Page 16 of A Fresh Start on Crumcarey
‘I’m on it! Have you got some soy sauce… sweet chilly?’ she said, peering around at the decided lack of kitchen cupboards available to rummage through.
‘There’s a box of jars and bottles over there in the corner,’ he said with a nod, as he started to finely slice a courgette into batons.
‘So… to answer your question,’ said Maggie, the box of condiments clinking as she began to rummage through them, ‘other than my feet, today was brilliant. Olive’s lovely – and there are so many visitors, there’s no chance to get bored!’
‘Urgh… the one thing I hate!’ chuckled Luke. ‘I prefer to keep busy.’
‘Erm yeah… I can see that,’ said Maggie.
He glanced over at her, only to find her staring around the open-plan space he currently called home with something a bit like wonder on her face. It made something strange and warm settle in his chest.
‘So… how long exactly did it take you to get this place from barn to cosy cottage?’ she said.
Luke paused in his chopping. ‘About two weeks?’ he said. ‘I mean – I’ve been here for just over three, but I stayed a couple ofnights in the farmhouse with Uncle Harris, until I realised that wasn’t an option.’
‘Why not?’ said Maggie, sounding surprised.
‘The snoring,’ muttered Luke. ‘Uncle reckons it’s the dog, but considering you can hear their duet all the way over here… I’d say it’s both of them. And let that be a warning for later - don’t freak out if you hear something ominous in the middle of the night. It’s just those two and their nose flutes!’
‘Noted!’ chuckled Maggie. ‘Right, I’ve got mango chutney for sweetness, soy sauce… and a bit of actual chilly… have you got any cornflower?’
‘Erm… nope?’ said Luke apologetically. ‘I’ll grab some for next time, though.’
‘Okay,’ said Maggie.
Luke instantly wanted to kick himself. He’d just managed to invite her on a second date without meaning to! Not that this was a date… not that…
Shut up, Luke. Stop thinking… just cook!
As Maggie grabbed a clean jam jar from his stash and started to mix a sauce for the stir-fry, Luke couldn’t quite believe how easy it was to have her in the cottage. She just seemed to get on with things – comfortable with the easy silence as they both concentrated on what they were doing. It was weird. He never usually felt this comfortable with another person in his space – especially not someone he’d only just met!
‘You know… I’m really sorry to land on you like this and spoil your evening,’ she said, popping the glass of mixed sauce down next to him and then taking a sip of her wine.
‘I’m glad you did,’ he said, happy that he was able to say it quite so truthfully. ‘And you’re definitely not spoiling my evening! There’s no way I’d be up for you heading back to the cottage anyway. Not until this storm calms down and it’s light enough to see what the damage is.’
Maggie nodded, looking anxious.
‘And, for the record, I’m glad you chose to stay here instead of heading over to The Tallyaff. I wouldn’t fancy getting caught out in that right now!’
The pair of them paused, listening to the wind as it howled around the farmyard.
‘Yeah – that wouldn’t have been a fun drive!’ said Maggie. ‘It’s just…’ she trailed off and Luke raised an eyebrow. The ease that had existed between them just a couple of minutes ago seemed to have evaporated.
‘What is it?’ said Luke in concern. ‘Look, I totally get it. You don’t know me. Maybe… how about after we’ve eaten, I could walk you up to the farmhouse. We can ask Uncle Harris if you can sleep there. I’m sure he won’t mind. You know him better, and…’
‘You wouldn’t subject me to the nose flutes?!’ gasped Maggie in mock horror.
‘Only if you wanted,’ said Luke.
‘I definitelydon’t– thanks!’ said Maggie with a small smile. ‘As long as you don’t mind me kipping on your sofa for the night, of course.’
‘No chance,’ said Luke firmly.
‘Oh,’ said Maggie. ‘I get it… I mean, I—’
‘You get the bed. I’ll take the sofa.’
‘I couldn’t possibly!’ said Maggie. ‘Don’t worry – I’m not a princess.’
