Holly returned from America considerably wealthier. It seemed everything was bigger in the States, including what people were prepared to pay for a work of art. She now felt justified in looking for the car she’d wanted for so long. Of all her friends, Charlie seemed to be the one most able to give her advice and it was to him she turned. What is it with men and motors?
He entered into the search with enthusiasm and located an ex-showroom/demonstration model, which, though almost new, came appreciably cheaper because it was second-hand. She hadn’t really intended to spend so much but once she saw it she lost her heart. Charlie went with her to test-drive it and of course he had to have a go himself. It was gleaming white, a small five-door job, which meant she’d be able to take her turn in future outings with the girls or trips to the shops when Emma was free.
‘I might even be able to take the twins off your hands for a couple of hours and take them for a picnic in the summer.’
Someone mentioned that Adam was dating Imogen and Holly was surprised to find how much she was affected by the knowledge. Their friendship was as close as ever since she’d returned home but it would have been an understatement to say that she was disappointed he was no longer a free agent. What had she hoped for? She didn’t ask herself the question because she didn’t want to face the answer.
No disasters had occurred in the gallery while she was away and life resumed its normal pattern, such as it was, the major difference being that Holly now had her own transport and could go further afield when she wanted to. She really was happy. Really! But there was a little niggle of dissatisfaction gnawing away inside her. She had to admit to herself that she still hadn’t come to terms with being on her own.
‘What you need is a diversion,’ Emma said one day when Holly was looking glum.
‘I’ve not long got back from the States. A holiday is out of the question. I’m a responsible businesswoman now.’
‘No, I didn’t mean that. What you need is a hobby. Isn’t there something you’d particularly like to do?’
‘Well, some people take up art but I’ve done that already,’ she said somewhat wryly.
‘Seriously, can’t you think of anything?’
‘Not off the top of my head but you’re right and I’ll give it some thought. There must be something other than flower arranging.’
They both laughed. Artistic she may have been but as she’d never been able to keep any house plants alive for more than a few weeks, it was doubtful she’d do well with flowers. Even the herbs she’d planted in a pot outside the back door were looking a bit sad. But Emma had planted a seed, and not of the horticultural variety. Holly thought about it; had an idea and worked out whether or not it would be practical (probably not). She decided though that with advice she could go ahead anyway. The advice came from Adam. The hobby was a puppy!
Once the decision was made she didn’t have long to wait. Adam found a litter of five short-coated black and tan somethings. Nobody was very sure of their parentage as they’d been left in a basket on the doorstep of the local animal shelter but Adam assured her there was Border Collie in there somewhere. They were a healthy lot and Holly had the pick of the bunch but if anything that made it harder.
Until, that is, she sat crossed-legged on the floor of the kennel and one small bundle threw itself into her lap and rolled over, fat belly up. After that, no contest. She called her Tubs. Not very ladylike, but then she wasn’t. But fun! Holly never knew how much fun it could be; never knew how she’d pull at her heart.
Holly drove Adam crazy! ‘What should I feed her? How much? Is she eating enough? Is she eating too much?’
Adam was delighted and Holly’s enthusiasm was infectious but the advice he gave her was professional enough. ‘Puppies should be round. That’s why they call it puppy fat. It’s the reserve they draw on while they grow.’
And grow she did. Adam guessed she would finally end up about the same size as Old Meg, not too big but not a lap dog either. But that was in the future. For the time being she was just a little bundle of fun and obviously thought that a place on Holly’s lap was hers for the asking. Life was there to be enjoyed and enjoy it she did. Holly couldn’t take Tubs out until she’d had her injections. There was no way she was going out into the big wide world without all the protection Holly could get for her.
She bought a child’s playpen that she kept in the studio with a small duvet inside at one end. It was safe for Tubs in there and she didn’t bother the customers. ‘Although they often bother her,’ she told Adam. Tubs really was very cute. That was where Tubs spent most of her time during working hours and where she spent a lot of time sleeping. Holly didn’t lose an opportunity to play with her when there was no one else in the gallery. She felt slightly ashamed too that Tubs spent her nights on her bed next to Holly’s. She didn’t have the heart to leave her in the kitchen but at least she was next to the bed and not on it. ‘Though she did try it on once or twice, Adam.’
‘Be firm. She’ll learn. You just need to be consistent.’
During the day Holly spread newspaper over half of the playpen to encourage her to ‘go’ and she grabbed her several times a day and dashed out of the side door, making encouraging noises and praising her to the skies when she performed. Eventually she learned to hold on until she was taken outside – a relief for both of them.
The day they went for their first walk was one Holly would never forget. On Adam’s advice they’d been practising for days putting a harness and lead on the puppy so she’d get used to it. Tubs protested at first at this strange object round her body, trying to tug at it with her paw, but she soon accepted it. By the time they took their first steps outside she didn’t think twice about it. Holly was pretty sure if she hadn’t been on a lead she might never have seen her again. They headed straight for the river footpath but didn’t go very far that first day. She was very little still and got tired quickly.
‘Don’t let her overdo it to begin with.’
‘How will I know?’
‘By remembering she still has little legs and one stride of yours is probably four or six of hers. Very important too to take into account that you have to walk back again.’
Tubs was so excited she didn’t seem to know which way to go or what to sniff first. Holly couldn’t believe the strength tied up in one little bundle as she pulled on the lead. Puppy classes were going to be a must. And she peed everywhere. Because they weren’t going far Holly hadn’t taken any water. Well, truthfully she hadn’t given it a thought, but she realised this would have to be part of the routine as the dog got older or she’d very quickly be letting out more than she was taking in. Mind you, she thought, if we’re going to walk by the river there won’t be any shortage of water there.
They weren’t out for more than ten minutes that first day but when they got home Tubs slept as if she’d just completed a half-marathon and Holly was convinced she was having wonderful dreams. Holly was probably as excited as her puppy. This maiden outing was the first of many they would take together and she was delighted that Tubs showed absolutely no sign of nervousness in strange surroundings. It was more a case of ‘Hello world, here I am.’
***
Adam was nearly as delighted with Tubs as Holly was. That the puppy was an excuse for them to spend more time together wasn’t relevant. Well, maybe it was a bit relevant. But he had an affinity with all animals and popping in to see her wasn’t always an excuse to get close to Holly. Adam knew he sometimes became unprofessionally close to his patients. That was what had got him into trouble with Holly in the first place.He’d delivered Buttercup himself and on the day he’d bumped into Holly he’d been expecting possible complications. All he knew at the time was that he had to get to Buttercup as soon as possible and somebody walking aimlessly had got in his way. She was still getting in his way as he realised his feelings for Holly were far different to those he had for Imogen. He and Imogen were friends and both understood that. Holly, who it seemed only wanted to be his friend, affected him in quite a different way and he had absolutely no idea how to handle it.
***
‘Is this the new fashion in puppy clothes then,’ he asked, grinning at Tubs who was ‘wearing’ a pink sweater.
‘It’s your fault. You told me to put something of mine in her bed to comfort her. Is it my fault she thinks it’s entirely the wrong size and has decided to remodel it?’
‘I particularly like the way she’s designed it to fit over one ear. Obviously she’s realised that when she lays her head down the upper one gets cold.’
‘And you can stop encouraging her. She’s already hard enough to control,’ Holly protested as Adam waved some loose wool in front of Tubs. The puppy thought this was a great game, kept catching it in her claw and then waited patiently while her hero freed her then started all over again.
‘It’s good for her. It’ll help develop her coordination.’
‘Oh, so this is all in the line of duty. You’re not enjoying yourself a bit, of course.’
‘You’ve got to admit she’s great fun.’
‘And almost completely out of control – which I blame you for of course.’
Adam looked up from where he was squatting on the floor next to Tubs. Holly’s eyes were alight with laughter and it was all he could do to hide his feelings from her. He stood up and brushed himself down, using this as a pretext for looking away. Once he’d regained mastery over his features he asked: ‘How are the walks going?’
‘I’m not sure who is taking whom but I’ve never had so much fun. You should join us sometimes.’
Adam took the throwaway remark literally. ‘When do you go?’
‘First thing in the morning. It gets rid of the fidgets so she can settle in here during the day. And a couple of times a day we go onto the path to stretch her legs. People have to come this way to get into the gallery so I’m not leaving it unattended.’
‘Not with you being famous and all that.’
Holly was awkward with her new-found recognition and tried to brush it aside.
‘I’ve just been lucky; that’s all.’
‘I’m no artist, as you well know, but I don’t think luck comes into it when some millionaire gallery owner flies you out to the States along with some of your paintings.’
She looked uncomfortable so Adam changed the subject. ‘Only one walk a day then.’
‘No, of course not.’ She seemed quite indignant but it had the desired effect and broke the mood. ‘We go every evening when I lock up.’
‘That’s when I’ll come with you then. Next time there’s a locum in and I don’t have to do surgery I’ll join you. If that’s okay?’ he asked, addressing his question to Tubs. She looked up at him adoringly so he took that for a yes. He only wished Holly would look at him in the same way.
***
There was no doubt he was enjoying his dates with Imogen. She was good fun and made no demands on him and if he felt guilty about the number of times he thought about Holly he pushed that guilt to the back of his mind. Imogen knew as well as he did that neither she nor Adam had lost their hearts to each other. Since his failed engagement Adam had dated a few times but on a superficial level; there had never been anything serious.
He was a good-looking man who any single girl would like to be seen with. He was charming but there was a piece of himself he never let go. To say he and Imogen were using each other would have been cruel and inaccurate. They had a lot of fun and when Adam brought her to one of the gang’s nights out she fitted in with ease. She wasn’t possessive in any way, didn’t hang on Adam’s arm, or his every word. Why would she when she looked upon him in the same way he thought of her? As a nice person to spend time with.
***
Imogen was generally thought to be the best thing that could have happened to Adam. Generally but not universally. Holly felt the first real pangs of jealousy. Of all the group, Adam had become the one she spent the most time with and she’d grown to take his company for granted. Until now she’d been convinced that he was a close friend in much the same way as Emma or the other girls, except that he was a man.
She was beginning to realise that there is no such thing. While Adam continued to join her and Tubs on their walks on a regular basis, work permitting, she’d previously assumed, if she’d thought about it at all, that it was her company he most enjoyed. Now she had to question what her own motives were. What did she really feel for Adam?
***
Kate and Phoebe were hankering for another girls’ day out and unknown to Holly had blagged Steve into volunteering to man the shop. Monday was his usual day off because of weekend viewings and he said he would be happy to take charge of the business for the day, but would expect an inordinate percentage commission on anything he sold. Holly pretended to knuckle his jaw but said thank you very much and the three girls began making plans.
Stratford-upon-Avon was their choice this time and they set off on the appointed morning, having left the business and Tubs in what they hoped were Steve’s capable hands. Adam had promised to look in once or twice after Holly discovered that Steve was less keen to keep an eye on Tubs than he was to watch the gallery.
‘Just in case he forgets to let her out every now and then,’ Adam had said. ‘I’m not sure how he’d react if she pooed in her pen!’
‘Me neither. He’d probably walk off and leave her and the customers. Thank you.’
‘Well, you know I don’t mind and I suspect you’d call the whole thing off if you didn’t have backup.’
He was probably right and Holly had enormous pangs of guilt because Tubs cried as she was leaving but she hardened her heart – or, truth to tell, her friends did, who assured her Tubs would be okay without her for one day and dragged her out of the door. Kate’s bump was visible by now. She said she was quite happy to drive. Holly volunteered as well but Kate said she was happier to drive than be driven. Though pregnancy obviously suited her, it was going to be a long day. Neither Phoebe nor Holly was prepared to be responsible for Kate feeling unwell.
‘If you don’t agree to let me drive for part of the time at least we just won’t go.’
Kate agreed readily enough. She knew better than to argue with Phoebe. They were like a bunch of giggling kids – from the moment they left to the moment they returned. All were sorry Emma couldn’t join them but it was a school day.
‘You lucky lot. The last time I was in Stratford was on a school trip to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream. When I was at school.’
‘Well if Tom’s happy to have the twins and Adam is prepared to have his arm twisted, seeing as how Steve works at the weekend, we can always do a Saturday or Sunday next time. I’m sure we can fit at least one more in before the baby’s due. And I can drive if Kate’s too huge to fit behind the steering wheel.’
‘Thanks for trying, Holly, but what if Adam has an emergency?’
‘He’s not on duty twenty-four-seven.’
‘You think?’
‘Well, that’s what locums are for. We’ll sort something out.’
‘Great. Meantime, you three go off and have a good time. Don’t even think of me sitting in a classroom trying to control a bunch of kids while dreaming about Romeo and Juliet.’
‘Okay. We won’t.’
As luck would have it the weather was beautiful again. Like Emma, Holly hadn’t been to Stratford since she went as a teenager on a school outing. She felt a bit let down when they arrived, conscious more than anything of the touristy feel of the place. It was so much stronger here than back in Cuffingham. The road into the town was a modern one and although the river was beautiful her first impression wasn’t of character and antiquity.
It all changed once they parked the car and began to explore on foot. She regretted immediately not taking a sketch pad with her, something she rarely left home without, but the images were planted so strongly she was sure she’d be able to recall them. She took a few photos on her phone to help, just in case. There was a magic about the place that she wasn’t the first person to feel and undoubtedly would not be the last.
‘I think we should pace ourselves a bit, don’t you, Holly? With so much to see we need to take it easy.’
Kate wasn’t fooled for one moment and she was indignant. ‘Don’t you dare wrap me in cotton wool or I’ll make you both walk home. Remember, I’ve still got the car keys.’
‘Hey, back off. I’m only thinking of your welfare. In any case I still think we should make frequent comfort stops and there are plenty of places to eat.’
‘Yeah, great for you two,’ Holly said witheringly. ‘One of you is pregnant and the other’s a stick insect. I’m so short even an added half a pound shows.’
‘You’re right, Holly. Never mind, you can have lemon tea and watch us.’
‘As if.’
‘I’d like to see the house in Henley Street. Charlie told me it’s supposed to be Shakespeare’s birthplace.’
‘In that case Henley Street it shall be,’ said Phoebe and off they went. Extensive restoration had transformed the house to its former glory, with oak beams, fireplaces, and much of the original stone still in place. Holly went immediately to one of the fireplaces, as ever sniffing for traces of wood smoke, something she did whenever the opportunity arose.
‘It’s nearly as nice as your place, Kate.’
‘You exaggerate, Holly … but only slightly.’
Their next stop was for coffee and cake.
‘Forget the lemon tea, we’re burning up the calories here,’ Holly said, throwing good intentions to the wind – and this was only elevenses.
‘Don’t worry. If we storm the gym next week it’ll never have a chance to settle.’
‘We! Who is this we? Charlie won’t let you anywhere near the gym in your condition,’ Holly said.
‘Don’t be so ungrateful. She’s only trying to help.’
‘Fine, Phoebe. You coming with me then?’
‘Er, well, no actually.’
‘Huh. Great friend you’re turning out to be.’
‘You could always not eat the coffee gateau.’
‘Not eat it! Are you mad? You know how addicted I am to coffee. I even chew the beans.’
Phoebe leaned towards Holly with a serviette in her hand. ‘Here, let me just wipe the cream off the corner of your mouth.’
What Holly said next is probably best left unrepeated. Their next port of call was Hall’s Croft. Phoebe’s choice this time. This beautiful house was the home of Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her husband, Doctor John Hall. The walled garden contained many trees and herbs thought to have been used by Doctor Hall in his professional capacity.
‘Isn’t this where that famous tree is, the mulberry?’
‘Yes, Kate, it is.’ But what really enthralled all three of them was the statuary in the garden.
‘Look at those. You don’t think they’d miss a couple if I took them to show in the gallery, do you?’
Several large examples were dotted around depicting some of the characters from the Bard’s plays. They weren’t old but they were truly amazing.
‘That one of Bottom from A Midsummer Night’s Dream gives me the creeps.’
‘Let’s get you away from here, then. We don’t want your baby coming out with long pointy ears,’ Phoebe remarked drily.
‘Stop it, you two. I’m trying to take a professional interest here.’
Lunchtime. Suffice it to say that all thoughts of calories and cholesterol went out the window.
Their last stop was New Place, alleged to have been Shakespeare’s final home and left on his death to his daughter Susanna. They looked at the Elizabethan Knott Garden before deciding they’d had enough culture for one day.
‘Do you want to stop for tea before we go?’
‘That’s a great diet you’re on, Holly. I’m going to try it after I’ve had the baby.’
Their mutual regrets were that they didn’t get to see either Anne Hathaway’s Cottage or Mary Arden’s House. They just didn’t have the time or the energy to do them as well. But they were determined to come again, smiling over the imagined arrangements that would have to be made to bring a small baby with them on their next visit.
Holly learned several interesting things during their girls’ day out, but the most surprising was that Phoebe too wanted a baby. They’d broken their journey back to have some food, because it was getting quite late and unbelievably they were all ravenous again, particularly Kate, and nobody wanted to have to cook when they got home. Something to do with the fresh air maybe.
They were just having a leisurely cup of coffee when Phoebe dropped her bombshell. With generations of her family standing at her back she felt a huge responsibility to keep the line going. But that wasn’t the only reason. Somehow Holly had always thought Phoebe was too busy mothering the whole community to want a child of her own but it was obvious now she wanted a baby for its own sake, and for hers.
‘I suppose it’s seeing you with your bump and you not having to turn down those wonderful desserts because you’re dieting.’
Phoebe didn’t actually have to worry about calories. She was blessed with the kind of metabolism that burns up everything before it’s had time to turn to fat.
Oh God, isn’t envy one of the seven deadly sins? Holly didn’t envy her maternal instincts though. She had Tubs and her hormones certainly weren’t running around screaming at her to reproduce. But Phoebe’s were.
‘Just as a point of interest, have you forgotten about that other essential ingredient? Do you have a father in mind? Are you still seeing Gordon?’
‘Gordon! But he’s a friend. We go out for a meal together occasionally but it’s never been any more than that.’ She laughed. ‘No, frankly I don’t see Gordon as the father of my child.’ Phoebe looked at her friends a little ruefully. ‘And no, I don’t have anyone in mind at the moment. But it’s like I’ve got the shades of my family watching me. Making sure I keep the line pure. As if I owe it to them. I know it sounds awful but I guess I want to be sure I’ve got the right gene pool.’
‘Then I guess you’re a bit limited as far as choice is concerned. Have you googled? Contacted any specialist agencies?’
‘Not yet, Holly. The idea’s only come to me sort of gradually. Crept up behind my back. I didn’t even know it was there until our friend here got herself pregnant.’
‘I did not get myself pregnant. Fortunately for me I had considerable help,’ Kate said with a dreamy faraway look in her eyes. ‘Not so fortunately for you, though. I think Holly’s right about the agency route if there isn’t a suitable candidate lurking in Cuffingham.’
‘You’re making too much of it. I’m not quite over the hill yet. I just thought, well, that you’d like to know how I feel.’
They were still discussing the possibilities as they got back into the car, with Phoebe driving this time.
‘Hey, if you get on with it our kids will be able to grow up together, assuming mine will be posh enough for you.’
‘Don’t think I can’t slap you, just because you’re with child. You know very well that’s not what I meant.’
‘I do know, and actually I do understand. I wouldn’t want anyone other than Charlie to be the father of my children.’
***
By the time Holly got home, Steve had closed the gallery and was sitting in her armchair with his feet up, the remains of a take-away on his lap, watching the television.
‘Adam took Tubs for a walk, twice. He told me that little and often was better till her bones grew stronger.’
‘And you were interested of course.’
‘No, but I pretended to be.’
Holly thought Adam was turning out to be a very good friend. Isn’t that enough for me? She pushed the thought away. Steve wasn’t so bad either, in spite of a few odd ways. He jumped out of the chair and made a cup of coffee, while she sank into the warm spot he’d vacated, with Tubs on her lap excitedly licking her face.
‘Okay, Holly. Tell me all about it. Haven’t been to Stratford for years.’
She tried, really she tried, but as she was almost falling asleep in the armchair Steve told her she was a waste of time.
‘I’ll talk to you when you don’t need two matchsticks to keep your eyes open.’
He left her with the promise that he’d be in later in the week to demand his wages.
Somehow she let Tubs out for a wee and got them both to bed. She had absolutely no recollection of getting there but she knew she had because she’d woken next morning curled up under her duvet and there were no wet patches anywhere on the floor.
Holly was horrified to see the time as scrambled out of bed in so much haste that she caught her foot in the bedclothes and went crashing headlong to the floor. Fortunately she didn’t do herself any damage but Tubs obviously thought this was a new game and started playing rough and tumble. She was so cute, and even though Holly was giggling she felt a sudden rush of tears as she realised again how much Tubs meant to her.
Probably PMT. I’ve never had anyone so dependent upon me before. Harry certainly wasn’t. Or at least I didn’t know he was. Tubs was a huge responsibility but one she relished.
She just had time to have a quick shower before grabbing a mug of coffee and just about managing to open up on time – and then waited another hour before the first customer walked in. She wasn’t awake enough to do anything productive so she thought instead about what she would wear on Saturday evening, when Phoebe was throwing a dinner party.
During all this pondering she’d put her mug on the studio table and was wandering round the gallery fingering things, repositioning some of them, when she was brought up short by what was to her a yawning gap. Something was missing, and she knew Steve hadn’t sold it yesterday because the only work she had done that morning had been to check the list of sales he’d left for her.
It was a small model of Old Meg that she’d made quite recently. She was never going to sell the original painting but the dog had become the inspiration for several other pieces lately, as indeed had Tubs. It wasn’t particularly valuable but it was quite nice and she’d been rather fond of it. While fully aware that having merchandise ‘lifted’ was one of the hazards of the retail trade and it needed to be factored into the business, this was the first time it had happened to her that she was aware of.
Not by nature suspicious but nonetheless realistic, Holly of necessity watched carefully when people were on the premises. She’d have been stupid not to. She was slightly disappointed therefore that Steve hadn’t taken more care, but perhaps he didn’t realise how prevalent shoplifting was. Holly felt in some way violated – and it cast a shadow on the day trip to Stratford.