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

‘Oh yes, I’m quite a fan.’

Lord Malvern snorted. ‘Make that massive fan. Never misses an episode.’

‘I’m glad you like it.’ Shaun gave her what Thea recognised as his television presenter smile. ‘Our loyal viewers are what keep the show going.’

‘Did you see the episode set here last Christmas?’ Tina watched the exchange with a growing sense of hope. If they could keep up the positive talk about the manor, perhaps Sam’s father would come round to the idea of the wedding being at Mill Grange.

Bea’s nodded eagerly. ‘We most certainly did. You should have seen the expressions of the ladies at the bridge club. Some of them looked as if they’d sucked on lemons, they were so envious. I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of you, Sam.’

‘But I didn’t really do anything.’

To everyone’s surprise, it was Lord Charles who spoke through the muttered protests that came from all sides. ‘You sat inside to be filmed. Inside! And look at you now. Sat at your own dining room table.’

‘With all the doors wide open and next to an open window.’ Sam tried not to notice that all of his friends were eating with jackets on. ‘And let’s not forget Dylan’s role in getting me inside.’

‘Dylan?’

‘My son.’ Tom cradled his wine glass. ‘He sat on Sam’s lap keeping him distracted until the cameras rolled.’

‘Another person to thank then.’ Bea turned to Tom. ‘How old is Dylan?’

‘Five.’ Tom, unsure how Sam’s parents would react to his personal situation, was glad that Helen was sat next to him. ‘I share custody with his mother.’

‘He’s one of the nicest children you’ll ever meet.’ Helen jumped in, meeting Tom’s eye with a look that Bea didn’t miss.

‘Anyone who has helped Sam battle his condition is a hero in my book.’

‘I’m not sure I’d ever have got in here without Dylan, Mum.’ Sam looked around him. Talking about his claustrophobia was making him edgy.

Recognising the signs of Sam’s unease, Tina laid a hand on his leg under the table. ‘You are here now and you were then. No need to be so hard on yourself.’

‘Well said.’ Bea nodded. ‘This place has been good to you, Sam. Investing in it was a very sensible move, not just for your health, but for a lot of other people’s wellbeing too.’

‘And for the village as a whole,’ Thea added. ‘The pub, cafe and village shop are benefitting from the additional flow of visitors to the area.’

Feeling everyone was laying it on a bit thick, and suspecting it was in the hope of persuading his mother to come around to the idea of him marrying there, Sam raised a hand. ‘That’s very kind, but I’m simply fighting my own demons while helping others to do the same. Although,’ he looked around the dining room he’d feared he’d never be able to set foot in, ‘finding Mill Grange, and Tina, has made my rehabilitation much easier.’

‘Which is why you should get married here.’

Tina dropped her fork as Lady Bea’s words floated across the table. ‘But? But you said that Malvern House… you wanted us to…’

Bea held up her hand, her eyes meeting Charles’s. ‘While it is tradition for all members of our family to marry at Malvern House, that isn’t important. We thought – no, I thought – that your childhood home would feel more secure to you. Safer.’

‘Safer?’ Sam’s forehead creased in confusion.

‘You went into the kitchen, albeit briefly, when you visited so I thought—’

Sam, whose mouth had been opening and closing in surprise, was no longer listening. ‘It was you, not Father who was insisting we didn’t marry here? But—’

‘Your mother was worried for you, son.’ Lord Malvern reached a hand out to his wife. ‘And weddings are such complex, unpredictable, affairs. You might well need the run of the house if the weather turns bad, marquees or not. She thought – and I agreed – that you’d be less likely to have a major episode of claustrophobia if you were on childhood territory. Ground that you knew before the forces.’

Tina gripped hold of Sam’s hand as she made sure she understood what she was hearing. ‘You were insisting on us marrying in Worcestershire because you were worried about Sam, not because you didn’t want to break with family practice?’

Lord Malvern smiled. ‘He’s our son.’

‘We didn’t want his claustrophobia to have even the slightest chance of ruining your day, Tina.’ Bea looked a bit embarrassed. ‘I’m sorry if we were a bit clumsy in our approach, but we didn’t want to say it out loud – you know, make the claustrophobia a big issue when you have so much else to think about.’

Sam and Tina looked blankly at each other before Sam muttered, ‘So, we can marry here with your blessing? You’ll come to the wedding and not hold it against us that we aren’t at Malvern House?’

‘Oh course we’ll be there.’ Bea looked at her son. ‘I’m so proud of you.’

‘We both are.’ Charles patted his wife’s palm before sitting up a little straighter. ‘Now that’s that sorted.’

Bea burst out laughing. ‘Well there we are! Something for you six young things to remember. First rule in making any sort relationship work, whether between partners or parents and children: proper communication avoids misunderstandings.’

‘Quite right.’ Charles grunted. ‘If you’d let me ask the boy how he was doing with this claustrophobia business in the first place—’

‘But I didn’t want to upset him, Charles, or—’

‘Mum! Dad!’ Sam rolled his eyes as his parents bickered. ‘It’s okay. While your concern is hugely appreciated, I’m not the fragile man I once was.’ He looked lovingly at Tina. ‘We’re just thrilled you’re going to be here on our big day.’

‘As if we’d miss it!’ Bea gave a sheepish smile.

‘Let’s change the subject.’ Lord Malvern picked up his wine glass and turned to Shaun. ‘Now, tell us about this dig. The Cotswolds, wasn’t it?’

Thirty-one

Saturday April 4th

Squealing with excitement, Dylan gave his mum a quick hug before running, dinosaur rucksack in