I should have been googling Prosperous Place and your family, Luke. I’d love to know more about them.’
‘Well, that’s no problem,’ he said, setting down a mug in front of me. ‘Kate and I can fill you in on what you want to know as we go along.’
I felt a pang of disappointment that I wasn’t going to be properly involved with the project because it all sounded absolutely fascinating.
‘So, what have you discovered in your research?’ asked Kate, looking keenly at the pile of papers and my bulging file.
I ran them through the notes I had made, expanding on the list of shrubs and trees I had previously mentioned to Luke and again emphasised the importance of scent as well as all the other senses and how using form and structure would enhance what was already established.
‘Talking of structure,’ said Luke, once I had stopped to draw breath, ‘I’ve also been thinking about adding some sculptures.’
‘Oh,’ I said, wondering what he had in mind.
Was he talking about commissioning something bespoke or popping down to the garden centre for a few gnomes? I seriously hoped it was the former. Not that I had anything against gnomes, but I wasn’t sure how they’d fit into the elegant scheme of the Prosperous Place Winter Garden that I had in mind. Not that it was my vision that was going to be created, but still.
‘What sort of sculptures?’ I asked.
He didn’t have the opportunity to answer as the kitchen door flew open and in ran two little girls, followed closely by a woman with flushed cheeks. Nell tucked herself further under my chair and I leant my leg against her to reassure her that everything was fine. Clearly, I wasn’t the only one who had become a little too accustomed to my own company.
‘We’re starving!’ groaned the eldest girl. ‘Is it lunchtime yet?’
‘Sorry,’ apologised the woman, scooping up the little one I recognised as Abigail. ‘They wouldn’t wait.’
I looked at my watch and was amazed to see that it was actually well past lunchtime. We had been talking far longer than I’d thought.
‘That’s my fault,’ I said. ‘I think I’ve got a bit carried away.’
‘Not at all,’ said Kate. ‘Your enthusiasm is contagious, Freya.’
‘And you certainly know what you’re talking about,’ said Luke, taking Abigail from the other woman before settling her in a high chair and handing her a breadstick which she immediately annihilated by bashing it against the tray.
‘This is Carole,’ said Kate, introducing me to the woman. ‘She lives in Nightingale Square and is one of the Grow-Well gang.’
‘You met her husband, Graham,’ put in Luke, ‘on the open day.’
‘Of course,’ I said, standing up to shake the woman’s hand which was a little formal, but I got the feeling that she was someone who appreciated a good first impression. She was dressed almost identically to how her husband had been. All that was missing was the name badge. ‘Pleased to meet you.’
‘And you, my dear.’
‘She’s also the glue that keeps the Grow-Well committee on track, the girls in line, and pretty much everything around here running like a well-oiled machine,’ beamed Luke.
Carole looked pleased. ‘I don’t know about that,’ she flushed, ‘but I like to do my bit.’
‘More than your bit,’ said Kate, ‘and we all love you for it.’
‘And I’m Jasmine,’ said the older girl, holding out her hand for me to shake and mimicking what I had just done with Carole.
‘And I’m pleased to meet you too,’ I said, shaking it but not quite as firmly.
‘How do you do?’ she asked, in a silly, posh voice.
‘Very well,’ I mirrored back, making them all laugh. ‘And how do you do?’
Jasmine dissolved into giggles and Abigail offered me the soggy end of her breadstick, making me feel very much at home.
‘I’ll come back for the girls in a bit,’ said Carole, ‘which will give you three a chance to look around outside in peace. It’s stopped raining by the way, but it’s wet underfoot. You’ll need wellies.’
Fortunately, I had put mine in the van. I rarely travelled without them and none of my clothes objected to a bit of mud. My creased old Barbour and well-worn jumpers and jeans were generally as sophisticated as I got.
‘Thanks, Carole,’ said Kate.
‘Have you seen the cats?’ Luke asked her, handing Abigail another breadstick because she had started to clamour for her sister’s as soon as she had handed me hers.
‘Both asleep in the bothy,’ said Carole. ‘See you in a bit.’