Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (best free e reader .TXT) 📕

to treat Dylan to the biggest slice of cake he’s ever had. I also think he needs a rest; the lad’s been working his socks off. Would you like to take him to Sybil’s Tea Rooms? My treat.’

‘Cor yes! Can we, Dad?’

Tom smiled. ‘Go and wash your hands then, and we’ll go. As long as you don’t need me for anything else here, Sam.’

‘It’s supposed to be your day off. Go and spend some of it with your son, without the likes of us getting in the way.’

*

Phil had disappeared with the sound man to check through the day’s filming, and Mabel and Bert had gone home for a rest before returning to help with dinner in a few hours’ time.

Sat around one of the picnic tables near the kitchen, Shaun, Thea, Tina, Sam and Helen sipped hot chocolate while staring at the four clipboards laid before them. One listed the tasks that needed completing before the filming wound up the following day; the others listed jobs they’d hoped to complete before the six guests came on Monday afternoon.

‘I can’t believe we open the day after tomorrow.’ Thea looked up at the house. It was as solid and patient as ever, stuck in an eternal wait for its occupants to get on with whatever they demanded of it.

Sam pointed to the clipboards. ‘We have to be realistic; a lot of this stuff was wishful thinking. We have most, but not all of the equipment we need for gardening; although it should be here by Wednesday. It’s the wrong time of year to be doing much outside beyond preparing the ground for spring and creating new vegetable and flower beds anyway. As to the greenhouse, we can ask willing helpers to finish clearing out the small amount of debris left around it but, like the mill, we don’t have the resources to repair it at this time.’

Tina glanced up at the sky. It was grey, with a blanket of cloud that looked caught in indecision as to whether to rain or not. ‘Even the chickens are laying less. Normal in the colder months apparently.’

Shaun tapped the list associated with the ongoing excavation plans, post Landscape Treasures. ‘At least this list has no time limit on it. The work you’re suggesting, Thea, opening out the trenches, cataloguing finds and so on, is all good. I can’t see why we need to stress over any of that. Let’s do what can be done while the weather is reasonable, and go from there.’

‘As to the house,’ Thea added, ‘the rooms are ready. We sorted them prior to the TV crew arriving. The downstairs and attic washrooms want a clean, and the meals need confirming with Mabel, but otherwise, we’re good to go.’

‘I’ve taken the week off from the Trust, so I can spend the day with Mabel after the telly folk have gone tomorrow.’ Tina pointed to where it said “food” on the list. ‘We’ve already done a bulk supermarket order, so the majority of the essentials are on their way. Should arrive by ten tomorrow.’

Sam rubbed his hands together with an air of satisfaction. ‘So it’s just down to the filming then, Shaun. Is it finished, or will there be last-minute things for the team to do tomorrow? Unexpected tiles likely to turn up do you think?’

‘God, I hope not!’ Shaun grinned. ‘Whether we’re finished will depend on the quality of the film taken today.’ He got to his feet, not wanting to contemplate the possibility of having to reshoot Sam’s indoor scene. ‘I’ll go and ask Phil now. If it’s good, then, unless he wants to do a final sweep of us digging in the morning, we’re done. I know my script work is complete, and Thea did her bit about the house and the Roman occupation, or lack of, in the area, while you stormed your debut, Sam. So fingers crossed.’

‘If it is done—’ Thea turned to Sam ‘—I think a celebration is in order, whether we’ve got work left to do or not. Don’t you think?’

Tina clapped her hands together, reminding herself of Lady Malvern when she was excited. ‘We should be celebrating anyway. Sam was amazing today.’

‘I wasn’t. Dylan was. That lad’s a flipping hero.’

Helen smiled as she thought of the little boy. ‘Didn’t Tom say Dylan would enjoy dinner around a bonfire like we did the other night? What do you think? Simple low-maintenance fun.’

Sam raised his hot chocolate mug. ‘I’ll drink to that!’

Fifty-Two

October 3rd

Dylan wandered around the bonfire, not letting go of Bert’s hand as he tentatively threw small branches onto the blaze.

‘Is this really for me?’

‘It is, young fella. And for Sam for being brave today.’

‘He was really nervous.’ Dylan confided, ‘I felt him shaking.’

‘And you helped him feel better.’

‘Did I?’

‘You did.’ Bert pointed towards two deckchairs Thea had put out so he and Mabel didn’t have to sit on the ground. ‘Shall we see if one of those chairs is strong enough for both of us?’

*

The jacket potatoes were consumed and hot drinks served, with lager chasers. Dylan yawned in Bert’s lap as Phil raised a toast of thanks.

‘I’m not sure how we did it in the time, but we did. The filming of the Landscape Treasures Christmas episode is complete. Thank you for making it so straightforward. As Shaun will tell you, that’s rarely the case.’

‘Especially in Cornwall.’ Shaun raised his mug of tea in salute.

‘The episode, should the schedulers be believed, will go out on Christmas Eve at six o’clock. Prime-time telly, ladies and gents. And the Cornish episode will be the week before; so that’s when you’ll be able to catch your TV debut, Thea.’

‘I’m not sure I’ll be able to watch!’

‘Well you should, because you’re a natural. In fact, if you would give me a ring next week, I’d like to talk to you about maybe doing some more work with us on the next series.’

‘Truly?’

Shaun put his arm around Thea’s shoulders. ‘Phil never says things he