May 2010
‘Please be careful with that mirror! It cost a fortune,’ Natalie shouted at the two removal men attempting to squeeze past another man carrying a large chest. She drew a sharp breath as they missed each other by an inch. Natalie had forgotten how stressful moving was, particularly when the move involved a delay between moving out and moving in. If she hadn’t made extensive lists she’d have forgotten what was in the various boxes now scattered around the house. Her parents were going to help her unpack once the removal men had disappeared. But for the moment chaos reigned and Natalie badly needed a coffee.
She slipped into the kitchen and filled the kettle. The men would be glad of a cuppa too, and she tipped out the teabags and pack of coffee from the supermarket bag. Moments later Natalie handed out mugs of tea to the men before pouring herself a fresh coffee. Although only ten in the morning, the summer heat was building up and everyone headed outside, those who smoked going to stand at the bottom of the garden. Natalie sank, with a sigh, onto one of the new garden chairs she had bought a few days before. They formed a solitary row on the terrace, still the only part of the garden which had been finished. As she sipped her coffee her gaze was drawn to the piles of earth and stones only slightly smaller than when she’d first viewed the cottage. The landscaper, Matt, had drawn up a proposed plan and Natalie had approved it, adding extra touches and planting for which she agreed to pay herself. So far all that had been achieved was the redistribution of soil from one area to another. She sighed. Her dream of having the garden finished before the end of summer seemed doomed. It could never compete with Jeanne’s garden but she looked forward to having shrubs and flowers planted. And a small pond with fish. And a pergola over the terrace, smothered in scented climbers…
‘Natalie! There you are. I wondered if you needed a hand,’ called Jeanne as she stepped through the folded-back windows.
‘Hi, I was just thinking about you. Or rather your garden. Where’s the offspring?’ Natalie asked, giving her friend a hug. She thought Jeanne looked trim and full of energy for someone with two children under three. Her dark hair swung behind her in a ponytail and her vivid blue eyes shone as she took in the view. One of the joys of moving back to the island had been re-establishing their relationship. Close friends during their childhood, they had lost touch after Jeanne had suddenly left Guernsey after her parents were killed.
‘Harry’s at nursery and Freya’s at home with Nick. He’s supposed to be supervising the work we’re having done in the attic, but I suspect he’ll be outside playing with Madam. She’s got him wrapped round her little finger and she’s not yet one!’ Jeanne laughed.
Natalie smiled. ‘Clever girl. If you’d really like to help, how about we tackle the boxes in the kitchen? I’ll make you a coffee while we’re at it.’ They walked through to the kitchen, now stacked high with boxes bearing lists of contents. As Natalie opened the first one she thought she heard a voice hiss, ‘Go away! Go!’ Startled, she looked around but there was only Jeanne pulling out pans from the box.
‘Did you hear that?’
Jeanne looked up. ‘Hear what?’
‘I thought I heard someone say “go away”.’
‘No, didn’t hear anything. Apart from the noise of those men clattering up and down the hall. Perhaps you imagined it.’
‘Perhaps. I’ve not entirely felt safe since I left London and…and Liam. I keep thinking he’s going to follow me here.’ Natalie felt foolish even as the words left her mouth.
Jeanne’s brow puckered and she stroked Natalie’s arm. ‘Hey, it’s natural to be a bit on edge after what you’ve gone through. But now you’re surrounded by your family and friends and he wouldn’t dare to cause trouble here. Apart from anything else, he doesn’t even know you’re back in Guernsey, does he?’
Natalie shook her head. ‘No, he doesn’t. You’re right, I’ve been a bit stressed out with the move and starting a new job. I’m sure I’ll be fine. And I’m looking forward to being in my own space again. Mum and Dad are lovely but…’ she grinned.
‘I enjoyed my stay with them when I first came back, too. They looked after me brilliantly, but I knew I had to be independent and move into my own cottage.’ Jeanne laughed. ‘You could say I was Mollycoddled!’
Natalie broke out into giggles, the joke releasing the earlier tension and neither of them could stop laughing for a few minutes. At least the mood was lighter as they continued the unpacking. Being a mere five feet three, Natalie had to stand on a stool to reach the top cupboards. She was called upon occasionally by the men to confirm the resting places for the furniture, but within the hour all the boxes in the kitchen were unpacked and the contents stored in drawers and cupboards.
‘Fantastic! At least I’ll have plates and cutlery for my takeaways,’ Natalie said, pushing a hand through her hair. She had always enjoyed choosing beautiful items for her kitchen, even though some were hardly used. Like the pots and pans. A designer-styled toaster, kettle and coffee machine now graced the worktop. The kitchen was once more immaculate, all signs of the recent invasion of boxes obliterated.
Jeanne’s eyebrows shot up.
‘Takeaways? But surely you can cook? Molly would have taught you.’
Natalie perched on a stool. ‘Oh, she did and I used to cook a bit. But working silly hours in the City meant I was always too tired to rustle up a meal when I crawled home. I’d either grab an Indian takeaway or pick up a ready meal from a 24-hour supermarket. I barely had time to shop let alone cook. But I guess I won’t have that excuse now I’m working normal hours again.’
‘I forgot to ask how the job’s going,’ Jeanne said, sitting beside her at the central island.
‘Okay, thanks. Everyone’s very friendly and although we have to work hard, at least I’m not burning the midnight oil. Being in charge of a team at an investment bank is much more civilised, time-wise. The salary’s well down on my old one, but it’s enough. If I start cooking again I’ll save a fortune on takeaways.’ Natalie smiled, eying the super-duper oven.
‘You were lucky to beat the crash with that last big bonus of yours. I was so envious! Fancy being able to pay cash for your gorgeous flat!’
‘Yes, I was lucky, but I’d worked like a dog for years as a hedge fund manager and the pressure was unbelievable.’ She shook her head. ‘Looking back, I don’t know how I managed to stick it out so long. In a way the crash did me a good turn and made me re-evaluate my priorities, including relationships. You know, I’d hardly been out with a guy since I’d moved back to London. How crazy is that?’ She frowned.
They were interrupted by one of the men asking where she wanted her bed positioned and Natalie went upstairs with him. The main bedroom was light and airy, with views over the bay and she wanted the bed on the wall opposite so she could wake up and gaze at the sea. The floor was almost obliterated by cardboard wardrobe boxes and Natalie decided they were the priority once the bed was assembled. She left them to it and went downstairs to find Jeanne.
‘Are you happy to stay for a bit longer? I thought we could tackle the bedroom unless you need to go home.’
Jeanne glanced at her watch. ‘I’m okay for a bit longer.’
An hour later the bedroom was looking habitable and the bed made up. Natalie flopped onto it and groaned. ‘I could quite cheerfully fall asleep, but there’s so much to do.’
‘And I have to get off and relieve Nick; so come on, up you get and make yourself some lunch. Assuming you have some food in that posh kitchen of yours.’ Jeanne laughed.
‘I bought a few things, enough to make a sandwich. I’ll see how the men are doing; they said they’d be finished by lunchtime.’
Downstairs they arrived in time to see the last of the empty boxes being thrown into the van.
The foreman asked her to sign the ticked-off list. After pocketing the generous tip, he and the other three took their places in the van and drove off. As Jeanne gave Natalie a hug, she reminded her to keep in touch.
Suddenly all was quiet and she would be alone for the first time in her new home. A rumbling in her stomach reminded Natalie she needed to eat and she headed for the kitchen, somewhat reluctant to enter the house alone. Telling herself not to be an idiot, she grabbed ham, cheese and butter from the fridge and opened the pack of sliced bread. A few minutes later she went out into the garden with her sandwich and a fresh mug of coffee, glad to sit in the sun and relax. The move, although exhausting, had been smooth and Natalie found herself thinking back to that awful day she had moved out of her flat. And Liam had turned up.