Spring Blossoms at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (a court of thorns and roses ebook free txt) 📗

‘The thing is, Helen has made it plain she doesn’t want her fortieth marked, but Thea and Tina think she’s just saying that, and that secretly she’d like a bit of a fuss made of her.’

Bert chuckled. ‘Ah, so middle ground is the way forward then.’

‘Middle ground?’

‘A nice present from you, naturally.’

Dylan joined in. ‘I’m going to make her a card, aren’t I, Dad?’

‘You are. She’ll love it.’ Wondering if this was the time to tell Dylan why he wanted this to be an extra special birthday for Helen, but remembering he’d promised they’d tell Dylan about their relationship together, Tom looked at Bert. ‘I’m not sure she is a party type person.’

‘I know!’ Dylan bounced on the sofa. ‘One of Sam’s bonfire dinners with jacket potatoes and stuff. They’re fab.’

‘Not a bad idea.’ Bert ruffled Dylan’s hair. ‘But with champers rather than tea and coffee.’

‘And balloons, Dad. Harriet says you have to have balloons at a party.’

Thirty-five

Tuesday April 7th

As Mabel twirled in a skirt, top and jacket that would have been the envy of any mother of the bride, Tina couldn’t help but wonder what her mum would have worn if she’d been there. She hoped she’d have approved of the soft lilac ensemble Mabel was parading before her.

Guessing what was going on in her friend’s mind, Mabel picked up a nearby box of tissues and sat next to Tina.

‘I never had the honour of knowing your parents, but I’m sure they’d be very proud of you and I have no doubt at all they’d have approved of Sam.’

‘Thanks, Mabel.’ Tina sniffed into a tissue. ‘How did you know I was thinking about them?’

‘Who else would you think about at this time?’ She patted Tina’s knee. ‘Now, if this outfit is okay with you, I think I’ll add it to the tally.’

‘You look wonderful.’

‘Thank you.’ Mabel clambered back to her feet. ‘Now it’s just Bert, Shaun and Dylan to worry about suit wise.’

‘And Sam and Tom.’ Tina escorted Mabel back to the changing room.

‘No dear, they were in the forces. They’ll have dress uniforms.’

Tina stopped moving. ‘I wondered why Sam changed the subject when I mentioned him getting a suit this morning. He mumbled something about booking a fitting in Taunton, but I didn’t know how, when he’s unlikely to want to go into the shop. Perhaps that’s what was on his mind? His uniform, I mean. It hadn’t occurred to me he’d want to wear it after all he went through. I don’t even know where it is.’

‘He must do what feels best for him. Shame though,’ Mabel smirked, ‘Bert used to look a regular bobby dazzler in uniform.’

*

The far corner of the drawing room resembled a chocoholic’s heaven. Thea could smell the enticing aroma of chocolate hanging in the air as Helen added the final box to the castle-like construction.

‘Now all we need is a sunny day.’ Thea looked across to Helen. ‘I’m sorry Easter Sunday falls on your birthday, and you have to work that day.’

‘I’d rather work to be honest. Keep my mind off the big four-oh.’

‘You still bothered about that?’ Thea dropped onto the nearest sofa with a soft thump. ‘I thought you’d be looking forward to it, now you have someone to spoil you rotten.’

‘He hasn’t mentioned it, and I don’t like to, especially as I told him a few weeks ago that I didn’t want to celebrate it.

‘But you weren’t together then. Surely now—’

Helen sat down with a groan. ‘Would you mind if we didn’t talk about it?’

Thea frowned. ‘You two are okay, aren’t you?’

‘Sure.’ Helen’s eyes ran over the chocolate mountain as she switched the focus back to Thea. ‘You need to talk to Shaun before he finds out about Julian’s proposal and everything gets ruined.’

Respecting Helen’s need to change the subject, but wondering if the ‘everything getting ruined’ comment referred to Helen and Tom as well as, potentially, her and Shaun, Thea agreed, ‘I’ll do it today.’ She gestured to the eggs. ‘We need to decide where these are going to be hidden first.’

‘Dylan is going to help with that.’

‘Excellent.’ Thea smiled.

‘We could draw up egg hiding treasure maps of the house and garden. In the meantime, I ought to crack on with the book.’

‘I meant to ask how that’s going.’

‘Somewhere between slowly and stopped. I’ve made a lot of notes, but no actual words have happened.’

‘They’ll come.’

‘Soon, hopefully.’ Helen looked out through the drawing room window. ‘Because I have a feeling that time is running out.’

*

Sam greeted Tina and Mabel as the car pulled onto the drive.

‘Judging by those grins, you two have had a successful morning.’

Tina threw her arms around Sam. ‘We have. Your fiancée has a dress that has been fully fitted, while Mabel is the proud owner of an outfit so stunning, the Queen herself would be envious.’

‘Excellent.’ Sam rubbed his dirty hands down his trousers. ‘Anything you need me to carry inside?’

‘It’s all being kept at the boutique for now, thanks. Which is just as well with your grubby mitts!’

‘I’ve just finished giving the chicken coop a spring clean. I can’t say Gertrude and co were enamoured to have me fussing around them, but it’s a lot cleaner and cosier in there now.’

Mabel clucked in a manner not unlike Gertrude. ‘Talking of spring cleaning, time we were all rolling our sleeves up if you want Mill Grange to look its best on Sunday. Come on, no time like the present.’

‘Hang on, Mabel! Lunch first, I’m famished.’ Tina rested a hand on her friend’s arm. ‘And don’t you want to go and see Bert?’

‘Oh yes, you’re probably right.’ She looked sheepish. ‘I was getting a bit carried away again. Sorry. I’ve just had such a nice few days, I wanted to help to say thank you.’

‘You’ve been amazing, and we would love your help later, but right now, I’m pooped, so you must be too.’

‘I am a bit,’ Mabel admitted. ‘But as soon