of the double doors of the orangery. By the end of the day, she and Charles had always been delightfully satiated, filled with goodwill, mince pies and far too many glasses of wine. Now, she had to wonder when and why they had scratched Dilly off the invitation list.

‘So tell me, what are you up to with the skip? I hope you’re not thinking of moving away. After the break-up. I’d miss you, if you were to go.’

Tess handed Dilly a mug of tea and offered her one of her buns from the box, and Tess followed her lead, putting the crumbly, sweet treats onto plates.

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ Tess reassured Dilly. ‘I considered it briefly. Wondered if it might be better if I made a fresh start somewhere new, but then I thought, why should I? I’ve done nothing wrong. This is my home, and I love it here.’

‘Good for you. I’m pleased to hear it. I’d hate to lose you as a neighbour.’

Tess caught Dilly’s smile, knowing that she absolutely meant it.

‘Tell me to mind my own business if I’m being nosey, but is there any chance that Charles might come home?’

Tess shook her head firmly.

‘No.’ She’d asked herself the same thing, imagined him making a mercy dash, late one evening, realising the mistake he’d made, begging her forgiveness. She would be the bigger person, understand that he was only human and had given in to his base needs, but she would be strong enough to overlook his disloyalty and give him a second chance. ‘There’s no going back,’ she said with a certainty she didn’t entirely feel. ‘I’m going to make some changes around here,’ Tess explained. ‘Make the place my own again, starting with Charles’s office. It was originally intended as a summer house, but now I want to make it my personal snug-cum-craft-room, somewhere I can retreat to in the afternoon, spend some time drawing, or crocheting, or reading my book, with Barney curled up at my side. I’ve already ordered a daybed to go against the back wall.’

‘What a wonderful idea. I only wish I had the space to do the same.’

Dilly’s cottage, aptly named Lavender Cottage, from the fragrant plants that lined her front path, was the end of a terrace of what were originally farmworkers cottages, which was separated from the larger, double-fronted Hollyhocks Cottage by a wide, gravel driveway. Tess and Dilly’s paths often crossed on their way in and out of their houses when they exchanged a cheery wave and greeting, but generally, that was as far as their interactions went. Now, Tess felt ashamed to realise that she knew very little about her neighbour, only that she lived alone and had a grown-up son with a family in another part of the country.

‘Come and have a look outside,’ Tess offered once they’d finished their drinks, and Dilly followed as Tess led the way through the orangery and into the garden.

‘This is a lovely spot. I can see why you would never want to give it up.’ Dilly took a moment to soak up the scene, her gaze running around the profusion of shrubs and blooms. ‘You know, Tess, I just want to say how sorry I am about your break-up. It’s a shitty thing to happen at any time, but at this point in your life… well, it must be hard.’

‘Thanks. It’s been a shock,’ Tess admitted. ‘Honestly, I still can’t really believe it. But what can you do? You have to get on with it, don’t you? Have you ever been married?’ It seemed like the ideal opportunity to ask.

‘Twice. First to Stephen, Jon’s father, but he died about twenty years ago now, and then a second time to someone whose name I’ve forgotten, or rather, I’d prefer not to mention. After that disaster, and divorce, I decided I was better off on my own. Now, I can’t imagine sharing my life with anyone else. He’d have to be pretty special. I like being able to do what I want when I want.’

Tess nodded, wondering if she would ever get to a point where she would enjoy her single status more than being a married woman. She couldn’t see it, somehow. She pushed up her sleeves on her t-shirt. ‘Right, well that skip’s not going to fill itself. I ought to make a start,’ she said with determination.

‘Of course, I’ll leave you to it. Thanks for the tea,’ Dilly said, heading for the back gate. ‘Tess?’ Dilly turned, wavering a moment. ‘I hope you don’t mind me saying, but…’ She walked back towards Tess, staring intently.

‘May I?’ she asked, not waiting for Tess’s reply, before reaching a hand up to remove the scrunchie, releasing Tess’s hair onto her shoulders, and running her fingers through her tresses. ‘If you want me to sort this for you, I’d be more than happy to help. I reckon a few soft highlights, some of this length off and some choppy layers through the top, and honestly, it would make the world of difference. I promise, it would take years off you.’

‘Oh…’ Self-consciously, Tess put a hand up to hair, knowing it was dry and frizzy, and well overdue a conditioning treatment, but she’d hoped it might not be noticeable tied back behind her head. Clearly, she was wrong. ‘I remember now, you have a salon in town.’

‘I sold it five years ago,’ Dilly said, matter-of-factly. ‘I still work a few days a week though as a freelance hairdresser. I like to look after my long-standing clients and it gets me out of the house and brings in some extra spending money too. Although I wouldn’t charge you. I’d be happy to give you a bit of a makeover for free.’

‘Well, thanks!’ Tess wasn’t sure if she should feel insulted or grateful. She took back the scrunchie Dilly held in her hand and quickly tied her hair back again. ‘I’ll let you know about that.’

She smiled tightly as Dilly walked away, feeling embarrassed as she let out a sigh that sent a wayward strand of hair falling over her face fluttering in front of her eyes. She marched into the office to find something, anything, that she could throw into the skip. Spotting an old monitor that she had already marked to be thrown out, she picked it up and chucked it with force into the skip, feeling a sense of satisfaction hearing the glass shatter at the bottom.

7

It was a cathartic process clearing the office. Charles had collected some of his belongings on one of his recent visits, when Tess had stood arms crossed and tight lipped as she’d watched him move boxes into the back of his car, feeling an overwhelming sense of sadness and anger. She’d barely been able to look at him, let alone reply to his ridiculous questions about her wellbeing. How the hell did he think she was doing, after he’d dumped her for a younger woman, only weeks earlier? Not tickety-boo, that was for sure. She told herself that it was part of the process, that things would start to improve soon and removing reminders of Charles was a good place to start in helping her to move on. There was still plenty of his stuff that needed to be sorted though. Anything that Tess thought he might want to keep, she put away into plastic boxes and stacked in the garage. If he didn’t come and collect them by the end of next month, then she would dump them at the tip.

She took a step backwards to survey her handiwork. Already, she could imagine how the space would look once she’d removed all remnants of Charles from the place. She’d always had an eye for interior design and had overseen the decoration of the entire cottage, with soft cream hues a running theme throughout the house, and bold splashes of colour from the cushions, artwork and rugs. She would give the same treatment to her new craft room but she was thinking a colour scheme of soft pastels – mint, baby blue and pink – white wooden furniture and accessories of patchwork blankets and plenty of plants.

Tess sighed hearing the ringing of the doorbell, mentally preparing herself. If it was Dilly again, she would turn her away. Explain that she had a lot to be getting on with. She was sure Dilly meant well, but seeing her earlier had done nothing for Tess’s self-confidence. Thinking about it, she should probably book a visit to the hairdresser’s soon, but she had more important jobs on her list first.

Only it wasn’t Dilly standing on the doorstep this time, it was… Well, it took her a couple of moments to realise exactly who it was.

‘Nico?’ After all, it had been a long time, a couple of years at least, since she’d last seen him. Her mind scrabbled around to remember exactly when. Probably a Christmas do at the law firm where he worked alongside Charles. An image of Nico in a burgundy velvet suit popped into her mind and she shook away the reminder. Now, he cut an equally distinctive figure standing on her doorstep, dressed elegantly in navy chinos and a pale-blue chambray shirt. He was tall and lean, with an abundance of dark wayward curls. She suspected he was younger than Charles, probably late forties. ‘I’m sorry, but Charles’s not here,’ she said, gathering herself.

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