Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (the little red hen ebook .txt) 📗

at her two friends. Although the frost hadn’t gone, a thaw had certainly set in.

‘How about you, Tina?’ Helen added more sugar to her cup. ‘If you don’t mind me asking, what will you do about Sam’s non-information policy?’

‘I’m not sure.’ Tina shrugged. ‘In truth, I feel such a failure.’

‘Whatever for?’ Thea asked.

‘Shall I write a list?’

‘You might have to, Tina.’ Helen gave an encouraging smile. ‘Because I don’t see a failure. I see a woman worried for her partner, who’s holding down a demanding job so she can support said partner and provide funds so you can eat while you build up a worthwhile business.’ Helen’s tone became wistful. ‘I envy you.’

‘You do?’ Tina pulled at her plaits. ‘Why?’

‘Because you have someone to do all that for, I suppose.’

Tina felt awkward. ‘There’s no one waiting for you in Bath?’

‘No. A fact that would make me a failure in some people’s eyes.’

‘It shouldn’t. You run the Roman Baths for goodness’ sake. That’s huge!’

‘And amazing, but it hardens you to life, managing something like that.’ Helen ruffled the curls from her forehead as Thea gave a sympathetic nod. ‘How do you think I became immune to the effects of people arguing? Second nature in any management role, although we call it negotiating instead of rowing.’

Tina stared across the garden. The breeze had picked up, making the branches above them sway and leaves fall in random sprinkles of orange and beige. ‘I’m supposed to be a co-manager, but I can’t even get my partner to share information about his life with me; which brings me back to my failure comment.’

‘What is failure anyway?’ Helen stirred the dregs of her coffee. ‘Is it failure that I have no one to go home to? Is it failure that Sam can’t come indoors?’ She paused before adding, ‘Or am I a success because I’m good at my job and have always put my career before everything? Is Sam a success because he’s saved lives no matter what the personal consequences? When you turn it around, neither situations sound like failure.’

Tina stared at her empty plate. ‘Perspective, that’s what you’re saying. One person’s idea of failure is another’s achievement.’

‘Exactly. Personally, I think failure is buying a personal number plate.’

‘What?’ Thea switched her gaze from Tina to Helen in confusion. ‘Personalised registrations for cars you mean?’

‘Yep.’ Helen smiled. ‘I know a lot of management folk who buy themselves personal plates for their cars. They think it shows the world they’re successful. In fact it’s silent showing off. In my opinion, it makes them look like total dicks.’

Thea laughed as Helen sank her hands into her pockets. ‘Shame they can’t see how much admiration people would have for them if they used their showing-off money on charitable donations or sponsoring a hospital or something instead.’

Tina couldn’t help but agree. ‘They’d have to keep those things anonymous though. Such folk like people to know they’re successful.’

‘Which is why, to my mind, they’ve failed at life.’

Tina nodded, her respect for Helen rising as she caught sight of the time. ‘I should go and see how Sam’s doing.’

Helen hooked her rucksack on to her shoulder. ‘And you’ll be needed to run the manor.’

‘Thea does that.’

‘Not all of it I don’t.’ Thea’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ‘We do that between the three of us.’

Feeling the urge to apologise rise on her lips, Tina bit it back. ‘I was going to ask Sam about the certificate idea, but then all this happened. Would you two mind explaining it to me?’

‘I tell you what—’ Thea picked up the bill ‘—you check on Sam, and if he’s up to it, we’ll have a proper meeting before Helen heads off. After all, it’s been at least ten minutes since we had a coffee.’

Twenty-Six

September 21st

Helen passed the ball of string to Thea, who had just hammered a red and white striped ranging rod into the soil. Thea wound the blue twine around the base, ready to attach it to another rod she’d already put into position, a metre away.

‘I’m so glad you decided to stay.’ Thea ran her gaze along the level of the string as Helen checked the site plan, before deciding where to place the third pole.

Helen, who’d confided more about her life to Tina and Thea over the past ten days than she ever had to anyone, pushed the pole into the earth a fraction, before driving it into the clay earth with a mallet. ‘It wasn’t a hard decision if I’m honest. As I said when Sam asked me to stay for the rest of the month, I needed some time out.’

‘Good time of year for you to take some of the holiday you’re owed. Autumn is always the quietest time at the Baths.’ Thea, who was still amazed that Helen – the ultimate in together career women – had mentioned the lack of partner at home under the heading of failure, kept her eyes on the soil. ‘I know I’ve asked before, but are you alright, Helen? I mean, as much as we’re delighted to have you helping us, it isn’t like you to admit to needing a break.’

Snorting a good-natured laugh as she gave the rod a final tap with the mallet, Helen said, ‘Some would question my idea of a break.’

‘Would you rather be sunning yourself on a desert island somewhere? You know you’ve no obligation to stay here don’t you?’ Hurriedly she added, ‘Although God knows we’re grateful.’

‘Can you honestly see me sat by the sea?’ Helen hooked her right dungaree strap up from where it had slipped off her shoulder. ‘I’d be bored stiff in half an hour.’

‘You could go exploring though. Mexico, Egypt, Peru maybe?’

‘With a group of fellow singletons, all wondering if their future partner is among the group? No thanks.’ Helen took another glance at the plans and moved two metres to the right. ‘Anyway, I’d rather be doing this. It’s way too long since I was part of a proper excavation.