Page 35 of The House at Hope Corner
‘You’ll think I’m awful…’
Grace narrowed her eyes. ‘On the contrary, I think you’re behaving entirely normally.’ She shook her head. ‘I had no idea it was so serious though, Caroline didn’t mention anything about an operation.’
‘Caroline?’
There was a long pause. ‘You didn’t realise? How else do you think we all know what’s going on?’
Flora sighed.
‘Take no notice of her, Flora. Caroline is a shameless gossip. I think she sees it as her duty to the community in some way, keeping us all informed. Mind you, they do own most of the land around here, and quite a few of the people as well—’ She clapped a hand over her lips. ‘Hush my mouth, what am Isaying?’ She winked. ‘I just mean that when you’re in that position it’s only natural to want to keep tabs on what’s happening locally, and Caroline does a very good job of fulfilling her obligations in that regard. She’s very wellnetworked… if you catch my drift…’
‘Oh, I can imagine.’ Flora rolled her eyes.
A shrill whistling sound came from the little kitchen. Grace hopped off her stool. ‘Back in a sec,’ she said.
Flora pulled the packet of biscuits towards her and took out two of the intensely sweet treats. She stuffed the first one into her mouth practically whole.
‘So, backtracking a little,’ said Grace, putting down a mug of tea a few moments later. ‘A double bypass sounds harrowing stuff. I imagine that must be pretty hard for all of you to get your heads around. How is Hannah taking it?’
Flora weighed up the question. ‘At the moment? I’m honestly not sure. She’s very upset obviously, and she’s gone through every emotion possible in the last few days. It’s going to mean a massive adjustment for everyone at the farm, and I’m not sure she’s fully realised quite what that’s going to mean.’ She paused. ‘I’m not being critical, I don’t know how I’d react in her situation and everything has happened so fast. I’m not actually sure how you’re supposed to deal with it. Time, I guess.’
‘A great healer, so folks reckon,’ replied Grace. ‘Not sure that’s always true. Sometimes the longer something goes on the more unbearable it becomes…’ She stopped and took a sip of her tea, staring out across the room. ‘But even then, I suppose what does happen is that you learn to develop coping mechanisms… But in this case I’m sure things will improve day by day. Fraser’s a tough old boot. I can’t see him giving up without a fight.’
Flora blew across the surface of her mug to cool her tea. She wasn’t entirely sure Grace had been talking about Hannah for a moment, but she nodded.
‘And I’ve known Hannah for years,’ added Grace. ‘She’s got a heart of gold, even if she has always been a bit of a stick in the mud…’
‘Yes, you live next door,’ said Flora, looking up. ‘Sorry, I didn’t know.’
Grace pulled a face. ‘I should have said when we first met. Force of habit, I’m afraid. I don’t always mention where I live… a lot of people around here know the house and jump to conclusions, usually the wrong ones.’ She tutted. ‘But that’s my story, for another day. So, Fraser is probably going to be okay, and Hannah as well as can be expected. What about Ned? And you of course, who seems to have been dumped in the middle of all of this from a great height.’
Flora stared at her.
‘What? Well you have, haven’t you?’
Flora wasn’t about to disagree; she just hadn’t banked on such a shrewd assessment from someone she barely knew. She gave a rueful smile.
‘It has been a bit of a shock,’ she admitted. ‘But there’s not a lot I can do to change anything. It’s Ned I’m worried about though. There’s too much work for just one person, and he’s pretty stressed already. Worried about his dad of course, but now with all the added responsibility he’s going to have to take on, I can see him makinghimselfill if he’s not careful.’
‘And in one fell swoop, Flora has gone from beautiful siren, yet thoroughly respectable prospective daughter-in-law, to carer for the whole lot of them.’
Flora blushed. ‘It’s not that bad,’ she protested, but then she leant closer. ‘I’ve never been called a siren before,’ she whispered. ‘Goodness…’
Grace grinned. ‘Jet-black hair, huge green eyes, an obvious artistic temperament and possessing a way of wearing clothes I could only dream of… Who are you kidding? No wonder you have Ned well and truly under your spell.’
‘I think you must be a little bit witchy yourself,’ said Flora, sitting back.
Grace tapped her nose. ‘I talk to my bees,’ she said. ‘They tell meeverything…’ She stretched out the last word for several seconds, and then burst out laughing.
‘Of course!’ Flora slapped her forehead. ‘The honey we buy… It’s yours, isn’t it?’
Grace simply smiled. ‘You must come over and see my hives sometime,’ she replied. ‘You were a florist in a previous life and bees like flowers.’ She put down her mug. ‘In fact, if you could see your way to planting a few more up at the farm that would be perfect. It’s not a good time for bees just now.’
‘No, I’ve heard.’ Flora’s face brightened. ‘But you know, when Hannah and I were trying to keep busy this morning, we planted up a load of seeds as it happens. Come the summer we’ll be overflowing with flowers.’
‘Well then, you must definitely come and see them. And my garden is my absolute pride and joy; you might enjoy seeing that too.’
Flora blushed again. ‘I’d like that, thank you. I’ve been wondering a little what there might be that can get me out of the house. That sounds awful, doesn’t it, but… I have a feeling I might have need of it.’
