Page 73 of Autumn in Sycamore Park
Jennifer turned to see Amy standing behind her with an older lady at her shoulder. She had kind eyes and a warm smile. The sun, shining through the trees seemed to light up her face.
‘This is Clara,’ Amy said. ‘Clara Goldsmith.’ Just in case the penny took a moment to drop, she added, ‘Your predecessor.’
‘Lovely to meet you, dear,’ Clara said. ‘I was just chatting to a few of my old lot over there, and I have to say, it sounds like you’ve made a good impression. And how on earth did you get Gavin and Matthew to be such good friends?’
Jennifer smiled. ‘Complete luck. Thank you for coming. It’s lovely to meet you at last.’
Clara nodded. ‘I’d tell you to give me a call if you have any problems, but I’m retired and happy to stay that way. However, I wouldn’t mind a slice of cake or two.’
‘Ask Gavin to give you a discount. Tell him I said.’
Clara chuckled. ‘Oh, he’d never believe me, the little so-and-so.’
‘Will you be sticking around for the play?’ Amy said.
‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ Clara said. ‘Who’s playing the prince?’
‘Rick,’ Jennifer said.
Clara chuckled again and rolled her eyes. ‘How surprising. Well, I hope whoever’s unlucky enough to be the princess escapes with nothing more than a peck on the cheek.’ As Amy, eyes wide, went bright red, Clara nudged Jennifer and added, ‘If it was me, I’d have given the part to Moody Maud. That would have shown him.’
Up on the stage, Downton banged a spoon against a frying pan and called for quiet. Clara said goodbye to Jennifer and moved back through the crowd. As Jennifer stood next to Amy, she glanced across the assembled crowd and spotted Matthew Bridges’ dad, holding up an iPad so that someone on the screen could see what was going on.
‘All right, everyone,’ Downton said, taking hold of the microphone and looking no less awkward than he did when they had a meeting at school, ‘Ah, thanks for coming and all that. I’d just like to give a big shout of thanks to everyone on the staff—and the kids, of course—for all your hard work. I’m quite amazed that you managed to pull it off. At this point last year I think we’d had a couple of stalls collapse and at least two kids go missing, so small mercies, really. Then there was that beehive some dog disturbed … but there’s no need to bring that up.’ He gave a big, humourless smile. ‘And I’d like to give a special thanks to the council for not cutting down that big tree over there. Even though it looks like it might be about to collapse anyway, I’m told it’s been here quite a while. I wouldn’t suggest standing right underneath it, though, just in case.’
A cheer went up from the crowd, as well as a couple of shouts to hurry up. Jennifer twisted as someone grabbed her arm, and she turned to see Angela with tears in her eyes.
‘Oh, my gosh … he’s so funny,’ she said, barely able to speak.
Jennifer shook her head. ‘I think you’re putting a bit too much sugar in your coffee,’ she said.
‘So, anyway, to officially open the harvest festival—something I realised we’d overlooked until last night—I’d like you to give a warm welcome to Brentwell’s very own she-devil with a thawed heart, Regina Clover.’
To lukewarm applause and a few sly boos, Regina Clover, beaming in a straw hat that looked straight out of Downton’s wardrobe, climbed up on to the stage and walked over to the microphone, waving to the crowd as she did so, seemingly oblivious to the grumbles being passed around.
‘Such a fine day, such a fine day,’ she said, giving a tittering laugh. ‘How lovely to see so many of you. Just in case you’re unaware, there’s a council by-election next month.’ She winked. ‘Not to try and nudge you, or anything….’
Jennifer found Tom standing beside her. ‘I’m not sure she needs acting lessons,’ he said, leaning close. ‘I think she could teach me a thing or two.’
‘…and so, at least until the council has no other choice but to call in the bulldozers—’ Regina slapped her thigh and giggled, ‘—I’d like to welcome you to Sycamore Park on this fine October day, and declare the Brentwell Primary School Harvest Festival officially … open!’
Cheers went up from the crowd, as well as a few sighs of relief. The band began to play, and parents flocked towards the stalls to try out cakes and sandwiches, juices and coffees, to buy vegetables, fruits, and craft goods, and to try their hand at a dozen different games. Jennifer looked up at Tom. With the sun just behind his face, he looked incredibly handsome, and when he smiled at her, she felt a sense of warmth that defied the chilly wind that had a habit of blowing through the trees, and she realised that on this day, in the middle of this park, in this little town, she felt truly and completely alive.
‘My hands are cold,’ she said.
‘What? I think I have some gloves here somewhere—’
‘No. Specifically my left hand. The one closest to your right hand.’
‘Oh.’
Jennifer watched him. His smile dropped a little, but his eyes watched hers with great intensity. The chilly wind that had been riffling her hair was suddenly hidden beneath the warmth of Tom’s fingers.
‘So, uh, can we have that date tonight at long last?’ Tom said.
‘I think we can.’
‘That’s good.’ Tom continued to look at her. He smiled again. ‘Um … would it be permissible for me to kiss you in front of your pupils?’ Tom asked, giving Jennifer a shy smile.
