Page 13 of Starting Over at Halesmere House
Kelly looked as nonplussed as anyone had a right to these days. Her phone almost never left her hand and nearly her entire life was contained inside it. ‘So what do you really have to lose if you ask Zac to have one drink? He’s practically perfect for you right now. Single, gorgeous, seems nice. And moving on so you both know there’s an end point. I mean, come on! How many profiles do you think you’d need to swipe through to find that?’
Alice was grateful to be saved a reply by the waitress returning to take their order, and conversation shifted to safer subjects over their meal. After they’d finished and the table had been cleared, she noticed Ana arriving with her girlfriend, Rachael. Alice waved and the two women came over to join them. A couple of extra chairs were shuffled up and introductions made as more drinks were ordered.
Sandy arrived soon after, surprising Alice, and they stood up to share a hug. She’d had supper with her aunt at the rectory a couple of nights ago, and she was happy to see her again. Like her dad, Sandy too had inherited the auburn hair he’d passed on to his children and the style Sandy preferred, short with choppy layers and turning grey as she neared her sixtieth birthday, suited her. She’d brought two baskets stuffed with baking apples from her garden, and paper bags so everyone could help themselves.
She couldn’t stay too long, Sandy explained, as she was expecting a call from a friend in Australia and had only popped in to offload the apples. She settled next to Alice on the chair Ana had just vacated to chat with someone she knew at the bar. Alice felt a sharp longing for her dad; this was just the sort of jolly evening he used to love, and she hated that she couldn’t ever bring him here for a cheerful pint or a hearty Sunday lunch.
During the next round, Marta and Luke, Alice’s nearest neighbours, turned up with another couple who both looked fresh and glowing, and Alice introduced Kelly to everyone. Lizzie and Cal were based at Halesmere and just back from a couple of days wild camping on the fells, having vacated the courtyard flat for Zac a few weeks ago. Lizzie said, with a grin as Cal laughed, that the cottage they were renovating was so basic it was like camping indoors.
Alice explained to Kelly that Lizzie planned the events and retreats at Halesmere alongside her photography and that Cal was a blacksmith, with a workshop in the old forge. Alice had already admired his work in the gardens in the form of two stunning, life-sized hares sculpted in steel. Next Saturday they were holding their engagement party in the Hart and Alice learned it was also where they’d first met twelve years ago before they’d both moved away.
Cal looked every inch the qualified mountain leader he also was, and Luke was soon teasing him about his latest client, a reality TV star used to every comfort who was now trying his hand at living off-grid for an upcoming production. Alice connected to everyone on Instagram, chatting to Marta and Lizzie as more drinks were ordered while Kelly was talking with Rachael. Lizzie offered to take some images of the flower meadow for Alice’s Instagram, and Marta invited Alice to the farm for supper next week.
Then Sandy was saying good night, ready to catch up online with her friend, and Alice moved to make way for her aunt to leave. It was her turn for drinks, so she asked the others what they’d like and made her way to the bar. She noticed Zac and the blonde woman across the pub sharing what looked like a goodbye as she found a spot and Alice turned away as he dipped his head to kiss her cheek, focussing on her order instead as the barman approached.
‘I thought you might want some help with those.’ A couple of minutes later, Zac had positioned himself at the bar, tilting his head to the tray starting to fill up. She liked that he hadn’t attempted to crowd her, leaving a space between them.
‘I’ll be fine, but thanks for the thought.’ She was determinedly avoiding any suggestion of eyelash action, if she had indeed even been doing that earlier. Did it come naturally, she wondered, or were you supposed to practise? She stifled a smile. One drink with this man would be like inviting a tiger to tea and expecting not to be gobbled up.
‘What’s so funny?’
‘It was nothing, I promise. Just something Kelly said.’
‘Your friend is very direct.’ He glanced across to the Halesmere table, where Kelly was talking with Ana now, heads bent together.
‘She is; it’s just her way. I’m sorry if she was intrusive.’
‘It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.’
Alice had already recognised his cologne; it was the same one woven into the coat he’d given her the other day chasing sheep. Notes of lime and juniper, fresh and fragrant on his skin. Her gaze caught on a chain around his neck, a tag inscribed with numbers hanging from it.
‘So I’m guessing you were the friend she was asking me if I’m single for?’ Someone had moved behind Zac, and he was forced to inch closer to her.
‘It was her kindly meant but far-too-early attempt to get me dating again after my divorce.’ Alice made herself hold his gaze. ‘But I think we’re in the clear because you and I feel the same way about dating.’ She was curious why he didn’t date too, but she certainly wasn’t about to quiz him the way Kelly had. ‘Not that we would have dated anyway!’
‘We wouldn’t?’ The lazy smile was back, and Alice couldn’t fault his flirting skills. Her skin was already tingling, and her pulse was threatening to skip a beat. ‘Why not, theoretically speaking, if both of us were into dating?’
‘Because Halesmere is a new start for me and I’m all about keeping things simple.’ Alice thanked the barman as he fetched a second tray and set a bottle of red and three glasses on it.
‘I understand. I like my life that way too.’ Zac was holding her again with just a look and she forced her attention back to the barman when he told her how much she owed for the drinks. She took her purse from her bag and waited for the card machine to arrive.
‘If you want any help with a training plan for the bike, let me know,’ he said casually. ‘I ride whenever I can, and I know my way around here.’
‘Why would you do that?’ She placed her card on the machine to pay for the drinks, suddenly realising she hadn’t offered to buy him one. Walking and yoga was the extent of her exercise and even they had taken a back seat since the divorce. It was another reason why Halesmere, with all it had to offer outdoors, had appealed to her so much. And she was definitely going to need some sort of plan for the triathlon.
‘Maybe I know what it’s like to need a target to keep you going,’ he offered quietly, and then the wide grin was back. ‘Looks like I’ll have to buy my own drink, Harvey. You owe me.’
Chapter Five
On Monday morning, Alice was still in her pyjamas when a knock landed on her door just after eight. Relieved that her expected delivery of wreath-making supplies had turned up so early, she went to answer it. Now she didn’t have to wait in and could head down to Halesmere for work before the rain forecast for this afternoon arrived.
She opened the front door, athank youalready on her lips until she saw Zac leaning against the frame. The sight had her thoughts racing back to those last few moments with him in the pub on Saturday night, his quiet offer to help her with the bike if he could.
‘Morning. Brought you this.’ She couldn’t help but return his grin when he held out a pint of milk. ‘Just in case you’ve run out again.’
‘Actually, I already have milk. But thanks for the thought – that’s very kind of you.’ Her dressing gown was a grey fluffy one, covered in stars, her auburn hair scraped into a messy knot at the nape of her neck. The fresh air was cool, and she could already feel it filtering into the narrow hall. ‘Are you doing special deliveries now?’
‘Only for you.’
