I try to pretend that my world hasn’t turned upside down. My friend has printed out leaflets advertising the Christmas Open Day to put around the village. She volunteers me and the Hot Mayor for the job. Perhaps she appreciates that I need a bit of time out from the students to gather my scattered thoughts.
After lunch, she hands us both bundles of paper. There’s a cartoon drawing of our alpacas at the top and all the details of the event. ‘Stick them on lamp posts, ask the shops and pub if they’ll put them up.’
Both Matt and I nod obediently.
‘Lucas and I are going to start teaching the kids a song, maybe two. God help us.’
I think I’m glad to be putting up posters. Matt and I wrap up and set off down the lane together. The sky is milky, soft, but there’s a fierce chill in the air and I wonder if we’ll have snow this year, a white Christmas. The walk into the village is bracing, but helps to clear my head.
‘Everything OK?’ Matt says.
‘Fine,’ I assure him.
‘You seem a bit quiet.’
‘A lot on my mind. With the open day and that. Bev discussed her plans with me this morning. There’s so much to take in.’ I can’t share with him what’s really going on in my life. It’s too new, too raw, too frightening. I can’t tell anyone – except Bev – until I’ve shared it with Shelby and with Lucas. Though I have the feeling that Matt would understand.
We stop at a lamp post in the village and Matt gets first dibs on fixing his poster to it.
When we walk again, he says, ‘The scenery is all finished and ready to put up. Is there anything else that you’d like me to do?’
‘We should gather some holly with the kids,’ I say. ‘That would look nice around the farmyard, but there’s nothing specific. There are a couple of holly trees in the fields that we can trim.’
‘I’ve got tomorrow off too,’ Matt says, ‘But I need to go back to work after that. I can’t put it off any longer.’
‘Ah.’ I turn to him. ‘I’ve been dreading this,’ I admit. ‘It’s been great having you around.’
‘You’re not getting rid of me that easily,’ he laughs. ‘This has been a godsend to me, Molly. I was feeling a bit lost and lonely. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great being mayor – an honour – but when all the shaking hands and cutting ribbons has finished, I go home to an empty flat. I’ve been looking for something but I didn’t know what. I feel that coming here has given me purpose again.’
‘That’s lovely.’
‘So I’ll be here every weekend, evenings if you want me and I can spend some of my holiday time here too.’
‘Whatever time you can spare will be greatly appreciated. You’ll definitely be here for the open day?’
‘I’m one of the turns,’ he reminds me. ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world.’
‘I can’t decide if it will be fabulous or a total car crash. This is a big thing for our students. I have everything crossed that it goes well.’
Our next stop is the village shop and the new owner agrees to put the poster in the window. He says that he can’t come as the shop will be open, but is sure his wife and daughter would like a chance to come along to the farm. We have a standing invitation for the people of our village to visit us, but few take us up on the offer. I think Bev is right that an organised event will be more of a draw and it will be nice to meet some of the people who live here properly and on my own turf.
Before we move on Matt pauses and turns to me. ‘I hope we’ve become good friends, Molly. I’d like to think so.’
‘We have. Definitely.’
‘You’re very easy company.’
‘I’m not. I’m socially awkward, a bit of a loner, a misfit. I struggle to make friends, yet we got on instantly. So this is very different for me. I really enjoy your company.’
‘We should form a mutual admiration society,’ he quips, but there’s a serious look in his eyes. ‘Shelby is a very lucky man.’
Perhaps. I’m not sure how lucky he’ll feel when I tell him that he’s going to be a father again. Would he really want a small child in tow? His relationship with Lucas isn’t easy; I wonder whether he’ll view it