Springtime at Cherry Tree Cottage (18 page)

‘Horses are emotional creatures and, because they're herd animals, they're experts at communication,' Robbie says. ‘I've been trying to persuade you to give equine therapy a go for ages—'

‘It isn't necessary,' Mel cuts in. ‘I don't want my son wasting his time talking to animals.'

‘Our son,' Louise corrects him. ‘I want him to be happy, unlike his grumpy old dad. Is your back troubling you today? We can go home if you prefer.'

‘I'm fine,' he says snappily.

‘He needs to eat,' Louise says. ‘He's like a bear when his blood sugar's low.'

‘I'd be more than happy to work with Ash for a couple of sessions a week.'

‘I can't see the point,' Mel insists. ‘I don't want my son messing about with horses. He'll end up galloping around the countryside in a flowing shirt, or show-jumping like a girl.'

‘You've got that wrong. There are lots of male show-jumpers and the tight breeches are very masculine. It takes confidence to wear ruffles. Flick agrees with me.' Louise looks towards me for support.

‘Only because she fancies Robbie,' Mel says. ‘I don't know any other bloke who can carry off the romantic-hero look, and even then he looks like a complete –' he swears – ‘when he's wearing make-up.'

‘Thanks a lot,' Robbie says lightly.

‘I don't want to talk about this now,' Mel says. ‘Where's the grub? I'm starving.'

Maisie comes running along the path to greet us, with Dillon in close pursuit, perhaps contrite after what happened with the pony.

‘Did you find Paddington?' she shouts.

‘Yes, he broke into the feed room. He's a very naughty boy,' Robbie says. ‘It's lucky that his belly rules his brain. I was afraid that he'd got out on to the road and had an accident.'

Maisie looks up at her father, the moon reflected in her wide eyes.

‘Did you let him out, Maisie?'

‘Nooooo,' she says, holding her hands behind her back.

‘Are you sure about that?'

‘Nooooo. I mean, yes.'

‘Can I see your nose getting longer? Are you getting a black spot on your tongue?' Robbie asks.

‘Everyone knows that isn't true,' she says confidently.

‘Why are you crossing your fingers behind your back?'

‘Because it keeps you safe when you tell a lie,' she says slowly, the revelation dawning on her that she's dropped herself right in it. ‘I won't go into his stable again without you being there.'

‘I know you won't, darling.' He smiles. ‘Now, let's go and have some food.'

‘There isn't very much left,' she announces. ‘Why? Have you eaten it all?'

‘Granddad took over the cooking—'

‘Don't tell me. He burnt the sausages,' Robbie cuts in.

‘He put the rest of the meat from the kitchen on the picnic table, and when he turned round it was all gone.' Maisie turns her head quickly from one side to the other. ‘Zoom! Just like that. Badger and Tatt stole the chicken and the steak and the lamb. All that's left is sausages and sardines. Nanny isn't very pleased. She says she's trying to feed the five thousand on a few fishes and lots of burger rolls, but there aren't five thousand people here, are there, Daddy?'

‘Granddad shouldn't have put food at nose height. Surely he knows that by now?'

‘They ate a packet of butter with the paper on once. We told Nanny that Dillon took it.' Maisie chuckles behind her hand. ‘She believed us.'

‘Or she pretended to.' Robbie smiles ruefully. ‘Mr Rock's will still be open for fish and chips. Flick, are you coming with me?'

‘I wanna come,' says Maisie.

‘You're with us,' Louise says quickly. ‘You can make a list of what everyone wants and we'll text it to Daddy.'

Soon we're on our way to Talyton St George in the Land Rover. The streets are quiet, apart from a middle-aged woman in a mac being towed along by a giant dog that's even bigger than the wolfhounds.

‘That's Mrs Dyer, the butcher's wife,' Robbie says as we pass her and stop on the pavement just past the fish and chip shop, where the shutters are down. We pull up close by so I can read the note on the door.

‘“Closed for one week. She who must be obeyed has booked us on a cruise when I'd rather be here eating chips and drinking beer.”' I can't help laughing. ‘“Sorry for the inconvenience.”'

Robbie doesn't see the funny side. ‘Mr Rock's is never closed. Now what am I going to do?'

‘Is there an Indian or Chinese?' I've seen a florist's, a pharmacy and a boutique. It doesn't look very promising. The antique streetlamps flicker in the dusk.

‘There's supposed to be a curry house coming soon.' He sighs as he turns the engine back on. ‘I'll see if Mrs Dyer will open up as a special favour.'

She is most obliging. Mr Dyer has apparently already retired to bed, but she has some steaks, sausages and burgers in the walk-in fridge to the rear of the shop. She weighs and wraps them, adds a couple of large marrowbones for the dogs, and Robbie pays with his card.

‘Thanks,' he says. ‘You've saved my life.'

‘A big do, is it, my lover?'

‘It's my parents' wedding anniversary.'

‘How lovely.' Mrs Dyer gazes at me. ‘And this is your young lady?'

‘She's the farrier,' Robbie says, sidestepping the question.

‘Oh, yes. You're staying with Louise and Mel.' She looks at my arms as if she's comparing them with hers. ‘You don't look strong enough to handle them big horses.'

‘It's brain that counts, not brawn,' Robbie says.

‘I believe you, my lover. How's that lovely daughter of yours?'

‘Maisie's fine.' He checks his watch. ‘We'd better get back before there's a riot. It's been lovely talking to you, and thanks for opening up especially for us. I'm very grateful.'

‘Anytime, dear. Do tell Sally Ann to let me know if she still wants half a hogget for the freezer.'

‘Will do.' He picks up the bags and I hold the door open for him.

‘I have a question,' I say, when we're back in the Land Rover.

‘Go on,' Robbie says flirtatiously.

‘What's a hogget?'

‘It's a sheep that's older than a lamb and younger than mutton.' He grins. ‘And there I was thinking you were going to ask me to …' He leans towards me.

‘I was assuming that I didn't have to ask …' I move in for the kiss. I can hardly breathe and my chest is tight. The lack of oxygen sends my brain into a spin, until all I can focus on is clinging on to him, one hand tangling through his hair and the other grasping at his shirt. A light goes on, illuminating the inside of the Land Rover. I pull away. Robbie groans.

‘It's Mrs Dyer – she's watching through the window.' He sits back and turns the key in the ignition. ‘We'd better not linger any longer. People will talk.'

We return to the cottage with the meat for the barbecue. Dillon takes over the cooking while Robbie proposes a toast to Neil and Sally Ann. He stands on the patio at the rear of the cottage, which is illuminated by a string of coloured lights, and taps a bottle of Prosecco with a spoon to call the guests to attention.

‘Has everyone got something to drink?'

‘Let me do that,' Kerry says, pushing in and taking the bottle. She flashes her cleavage in Robbie's direction. ‘Do you like my outfit?'

‘It's a bit different from your jodhs,' he says awkwardly, ‘but very … nice. The dress suits you.'

‘I didn't realise you were rushing off to buy meat. I could have come with you.'

‘It's all right. Flick offered.'

‘I see.' She stares at him, her eyes narrowed.

‘What's that supposed to mean?'

She shrugs. ‘You'd better get on …' She turns her back on him and – with a false smile on her face – proceeds to top up the guests' glasses.

Robbie might not see it, but I'm pretty sure Kerry has feelings for him. But frankly who can blame her, I reflect somewhat smugly, my heart fluttering as the memory of his kisses returns to me.

I fetch myself a beer and a glass from the kitchen and join the party.

‘Hello and welcome, everyone,' Robbie begins. ‘Thank you for joining us as we review the most beautiful love story that began over twenty-five years ago.'

‘Oh, please don't remind us how old we are,' Sally Ann giggles as she holds on to Neil's arm. ‘It doesn't seem possible.'

‘The presence of so many family and friends just shows what kind of people my mum and dad are,' he continues. ‘My brother and I … where are you, Dillon?'

He moves into the circle, dressed in an apron and armed with tongs and a spatula.

‘We want to thank you for being the best parents ever. We've put you through a lot of hassle over the years.'

‘Hear, hear,' says Neil.

‘But you've always been here for us, through various accidents when we pushed the boundaries just too far with some of the stunts.'

‘You and Dillon were on the “at risk” register, we took you into A&E so many times,' Sally Ann says.

‘I can't believe you had the patience to teach us to drive,' Robbie says.

‘How many cars did Dillon write off?' Neil puts his finger to his lips and rolls his eyes as if he's counting. ‘Four?'

‘And you've been the most amazing grandparents to Maisie. On top of that, you've kept us fed, organised and in horses. Your belief in us and the Eclipse team has never wavered—'

‘Oh, it has a few times,' Neil cuts in.

‘Not now, darling,' Sally Ann says, touching her throat.

‘That's right, keep him in order,' Dillon laughs.

‘Whatever has happened, good or bad,' Robbie says, ‘you have always been there for each other. You are the most loving and devoted couple I have ever met. Your love for each other and for your family is incredible, and Dillon and I count ourselves as very lucky to have you as our parents.' Robbie hesitates. ‘I think that's enough from me. Let's raise our glasses to the happy couple. To Mum and Dad, Sally Ann and Neil.'

‘To Sally Ann and Neil,' the guests murmur above the chinking of glasses as Robbie finishes his speech.

‘Congratulations on twenty-five years of happy married life, and our best wishes for another twenty-five, and more.'

‘We'd like to thank our wonderful sons for this fantastic party,' Neil says. He turns to Sally Ann. ‘When I first met my lady here, I knew she was very special. Within a week, I was sure she was for keeps, and before a month had passed, I had proposed. She turned me down three times—'

‘I wanted to be sure,' she interrupts, ‘and you've proved yourself to be the best husband anyone could have.'

‘I'd be lost without you, love of my life.' He kisses her to applause from the crowd.

The party continues well into the night as we eat our way through a mountain of burgers and salad, followed by Sally Ann's home-made ice cream and a slice of anniversary fruit cake, created and decorated by star baker Jennie Barnes, and I find myself wishing that everyone was thinking more about getting up for their horses in the morning than downing more food and drink. However, Mel and Louise are the first to make a move, taking Ashley, who's fallen asleep with Badger on the sofa indoors. Maisie is still on the go, charging around with Tatt, pretending that he's a pony.

I stand beside Robbie on the lawn beside one of the cherry trees to wish the guests a safe journey home.

‘She's never going to sleep tonight,' he sighs.

I'm beginning to understand how the commitment of having a child might have made some of my good friends drift away, temporarily at least.

‘She seems to have enjoyed the party. I don't know how you do it.'

‘Bringing up Maisie is a bit like having a horse.' His voice lightens. ‘It's 24/7. Kids and horses thrive on routine, regular feeds, exercise and grooming. And they both need shoes. Maisie's always needing new shoes.' He grows serious again. ‘She was supposed to stay with Dillon tonight, but he isn't sober, so Mum has offered.'

‘But it's their anniversary.'

‘The actual date is next weekend. They've booked a romantic getaway to a castle in Scotland towards the end of the summer. I thought maybe you'd like to stay for coffee.'

‘There's a lot of clearing up to do.'

‘That can wait until morning. You don't think I'm expecting you to stay to tidy up?'

‘What are you expecting me to stay for?' I say archly.

He smiles, his eyes alight with desire.

‘I thought we could get to know each other better.' He pauses. ‘Flick, I'm desperate to hold you in my arms. I can't wait for everyone to go home and leave us in peace.'

As if on cue, Sally Ann walks over, holding Maisie's hand.

‘I think it's time we left. Thank you, Robbie, for a wonderful evening … and speech. I can't wait to see what you do for our fiftieth.'

‘Thanks for having Maisie tonight.' Robbie hugs her. ‘It's the least we can do,' Sally Ann says. ‘Goodnight.'

‘Goodnight, Daddy,' Maisie says, as Robbie bends down to kiss her. ‘See you in the morning.'

‘Not too early. Nanny needs her beauty sleep.'

‘And her lotions and potions and a lot of wishful thinking nowadays,' Sally Ann laughs.

‘Beauty comes from the inside,' Maisie says slowly.

‘That's quite right, darling. Now, come on. It's time for bed.'

‘Can I have a story?'

‘Not tonight. You've stayed up late enough as it is.' Sally Ann leads Maisie away and the rest of the guests start to disperse. By 1 a.m., everyone has left, and silence has descended over the cottage. Robbie makes sure the barbecue has gone out while I put a load of glasses and plates into the dishwasher and turn it on.