Phoebe’s party was a great success. She’d organised a buffet with small tables dotted around the room. When the hotel conversion was done, she’d made sure her own living space didn’t lose any of its personality.
‘I love how you’ve kept so many of the original features in here,’ Holly had said the first time she’d seen it. The long room had high ceilings with a carved coving, wainscoted walls, and big windows with shutters. ‘It’s like one of those old ballrooms.’
‘That’s exactly what it was originally. I’m pleased with the way it’s turned out. I had a lot of help from Kate. You know how good she is at this sort of thing.’
‘She does have the touch, doesn’t she.’
On this lovely summer evening, however, they spent most of the time outside. Not that there was a lack of space there either. In keeping with the building, beautifully maintained gardens with manicured lawns and themed areas lay at the rear of the property, hidden from view when approaching the house from the front via a long sweeping drive. ‘It must cost you a small fortune looking after this place,’ Holly said as her eyes followed the stone steps that led majestically down from the large paved terrace to the grounds beyond, waving her arm to indicate what she meant.
‘Gardeners are a necessary expense that fortunately I can offset against the general running costs of the business.’
Phoebe had asked some of her staff to work overtime manning the bar and serving food from the buffet, leaving her free to circulate among her guests. Holly was delighted to find she knew every single person there. There are differences between city life and country village life that are vast and Holly had been very happy as an indigenous Londoner all her life. There was a buzz, something about living in a big city that she’d be hard put to describe in a way that would do it justice. She’d always enjoyed being part of that. Had never known anything different.
In her small country village life moved at a much slower pace. There didn’t seem to be the same intensity or pressure and people seemed to live their lives in a far less stressful way than in the city. In spite of working very hard Holly felt a freedom of spirit she’d never know before.
‘Glass of wine?’ She jumped as Gordon handed it to her. She’d been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard him coming. ‘You looked as if you were somewhere else, or as if you’d rather be.’
‘Actually I was just thinking how happy I am here and how lucky. In six months I’ve thrown off the mantle and the polish, if I ever had any, of London and I’m fast on my way to becoming a country girl. I was just congratulating myself on the fact that I know every single person here. How good is that?’
‘You certainly seem to have settled in well. Where’s Tubs? I’m surprised you didn’t bring her with you.’
Holly didn’t let on how difficult it had been to leave her at home.
‘She’s all right for a while on her own now. But I don’t like to leave her cooped up in the house. I’m thinking of having a dog flap put in so that she can take herself into the garden if she wants to. Trouble is, at the moment there are more holes than there is fence. I don’t suppose you …’
She looked at him hopefully, expectantly even.
‘You are an incorrigible rogue, Holly, but yes I will help you with your fencing.’
‘Do you know anything about gardening?’ It seemed a shame to miss the opportunity to ask. Gordon lived over the shop and what would have been his garden had been converted into the wonderful showroom where Holly had seen and bought her chairs.
‘Love it. I really miss having a garden of my own. It’s a bit like DIY for me. Not like work at all. More a form of relaxation.’
‘So I’d be doing you a favour?’
‘Like I said, Holly, you’re a rogue.’
Adam came over to join them and he too asked about Tubs. Holly didn’t need any more encouragement to talk about her pet and Gordon only stayed for a couple of minutes before moving on to circulate. Holly sensed tension between the two men and raised a questioning eyebrow at Adam but he didn’t take the bait. Whatever it was obviously he didn’t think it was any of her business, which, if she was honest, it wasn’t.
The day after Phoebe’s party was a Sunday. The shops all closed at four on Sundays, Holly’s gallery included, and Gordon was round at Art-e-Mis by ten past, ready to set to. As he was one of her favourites he had to endure an ecstatic welcome from Tubs. However, almost everyone was one of her favourites so this was no big deal.
‘Try for a little discrimination, Tubs. Can’t you see that Gordon’s only trying to worm his way into your affections so that he can get his hands on my garden?’
As it turned out Gordon didn’t get his hands on the garden at all that day. Holly had forgotten to mention to him the previous evening that the only tools she had were a rusty old fork and trowel that she’d found in the little shed at the back of her small plot. The garden was so overgrown that there was no way he’d be able to start work on the fence until he’d cleared some of the weeds and climbers that were blocking their but not Tubs’s access to it.
‘You haven’t touched the garden since you moved in, have you?’
He sounded quite judgemental but she was quick to justify herself.
‘Look at these pots. I’m growing my own herbs. I know it’s only a start but I’ve been too busy trying to get the shop open and the classes started. Give me a break here.’
‘It’s just as well the visitors to our picturesque village don’t get to stroll around the back, isn’t it? I remember you telling me about your walk along the riverbank when Adam crashed into you. How breathtakingly beautiful, you said. I bet you didn’t imagine anything like this lurking out of sight.’
She was just about to defend herself when she happened to glance up and see that he was laughing at her.
‘You’re abominable, Gordon. I really thought you meant it.’
‘Don’t worry. It’s not as bad as it looks. A few hours a week should get it into shape fairly quickly, but we definitely can’t do anything today. We’ll have to find a DIY or garden centre so we can go one evening after work and pick up some tools. Not having any green space myself I don’t have anything to lend you. Even I can’t work a miracle here with my bare hands but lots of the shops stay open until eight. In any case, we’ll need to get some replacement panels and posts for the fence, what’s left of it.’
She apologised for getting him over under false pretences and received a very sideways look.
‘I don’t suppose you’d like to come for a walk with me and Tubs instead?’
Tubs had already picked up several useful words, useful to her that is, and at the mention of walk her ears pricked up, her tail started wagging furiously, and she turned several circles on the spot.
‘How could I refuse such an offer?’
They left immediately with Tubs bounding on ahead at the end of her lead. It was one with a long extension to give her a bit more freedom but it was always getting tangled up on something. Holly wasn’t sure, however, that she’d ever dare let her off. She couldn’t be trusted not to run off at the slightest provocation: a rabbit, another dog. While Holly would love to have given her more freedom it was out of the question until she could be sure Tubs would come when called. As they walked she told Gordon about the day she’d met Old Meg and showed him the spot where she’d found her.
‘I knew something had happened to clear the air between you and Adam. I didn’t know what it was, but I’m glad. He’s a good guy.’
But Holly felt sure she detected an undercurrent in his voice. Maybe she hadn’t imagined it yesterday when Adam joined them in Phoebe’s garden.
‘You wouldn’t believe how indignant I was when he picked Meg up and marched off with her, without any thought for my cold wet feet.’
‘Wouldn’t I just.’
‘Anyway, the whole thing is a bit silly and we’re great friends now.’
‘So I’d heard.’
‘What is it, Gordon? What’s wrong?’
‘Why would you think something’s wrong?’
‘Between you and Adam. There seems to be …’ She turned towards him. ‘Gordon, I …’ was as far as she got as she found herself crushed between two very strong arms. And, as they both struggled to get their breath back, he said, ‘I’ve been wanting to do that for a very, very long time. I know you said you just wanted friendship, but I’m damned if I’ll stand by while someone else grabs my girl. That’s how I think of you, Holly. As my girl.’
‘Adam? You’re not serious!’
‘Yes, Adam. Why not? He’s handsome. Even as a bloke I can see that.’
‘But we’re friends, Gordon. How could you think there was anything else?’
Holly sank onto the nearby trunk of a fallen tree. Gordon sat down beside her and, much to her discomfort, put his arm round her back. Tubs, who was obviously disgusted by the whole display, started running circles around them. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on whether you were Holly or Gordon, she had held fast to her end of the lead and it wasn’t long before the three of them were entangled to such an extent that she seriously considered cutting the lead to set them free and probably would have done if she’d had some scissors. It’s not easy unravelling twelve feet of cord from around two intertwined bodies, particularly when there is a dog still attached to the other end.
By the time they’d managed to extricate themselves Holly was laughing so much she’d given herself a stitch. She also realised this wasn’t the required response. However, she was very aware she needed to tread warily. Whether it was her experience in the States, the success of her business, or her companionship with Tubs she didn’t know, but what she did know, what she could see with such clarity, was that she was enjoying her independence. She shuffled along the tree trunk, distancing herself from Gordon in more ways than one.
‘Gordon, I don’t know what to say. You mean a huge amount to me; you know that, but I thought we’d agreed we’d be friends. I’m just not ready for anything else yet.’
‘It’s been months, Holly.’
‘But it’s been months where there have been so many changes in my life there isn’t room for any more.’
‘I see. I understand. I’m sorry of course, but I do understand.’
He didn’t look as if he understood at all. He looked dejected and Holly didn’t know what she could say to lighten what was so obviously a blow. Somehow they managed to get themselves back to Holly’s place with her telling him how much she valued his friendship and him saying he hoped his declaration wouldn’t jeopardise that.
It was all a bit stilted and Holly could only hope they would be able to carry on, if not as before then at least in a way that approached their earlier easiness with each other. One thing she knew at last; she was comfortable with her single state … almost. Art Calderwood liked her paintings and so did his clients. She had work to do and a business to run. Romance, even if she had wanted it, would have to take a back seat.
***
In spite of his lack of romantic success with Holly, Gordon was as good as his word and came round at least a couple of times a week to help do the garden. She was delighted to see how he tackled it with so much enthusiasm. Maybe the hard physical work was helping to channel his energies in a safer direction. The weather was being really kind and both enjoyed their early evenings in the open, often having a meal together when it got too dark to carry on. Somehow, with goodwill from both of them, they settled back into the friendship Holly was so much more comfortable with.
***
Holly tried to enrol Tubs in puppy training classes. Heaven knows she needed them. They both did. The only local one she could find was on Wednesdays and was full up anyway. Feeling a little frantic she was relieved to learn that she wasn’t alone and it was decided another class would be started for similarly desperate dog owners.
The episode where Tubs had tied her and Gordon up in her lead was not the only example of a lack of control but it turned out they weren’t as far adrift as Holly had feared. Tubs, though very boisterous, had never really got completely out of hand, and Holly had the advantage of being able to go to Adam for advice.
‘You should have been there last night. One poor woman was really being led a dog’s life. And what sort of a silly expression is that? A dog’s life! Wouldn’t you like to have someone to feed you, take you for walks, play with you, brush your hair, cuddle you, and clear up after you? Dog’s life indeed!’
‘Well, if you’re offering,’ he said hopefully.
‘You don’t think I’ve got enough on my hands with Tubs here?’
‘I thought it was worth a try,’ he said, grinning at her. ‘Actually I think you’re doing pretty well, both of you.’
No greater praise could he have given her. As far as Tubs was concerned, she was besotted. She knew Adam had only been joking when he’d said he thought it was worth a try. Wasn’t he? He’s with Imogen now, she thought. She shook the thought away.
***
Summer took on a kind of suspended feeling with the glorious weather continuing, time not stopping but seeming to move in slow motion. The days seemed endless and any venture outside was rewarded by a riot of colour as the season showed off its most glorious wardrobe. Holly realised how integrated she had become when she began to resent the way the influx of people veiled the serenity of Cuffingham.
The part of the river that ran through the main street was as lovely as ever but was swarming with people from dawn till dusk. Whenever she wasn’t working – and Kate and Phoebe would occasionally keep shop while she had a break, something that they seemed to regard as a high treat – Holly would take Tubs out of the village to a quiet stretch of the river. Both waterways were alluring but the part that pulled her most was where she’d first met Old Meg.
By now she was confident enough to let Tubs off her lead. She always came when called and, though Holly liked to think it was for herself alone, she knew that in reality it was for the reward her puppy was certain would be waiting for her. Holly had never been more content in her whole life as she was during those few weeks. Then the weather changed and brought disaster!
It wasn’t just the Cotswolds that were hit. Large areas in Yorkshire and Humberside suffered just as badly. ‘Global warming,’ they said. ‘Climate change.’ Whatever the cause, it rained and it rained and then it rained some more. Rivers overflowed and covered the plains. The Severn and the Avon both burst their banks and flooded much of the village. Small rivers and streams became huge bodies of moving water. Occasionally two parallel rivers would merge into one.
That’s what happened in Cuffingham. Unfortunately there was a row of houses in the main street that lay between them. Holly’s home wasn’t one of them but it didn’t help much. Those who lived between came off far worse. Before they knew it they were under water. There was little warning but some were lucky enough to move prized possessions to the first floor before the surging water overcame the sandbags they’d put in place in a futile attempt to protect their properties.
Holly thought she’d never seen people work so hard! She managed to move almost everything in her gallery upstairs and out of harm’s way. All the work being done by the Wednesday groups was salvaged. She made sure of that.
‘I can’t stop. I’ve just come to make sure you’re all right and to help you get your mum’s table out of harm’s way.’
Holly could only be grateful Gordon knew how much it meant to her. There was no way they could get it upstairs so they upended it onto the kitchen worktop and had to pray the floodwater wouldn’t reach that high. He left quickly, returning to rescue what he could at his own place with the help of his neighbour and for whom he was doing the same.
Holly knew people lost a lot more than she did during those awful days, but she would have been heartbroken if her mum’s table had been one of the casualties. She took her paintings and the chairs she’d bought from Gordon upstairs but as for the rest she didn’t have the strength or the time. She just had to hope that when the waters receded everything else would dry out to something like its original condition.
One couple she saw on the television had bought their house fifteen years ago. They’d just finished years of work doing it up the way they wanted. They’d had building insurance, but not contents. It was awful watching the interview. She was sure she’d have cried too if it had been her. There were similar stories. Some people lost everything. Some even lost their lives. And still the rain showed no sign of abating. The domestic water supply became contaminated and was turned off.
‘Drink only bottled water,’ said the news bulletins. ‘Or water from the bowsers.’
What the hell is a bowser? she wondered but she found out soon enough when the huge tanks containing fresh water were placed in the streets.
‘Don’t use the water for washing; only for drinking or cooking.’
Holly realised soon enough how much she took for granted. She couldn’t shower, or even wash. Toilets couldn’t be flushed and the smell was awful! There were some odd sights as well. People rowing dinghies up and down the main street delivering supplies to those marooned in their own homes. Others being evacuated though some refused to go, preferring to stay in relative safety upstairs.
‘I’ve been here all my life. Survived the war here. Don’t think a drop of water’s going to drive me out now,’ was one gritty lady’s comment. A drop of water? Nevertheless there was no moving her.
It was so hard on the elderly. They weren’t strong or quick enough to move many of their precious possessions to the first floor. The fire service, the RAF, and the army worked ceaselessly and their dedication to duty was beyond reproach. Some of them worked double shifts before returning home to try and sort out their own problems.
It was like being in a war zone, like they were undergoing a siege. Community spirit was an expression Holly had only heard before. Now she came to know very quickly what it really meant. She’d never lived through a war; didn’t know how good people could be; and she felt humbled.
After the first onslaught she’d gone next door to see her neighbours. Their house was one of the few that hadn’t had the downstairs converted into business premises of some kind and, like all the properties on that side of the street, it opened straight onto the pavement. Immediately behind it was the living room where Sandra spent most of her time, looking out of the window at the goings-on outside. Crippled with arthritis, she was in constant pain and hardly able to do anything for herself. Her devoted husband Jim did what he could but being ten years older than her he was finding things very difficult.
‘How are you coping, Jim? Is there anything I can do?’
‘They’ve carried Sandra upstairs for me and we’re going to stay up there for the time being. All this running up and down isn’t doing me any good though and I’m worried that I won’t be able to care for her the way I’d like to, you know.’
‘If you don’t mind giving me a key I’d be only too happy to get your meals and bring them upstairs. That way you won’t have to leave Sandra on her own for too long.’
Jim’s pride was salvaged by the suggestion that his wife needed him at her side. There was no implication that he was unfit to cope.
‘Well, as you know, we like to be independent, but yes, Holly, please. I’d be grateful for anything you can do.’
After what seemed like weeks the rain finally stopped, but life for some would never be the same again. The authorities gave out advice – much of it on the Internet. But what if your equipment had been flooded? And what about when they turned the electricity off? Many people were using portable dynamos and Adam managed to get one for Holly, a silent baby domestic generator. Holly would have been lost without it. She wondered how it was for people who couldn’t watch the news on the television. Or if they didn’t have a battery-operated radio. What if they didn’t have a computer? Word did get round, though.
‘Don’t fully reoccupy your home until it has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and allowed to dry out.’
Yeah, and where were they going to go in the meantime?
‘Don’t assume any part of a flooded electrical installation or appliance is safe.’
‘Don’t use gas appliances until they have been checked by a CORGI registered engineer.’
‘If you’ve been flooded, a Council Inspector will visit your property to confirm there is no structural damage.’
‘Your property may have been contaminated with sewage. Wear protective clothing, waterproof boots, and gloves. Cover any cuts with waterproof plasters.’
‘Don’t allow children to play in floodwater areas.’
‘If you are insured, contact your insurer.’
It was a nightmare! The list just went on and on. It was going to take weeks and months for some properties to dry out. Some of the evacuees weren’t going to get back into their homes for a very long time. Some never would. One terrible act of Nature had wiped out trade for the rest of the summer. All Holly’s carefully worked out predictions were up the spout or, given the situation, down the drain. Still she was one of the lucky ones. Some people had lost everything. Some had died.