Page 68 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
‘You have a beautiful garden, Ava,’ Lonan says, gazing out of the French windows. ‘The birds in particular seem to love it.’
‘I can’t take credit for the garden; most of it was in place before I arrived. I just have to do a little weeding now and then. I do have quite a few birds visiting the table now, though, which I’m very pleased about.’
‘They bring Ava gifts,’ Callum announces as we all look out of the window. I frown at him. This wasn’t something I wished to share with everyone – especially Jemima, seeing as I still thought the bits of pottery were from the school mosaic.
‘Gifts?’ Jemima asks from where she’s perched on the arm of the chair. ‘How so?’
I tell them quickly about the things I’d found on the bird table.
‘How wonderful!’ Lonan says with delight. ‘They’re thanking you for feeding them.’
‘Perhaps.’ I shrug.
‘What an odd collection of things, though,’ Jemima says. ‘I wonder if it means anything.’
‘Oh, I doubt it,’ I say hurriedly, keen to move on from this. Luckily Jemima doesn’t seem to notice any connection between my description of broken pottery and the school mosaic. ‘It’s probably just junk they’ve found on their travels. How is your book going, Lonan? I’ve inherited a lot of books, as you can see from the bookshelves, but I don’t think there’s one of yours on there.’
‘Then I shall have to rectify that!’ Lonan says. ‘I shall bring you a signed copy of my latest novel.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I love to read but I don’t think I could ever write a book,’ Jemima says. ‘I have no idea how you’d even go about starting one.’
Lonan and Jemima begin a long conversation about how Lonan writes his books, while Callum and I listen politely. I glance across at Callum while they’re talking and he smiles at me.
Another drink?I mouth at him, noticing his empty glass.
He nods. But as I pass him on my way to the kitchen and take his glass, instead of letting me go he gets up and follows me into the hall.
‘Thank you for inviting me today,’ he says as we pausebetween rooms. ‘Jemima must have been at her wits’ end when her cooker went down. I know she worries unnecessarily about these types of things. She can be a little overprotective of me at times.’
I wonder what he means.
‘I’d love to take the credit, but it was Hannah who saved the day at the eleventh hour by inviting you.’
Callum grins.
‘What?’ I ask him.
‘You may not realise it, but we both just quoted the Bible.’
‘Did we?’
‘Yes, both “wits’ end” and “the eleventh hour” come from the Good Book, as do many well-known sayings.’ He thinks. ‘Like if I’d cooked for you today it might have been “the blind leading the blind”.’
‘Now that I can definitely relate to,’ I say, smiling. ‘Well, you learn something new every day, don’t you? Oh, is that one too?’
‘No, I’m afraid not. But I feel it should be. Perhaps I’ll suggest it next time there’s a rewrite.’
I glance at him for a moment, and then realise he’s joking.
‘Ha ha, very funny.’
‘I try,’ Callum says, smiling at me.
‘Don’t mind me,’ Hannah says, suddenly appearing from the kitchen. ‘Just taking a break from the magic I’m creating in there.’
‘You’re doing remarkably well, suddenly feeding everyone like this,’ Callum says approvingly.
