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

‘I certainly don’t!’ Phil put down his lager bottle. ‘While I have the floor, I’d like to thank the secret power behind Mill Grange before we all get too befuddled on Mabel’s excellent lasagne.’ Phil raised his bottle of lager. ‘To Bert; without whom I don’t think the indoor scene would have happened.’

Mabel snorted. ‘Secret power to drop off to sleep while peeling potatoes more like.’

Dylan giggled. ‘Did you really do that, Bert?’

‘Once, about eight years ago. Mabel likes to remind me every now and then.’ He winked as Dylan sucked his orange juice nosily through a straw.

Sam inclined his head towards Bert. ‘You are a man of many parts. I for one couldn’t manage without you. Thank you.’

‘Now, my boy, none of that soppy stuff.’ Bert patted Dylan’s shoulder. ‘How about we tell this young fella a story? Where better than beside a camp fire to hear a tale before bed?’

Dylan reached out a hand to this father, who sat next to Bert. ‘Can I have a story here, Dad, before we go to our room in the pub?’

‘Of course. What would you like it to be about? Castles and dragons like on your boots?’

‘No, Dad, I think it should be about the Romans who lived here.’ Dylan tilted his head to one side. ‘But, maybe they could meet a dragon?’

*

As Tom and Dylan disappeared into the distance, the only sound that could be heard was the crackle of flames and the rustle of the trees above as the evening breeze stepped up its pace.

It was Bert who broke the silence. ‘That was one hell of a good day.’ He reached a hand out to Mabel, and they levered each other off their chairs. ‘But us oldies are off to bed.’

Sam clambered to his feet. ‘Thank you both. I don’t know what we’d do without you.’

‘I’ll second that.’ Tina hugged Mabel and then Bert.

‘Our pleasure.’ Bert gripped Mabel’s hand. ‘Thanks for letting Tom bring his son here. A breath of fresh air to our ageing bones.’

The first drops of rain fizzed against the bonfire as Bert and Mabel disappeared down the drive. Helen pulled up her hood as she watched the flames begin to gutter in the breeze. Suddenly tired to the bone, she was glad she’d be sleeping in the manor, unlike the Landscape Treasures team, who’d be huddling up in their tents for one last night, rain or no rain.

Leaning in next to Thea, Helen whispered, ‘You know what you said about me staying, did you mean it?’

‘I did.’

‘Maybe, if it’s okay, I could stay for a while. I called work. They’re agreeable to me taking a six-month sabbatical. That way I haven’t closed any doors if you don’t need me long term, but I’ll get a break from being the person in charge. What do you think?’

‘I think that’s fantastic.’ Thea peered up at the gathering storm clouds. ‘I can’t wait to tell the others.’

‘Actually, would you mind if we saved the news until the first week of guests is over? Then we’ll know if I can hack being nice to people twenty-four-seven!’

‘Deal!’ Thea laughed. ‘Everyone will be delighted. Especially Tom.’

*

The fire had been damped down and everyone was huddled in the kitchen, clutching fresh hot drinks.

Having asked for the kitchen table to be dragged as close to the back door as possible; Sam sat sideways on, so he could sit against the open door, but still be with his friends. He was the only one wearing a coat, but he didn’t care.

Today, after years of fear, he’d spent almost thirty minutes inside his home. He was in it now, even if only just. As rain fell outside, the wind blowing against his back, Sam felt a level of contentment he hadn’t experienced in years. The dig had been filmed, the house was almost ready to be a fully fledged rehabilitation retreat, and their first guests were arriving tomorrow.

He looked across to Tina on the opposite side of the table. She was laughing with Thea at something Shaun had said.

In that moment Sam knew what he had to do. He just hoped his courage would hold so he could go through with it; because this time Dylan could not come along to help.

*

‘Are you ready to make a dash for it?’ Tina peeked out of the kitchen door. ‘I think we’d better take a brolly as well as the hot water bottle.’

Everyone else had gone off to their bedrooms or tents, full of promises to meet up for breakfast before the Landscape Treasures crew headed off for some well-earned holiday, and the Mill Grange team rolled up their sleeves and got on with the pre-guest arrangements.

‘Actually—’ Sam wiped some perspiration from his palms ‘—I thought you might like to sleep inside tonight. It’s so damp and cold out there.’

‘No way. After all you’ve been through today, I’m staying with you.’ Tina kissed Sam softly. ‘You deserve a reward.’

Smiling suggestively, Sam took her hands and said, ‘I wasn’t thinking of forgoing my reward. If you’re okay with it, we could reward each other indoors. Together.’

Tina gasped. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Very.’ Sam trailed his hands through her hair, tugging out the pigtails that were half falling out anyway. ‘There’s one snag.’

‘You might leave for the tent in the middle of night? That’s okay I—’

‘No, not that.’ Sam’s legs started to tremble. ‘I’m not ready to face stairs or attics, so we’d need to use the downstairs room. But it’s ready for Woody tomorrow, so…

Tina laughed. ‘You’re concerned about changing some bedding at a time like this!’

Taking her hands, Sam, his eyes a combination of desire and anxiety, muttered, ‘You won’t let go of me, will you?’

‘Not for a second.’

As they reached the downstairs room, all crisp and clean for their guests, Sam let out a ragged sigh of relief. He’d made it. ‘There’s one thing I need to ask you before I can face having the door shut behind me.’

‘What’s that?’

Sam tried to block out