Harkett's Haven (21 page)
Authors: Ally Forbes
There were three other cars parked but Eric
pulled into the space beside the elevator and cut the engine.
‘We’re home. Come on. Let’s get in. I’m starving.’
They all got out the car into the cool underground air and Eric went to the boot and took out their luggage. Rachel went to help him but he shook his head, taking a couple of the cases only.
Esme
threw her arms round Rachel in her excitement, squeezing her hard.
‘Come in kiddo.’
Eric nudged his daughter as he passed them.
Eric pressed a pad on a panel beside the elevator and the door slid silently open.
They all stepped into the wood panelled elevator, Rachel and Esme silent and slightly in awe. Eric watched them as they both stared at the writing above the door which changed from ‘Basement’ to ‘Ground Floor’ in almost a blink of an eye. Esme held Rachel’s hand tightly.
When the doors slid open, they entered a hall that was simply enchanting. The floors were a high polished warm walnut, a large cream runner running from the huge oak door. The walls were a white
foil for beautiful seascape oil and watercolour pictures hanging from the original picture rails. An e Ke ran>
Rachel was speechless.
An elderly lady appeared at one of the doorways and jumped in shock when she saw them all standing there. Quickly composing herself, she bustled over to Eric and threw her arms around him.
‘I’m so glad you’re b
ack....I didn’t think we’d see you again.’
Rachel couldn’t help
smile. The lady was obviously thrilled to see Eric. Her silver hair was swept back into a tight bun, and she had a starched white apron tied neatly around her waist. Everything about her hinted at her efficiency and pride in her job. She was small and plump, almost a picture from a child’s story of a loving fairy godmother.
She turned from Eric and quick
ly introduced herself to Esme.
‘And this must be
Esme. Goodness, you’re so like your father......Well Esme I’m truly delighted to meet you. I only wish we had met sooner. Welcome to Anna’s Cove and Nova Scotia. I’m Agnes and I’m the housekeeper. You’ll see me around from time to time and you know just to ask if ever there’s anything you need...I have a wonderful larder with all kinds of goodies in it. ’ Agnes winked at her.
Esme
smiled from ear to ear.
‘Nice to meet you Mrs...’
‘Just Agnes. No need for anything else.’ She smiled and touched the girl’s cheek.
Eric then introduced Rachel.
‘Agnes. This is Rachel Christenson. She’s.....well...she’s someone I’m hoping to spend the rest of my life with.’
Rachel’s astonishment at Eric’s statement made her momentarily lost for words. Agnes stepped in to fill the gap.
‘I’m delighted to meet you Rachel. I can see you and Eric have some talking to do. I’ll leave you to it. There’s some food set out for you in the kitchen. You all must be hungry after your journey.’
As she left she whispered to Rachel, ‘Don’t let him slip through your fingers.’ She winked at
Rachel as she had done with Esme and left.
‘Eric.....’ she started, wanting to question him on his outspokenness in front of Agnes.
‘Shhhh. We’ll speak later..........Come and I’ll show you round the house.’
Esme
made for the stairs and Eric followed, pulling Rachel behind him. She couldn’t help laugh, the sheer excitement of being in the house and Esme’s infectious enthusiasm was catching.
He turned to her as he chased
Esme up the stairs and said, ‘I’ve got some people coming tomorrow....people I can’t wait for you to meet.’
B
eing here had changed Eric; he was full of energy and enthusiasm for life, a lightness of spirit. Their relationship was progressing at a whirlwind pace and she wasn’t sure she was keeping up. She felt caught in his vortex Kin lightn but wanted to go where it carried her. Wherever that may be.
10.
T
hey reached the top of a wide staircase which opened out on to a narrow balcony that overlooked the living area, The view took Rachel’s breath away. The fireplace was the focal point in the room; a lovely oak fire surround with red brick insert piled high with logs. The room had a beautiful high polish dark wood floor and sumptuous cream sofas. Bookshelves covered one wall. One wall was entirely glass looking out to the ocean, the sunlight streaming in, telescope positioned on a tripod for anyone who cared to look closer.
‘Dad.
It’s just awesome.’
Esme
had spotted the downward flight of stairs and ran down them, straight to the glass wall and stood stock-still, gazing out at the seascape in front of her. She looked so small and fragile as she stood silhouetted against the magnificence and enormity of the view that Rachel wanted to hold her, protect her.
‘It’s ......’ Rachel couldn’t think of the right words to describe this
wonderful place but Eric pulled her close and kissed her.
‘I knew you’d love it
...it’s meant for us.....you, me and Esme.’
Rachel pushed his arms from her.
‘I think we’re moving too fast Eric. I haven’t been able to stop and think.’
‘There’s nothing to think about. I love you. I want to be
with you. ....... please give us a chance Rachel. Leave the past behind....’
She turned from him, not wanting him to
see the tears well in her eyes, desperate to accept his promises, his offer of a new life.
Sensing her distress he put his arms round her and whispered, ‘I promise everythin
g’s going to be fine. You just have to trust me.’
Rachel nodded, unable to speak for fear she might weep.
He kissed her neck and left her to join Esme.
‘Agnes is a wonderful cook
. Let’s go to the kitchen and see what she’s left for us.’
Rachel bit her lip
hard, trying to get a grip on the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her and walked down the staircase to join Eric and Esme. They left the room through a large set of double doors and back into the hall they had left.
Eric took them to the kitchen, a luxurious blend of traditional white units
and stunning modern convenience. The dark wood floors gleamed and a large kitchen island with dark granite worktops was stunning. The kitchen was both beautiful and welcoming. Eric made his way to the large, fully-stocked glass-doored wine chiller and pulled out a bottle of champagne.
‘
I think we need to mark this occasion.’
He took the foil off the bottle and expertly popped the cork without spilling a drop. He took three champa NޢXp> gne
glasses from the overhead rack and filled both his and Rachel’s glass, putting only a quarter into Esme’s. He topped up her glass with orange juice and handed them all their drinks.
Esme
beamed her delight as she took the tall, elegant glass in her small hand, proud that she was joining in with this toast.
‘To being here with my girls.
To new starts and the future. .........To leaving the past behind.’
He
held Rachel’s gaze and chinked his glass with her and Esme.
They opened the fridge to find an enormous range of beautiful dishes, a quiche, a chicken p
ie, a bowl full of baby potatoes, salad.....the range of delicious home-made food was delightful and they grabbed plates and chose what they wanted, eating together at the breakfast bar.
They laughed and enjoyed the simplicity of the moment, the act of coming together to eat as a family.
Rachel recognised that she was becoming a part of this small fractured family, an important person to Esme. She was the glue that was binding them all together, perhaps for the first time in many years.
Esme
stifled a yawn as they finished their meals and Rachel groaned, placing her hand on her satiated stomach.
Esme
yawned again.
‘Come on sweetheart. I’ll show you your room.
It’s right next to ours so if you need anything during the night just come and see your dad.’
Esme
didn’t appear to think anything of the fact that Rachel and Eric would be sharing the same room, the same bed. Rachel was amazed at how she had been accepted into Esme’s world, into her small, precious family as quickly as she had been. There had been a deep, instinctive attachment from the first.
It was early evening and as light as mid-day
outside but Rachel was starting to think that getting some sleep was a great idea. She felt full and relaxed, warm and comfortable and the thought of a long soak in a bath and a long sleep were very attractive.
‘Eric. I think I’ll follow you both up; I need
a bath and sleep too.....I can hardly keep my eyes open.’
Esme
held out her hand for Rachel to take and together they waited for Eric to lead them to their rooms.
Eric stood and bent to kiss
Esme and then Rachel in turn.
‘Follow me ladies.’
He took Esme’s hand and they followed him back into the hall and up the stairs, this time turning away from the main living area and its stunning views and up a smaller set of stair. The bedrooms in this part of the house were set off a mezzanine hallway, which itself was lovely; wide and beautifully furnished with antique chests, stunning watercolours on the wall and soft lighting. A beautiful old Persian runner on the old wood floor led them to the far end of the corridor.
Eric opened a door at the end of the corridor and took them into a large room
. The curtains were already drawn and the bedside lights cast a cosy, welcoming glow.
Esme
ran to the double bed and jumped on it. The bed was covered in crisp white cotton sheets, cream blankets folded neatly over the small pouffe at the end of the bed. A large comfortable reading chair sat beside a large antique chest of drawers.
Esme
lay flat out on the bed and hugged one of the pillows.
‘Dad,
if this is your house then why haven’t we visited here before?’
Eric sighed and sat on the bed.
‘It never seemed to be the right time.....but we’re here now and the time is definitely right...... ....that’s what matters.....’
He held her hand and bent over to kiss her.
‘Do you want me to run you a bath Esme?’
‘I’m too tired.’
She rubbed her eyes.
‘
Sure ....well....your suitcase has been unpacked and your clothes are in the chest of drawers over there. You can get changed and tuck up. Give me a shout when you’re ready...I’m just going to show Rachel our room.’
Esme
smiled and hugged him and went to the chest of drawers to check if what her father had said was true.
When she opened the drawer and saw her clothes neatly laid out she turned to him
astonished,
‘How
?...’
He shrugged and smiled.
‘I’ve often thought that Agnes has a bit of magic about her.’
‘Dad
!,’ she laughed and rolled her eyes.
Rachel loved her laugh, loved to see Eric and his daughter so easy with each other.
This place was healing a wound, working its magic. Maybe Agnes did have a touch of magic about her but the house was sparkling with it.