Page 48 of The Beekeeper's Cottage
‘Amos, this is going to look incredible. I can’t thank you enough.’
He stepped off the bottom of the ladder. ‘Then all I ask is that you enjoy it.’ He smiled, a little sadly Grace thought. ‘But you’re right, it’s going to look magical. I only hope your guests appreciate the beauty that is around them.’ His eyes held hers for a moment and she thought he was going to say something else, but then his gaze dropped.
‘Well, there’s no guarantee of that, I’m afraid, but at least there are six of us who think it looks amazing.’ Hannah and Fraser had popped over during the afternoon to add their congratulations on how well everything had turned out.
‘Have you heard from Paul?’
It was a casual enough sounding question, but Amos knew better than anyone how anxious she was. From the time Grace had first told Paul she wanted a divorce, she had only heard from him a couple of times. However, after ringing Dominic to tell him that she was agreeing to host the weekend, she had expected Paul to get in touch, but there had been nothing. It angered and saddened her in equal measure, but it also made her scared because not knowing what Paul was thinking was even worse than knowing what he was.
She shook her head. ‘No, nothing. I just hope he isn’t planning any nasty surprises.’
Amos touched her arm lightly. ‘I don’t think he would dare, Grace. The only one who would lose then, is him. This weekend has to go well and I’m sure he will do everything he can to make sure it does. And perhaps… well, he may be keeping out of your way to make it easier for you. Admittedly, given his track record, that doesn’t seem likely, but Dominic doesn’t sound like a fool, I’m sure he has Paul on a tight leash.’
Grace frowned. ‘Let’s hope you’re right. I just pray I’ve done enough.’ She looked to Amos for reassurance but he was silent, looking up at the sky, a peculiar expression on his face. Perhaps he was offering up a silent prayer of his own.
‘Do you know what their itinerary is this evening?’ he asked. ‘Is Paul scheduled to be with them, or is he meeting them here?’
‘No, he’s with them, they’re all supposed to be arriving together.’
Amos nodded, as if giving conclusion to his own thoughts rather than anything Grace had said. ‘Right, what’s next on the list of jobs to do?’
‘I think we’re almost there, actually. Once Flora has finished with the flowers then I need to set the table and make a few advance preparations for supper, but that’s it. And get ready of course.’ She looked down at her jeans and tee shirt and pulled a face. ‘I can’t remember the last time I wore a dress.’
‘No, me neither…’
She looked up sharply to see Amos grinning at her. ‘Come on then, let’s go back inside and see if Flora needs some help.’ He held out his hand, his fingertips just brushing hers and she was relieved to see he was looking more relaxed.
Back inside the kitchen, Flora was finishing up, collecting together the floral remnants she no longer needed. On the table in front of her were three low rectangular vases, each of them stuffed with fresh white Michaelmas daisies. No other adornment, just masses of the friendly heads, and running down the centre of the table they looked gorgeous. Grace crossed the room to give Flora a hug.
‘I don’t know what I would have done without you all,’ she said, suddenly threatened by a wave of emotion.
Flora gave her a quick squeeze. ‘You’d have coped beautifully, Grace, just like you have all these years. But look at the farm, nothing happens there without us all working as a team. People are better together, it’s as simple as that.’
‘Hmm… as long as it’s the right people,’ murmured Grace.
‘Well that’s okay then,’ Flora replied firmly. ‘Because we are the right people. Isn’t that so, Amos?’
He grinned. ‘You know I never disagree with you, Flora,’ he said. ‘Well, ladies, if you’ll excuse me, I think the two of you are far better suited to adding the necessary finishing touches required, and I promised Ned I would give him a hand with the watering. I’ll catch you a little later, Grace, if that’s okay.’ He gave a little bow and sauntered back out the door, disappearing into the garden.
Grace watched him leave. ‘Is there something a little odd about him today?’ she asked Flora.
‘Who, Amos?’ she replied, picking up some discarded greenery. ‘I don’t think so, why?’
‘I dunno.’ Grace shrugged. ‘Can’t quite put my finger on it.’
‘You’re just nervous,’ replied Flora. ‘After all, it could be a little awkward with him around, couldn’t it, once Paul arrives?’
Grace stared at her. ‘Could it?’
Flora smirked but didn’t reply. She didn’t need to – Grace knew exactly what she meant, she was just pretending she didn’t.
Together they finished clearing up and setting the table until Flora too announced that she should get going, leaving Grace to get ready and collect herself for the evening ahead. And then, a moment later, it was just Grace left, standing in her kitchen watching the light turn golden through the patio doors. She wrapped her arms around herself and went slowly upstairs.
Her dress was years old, but didn’t look it, and as her figure had scarcely changed over the years, it made no difference. Besides, it always made Grace feel good. Made from shimmering silk, in a soft sage green and gently fitted, it enhanced her slender boyish shape, the colour of the fabric slightly deeper towards the hemline. With her curling grey hair left loose about her shoulders, she looked feminine and elegant.
With ten minutes to go until everyone was due to arrive, she almost missed Amos as she came back into the kitchen. He was standing in the shadows by the patio doors, and it was only his intake of breath that gave him away. He stepped forward into the light, the sun making a golden corona around the black curls of his head.
For some reason Grace could scarcely breathe as he came to stand in front of her. He took both her hands in his, holding them lightly in the space between them. ‘Is there anything I can do for you, Grace?’ he asked, softly.
