Page 45 of The House at Hope Corner
‘Up close it is then.’
Grace’s garden was just as beautiful as she’d described, and nestled in among a huddle of trees towards the far end were her hives, three of them, a few feet apart. The low winter sun would soon be gone but, for now, its golden rays were slanting across the tops of the hives, filtered by the branches of the trees. From there the garden sloped away allowing an uninterrupted view across the fields, fields which, Flora knew, lay just behind the farmhouse.
‘Come and stand on this side,’ said Grace. ‘That way you’ll get a better view of the bees on the wing and you won’t be directly in their flight path. They’re only just beginning to gather food again, but the last few days of warmer weather have really helped.’
‘Can I go closer?’
Grace nodded. ‘As close as you’re comfortable with. If any bees land on you just wait quietly until they fly off again. They’ll soon work out that you’re not bearing gifts of nectar.’
Flora took her phone from her pocket and crouched in the grass. Turning on the camera, she increased the zoom until she was focused right on the entrance to the hive. She took several shots straight off.
‘They’re beautiful,’ she said. ‘I love the way their wings catch the light, like tiny slivers of gold.’ In her mind she was already beginning to see how she might transform the photos into art.
She took a couple more pictures and straightened again. ‘One of my favourite designs is a print of a thistle head with a fat bumblebee feasting on it. And it’s all the more extraordinary because the thistles were in a big bunch in a bucket outside my shop in the middle of a busy street. The bee just flew along and helped himself. I prayed no customers would come along for a few minutes so I could quickly sketch the scene, and that night I cut the lino block to make the print in record time. It was the most perfect composition, and I loved how the whole thing came together so effortlessly.’
Grace looked delighted. Flora could see she understood perfectly how that felt and she needed to say no more.
‘Well, I hope that next time you come you’ll have more wonderful work to show me,’ said Grace. ‘I’d love to see it. In fact, bring anything. I’m going to take what you’ve already brought to the shop if you don’t mind, and put up a display. I’m certain we would sell them, but I’m only going to do it on one condition.’ She looked at Flora expectantly.
‘Which is…?’
‘That you let me decide what price to put on them.’
Flora didn’t reply and Grace took her silence for discomfort. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said quickly. ‘I’ve embarrassed you.’
‘No, it’s not that.’ Could she confide in Grace? Flora wondered. Everything she knew about this woman told her she could be trusted, but it was a big thing for Flora to take her into her confidence. She screwed up her courage; there were bigger things at stake here. ‘I’m incredibly flattered that you like my art so much, and if you really think they’d attract a higher price then… well, that’s incredible!’ She couldn’t help a glimmer of excitement slipping out. ‘But, well, it’s a bit of a difficult subject.’
‘Talking about money always is. But spit it out, Flora, it’s the only way.’ She smiled in encouragement.
Flora took a deep breath. ‘It’s not a secret as such, what I do. In fact, Ned has wonderfully supportive but… well, since coming to the farm I don’t have any means of making any money of my own and I don’t like to ask Ned for it. He doesn’t mind at all, but I’m trying to save a bit, you know, for the wedding and—’
She didn’t need to finish. ‘Don’t worry,’ Grace said. ‘When they sell, because I’m sure they will, I’ll make sure that just you and I know about it, how’s that? I’ve spent years being a kept woman because my husband liked it that way, whileIhated every minute. You don’t need to say any more.’
Flora heaved a sigh of relief. It wasn’t quite the whole truth, but it was close enough.
‘Thank you, Grace. I really appreciate it.’
‘Not another word,’ she replied, smiling. She paused and a more sombre expression crossed her face. ‘I know that things are a little difficult for you at the moment because of Fraser,’ she said. ‘And they have every chance of being difficult for some while to come, but your art is important to you, Flora, it makes you who you are. It brings you peace, and solace too when you need it, but it also fires you up and gives you the energy you need to go on. The joy that radiates outward from you at that moment is good for other people too. Hold onto it, Flora, don’t ever let it go.’
Flora nodded, seeing the wisdom and sincerity in Grace’s brown eyes. She had a feeling that something rather important had just happened and she stood for a few moments, drinking in the quiet and serenity. Whether that came from the view, the garden, the bees, or Grace herself, Flora wasn’t sure, but it was profound.
‘Penny for them?’
Grace had moved to stand beside her, with her face turned towards the sun.
The question surprised her. Flora hadn’t realised she’d been thinking about anything much, but then she realised that she had. There was a vision in her head that was so clear it could have been real. And the smile that had curved around her lips had come completely in response to it as she looked out across the field that was no longer a grassy meadow. Instead, it had become a riot of colour from the rows and rows of flowers planted there, heads waving in the softest of breezes, just enough to release the most wonderful scent of summer…
She shook her head, laughing, suddenly a little embarrassed at her flight of fancy. ‘You wouldn’t believe it if I told you,’ she said. ‘I’ve always had the most overactive imagination…’
Grace regarded her quietly. ‘No,’ she said. ‘I think I’d believe you. I’ve often stood here and imagined the future. Maybe that’s what you’ve seen.’
A tingle ran up Flora’s spine. That’s exactly what it had felt like…
Chapter Sixteen
Flora scarcely had time to think over the next few days. Her mornings started early, rising with Ned so that at least they could share a few minutes together before he left for the day. As he was working by himself, he no longer came in for a proper breakfast, but instead Flora would make up a parcel of sandwiches and fruit and take it over to the main barn, from where Ned would collect it at some point. It wasn’t ideal. On the one hand, she was pleased that he wasn’t eating a fat-laden breakfast every day, but on the other it meant that Ned didn’t stop for a break either; with lunch consumed the same way, he was effectively working twelve-hour days.
Given Hannah’s deep mistrust of hospital food, early mornings also included making lunch for Fraser which they would take with them when they visited later in the morning. Then, after lunch, they made yet more food ready for when Flora visited again after dinner, with Ned this time. Flora suspected that Fraser gave most of it away, but she didn’t dare say anything.
