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

Helen took a deep breath. ‘Space is a good idea. Tom and I got together quickly and I have responsibilities just as he does.’

You promised Tom you’d stay at Mill Grange.

‘And now I’ve promised to do an exhibition for Mike, and I have to draw the line somewhere. This promise has to be kept. Then I’ll make a decision about what to do next.’ Helen threw the sheets onto the floor, ready to go to the washing machine. ‘But first, I’ll call Tina and Sam and apologise.’

Helen was still fighting the voice in her head telling her she wanted to wake up to Tom every morning, and that she should do what she wanted for a change – which was only just losing out to her conscience that was yelling that she’d spent months doing what she wanted and it was time she stopped being self-centred – when Tom appeared.

‘I can tell by your expression that wasn’t fun. Dare I ask what Sue said?’

Leaning his back against the bedroom door, Tom exhaled in frustration. ‘Apparently she called Mill Grange last night to say goodnight to Dylan. God knows how she got the landline number. She was not impressed when he told her Daddy had gone away for the night.’

‘Oh hell.’ Helen didn’t know what else to say.

‘I’m going to have to go. Sue more or less demanded that I stop at Tiverton on the way home to explain myself and discuss looking after Dylan in the future.’

Helen felt guilt wash over her. ‘You don’t think she’ll use this as an excuse to say you can’t see Dylan, do you?’

‘Maybe.’ Tom’s face was grey as he slumped onto the edge of the bed. ‘She’s used my behaviour with women against me before. To be fair, in some cases she was right to, but this time—’

‘It’s my fault. If I hadn’t taken off…’

Taking Helen’s hand, Tom tugged gently so she’d sit next to him. ‘Don’t blame yourself. Sue has been acting really strange lately, even for her. Every time I think she’s developed some maternal instincts she proves me wrong.’

‘Surely not being impressed to discover her son was with babysitters and not you is maternal instinct? I’d probably have reacted the same way if he was my son.’ Helen hoped Tom hadn’t noticed her gulp as she spoke. ‘You’d better go.’

‘I can’t persuade you to come with me? You aren’t officially back here until Tuesday.’

‘I’m not sure Sue would be terribly pleased to see me and…’ Helen paused. ‘Hang on, did you say she was expecting you to stop at her place in Tiverton?’

‘Yes, Sue was very definite about that, she…’ Tom suddenly came to the same realisation as Helen. ‘She said was going away, didn’t she? That’s why I have Dylan all week.’

‘So, what’s she doing in Tiverton?’

Jumping up, Tom kissed Helen hard on the mouth. ‘I’m sorry I have to go, but I need to find out what game Sue’s playing this time.’

‘Good luck.’ Wanting to change her mind, and say she’d go with him, Helen forced herself to stay where she was. Even if they were still together at Mill Grange, the conversation Tom and Sue were about to have was for them alone.

Tom was shoving his trainers on and was out of her home before she knew it. Seconds later, Helen was waving his Fiesta drive down the hill at more speed than was sensible; leaving an empty space and empty feeling behind him.

*

Thea munched a salad sandwich as she flicked through the Job Vacancies page on the Current Archaeology website. There were a few that sounded interesting, but they were all abroad.

Getting up from the bed, where she’d been resting her laptop on her knees, she looked out of the attic window and down across the garden. When Thea had arrived at Mill Grange the gardens had been overgrown and the house barely habitable. Now, thanks to a great team of volunteers in the early days, then Sam, Tina, Mabel and Shaun, it was working. Not just working, but providing help for those who needed a fresh start in life.

I don’t want to leave.

As she watched, Thea saw Sam, Shaun and Dylan emerge from the gate connecting the woods to the garden. A lump formed in her throat. Have we drifted too far apart this time to get back to where we were?

The trees swayed in the light spring breeze, sending light sprays of blossom across the garden. A magnolia petal landed on Sam’s head, and she saw him smile as he brushed it to the ground.

Like confetti.

Drawing away from the window, Thea turned off the laptop. There was no way she could leave Mill Grange, and knew in her heart she wouldn’t have to. Whatever happened between her and Shaun, he’d be the one to move on. He was only here part of the time anyway. Unless he lost his post with Landscape Treasures.

Cradling her mobile, Thea longed to call Tina or Helen to talk, but both her friends had their own problems. The last thing they needed was her offloading about a misunderstanding that had got out of control.

Groaning, Thea sat on the side of the little bed. Walking up the aisle behind Tina, and standing next to Shaun as their best friends exchanged vows, had been something she’d been looking forward to. Now she dreaded it.

I love him, but I have no idea how to fix this. Closing her eyes, Thea conjured an image of the Goddess Minerva she’d kept in her office in Bath. You helped me before, can you help me now? Some halfway decent advice would do.

Her mobile burst into life, making Thea’s eyes fly back open.

It was Helen.

*

Tina fired back the final booking confirmation email of the morning. The word was spreading about what Sam was doing at Mill Grange with wounded ex service personnel. Since they’d closed for Easter and the wedding, they’d been an upturn in