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

anyway, Tom said, ‘Did you think about inviting Helen to stay on?’

Surprised Tom didn’t know about him asking Helen, and remembering his promise to say nothing, Sam felt rather awkward. ‘It’s a question of finances, Tom. But I do intend to discuss the matter with Helen before she goes. I’m sorry I can’t promise more.’

*

‘Pros and cons then.’

Helen threw Tina a couple of toilet rolls to put on the cistern of the main bathroom. ‘Are you reducing my love life to a list?’

‘Two lists actually.’

‘Right.’ As she hung fresh towels on the rail by the claw toed bath, Helen licked her lips. ‘Pros are easy. Tom is a good man. I feel great when we’re together and I love his son very much.’

‘And he loves you. Tom, I mean. Dylan has always adored you. But his dad loves you.’

‘Yes.’

‘And you love him.’

‘I think so. Yes.’

Tina kept her tone matter of fact, knowing that was how Helen would prefer thing. ‘And you have similar interests and enough differences to keep things fresh.’

Helen couldn’t help but smile. ‘It sounds as if you’ve made this inventory before.’

‘Once or twice.’ Tina grabbed another handful of towels as she followed Helen to the next bathroom. ‘And the cons?’

‘I love this job, but I love the one in Bath too and…’

‘It pays a lot better and you have a home there.’

‘Sorry, but yes.’

‘No need to be sorry. So, do you want to go back to the Baths or stay working here? If you can answer that, then you’ll be halfway there.’

‘That’s just it though, Tina,’ Helen added a toilet roll to the empty dispenser, ‘I can’t answer that because it is so connected with Tom. Bath is a two-hour drive from here, so we couldn’t see each other every day, or even every week as I often work weekends in Bath. Then there’s Dylan; I adore him, but Tom and I would never have time alone if I were to move back to Bath. Our relationship could simply fizzle out.’

‘At the risk of stating the obvious, then why not stay?’

‘Because…’ Helen paused, her hand on the side of the roll-top bath as she tried to form her fragmented thoughts into words. ‘Because if it went wrong with Tom, I’d have nowhere to go and no job to go back to. And because I’m scared.’

Tina put down her pile of towels and moved to Helen’s side. ‘Of course you’re scared. You’re in love, and the thought of not being in love again is horrid. Suddenly life feels different. You feel different! Inside I mean. And you really want to eat chocolate, but maybe you shouldn’t because you might not fit into your jeans next week and all that crap. Yes?’

‘Yes.’

‘So, whatever happens, whether you stay or go, you’ll lose out on something, but if you want to give a future with Tom a chance, then you should.’

‘But I can only do that if I stay.’

‘No. You can do that whatever happens. It’ll just be easier if you stay.’

Twenty-six

Friday April 3rd

The four security vans circled on the far side of the dig site as if they were cowboys arriving on a ranch.

Thea watched them vie for the best parking spot as she paused in the act of directing the tucking up of the dolphin mosaic under a series of tarpaulins. Flexing her back, she gave her team of helpers leave to grab a drink from the catering truck. The sun was beating down on their back and shoulders, and although it was only April, summer felt as if it had arrived in the Cotswolds via an accelerated fast track scheme.

She could see Shaun and the AA in conversation with Julian over by the truck which doubled as the show’s technical hub. The discussion didn’t look heated, yet she couldn’t help but feel a prickle of suspicion as she saw Julian’s arms gesticulating all over the place.

Glad they were to head back to Mill Grange soon, Thea wiped her forehead with her arm. The open land, on which the villa had been built, had neither shade nor shelter. While that gave her another insight into why the original owner positioned his home in such a suntrap, it didn’t help her or her colleagues as they laboured in the stunning early spring sunshine.

Deciding to take a break herself, Thea headed to the refreshment van. Borrowing a tray, and collecting five cups of lemonade, she strolled over to the men, wondering if she was finally about to learn what Julian was up to. Whatever it was, Thea had a feeling they’d all be wishing that she was bringing them something far stronger than fizzy pop.

‘Thea! And drinks. How thoughtful.’ Julian beamed as he took his lemonade. ‘How is putting the mosaic to bed going?’

‘We’re almost there. I’d like to add one more layer of covers, just to be on the safe side.’ She gestured to the security team who were now queuing for drinks. ‘They do know how important the site is, don’t they?’

‘I only employ the best.’ Julian’s smile became condescending. ‘Which is why I employ you.’ His focus remained on Thea for a split second, before he swept an arm around the group, as if to indicate his last remark was levelled at all of them.

Not giving anyone time to comment, Julian went on, ‘The site will close completely when the light fails tonight. I’d like you, Shaun and Thea, to do a piece to camera as that happens.’

‘Good idea.’ Thea was surprised to hear Shaun agreeing with Julian. ‘That’s an angle we’ve never covered before. It will give our viewers something a little different.’

‘Thank you, Shaun.’ Julian flicked through the file he held, before pulling out a sheet upon which he’d scribbled some notes. ‘Here’s a rough idea of what I thought you could say.’

Thea wrapped her arm around Shaun’s waist as they read from the script outline. It only took a quick scan of the sheet to see that she had very little to