Page 65 of Finding Home in Hartfell
Pippa’s only reply was another faraway smile and she quickly snapped out of it as the back door opened and Luca entered, followed by Gil. Whatever the reality over the future of the house, she cared about Gil and by extension his family, and her smile was wide as she stepped past Cassie and held out a hand.
‘Luca, welcome home, it’s so good to meet you. Your dad has only wonderful things to say.’
‘Thanks.’ Luca flashed her an easy grin, so like Gil’s. It was going to be okay, there was warmth and humour in those matching blue eyes. ‘I’d say I like what you’ve done with the place, Dad, but it hasn’t changed much since I left. He told me what you did to the caravan, Pippa.’
‘Oh, did he?’ She had to school her face very carefully to remain nonchalant. ‘It was all for his own good because he wasn’t very well. I hope he mentioned that part.’
‘I told Luca you pretty much dragged me in here and wouldn’t let me out again.’
Pippa hurriedly coughed into her hand, doing her best to pretend that Cassie hadn’t just snorted behind her. She’d have words with her friend later. And Gil. He couldn’t be laughing at her like that, safely out of Luca’s sight.
‘Until I was better. Recovered my strength,’ Gil clarified, making a fuss of Maud who was wary of yet another new arrival and one who was even taller than Gil. ‘Maud, this is Luca. You and he are going to be good friends, he loves dogs as much as I do.’
Luca held out his arms, snuggling the puppy close, making Pippa melt just a little more. Maud was already getting over her fright and licking his face. Pippa introduced Cassie and the door opened again as Harriet arrived with Isla and Alfie. Both girls were laughing at something Alfie was saying, and as one, they fell silent when they saw Luca holding Maud.
Pippa introduced the three teenagers as well, and Maud wanted Harriet, so Luca handed her over with a grin and grabbed his bag. Pippa had been making a vegetable lasagna for dinner whilst Cassie prepared a salad. Harriet suggested the hot tub to Isla and Alfie, who’d apparently come prepared with swimming things. Another thought which made Pippa blush at the reminder.
When Luca returned downstairs, he was persuaded to join them, the dogs flopping in the early evening sun on the terrace. Gil had nipped down to the pub to bring more wine, and Pippa was breaking chocolate into chunks for a sauce to pour over profiteroles later. The house was buzzing with chat and laughter, and she loved it. Finally, it felt like a home.
‘Teasing aside, Pippa, Gil’s lovely.’ Cassie was wistful as she poured double cream into a yellow enamel jug she’d found in a cupboard. ‘And he’s so obviously into you.’
‘Do you think the kids have noticed?’ Pippa attempted to smooth out the alarm in her voice. Leaving Hartfell was going to be hard enough, and she didn’t want to add any more layers of difficulty to her decision.
‘Doubt it, Harriet’s only got eyes for Alfie and Isla’s transfixed by Luca. I doubt they’d notice if the pair of you tangoed stark naked right past them.’
‘Well, that’s not going to happen.’ Pippa sighed. Despite the hugely different and exciting relationship she was now sharing with Gil, for every smile there seemed to be a sadness too.
‘Why don’t you want them to know?’
‘It’s complicated.’
‘Complicated with benefits. That’s something.’ Cassie threw her a grin and Pippa didn’t miss the suggestion of sorrow in her friend’s face before she blinked it away. ‘You’re making quite the home here. Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?’
‘Such as?’ Pippa had been planning to keep a lid on her happiness whilst Cassie was here, but it wasn’t easy. Every time her eyes met Gil’s they shared the kind of smiles and knowing looks that wouldn’t go unmissed for long.
‘Such as this plan of Harriet’s to move up here and change schools. Isla told me.’
‘So what do you think? It’s crazy, right?’ Pippa had been running over it since Harriet had made her request earlier, finding lots of reasons against it and a few in favour. Mentioning the plan out loud somehow made it seem even more ridiculous and she was looking forward to Cassie agreeing with her so she could stand firm against Harriet.
‘In theory, yes.’
‘In theory?’ Pippa just managed to reach the chunk of chocolate that had flown from her hand before Lola did. ‘Sorry Lola, chocolate’s bad for you. What does that mean, Cass?’
‘It means that on paper it’s maybe not a good idea but it’s worth considering, surely? I take it you’ve told her no, not with her GCSEs in two years.’
‘Pretty much. I promised I’d at least think about it.’ It felt like another complication Pippa didn’t really need. ‘We were only supposed to be staying for a few days, and now she’s mucking out an assortment of animals every morning, has met a boy – who is lovely, by the way – and we’ve somehow managed to acquire a puppy. How did all that happen?’
‘And where would she go to school?’
‘In the next village.’ It still didn’t make sense, not fully. Pippa rubbed her cheek, leaving a smear of chocolate behind, aware that Harriet was trying to get Alfie’s family onside too, given that his auntie was head of year eleven. ‘And of course the school’s closed for the holidays so we can’t even look around it.’ She paused. ‘I think my dad would like the idea of Harriet being somewhere a bit more normal. He went along with her last time because it was what she wanted, but only Phoebe and Freddie went to independent schools, the rest of us didn’t.’
‘Pippa, your dad is most definitely not the important factor here.’ Cassie had employed a tone Pippa recognised, one that meant she needed to make her own decisions and mustn’t be swayed by Jonny. ‘This is down to you and Harriet. Why does she want to change schools?’
‘I can’t help thinking it’s because of Alfie. They’re so loved up right now and you know what it’s like at that age. If there’s even a whiff of me trying to separate them, she’ll probably come over all Cathy fromWuthering Heightsand take to the hills.’
‘But don’t forget that Harriet’s got an incredibly wise head on her for someone so young. The way she’s supported Isla and looked after her.’ Cassie offered Pippa a smile. ‘She’s been wonderful. You both have.’
‘We love you, that’s why.’ Pippa leaned across to squeeze Cassie’s hand. ‘So are you saying you’re in favour of her plan, then?’
