Page 63 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
‘This looks good,’ Thom said, following me into the kitchen and sitting down. The chair creaked.
‘I think the joints are loosening,’ I said. ‘And these chairs definitely need repainting, but since Mum did them this sugared-almond-lilac shade, I can’t bring myself to change it.’
‘Shabby chic is very trendy,’ he assured me, then fended Golightly off. ‘I take it he isn’t allowed any of this?’
‘No, but I’ll rattle a couple of cat treats in his bowl in the utility room; that should take his mind off it.’
It did, and we ate in mostly companionable silence, although I did tell him about my flat sale going through and Miss McNabb’s bad conscience call. But I didn’t mention the Marco email … or Will’s, come to that, though I wasn’t entirely sure why.
‘I’d better get on with fitting that cat flap,’ Thom said finally, after polishing off the last of the crusty rolls.
‘You make a start, then. Just shut the door to the hall as you go, so Golightly doesn’t escape, and I’ll bring our coffee out there in a minute, when I’ve washed up.’
When I did, I found the cottage door open on to the courtyard, which was bathed in warm September sunshine, so different from the chilly, dark, rain-washed day when I’d arrived. Simon wandered across from his workshop to see what Thom was doing, mug of tea in hand.
‘As cat flaps go, that’s not a very big one,’ he observed, as I put Thom’s mug down on the step next to him.
‘Neither is the cat and he’s also very skinny, although he has enough character and lung power for a tiger,’ Thom said.
As if to back up this statement, there was a demonic howl from behind the closed living-room door.
‘What kind is he?’ Simon said nervously, having slopped some of his tea down his jeans.
‘I don’t think he is any particular kind. My neighbour never mentioned it, but she might not have known because he just unexpectedly came with her flat.’
‘I suppose he was marginally better than a poltergeist, but only just,’ said Thom with a grin, and I gave him a look.
Simon offered advice, which Thom totally ignored, and very soon the new flap was installed and demonstrated. Being black, it didn’t stand out too much against the glossy paintwork of the door.
‘And you can lock it from the inside. I’d better do that now,’ he said, ‘so he doesn’t get out before you want him to.’
‘I thought Sunday might be a good day to try it for the first time and see what he does,’ I said. ‘It should be quiet then and he’ll have got used to the idea that the cottage is his home … or I hope he will.’
‘I’d better get back. I’ve got a van picking up a consignment of hats shortly,’ Simon said. ‘You must come and see the Mad Hatter’s workshop some time, Garland.’
‘Love to – thank you.’
‘I’d better get back too,’ said Thom, stowing his tools back in the box and then handing the empty mug to me. ‘I was sent a very ancient Burmese puppet for restoration this morning and I want to make a start on it. They’re lovely things – Malloryand Demelza would give their eyeteeth to add it to their collection!’
‘I didn’t even know there were Burmese puppets!’
‘It’s a very old tradition. Pop in and have a look when you’ve got a minute.’
‘I will,’ I agreed, and then stood there on the doorstep rather absent-mindedly watching him walking back to his workshop …
He didn’t look back, but a moment after he’d let himself in, he reappeared carrying Jester’s large, furry cushion and laid it outside in the sun.
Jester immediately flopped down on to it and Thom vanished again, back into his puppet world.
I wondered how Jester would react if he found Golightly sharing his courtyard. Or, perhaps more importantly, how Golightly would react to him!
There was still an hour before I needed to wrestle Golightly into his basket and I found myself wandering into my workroom, where my eye fell on the box containing my wedding dress.
I unlocked the door to the staff room, and added it to the shelf. I’d transfer it to an archive box and number it later. For the moment it just felt good that I’d moved the personal connection one step away from me simply by making it one more dress in the collection – number 12.
My mobile rang while I was still there. It was Honey, asking if I was at the cottage.
‘Only if you are, could you pop along and open the staff room door, so the plumbers can get in and make tea? I usually leave it unlocked for them, but forgot to mention that to you.’
