Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (fiction books to read .txt) 📕

With the arrival of the new guests yesterday and being short staffed, they’d had little time alone since then. But that was alright. Now they’d finally admitted how they felt, time was on their side.

Except, it wasn’t.

When she’d first taken her sabbatical, seven months had felt an age, now the days towards her departure date were ebbing away. Soon, she’d have to depart for Bath, ready to resume her post after the Easter weekend.

Two hours away. As she thought about how far she was going to be from Mill Grange, and how long the working hours she was returning to were, Helen wondered why she hadn’t just dragged Tom into bed with her on Saturday night. The attic had been empty but for them. No one would have known, and she’d certainly wanted to, but her insecurities had stopped her. No man had seen her body in years. What if he hated what he saw when – if – the moment came?

‘Cupid, if you’re listening out there, I think it’s high time you thought about the consequences of your actions!’ Muttering as she tried to concentrate on the job in hand, Helen found herself smiling again. It might feel like she was freefalling without a parachute, but she still felt more alive than she had in years.

‘Focus, woman!’ Helen pulled her phone from her pocket. Knowing she should have spoken to Sam and Tina about the book offer already, she sent Sam a quick text asking for a meeting when he was back from seeing Bert. Then she sent Thea a text asking if she could call when it was safe to talk away from the cameras.

She was about to start a list of ideas for the book based on what she’d discussed with Tom, when he appeared with one of the guests. Cherry, Helen thought her name was. There were three women staying at Mill Grange that week, all with the same hairstyles and uniform of jeans and t-shirts. To her shame, Helen was having trouble remembering which was which.

‘Helen.’ Tom raised a hand in greeting. ‘Cherry is proving a natural at this archaeology lark. Anything she could do up on the real site?’

‘Certainly is.’ Helen got up, gesturing to the far side of the fortlet. ‘Come on, let’s take a look.’

Helen tried not to mind the flirty thank you Cherry offered Tom before he returned to his other charges. You have to accept he’s a good-looking man. People are going to find him attractive.

Ten minutes later, as she knelt next to Cherry in a trench on the outer edge of the site, Helen’s phone buzzed with the arrival of a text. Expecting it to be Thea or Sam, Helen mumbled an apology, and checking Cherry was happy with what she was doing, stepped away to check her message.

It was from Tom.

I really fancy you. Just saying. Tom x

*

Ajay jabbed a fork towards the note stuck up on the wall.

‘Have you seen this, Shaun?’

Picking up his pint, Shaun joined his friend on the far side of The Carthorse’s function room. The hastily put together poster, written on a page ripped from a notebook, announced that Julian had arranged a meal for the main presenters on Friday night.

‘Just the main presenters?’ Shaun frowned. ‘And this was the man who didn’t want me and Thea to chat on telly together in case it patronised the viewers! What about the archaeologists? They’re the ones that do most of the work around here.’

Sharing his indignation Ajay ran a finger over the words, main presenters. ‘I’d like to know what main actually means. Is it Julian, you and Thea, or is it me and Andy too?’

Shaun grunted. ‘It means you two as well. At least it ought to. But I have a feeling Julian would prefer it if you weren’t there, or me for that matter.’

‘You still think he’s after Thea?’

‘If he isn’t, then he’s got a funny way of showing it.’

*

‘Mabel, how wonderful to see you!’ Helen came in through the kitchen door, Cherry at her side. ‘Cherry, meet Mabel, preparer of the finest lunches in all of England.’

‘Daft girl.’ Mabel swatted away the compliment. ‘Bacon rolls are almost ready and there’s fresh coffee in the pot.’ She paused when she saw the state of the new arrivals’ hands. ‘For those who have scrubbed enough mud off their hands!’

Cherry laughed as Helen pointed the way through the kitchen to the downstairs washroom. Waiting while her charge got cleaned up, Helen asked, ‘How was Bert this morning?’

‘Much the same.’ Mabel turned away from the Aga. ‘His main problem is boredom. He isn’t one to sit and do nothing, but every time he tries to move, he starts coughing and that makes his breathing tricky.’

‘Which makes him weaker?’

Mabel nodded. ‘I hate seeing him in that horrid mask.’

‘I’m down to take you to the hospital tomorrow. Would you like me to come in with you? I’d like to see him. Your conversation must be running a bit dry by now.’

‘Would you?’ Mabel sat at the kitchen table. She looked worn out.

‘Of course.’ Helen held her hands up, so she didn’t drop mud on the table. ‘Forgive me saying so, but should you be here, Mabel? You seem tired.’

‘I am.’ Mabel twisted her wedding ring around her finger. ‘But sitting around at home all day, just waiting… Waiting for the hospital to call, waiting for the next trip to the hospital, and then not knowing what to say when I get there… Here, at least, I’m useful.’

Hearing Cherry’s footsteps along the corridor, Helen quickly said, ‘I’m glad you’re here, and not just because of your delicious bacon sandwiches.’

‘Thank you,’ Mabel whispered into Helen’s ear. ‘Good to see that you and Tom have sorted yourselves out at last.’

‘How did you know? We haven’t told anyone.’ Helen blushed bright red.

‘I’m old, not blind.’

‘We aren’t ready to tell anyone yet. Would you mind not…?’

Mabel winked. ‘Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.’

Getting to her feet as Cherry came