11 An Offer I Can’t Refuse

11

An Offer I Can’t Refuse

By three in the afternoon, I hit the point where I’m waiting for the final coat of paint on the background panels to dry and Oliver, too, has ground to a halt. He suggests he give his mate at the airfield a call and saunters off, leaving me to tidy up. About five minutes later, I catch a movement as the door slowly opens and, to my surprise, Harry appears.

‘It’s only me,’ he mutters. ‘I heard you was working all weekend. I’ve brought you a couple of finds I stumbled across that I thought you might be able—’ He stops short, staring at the stage. ‘What’s that?’

‘I refer to it as the orb because it’s shiny and semi-transparent. It’s stunning, isn’t it?’ Admittedly, it’s propped up with three temporary supports while the glue holding the top of the structure hardens overnight, but even so, it’s impressive.

Harry walks closer and he’s clearly impressed. ‘Wow – that’s big! It’ll certainly grab everyone’s attention.’

‘It had to be large enough to allow a person to walk around the central support.’

‘It reminds me of an old-fashioned birdcage.’ Harry purses his lips, staring in awe. ‘It can’t have been easy to construct.’

‘It wasn’t. First thing tomorrow Oliver will put in the final fixings to stabilise it. The inside will be made to look a little more like a clearing in a forest, ready for the performance.’ Standing eight feet tall, and with the central tree trunk now sprayed white, it’ll look enchanting when it’s finished.

‘Well, you’ve both done a good job, that’s for sure.’

‘Oh, it’s not down to me,’ I inform him. ‘My only task has been to wield a paintbrush and roller.’

Harry looks around at the dozen or so panels laid out on dust sheets, and he laughs. ‘You like navy blue, do you?’

‘Not so much after three coats.’ I smile. ‘But it’s supposed to be the sky on a dark, winter’s evening. Tomorrow I get to paint a few soft clouds and add some twinkly stars. How I’m going to get them to look realistic, heaven knows!’

We both chuckle at the pun.

‘I don’t see how you can do that without real lights. Me friend’s son is an electrician; I could ask him to pop in and take a look. All he’d need to do is drill a small hole in the middle of each star, big enough for a tiny bulb on the end of a wire to be slid—’

‘What a brilliant idea!’ Oliver’s voice interrupts us and we turn around to look at him.

‘I was just saying what a brilliant job you’ve done here,’ Harry enthuses. ‘It’s going to be quite a spectacle.’

‘It’s been a long day and tomorrow won’t be much better, but once it’s done, it’s done. We need to get the cast together for a first run-through to check the layout works, given how narrow the stage is.’ I can tell that Oliver is still concerned about the positioning of everything.

Harry utters a ‘hmm’, no doubt thinking the same thing as me – designing this set wasn’t for the faint-hearted.

‘I knew you were looking for some old bits and pieces,’ Harry continues. ‘I found a metal clock and a lantern. Rusty gold, as they say, but a quick polish would add a bit of a lustre.’

I wondered what was in the heavy-looking sacks he was carrying, which he left just inside the door.

We walk over to take a look, as he rolls down the first sack to reveal the clock.

‘Oh, Harry. Now you really have outdone yourself!’ Oliver looks ecstatic. ‘It’s finishing touches like this that will really dress the set and bring it to life.’

‘The clock will make an interesting display piece on the flower cart,’ I agree, enthusiastically and Oliver nods his head in agreement.

‘If the lantern is as bold a statement piece as this, I could make a pole so it could be carried around on stage with a battery light inside of it, like a candle,’ Oliver replies.

‘It might be too heavy for that, but it could be turned into a lamp post,’ Harry suggests.

‘Well, that should be easy enough to knock up. It’s all about proportions when it comes to props and I’m mightily grateful to you, Harry.’

‘Waste not, want not.’ He grins at us, glancing from me to Oliver. ‘And hold off on making a pole for the lamp, Oliver. I’m fairly sure there’s something in my scrap pile I can rescue that will do. I’ll find some sort of metal base so you can anchor it to the stage. Give me a couple of days to sort it and I’ll pop it in to you.’

‘I probably won’t be around much after tomorrow,’ Oliver admits, sounding a tad regretful. ‘I’m heading home to London, but I’ll be back for the odd day here and there. Aside from the trial run, it’ll just be a case of helping a mate get the spotlights sorted at some point and any rehearsals the cast want to do in situ.’

Harry turns to look at me.

‘I’m not going anywhere.’ I smile. ‘I can store it in the stable block ready for Oliver’s next visit.’ Hearing that he’s returning to London so soon is a bit of a disappointment. It’s been a great diversion working alongside him; it’s the most fun I’ve had in a long time if I’m being honest with myself.

After we bid Harry goodbye, Oliver checks his watch. ‘It’s a half-hour drive to Babdown aerodrome, so we’d best make a start. Ron usually shuts up shop at four on a Saturday, but he’ll hang around for us.’

‘That’s very kind of him.’

Oliver winks at me. ‘As I said, I put a lot of work his way. He can more or less charge what he likes, because it’s getting increasingly harder to find some of the stuff he’s managed to get his hands on over the years.’

We gather our things together and make our way to Oliver’s car.

‘I could drive us, you know,’ I offer.

‘Yes, but my car is on site and yours isn’t.’

‘OK, if you’re sure.’

‘After you’ve given all those panels three coats of paint?’ He reaches out to press the button and the engine kicks into life.

‘I’ve enjoyed doing it.’

‘But not as much as you’ll enjoy next weekend, I bet.’

I look at him, puzzled, as he eases the car out into the lane.

‘The trip to see your mum,’ he continues. ‘I bet you’re looking forward to it.’

Actually, I’m feeling anxious about it and the pause sparks his interest.

‘Why the hesitation?’ He’s genuinely puzzled.

‘It’s a long story.’

‘You’ve got half an hour … it won’t take longer than that, surely? I can tell that something’s wrong. This is the first time I’ve seen you looking down in the mouth.’

I’m reluctant to get into this. Oliver is still little more than a stranger to me, even if we do seem to have struck up an easy friendship in a short space of time.

‘Look, Sienna, I get it. You’re like me; we hate people knowing our business and I’ll hazard a guess that our respective experiences have made us hesitant to trust people. But I have a favour to ask you and it means sharing something I’m not comfortable about. If I do confide in you, will you share with me whatever it is that’s troubling you?’

‘You’ll trust me if I trust you?’ I joke.

To my utmost surprise he nods his head. He’s a genuinely nice guy and there isn’t anything he’s said, or done, that indicates he’s not being straight with me. Even so, it’s a little outside of my comfort zone.

‘I don’t share other people’s secrets, though. And that’s a part of the dilemma I find myself in.’

‘Then I know I can trust you, so only tell me what you’re happy to share.’ He sounds prosaic and I wait until he’s ready to begin. ‘It’s likely that I’ll be back for a couple of overnight stays, aside from Christmas Eve itself. Daniela keeps insisting that I stay at her place, as it’s on the doorstep. She thinks she’s doing me a favour, but I need um … I’m looking for an excuse to decline her offer, with reluctance obviously as it’s kind of her.’

Now I’m confused. ‘Why?’

I turn to stare at his side profile, as he swallows hard.

‘This isn’t easy to admit,’ he replies, his voice sombre. ‘I feel that Nigel isn’t really comfortable having me stay over.’

‘What?’

Oliver sighs. ‘It’s nothing. Just a man thing.’

What on earth does that mean? ‘I don’t understand. He’s such a friendly guy.’

‘I know. But he sees … no, he senses what Daniela doesn’t.’

‘Which is?’

Oliver makes a soft groaning sound. ‘Ugh. Sorry, this is awkward and rather embarrassing.’

‘Look, Daniela is my best friend, so maybe you should stop there.’

‘It’s not her problem, it’s mine.’ He clears his throat uneasily. ‘When we were at uni together and I went to pieces, Daniela assumed it was because the girl everyone thought I was serious about, admitted she was also seeing someone else. Wendy and I only had a few dates, but as classmates and with our parents being neighbours, it must have seemed we were much closer than we were. Wendy was seeing a married man and it suited her for people to think there was something more serious going on between us.’

‘And you went along with it and ended up getting hurt?’

The way he squirms in his seat makes my stomach turn over.

‘Daniela had literally just met Nigel. She talked about him all the time and it was clear from the start they were mad about each other. It wasn’t just a passing thing, it got serious very quickly. She … um … had no idea I had feelings for her, still doesn’t. I don’t mean now … I mean, back then. We were great friends, and I didn’t want to lay a guilt trip on her, just because I missed my chance to tell her how I felt. But, yes, for a while there it was like the bottom had fallen out of my world; it was easier to let people think whatever they wanted, as long as no one suspected the truth.’

My jaw drops. ‘And Nigel knows that?’

‘No,’ he stresses, sounding horrified. ‘I’ve never breathed a word about it to anyone, until now. But it’s obvious that he isn’t comfortable around me and I guess on a deeper level, he wonders whether there was anything going on between Daniela and me, before he came into her life.’

‘But there wasn’t?’

He gives a sad little laugh. ‘No! In hindsight, if anything were going to develop between us it would have happened way before Nigel appeared on the scene.’

‘And she never guessed how you felt about her, even afterwards?’

‘I had no intention of spoiling her happiness at a time when she was obviously madly in love. She was never like that around me and I realised we’d only ever be friends. But I was devastated for a while, and I let Daniela believe that I went to pieces over Wendy, and not her.’

Oh no, what a mess! ‘And that’s why you didn’t want to get involved in the play, to begin with.’

‘Yes. I never met Nigel, and I hoped to keep it that way. But I owe her. Even though she has no idea she trampled on my dreams, her friendship kept me going. Even my parents think Wendy broke my heart and, yes, it was the talk of our little village. If the reason they moved was because of gossip, I might have confessed the truth to them, but they left because Granddad couldn’t manage the farm. They were always going to end up there, so it was no hardship.’

‘It explained away the unexplainable,’ I mutter, softly.

‘Yes. And eventually I escaped to London to put it all behind me. I assumed that over time my friendship with Daniela would fade away. It did in a way, as it was just the occasional email, or call, usually something to do with our shared passion for the theatre. She very kindly recommended me to a few of her contacts and I did the odd favour for her. I don’t think either of us could deny we had a bond of sorts; she just didn’t feel the same way about me as I felt for her, and I’m glad it remains a secret. I only managed to decline an invitation to her wedding, because – thank goodness – I was in France working at the time.’

Poor guy. ‘But you ran out of excuses when it came to the play?’

‘It means a lot to Daniela and, honestly, I felt it would be like drawing a line under the past for me, once and for all. I’m glad to see how happy she is with Nigel, but I think I’ve repaid the debt I feel I owe her for what she did for me, without ever knowing the truth. I thought you might understand, given what you’ve been through this summer. It’s about self-preservation, isn’t it?’

‘So … what’s the favour you want to ask?’

‘I can’t use the excuse of sleeping over at my parents for a one-night stay, as she’ll be offended. But if someone else in the village was offering me accommodation …’

‘Me?’

He immediately backtracks. ‘Sorry, I don’t know what I was—’

‘No, no. It’s fine. It’s not a problem. I have a spare room and you’re right; she might think that you were avoiding her if you refuse, and you don’t want that. If Nigel isn’t happy, then you’re doing the right thing.’ Oh gosh, this is going from bad to worse, because now that he’s bared his soul, how can I not do the same?

‘You have no idea what a weight that’s lifted.’ He lets out a sigh of relief. ‘Moving on rather quickly from my embarrassing revelation, you’re up next.’

I take a moment to gather my thoughts. ‘Like you, I don’t find this easy to talk about. There are two reasons why I’m dreading going to Cornwall. The first is that while I want my mum to be happy, the thought of staying in the home she’s made with Greg makes it all suddenly feel very real.’

Oliver says nothing, but I can tell by the way he’s staring straight ahead that he’s listening intently.

‘She has a new life, one I’ve not really been a part of. Oh, they slept at Grandma’s house last Christmas Eve as a couple, but that was the first time I’d met Greg face to face. Up to that point, I’d kidded myself that Mum’s frequent jaunts to Cornwall leading up to it wouldn’t come to anything. Dad hadn’t been able to entice her to move to the Lake District, where he hailed from, so I told myself it wouldn’t last.’ Even to me that now sounds incredibly naive. ‘But I was wrong.’

When Oliver starts speaking his voice is soft, and low. ‘And now it’s time to face the reality that she isn’t coming back to Darlingham?’

‘Yes.’

Oliver frowns. ‘It goes even deeper than that, doesn’t it?’

I heave a heavy sigh. ‘When Freddie took a turn for the worse and died a couple of weeks after Mum’s departure, she wasn’t here to help. Grandma was a rock that Elizabeth leant on, and I was the one Grandma confided in at the end of each day. It was quickly followed by my split with Liam less than two months later and I guess at that point I felt that Mum had abandoned us. I know it sounds utterly ridiculous …’ I tail off, miserably. It’s the first time I’ve really acknowledged that fact.

‘No. You’re only human, Sienna. The timing was awful, that’s all. It’s a real shame, but you can’t let that drive a wedge between you and your mum. If she’d come back, even temporarily, what difference would it have made? It must have been heartbreaking for her whenever you spoke and probably took the shine off the happiness of starting over again with Greg.’

I can’t even look him in the eye. ‘You’re right. A part of me knows that, but how am I going to get through this visit? I can’t put it off any longer. The only two people I feel comfortable asking to accompany me can’t make it.’

Oliver draws in a deep breath. ‘I’m free. But you said there were two reasons. I’m guessing the other one is equally as sensitive, as you’re clearly worried about it.’

At least he’s sympathetic. ‘It’s a favour for a friend. It’s to do with a beneficiary in a will, but the executors haven’t been able to track them down.’

Oliver takes his eyes off the road for a brief moment to gaze at me. ‘But you think you know where that person is?’

‘I have a lead indicating he might have moved to Cornwall many years ago, but it’s tenuous.’

‘Goodness, Sienna. No wonder next weekend is a huge deal for you. If you’re happy to give me an excuse to avoid staying with Daniela and Nigel, I’ll be more than happy to help you in any way I can. You tell me what part I have to play, and I’ll figure it out. That’s what actors do, even amateur ones.’ With that, he starts laughing and the mood between us immediately shifts.

Poor Oliver. He lost his first love to a man who makes her so happy, he doesn’t want to risk upsetting what they have. As for me, I need an accomplice, and this is an offer I can’t refuse.

Monday morning starts off on a good footing.

‘A carousel, you say?’ Elizabeth repeats and even Grandma stares at me in surprise.

‘Yes, and it’s being lent to us for free, courtesy of a company called Backlight Enterprises. They’re based in the Cotswolds.’

Elizabeth’s hand flies up to her mouth. ‘That’s wonderful news, Sienna. How on earth did you pull that off?’

‘It wasn’t down to me, it’s Oliver we have to thank, as it’s courtesy of a friend of his who rents out props.’

‘Well, it’s very generous of him. We’ll have the collection buckets out for the children’s event in the afternoon and hopefully it will really boost this year’s donation.’ Elizabeth turns to face Grandma. ‘Our girl did good!’

I watch as they smile at each other. Oliver isn’t ready to reveal the stage to them yet, but I do hope he gives them a sneak preview when the cast get together for their first run-through, as they’ll be delighted.

‘That’s it for news from me,’ I confirm. ‘This week I’m planning to call everyone in who’s involved with the preparations for the afternoon and evening events, to run through where we’re at. If there are any hiccups, I want to address them ahead of my weekend away. I’ll be leaving on Friday afternoon and won’t be back until late on Sunday.’

Elizabeth gives Grandma a pointed look and I wonder what’s coming. ‘I’m not sure you should go on your own, Sienna.’

‘Oh, I’m not. Oliver is coming with me. After all the work he’s put in on our behalf, he’s delighted at the thought of a couple of days spent exploring the delights of Cornwall. And um …’

‘It’s a good excuse for you to get out and about?’ Grandma replies.

‘Yes. While we’re exploring, I’m sure we’ll want to pop into some of the smaller hotels with amazing views of the sea for a cup of coffee, or to rest our legs.’ I wink to let them know the secret is safe with me.

Elizabeth puts her hands together in prayer fashion, raising her fingertips to her lips. ‘Thank you, Sienna. We’ve spent a lot of time chatting over the last forty-eight hours, haven’t we, Charlotte?’

‘We have.’ Grandma’s expression instantly changes.

Elizabeth continues. ‘We came to two conclusions. The first is that if your enquiries don’t come to anything, then it’s fate sending a message and I must accept that. The other …’ She beams across at Grandma. ‘We’ve had such a wonderful time that instead of rejecting invitations, in future I’m going to accept them, your grandma too! We’re going to start socialising again, I mean, properly. This coming weekend, we’re hosting a dinner party here for a large group of friends.’

I look slightly concerned, as I can’t imagine Veronica’s reaction. She panics when there’s a low-key family dinner and all she has to do is reheat what Georgina has prepared.

‘Oh, don’t worry. We’ll be liaising with the caterers to get everything set up in advance. We’ve hired kitchen and waiting staff to take over when Veronica leaves for the day. And when she arrives early on Sunday morning the kitchen will be spotless.’

It’s lovely to see the two of them so animated. ‘How exciting!’ I exclaim.

‘No more excuses, eh, Charlotte?’ Elizabeth smiles at Grandma, who inclines her head. ‘This Christmas is going to be special for us all, I can just feel it. No more morbid dwelling on past hurts and losses; it’s a turning point. It’s time to move on and celebrate what I’ve been blessed with – people who care enough to want to be a part of my life. Freddie would have expected that of me, and I don’t intend to let him down.’

It’s a thought-provoking moment and Elizabeth excuses herself to meet up with Georgina and begin making arrangements for Saturday night. As the door shuts behind her, Grandma gives me a reassuring smile. Finally, the spark has come alive again in Elizabeth and it’s good to see her planning something just for the fun of it.

‘That must have been quite a weekend the two of you had,’ I reflect, the moment we’re alone.

‘It was.’ Grandma’s smile falters.

‘What’s up?’

She emits a gentle sigh. ‘It’s been a tough year for us, too. What with your mum moving away, you and Liam parting ways …’

I look at Grandma, feeling perturbed. ‘I thought this was about Elizabeth’s situation – losing Freddie and learning she has a grandson, only to face the fact that he’ll never be known to her.’

‘Partly. We talked a lot; we laughed, we cried, and we commiserated with each other for what we couldn’t fix. Then we realised that next year is uncharted territory, as they say.’

‘But Mum is only a phone call away and I’m still here, Grandma.’

There’s another sigh. ‘I know, but you’re young and who knows what exciting things life has planned for you? Change has its ups and downs. I’m so happy that your mum has Greg, and I’m sure before too long you’ll find someone to be a part of your life, too. The thing is … I’m going to be moving into the Hall permanently.’

My eyes widen. ‘You are?’

‘We’re two lonely old women who’ve been friends for over seventy years. What we appreciate most these days is company. As you know, Elizabeth’s eldest brother has been dropping hints about her finding someone to help her run things .’

I make a tutting sound. ‘If you ask me, Stephen is overstepping the mark,’ I reply, crossly.

‘Actually, he touched a bit of a raw nerve. It isn’t only your workload that Elizabeth is concerned about.’

‘Why on earth is she concerned about me?’

‘You’re arriving earlier each morning and leaving later most days, Sienna, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. And how often are you here on a Saturday just to “catch up”?’

There’s no point arguing with the truth. ‘I’m helping to pick up the slack, that’s all.’

Grandma makes a tutting sound. ‘With you running the office and monitoring the finances so efficiently, Elizabeth looking after the household staff and making sure everything in the house runs smoothly, there’s still no one to formally take over Freddie’s responsibilities, is there? You’d already taken on everything you could when he started to decline. All you’re doing now is firefighting. Am I right?’

It’s true. Whenever a problem arises with one of the cottages for instance, or some of the older plumbing in the main house springs a leak, I stop what I’m doing and try my best to get it sorted quickly. But Freddie was very proactive and had a rolling maintenance programme, which has now ground to a halt because there’s no one to keep on top of it.

Grandma smiles at me, knowingly. ‘I pointed out to Elizabeth that an estate manager might be a useful addition to the team as, essentially, that was Freddie’s role. With the tied cottages and the rentals to maintain, and the land management, it’s no wonder it’s put added pressure on not just you, but poor old Victor, too. Oh, he’s very much like you … he just gets on with it but it’s taking a toll. He’s happy managing the gardeners, but he doesn’t have the skills to look after the entire estate. Like you, he too is faced with a growing number of problems that aren’t his job to tackle. And if it’s urgent, it ends up on your desk.’

I can’t argue with that. ‘But overall, Elizabeth feels confident about the future?’ I enquire.

‘She admitted that what’s missing from her life is companionship at the end of the day; just having someone to talk to who doesn’t have an agenda of their own.’ I take that to mean interference from Elizabeth’s family members. ‘And, equally as importantly, waking up each morning with a positive mindset rather than just whiling away the time.’

It’s hardly surprising. ‘You won’t be working for her, as such?’

‘No. This is about true friendship. Oh, we’ll spend a little time moaning about our aches and pains, and gossiping, but we spark off each other. Elizabeth is keen to open the house up to other people and begin hosting charity dinners again. We’re going to have some fun organising that together and doing some good at the same time.’

I’m pleased for them both, of course, but this is the last thing I was expecting. I thought Grandma enjoyed her independence. I know it’s different now that Mum isn’t able to pop in to see her every day, but River View Cottage has been her home for a long, long time. ‘Has … um … Elizabeth told her family about your plans?’

‘Yes. Both of her brothers were rather shocked but were careful how they responded.’

‘Really?’

‘She’s very aware that there’s family interest about what will happen to the estate when the time comes. Freddie supported a lot of charities, so I think there’s an assumption that there will be a long list of beneficiaries. But, obviously, Elizabeth has four nephews and nieces that both she and Freddie doted on. I’m betting that there’s an expectation they will inherit something, too.’

It feels wrong sitting here discussing this topic. ‘Well, whatever … hopefully that’s a long way off.’

‘Ah, but it leads me rather nicely into my next piece of news, my dear. I want to pass the deeds to my cottage to you.’

My jaw drops. ‘Grandma! What if … I mean … why don’t you rent it out and if you ever want to move back in at any time in the future, then it’ll be there for you.’

‘I’ve talked this through with your mum. At my time of life, it’s not about making money, it’s about enjoying each day as it comes and not having the burden of looking after bricks and mortar. And it will give me immense pleasure to know that you have something you own, here in the village. It’ll set my mind at rest. Now, I have a list as long as my arm of things to do. I haven’t felt this excited in a long time; it’s enlivening, so don’t rain on my parade with “ifs” and “buts” – it’s time for action.’