The morning brought a storm of rain battering against the windows. It was as if the weather gods had declared ‘Enough of this early summer, now back to our usual programming.’
The return to wintry weather was not the only change. With Philip’s arrival came a storm of another kind. It was a rush of male energy throughout the house.
He was more than happy to enjoy dark skies and moist air after the heat of Egypt. He stood on the front porch with the door open and breathed in and out with obvious relish. Anna thought it made a strange picture with his white hair blowing in the wind and his deeply-tanned skin looking all the more exotic by contrast with the weather.
Alina just laughed.
“He has not stopped talking and walking around the place since he arrived. I expect him to collapse at any point today, he has expended so much pent-up energy since he got here.”
“How did he deal with your returned eyesight?”
“Anna, your big brother wept like a child for joy and he insisted on asking me what I could see every five minutes as if he feared the miracle had an expiry date.”
“Oh! I am so very happy for you both. It is wonderful to be back together after so much frustrating time apart.”
“I agree. I wish we could be transported here to Oban on a bird’s wing whenever we need to have a complete change.”
“What made you say that Alina? Has something happened?”
“No, my dear! Don’t worry yourself. It’s just so good here and you know we can’t stay forever. Now that my eyes are improving every day I do not want to lose the chance to enjoy this beautiful place. It’s a big house, Anna, and although you have some help from Jeanette, it is a lot to maintain.”
Anna became very still. This was not the first time Alina had instinctively read her mind. It was something that occurred regularly from the smallest of hints in voice or manner. Even with her seriously impaired eyesight, it was not unusual for Alina to catch onto whatever was concerning her closest friend.
Anna stood up and switched on the kettle. Next she went to the front door and dragged Philip back inside.
“We have some serious discussing to do, Philip. I want to hear from you and Alina about something I have done.”
Alina waited until the tea was brewed but she was positively jumping inside with anticipation. Philip waited as calmly as he could. He knew his sister was not talking idly. If she said it was serious, that is exactly what she meant.
“First of all, I decided some time ago to leave the McCaig Estate House to Ashley in my will. She loves the place and there’s nothing in Canada to compare with this or to compete with her long-term future plans.”
“I am glad of your decision, Anna. Ashley is the right person to continue on here. I am not at all surprised, but why are you telling us this now?”
“Because I want to give her the house now as a wedding present but I also want to retain some ownership so we three can continue to enjoy Oban for as long as possible.”
Philip’s mind was ticking over as he absorbed the implications of this news.
“How is that possible, Anna? There’s only the pull-out couch in the lounge as additional sleeping space.”
“Ah, that’s where you come in, Philip! Could you draw up a plan to extend this house so as to provide more accommodation?”
Alina turned to her husband in surprise. She had never heard of this plan of Anna’s and she was sure Philip would not be anxious to take on such a major project now he was talking of finally retiring.
His sudden, loud masculine laughter shook the kitchen table and Anna wondered if she had offended him in some way.
“Good gracious, Anna! I have been waiting years to hear this. I began to draw up plans a decade ago. It’s the obvious thing to do and I am sure it can be done without destroying the integrity of the present building. A substantial one-floor extension would commence at the rear, through the larder behind us. It would lead to a bedroom suite with its own washroom and closet space, and a glass door would provide a private exit to a secluded garden. I’ve been dying to get my hands on that unruly, huge, back garden of yours and lick it into shape.”
Anna almost jumped for joy. She grabbed Philip by the shoulders and hugged him to her.
“Do you mean it? Are you sure? I can pay for it from my book earnings. Would you be willing to take this project on?”
“Oh, I would do the initial plans but I am sure we could find a competent firm around here to do the actual work. The main benefit of my plan is that the house can continue to be occupied while the extension is built. We would partition off the larder to separate it from the construction and the crews can approach the back garden from the driveway at the side of the house and store their equipment and materials in the garage.”
“Better and better! I won’t say anything to Ashley yet but once the project is underway I will break the news and see what she and Edmund think about it all.”
“Anna! It’s a wonderful idea! I will be very surprised if this does not bring forward their wedding plans.
Just think! If Ashley continues to write, she would be working out of the private lounge office where she had such great success with yours and Lawren’s stories.”
Anna nodded in agreement. Philip was off to search his luggage for a pad of paper to begin sketching the extension. She took Alina’s hand and squeezed it hard in gratitude for her acceptance of the plan. Although it was not the prime purpose of her extension idea it was in her mind that Philip’s version did not involve changing her bedroom upstairs; the room most associated with her beloved Lawren.
The time would come to relinquish that special place but the time was not yet. If Ashley chose to sleep there with Edmund while Anna was in Canada, she would be at peace with the idea in the knowledge that it was a special place for Ashley also, as she had proved during the months of caring for Anna and writing the book. Lawren’s portrait of the three women would remain in its position above the fireplace for the remainder of Anna’s lifetime. What happened after that was not a matter of her concern. Ashley could be trusted to do what was right.
The rain lashed down outside and the clouds descended from the mountaintops but within the McCaig Estate House all was excitement and activity.
Philip quizzed Anna about the possible transference of Gordon and Fiona’s solar power heating and water conservation to the new extension.
“I will need to inspect their Net Zero house as soon as possible.”
“I am sure you will be as impressed as I am, Philip. It is the way of the future and there’s no reason why some of their energy-saving features can’t be incorporated into the McCaig house.”
Alina made copious pots of tea and supervised the joint of beef roasting in the Aga between smiling happily at the sight of her husband’s and her best friend’s heads bent over the plans that were rapidly spreading from one end of the kitchen table to the other.
Sylvia who was not entirely pleased at the arrival of this large male person who was disrupting her usual sleepy afternoons, finally closed her ears to all the chatter and curled her large tail around her eyes and ignored them all completely.
Fiona got the call from Anna first thing on Monday. The world was still dripping from the heavy rain but the clouds were beginning to shred apart leaving spaces for a rain-washed blue sky to reappear.
Fiona knew of Philip’s history as an innovative architect so she was not surprised at the request.
Anna, however, was not forthcoming as to the urgency of the matter. As far as Fiona knew, Philip had just arrived from Egypt and inspecting the operation of the Net Zero house could hardly be his first priority, but she agreed to meet him, and caught Gordon before he went out on his rounds to look for storm damage on the estate.
“I’ll be glad to give him a tour of the facilities here. It will be practise for the Summer Festival which, if the weather is like yesterday’s, will require some re-thinking, Fiona, my love.”
The same thought had occurred to Fiona. She wondered if hiring a large tent might be advisable. It could be added to the expenses; quite a long list by now, and a list that made her more and more aware of the necessity to make the festival a success in financial terms.
“I will take Neil into town with me and leave the field clear for man talk. I will pick up some supplies and have a bite of lunch with Anna and Alina. You two should have plenty time to discuss business and if you get the chance, Gordon, ask Philip if the flashing on the castle roof is in good enough condition to withstand another couple of winters.”
Fiona popped Neil into his car seat and gave him his current favourite soft toy to mangle while she summoned his siblings to hustle in time for the ride to school. Shona had an early choir practise and Fergus had a major art project to finish. The school bus would bring them home later in the day, by which time Fiona meant to know a lot more about what was going on with Anna and Alina.
She passed Philip in his rented vehicle on the road to the McCaig Estate House and gave him a wave. She was taking a brief detour to Bev’s to go over the catering plan for the Summer Festival. Uncertainty about the number of people who might turn up on the day was bothering her. Bev should not be out of pocket with regard to food supplies but it was better to be over-prepared than under.
Bev was delighted to see Neil and took him out to see the late lambs in the enclosed area. Their conversation was conducted in the fresh air while Neil toddled around chasing frisky little lambs and chortling with glee whenever he got close to one.
“Don’t you worry, lass! Anything not sold on the day will come right back here for the tearoom. Summer is high season for tourists and we have the new Lawren Drake art display to draw the customers. I have co-opted one of the village girls to stand by here on the day, in case any tourists have missed the announcements about the Summer Festival at the castle. Alan will drive extra supplies back and forth as required.”
“I should have known you would be well prepared, Bev. The weather yesterday made me start to re-think things and I got a bit worried.”
“Dinna fash! as they say. It will all work out fine, Fiona. Now let’s get this wee laddie inside before he falls over in the wet grass and soaks his nice clothes.”
Before Fiona left, Bev gave her a bit of news to pass on to Anna and Alina. James had called to tell his parents that the London flat had sold for a good price and he and Caroline were on a house search but not restricting themselves to any one area. Caroline was considering an offer to teach at the London School of Economics on a term basis but, as it was an online course it would not affect their living plans.
“Oh, that’s good news, Bev! Fingers crossed that James and Caroline will find the right place for them before long.”
Bev waved the pair away up the short distance to Anna’s house and Fiona was glad she had news to convey as an excuse for a visit that was based purely on curiosity.
In the end, the excuse was not necessary. Anna and Alina were thrilled to see Neil and could hardly wait to tell Fiona how her suggestion to add an extension was sparking all this action.
“I can’t believe how fast Philip jumped on the idea. I had no clue that he had been thinking about it for ages.”
“Well, if he needs a good builder to supervise the work, Gordon will introduce him to the local firm that did our Eco house. The Rankins’ were amazingly good about the schedule and, of course, they already have experience in conservation work.”
Anna turned to Alina and raised her hands. This was a sign everything was falling into place remarkably fast. It was meant to be.
Alina did not disagree, but she brought the excitement down to ground level by reminding Anna and Fiona that all this planning was for the benefit of someone who did not yet know anything about the project.
It was time to bring Ashley and Edmund into the picture and Anna was the one to do it.