Page 75 of Hope and Happiness in Bluebell Wood
‘Robin loves to come up here,’ Linnet says, watching her son. ‘I don’t know what it is, but he comes alive when he’s all the way up on this hill.’
‘Maybe it’s the air,’ I reply, half joking. ‘It’s so much higher up than down in the depths of the wood.’
‘You could be right,’ Linnet says. ‘Whatever it is, it’s good to see him so happy. How are you?’ she asks. ‘I haven’t seen you since before Easter. How was your weekend?’
‘Interesting . . . ’ I say, and I grimace a little.
‘Oh really?’ Linnet asks. ‘That doesn’t sound too good.’
‘Actually, that’s not fair, most of it was great. My daughter came down from Lincoln for a few days, and I had a few guests for dinner.’
‘I have to admit I have heard about your dinner party,’ Linnet says, grinning. ‘It sounded like quite the occasion.’
‘Who have you heard that from?’ I ask, surprised she’d mentioned it. ‘Don’t tell me the local gossip machine stretches as far as the inner workings of my cottage.’
‘I heard it from Lonan, actually,’ she says, suddenly looking coy. ‘Robin, don’t run off too far with Merlin now!’
My head turns to where Merlin and Robin are happily running around in the ruins, then back to Linnet.
‘Oh really?’ I ask, suddenly interested in why she’s so bashful about this. ‘Did you bump into him in the village?’
‘He came to see us,’ Linnet says, still looking self-conscious. ‘Just after Robin went missing, to see how he was doing.’
‘And . . . ?’ I ask, smiling. Could this be what Callum was hinting at when he mentioned hearing something about Lonan?
‘And we sat and chatted, and he was really nice, and then he dropped in again the day after your lunch with an Easter egg for Robin and some flowers for me.’
‘Gosh, how fabulous,’ I say, delighted. This is amazing, Linnet is positively glowing. She’s like a different person when she speaks about Lonan. ‘I’m sensing there’s more to this, though?’
Linnet blushes, and checks to make sure Robin is still out of earshot.
‘He’s asked me out to dinner,’ she gushes. ‘Only to the pub, but it’s still a date of sorts. Itisa date, isn’t it, Ava?’
‘Sounds like one to me! This is wonderful, Linnet. I don’t know Lonan all that well, but he seems a lovely man.’
‘That’s what I think,’ Linnet says. ‘I do have one problem, though.’ She looks hesitantly at me.
‘What?’
‘I need a babysitter for Robin . . . ’
‘Don’t look any further,’ I tell her. ‘I’ll look after him for you. When’s your date?’
‘Friday night?’
‘That’s tomorrow, right? All these bank holidays have thrown me a bit.’
‘Yes, tomorrow. I’m quite nervous. It’s a long time since I’ve been on a date.’
‘You’ll be fine,’ I tell her reassuringly. ‘Shall I come to you, or do you want to bring Robin to me?’
‘Let’s ask him, shall we? Robin!’ Linnet calls. ‘Robin, sweetie, can you come over here please?’ Robin and Merlin come scampering over to us.
‘I love Merlin!’ Robin says happily. ‘He’s my best friend.’
‘That’s good,’ Linnet says. ‘Would you like to spend some time with him tomorrow evening?’
‘Ooh yes!’ Robin says happily. ‘At your house?’ he demands, looking at me.
