A knock on the door the next morning takes me by surprise and upon opening it, find the smiling woman from next door holding an envelope and a bottle of wine.
“Good morning, I’m sorry to disturb you.”
“Oh, no problem, would you like to come in?”
I feel a little flustered because as usual our house is a complete mess and I try not to let my relief show when she shakes her head and says apologetically, “I’m sorry, I can’t stop. I’m heading off to Pilates, but I just wanted to welcome you officially and invite you around this evening for social drinks.”
She hands me the bottle and the envelope and I smile gratefully. “That sounds great, we would love to come. What time?”
“Oh, shall we say seven? I’ve invited a few of the other neighbours and you can meet everyone in one go. Not that there’s many of us—yet, but it’s a start at least.”
“Thank you, we would love to come.”
With a smile and a wave, she heads back down the path and I close the door feeling excited. Yes, this is just what I envisaged when we moved here. Drinks with neighbours, get-togethers and cosy chats over coffee. Now all we need is to find the local pub so Lucas will be happy and some friends for the boys.
“Who was that?”
Lucas materialises from the garden and I say happily, “Nancy from next door. They have invited us around there for social drinks at seven. I told you we’d fit right in.”
“What the hell are social drinks when they’re at home?”
Lucas raises his eyes and looks so shocked it makes me laugh. “The clue is in the title, babe, people here obviously like to party so you should fit right in.”
“What about the boys, are they invited?”
“She didn’t say.”
Lucas shrugs, “Oh well, it’s only next door, they can always stay here and shout if they need us.”
He heads off upstairs to drill yet another hole, and I feel good about things. Social drinks, whatever next.
* * *
At seven on the dot, we ring the doorbell next door and I smooth down my dress feeling anxious. Am I overdressed, will I fit in, will they be our sort of people?
Nancy answers the door with a huge smile, making me feel instantly at home and says sweetly, “Welcome, welcome, come on in and meet the others.”
The noise of conversation stills as we walk into her kitchen that runs the length of the house at the back, and I feel strangely shy as I grip Lucas’s hand and smile around me. Nancy pulls a man forward who nods with interest, “Hi, I’m Adrian, Nancy’s husband, you must be Esme and Lucas, I’m pleased to meet you.”
We shake his hand and Nancy says brightly, “This is Jasmine, she lives in the house opposite me and this is her husband Liam.”
I look with interest at a slightly serious looking couple who nod politely and shake our hands. Jasmine looks to be in her late thirties, early forties and Liam looks a little older. They are both very smart and make me regret wearing the dress I bought from the well-known chain store when I see hers is more designer than budget brand. Liam is wearing smart chinos with a polo shirt and I don’t miss the Rolex he has on his wrist. Both of them look immaculate and my heart sinks as I wonder what they must think of us.
Lucas nods and to everyone else he looks at ease, but I know he is hating every minute of this. He’s never been one for social gatherings and this one’s with strangers. He’s a little uncomfortable talking to a room full of people he doesn’t know, and I guess he’s struggling.
My heart sinks when Keith Wickham steps forward, pulling a short, rather plump woman with him, which I’m guessing must be his wife Sandra. She is dressed in floral chiffon and her perfume reaches me before she does.
She looks to be in her early sixties and her make-up hasn’t evolved because she’s wearing bright blue eye shadow and her lips are painted pale pink and the blusher on her cheeks resembles a circus clown. She has more scarves draped around her than a belly dancer, and as she steps forward, I see her gaze stripping me bare. I shrink under it because it’s obvious Sandra Wickham is the sort of woman who judges a person on sight.
“Welcome, welcome, allow me to introduce my wife Sandra.”
Sandra looks so puffed up with her own importance I stifle a grin because Keith couldn’t look any prouder than he does and I’m guessing she is used to being treated like a queen. In their house, anyway.
“I’m pleased to meet you both. You must tell me all about yourselves, I’m dying to know.”
I open my mouth to speak but she interrupts, “We live in the house opposite, the Wisteria, you know, the big one.”
My heart sinks as I nod politely.
“Anything you want to know just ask us because Keith prides himself on getting stuck into the community and giving something back.”
“Yes - he said.”
I daren’t look at Lucas because I’m guessing if I did, the look he gives me would kill me on the spot.
Sandra carries on firing out words like a lethal machine gun.
“So, let me bring you up to speed.”
She lowers her voice and leans in. “Watch out for that one over there.”
I look to where her sharp gaze is pointing and see Jasmine looking as bored as Lucas undoubtedly is.
“She’s a bit standoffish, which doesn’t work well in a community like ours. Won’t even put her name down for cricket club teas. Never volunteers for litter picking duty and won’t entertain attending one of my community suppers. There’s a story there though, mark my words.”
I look at Jasmine and see a woman who I like on the spot because any woman who could rebuff Sandra goes up in my estimation.
“Look at her husband, I’m guessing he’s a bit of a cad.”
I almost spit out the wine I’m downing fast as Lucas goes still beside me.
“Dresses like a right player and the look in her eyes tells me she’s unhappy. I mean, she’s so cold and he looks - well, bored most of the time. I’m guessing he likes the ladies—a lot, so make sure you’re on your guard if they invite you around for the evening.”
She raises her eyes and whispers, “Keys in the bowl in the centre of the table, if I’m not mistaken.”
Now I am definitely not looking at Lucas because I’m guessing he’s about to explode—with laughter. Keith says pompously, “Sandra’s a good judge of character, she’s never wrong.”
Looking over at Jasmine and Liam, I see them in a new light. Wow, do things like that really go on outside of the movies? How interesting.
Then Sandra says firmly, “I see you have a cat.”
“Yes, Pixie.” I smile at the mention of my adored pet and Sandra shakes her head. “Word of warning, make sure you keep it in for a few weeks. Don’t let it roam because I’m not going to lie, cats around here are becoming a nuisance.”
“In what way?”
I feel a little anxious and Keith says, “Messing over the lawn, sleeping in flowerbeds and on car roofs. Fighting at night and making a terrible noise and generally becoming a right nuisance. I have added it to the agenda at the next committee meeting because something needs to be done about it.”
“Yes, take your own cat for instance.”
My heart freezes as she says coolly, “I found it in my kitchen this afternoon and had to shoo it away. It comes as something when you can’t even leave your door open to air the house without intruders taking up residency. Just so you know, Keith is allergic to animal fur and any trace of it could lead to an anaphylactic shock, so I would ask you to keep your animal under control, otherwise you may have a death on your conscience.”
Once again, I open my mouth to speak but Sandra waves at someone gaily from across the kitchen and says loudly, “Oh, excuse us, I must have a word with Adrian, he told me he would recommend a good landscape gardener and I’m keen to get started.”
Keith looks at her proudly. “Yes, Sandra’s always been a keen gardener. We opened our last garden to the public under the National Garden scheme. I’m sure she will raise the bar high in the neighbourhood when she gets planning.”
As they move away, Lucas growls, “I’ll raise the bar myself if I spend one more minute with that woman.”
I’m spared from answering as Nancy heads over and raises her eyes, “Sorry to leave you with the Wickhams, please don’t judge the rest of us by them.”
I instantly relax and laugh softly, “They’re an interesting couple, that’s for sure.”
Giggling, Nancy looks across at her husband and laughs as she sees the pained look he shoots in her direction as Sandra corners him in the kitchen.
Turning to us, she says sweetly, “Let me introduce you to Jasmine and Liam, they are one hundred percent nicer than the Wickhams and the nicest people I know.”
We follow her to meet them and I look with interest as we approach.
Jasmine is an attractive woman with long dark hair and stunning blue eyes. She’s dressed immaculately and looks to be in her mid-thirties. Her husband looks around him with an easy manner and seems unfazed by his surroundings and comfortable in company and I wonder what he does for a living because they have money, it’s obvious by the clothes they wear and the watch on his wrist.
“Jasmine, Liam, meet Esme and Lucas, our new neighbours.”
I smile and Lucas steps forward and shakes Liam’s hand as Jasmine smiles. “Pleased to meet you. This must be a little overwhelming.”
“A little, but it’s nice to meet the neighbours.”
Liam grins. “Some of them, anyway.”
He rolls his eyes in Sandra’s direction and I grin.
Jasmine lowers her voice, “You’ll soon become de-sensitised to the Wickhams. To be honest, I tuned out five minutes after I met them. They’re always moaning about something and if you dare leave your bins out for more than half an hour after the bin men leave, expect a knock on the door and a sharp reprimand from Keith on Sandra’s instructions.”
Liam laughs. “We do it to annoy them. It’s become a favourite game of ours.”
Jasmine laughs and looks at him fondly, “One of many, darling.”
Lucas nudges me and images of keys in a bowl spring to my mind as the couple share a loaded look.
Turning her attention back to me, Jasmine lowers her voice. “It’s not a bad place to live, at least it won’t be when they finish it and the builders leave. Most people here seem nice and the Wickhams aside, most appear normal at least.”
Liam nods. “You must take Jasmine’s word on that, I still think the place is stuffed full of Stepford wives.”
He looks at Lucas and nods towards the counter. “Fancy a beer, you could probably use one just to get through this ordeal.”
I can sense Lucas’s relief as he nods. “Great, now you mention it…”
They move away and I exhale, feeling as if a tremendous weight has lifted and Jasmine laughs. “It’s hard for them.”
“Who?”
“The men. They suffer at these things because they’re like fish out of water. Liam hates mingling with the natives as he calls it and the fact that Lucas seems nice will have helped.”
“Why, what about Adrian, he seems nice?”
“He’s ok I guess, a little quiet most of the time and not a big drinker. He’s content just to follow Nancy around and do what she tells him. He’s a bit easily led and doesn’t seem to have his own conversation. It’s always Nancy this and Nancy that.”
“What does he do for a living?”
I look across at the man backed into a corner with interest.
“I think he’s an accountant, don’t ask me where he works because it left my mind the moment they told me. I’m not going to lie, talk about money bores me rigid, I’m much more interested in hearing the local gossip.”
“Then we will get along just fine.”
I laugh softly and she grins. “Then let me fill you in.”
Steering me to the corner of the window, she points out the houses that back onto ours.
“The house behind this one belongs to a retired couple. I think he’s a policeman and they are nice enough. They just keep themselves to themselves and are no trouble. The one next to them, behind you, is a little strange.”
“In what way?” The alarm bell rings and Jasmine looks out of the window thoughtfully. “Well, I’ve been here a while now and still don’t know who lives there. The windows are open at the back but there’s never anyone in the garden. Occasionally I see a man coming and going and there is a car parked there most nights, but nothing at weekends.”
“Maybe they just live there in the week, do you think they have another weekend home somewhere?”
“Possibly, if they do, you’re lucky. At least you won’t have a child jumping up and down on a trampoline disturbing your peace, or a dog barking while you relax in the garden. In some sense they are the perfect neighbours because they make no sound at all. Maybe I’m wrong, but take a look when you go around to that side. It’s the house with the pretty pink door. You can’t miss it.”
“Are you talking about the house behind Esme’s?”
Nancy joins us and says with interest. “I heard it’s some kind of company house, you know, the sort companies house their workers in and they go home on weekends. It would explain the state of the garden. I don’t think they’ve weeded since they arrived. You should hear Keith moaning about it, it’s quite funny, really.”
Jasmine rolls her eyes. “He’s only happy if he’s moaning. Can you imagine the conversation in that house?”
Nancy laughs. “True enough. Anyway, this is nice, isn’t it? Our little quartet is complete and if we can somehow get the Wickhams to move, all would be perfect.”
As I look around at the friendly gathering, my heart settles. Yes, this is perfect, to me, anyway and I hope that we will be happy here because I never like to admit I’m wrong and my family's happiness is everything to me. This move is everything to me because I want us to live the life I always wanted us to have, and I’ve a feeling that Meadow Vale could be just the place to deliver it.