Page 15 of A Fresh Start at Bramble Cottage
ok but dont say i didnt warn u
* * *
Did the sun really always shine in South Devon? That was how Vicky remembered it from her childhood, and it seemed to be proving true. The sky was a glorious vivid blue, tempting her to walk down to the beach again.
Okay — that could be her reward for getting the cupboards and shelves in the living room sorted out. But first she opened the French windows wide to let in the warm, fragrant breeze.
On the rose bushes the buds were just beginning to open, soft shades of white and pinks and yellows. She had planned to bring some in to fill the vases in the fireplace, as Aunt Molly had done.
There must be a pair of secateurs somewhere — probably in one of the kitchen drawers. A quick hunt found them — second drawer down, among a load of other utensils. They were a little stiff, but they would do the job.
Fifteen minutes later she had a lovely display, set off with a couple of fronds from a small juniper that had been hiding behind a rather straggly mahonia. Perfect. She sat back on her heels, breathing in the sweet fragrance. No wonder Aunt Molly had loved the flowers so much.
There was a 1960s-style radiogram in the alcove beside the fireplace, and next to it a rack of old vinyl LP records — Etta James, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf. Switching it on, she chose the Etta James one and slid it carefully from its cover and placed it on the turntable.
Piano music filled the room, and that rich, smoky voice singing of love. This must have been one of Aunt Molly’s favourites — had she listened to it in the evenings, lazing in her recliner, her eyes closed, a cup of tea or maybe a glass of wine in her hand?
She left it playing while she got to work. There wasn’t much of interest in the sideboard — a box full of old postcards and Christmas cards, a lidless Tupperware container with a jumble of paperclips, elastic bands and dried up Biros. A nice carved chess set in a wooden box. Her ‘good’ china.
Next she turned to the bookshelves. There were a lot of books, some of them in French. Of course... she had forgotten that Aunt Molly had lived in France as a child.
One of them had a pretty cover of vine leaves.Les Vrilles de la Vigne —a collection of short stories by Colette. As she flicked through it, a piece of paper slipped out and fluttered to the floor. Thin paper, pale blue, folded in half. With lines of beautiful handwriting — written in fountain pen and proper ink, not Biro. A poem.
I never loved till I met you,
My heart was never touched with gold.
Now my heart will be ever true
Though years may pass and we grow old.
Love is the light between the leaves
Love is the birds that soar in bliss
Love is the stars and the summer breeze
Love is the silence in a kiss.
Roses have thorns and love has tears.
Should I be first to say goodbye
My love will last beyond the years.
Love and roses never die.
Oh...A lump rose to her throat. It was signed with the same rabbit’s ears as the portrait in Molly’s bedroom. A lover? Who had he been? Why was there no other trace of him in the cottage? Had he left her? But how could he, after writing a poem like that?
Her mother had never mentioned him — but maybe she didn’t know. It had probably been a long time ago, when Molly was young.
She tucked the poem back into the book and put it aside. The rest of the books she packed into a couple of cardboard boxes— though she wasn’t sure if the charity shop would want them. The rubbish went into a black bin bag to go to the waste-disposal centre.
After all that hard work, she felt that she had earned her treat — which meant the little café along the Esplanade, on the corner next to the gift shop. It had been her favourite place for tea and cream scones when she was little.
It seemed pointless to drive down to the seafront and try to find a parking space, so she left the car at the cottage and walked down the hill.
The café was picture-postcard pretty. The window frame was painted ice-cream pink, the sign above it bearing the legendCupcake Caféin blue and pink, with three dancing cupcakes in case anyone missed the point.
