Birds Of A Feather Episode 19
“I’m really grateful to you, Vanessa,” Paloma said to Maggie’s mother as she handed her a cup of coffee.
“If you could hold the fort in the tea room for a few hours while I move my things into the flat, that would be so helpful.
“Lisa’s coming in to help out at lunchtime, but I’ll be back before then.”
Vanessa stirred sweetener into her coffee.
“You’re welcome. Although I think you’re mad, tying yourself up with that sort of responsibility.
“Looking after your own child is a thankless enough task, but someone else’s?” She gave a theatrical shudder.
“It’s just a bit of after-school childminding. I need somewhere to live and this is a part-time job with accommodation. It’s as simple as that.” Paloma didn’t try to explain how she’d fallen in love with the old, neglected house.
Vanessa sighed.
“Yes, I know all about not having a place to call my own. Maybe the job would have suited me.
“Except for the child, of course. I’m not good with children.”
“Neither am I. But I’m sure it will all work out,” Paloma replied, sounding a lot more confident than she felt.
She didn’t feel any more confident when, 15 minutes later, she collected the keys from Will Gregory.
“How’s the cow and calf?” she asked as she followed him across the yard to the flat, above what was once a granary.
“They’re both doing fine, thanks to the vet. Thanks for stepping in like that. I was at my wits’ end. I’m sorry I was so rude to you.”
“You don’t have to apologise. As I said –” She stopped mid-sentence as he unlocked the door and showed her into the flat.
“Oh, my goodness!”
He looked alarmed.
“You don’t like it?”
“I love it!” she exclaimed. “I wasn’t expecting anything so beautiful.”
The living-room consisted of an open-plan sitting area and a kitchen divided off by an island unit.
The beams of the lovely old building were exposed and the floors were a polished wood with cream rugs.
The focal point of the room was the huge floor-to-ceiling window that looked down across a wooded valley to Glastonbury Tor in the distance.
The bedroom and bathroom had the same exposed beams, the same feeling of light and space.
Will quickly ran through all the various appliances, obviously in a hurry to get on with his day.
“As you can see, it’s fully furnished. But if you want to bring your own stuff in, feel free,” he said.
“I travel light, Mr Gregory.” She took one last look around. “It’s a lovely flat. Did you design it?”
His face hardened.
“My late wife did. She was going to let it out as a holiday cottage. But . . .” He left the words unspoken.
“I’m sorry.” Paloma swiftly changed the subject. “I take it you’d like me to collect Finn from school this afternoon? Shall I bring him back here or to the house?”
“The house,” Will replied. “You’ll find he’ll disappear to his bedroom. Pick him up at half past three.”
“I’ll need a key in case you’re not there. Is there anything in particular you’d like me to do in the house? Any room you want me to start on?”
“No,” he said sharply. “You don’t need to do anything except collect Finn from school, give him something to eat and straighten the kitchen.
“This is the back door key. It sticks a bit and you have to give it a bit of a jiggle. I’ll be back by five.”
“Five?”
“Is that a problem?”
“I’m afraid so. I have the goats to milk and I usually do it about half past four.
“Perhaps Finn could come with me?” Paloma suggested.
“Finn? In a milking parlour?” He gave a sharp laugh, but there was little humour in it.
“My parents-in-law have turned him into a right little townie.
“He hates farming and anything to do with it.”
Paloma’s heart sank. She hadn’t thought this through.
It would be all right when Maggie got back, as she always did the afternoon milking, but she wasn’t due back until later today.
“Would it be all right if he waited in the tea room for me?” she went on.
“There’s always someone there and he could bring his iPad. I’m sorry, Mr Gregory.”
“Do whatever you think right,” Will replied. “Finn will be OK as long as he has his iPad. And please call me Will.”
“OK. I’m Paloma.”
“Paloma?” He spoke her name carefully. “Unusual.”
“It means a dove,” she explained. “My father loved birds. I suppose I should be grateful he wasn’t into spiders or beetles. I could have ended up being called Stag or Tarantula.”
He smiled and this time the smile reached his eyes. It transformed his face.
“Let’s just see how things go.” Will glanced at his watch. “I’ll see you later.”
Paloma realised she was going to be pushed for time to fit everything into her day, even when Maggie came back to work.
Something had to go and it would be the petition against the redevelopment of the village pub. But she knew just the person to take it over.
Daphne Heston-Plucknett was a powerhouse of energy, but had withdrawn from village life after her husband, a local councillor, was forced to resign following a bribery scandal.
Then she’d lost her lovely house as well.
Daphne was a fighter. She was just what the campaign needed.
Paloma thought the campaign might be just what Daphne needed, too.