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Side by side Sarah and Jamie headed towards the path. After they had moved a few steps away from the table Jamie had let go of her hand, opting to jam his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans instead. Walking in silence Sarah swung her arms by her side revelling in the perfect autumn weather the day offered. Thinking back to Gabe’s insistent questioning at the table she could feel a familiar frustration at being judged begin to settle in the pit of her stomach. Refusing to give in to it she lifted her face to the warm sun and filled her lungs with the clean air, exhaling loudly.
“That’s quite a sigh,” Jamie commented.
She shrugged. “It’s been a big day and it’s a long way from being over yet. Besides the grocery shopping there’s a whole lot of unpacking to look forward to yet tonight,” Sarah explained. She didn’t mention that she felt like she’d just been rescued from another conversation she hadn’t wanted to have with Gabe.
“Why don’t you just take a few days with it all? You don’t have to do everything in one day you know. No one expects you to have your house sorted out by tomorrow. Plus it wouldn’t be the end of the world to have chocolate chip cookies or whatever someone has left you for breakfast. It’s only one day.”
“True,” Sarah conceded. “But I really want to get it all done. Plus to be honest, I probably won’t eat some of the things I was left, particularly a couple of the hot pots.”
“The cooking was that bad, huh?” he teased gently.
“No, not that at all,” Sarah smiled. “There was a green bean casserole and I can’t stand green beans. And another one that looked like some sort of kidney dish which I won’t touch either.” She shuddered at the thought of the offal before she stopped and looked at Jamie. “Wow, that makes me sound really ungrateful doesn’t it?”
Jamie shrugged and gave a soft chuckle. “A little,” he admitted as they started walking again. “But c’mon, green beans, you’re kidding me right? Everyone likes green beans.”
“Nope. Hate the things. Love just about every other vegetable you can think of but green beans make me want to gag.”
“In that case do you mind if I take it off your hands?”
“All yours. I’d rather it gets eaten than thrown out. Do you want the kidney thingie too?”
Jamie pulled a face at the thought. “I’ll pass on that one. If it’s what I think it is the only good place for it is the bin.”
“What do you mean?”
“Val, she lives out on old Penwick Road has this thing about making kidney casserole for every new person into the town. The meat’s as chewy as rubber. I don’t know anyone who likes it come to think of it. Not even Spence and he eats just about anything. And that’s including his own snot once for a dare.”
“Eww,” Sarah curled her lip. “Why does Val do it then if no one eats it?”
“Why does anyone make stuff to give to someone new in town? It’s her way of welcoming you. Besides, if she’s to be believed it’s her favourite thing to eat. At least that’s what she tells people when she hands it over.”
Sarah vaguely recollected one lady telling her how much she loved the dish that she’d made for her and called her ducky as she’d pressed it into Sarah’s hands, warmly welcoming her to the town. “Does she call people ducky a lot, dresses a little bit on the quirky side of things?” Sarah asked remembering the vivid tie-dyed skirt the woman had been wearing.
“That’d be Val.”
“Okay then, definitely a dish to avoid.”
“So what else do you have that you want to give away?” Jamie asked with a cheeky grin.
“Is this your not so subtle way of asking if I would be willing to split some of them with you?”
Jamie had the grace to look slightly embarrassed. “Call me lazy but there seems to be lots of nights I can’t be bothered cooking.”
“Lazy,” Sarah shot back before laughing and offering to split a number of the dishes with Jamie on the condition he provided the plastic containers to put his share in. “Mine are all in boxes still,” she reminded him.
“I can’t take that much, the food was meant for you,” he protested weakly.
“It’s the least I can do after all that you’ve done for me over the past few weeks, and besides I love to cook.” They stopped on the path and she smiled at him. “I really am grateful you know with the stuff you’ve done at the house and helping out with the business. You’ve been a good friend.”
Jamie cleared his throat and looked away from her. “Yeah, great, a friend,” he muttered under his breath before he began walking again. Sarah fell into step beside him once more. “So what else do you need to do tonight other than offloading hot pots? And I hope you realise I am more than willing to help you out with any cakes and cookies.”
“I’m sure I can spare some,” Sarah agreed. “I guess at this stage all I really care about is getting the grocery shopping done and getting my kitchen set up. That and having my bed ready so I’ve got something to fall into tonight.”
“A good bed is a must,” Jamie agreed.
“I’d also really like to try out a recipe I came across the other day if I can. I think it might do well at the café.”
“What, tonight? You haven’t unpacked any boxes and have no food in your house. And you’re wanting to do some sort of cooking for a café that isn’t even open yet?” He leaned backwards to have a look at her back as she walked along.
“What are you doing? Is there a bug on me?” she stopped in her tracks, craning her neck to see over her shoulder. Jamie stopped next to her and laughed as she began flailing arms about in an attempt to shoo away the unseen bug.
“Nope. I was checking for a cape, and I’m sad to say there isn’t one. I just figured if you’re trying to do all that in one day you must be Wonder Woman. No cape. I can’t believe it,” he pouted in disappointment shaking his head.
“I guess it is a bit much, isn’t it? It’s just that now I’m finally here in Mount Kiernon, I’m all excited to get going with everything.” Sarah laughed at herself.
“One step at a time, it’ll all get there. Shame you’re not Wonder Woman though, that whole outfit she’s got going on is pretty sexy.” Jamie’s face split into a wide grin.
“Men!” Sarah laughed and slapped him lightly on the arm. Turning along a curve in the path she stilled. “Oh wow. That is incredible.”
The curve had allowed the gazebo to finally be fully revealed from where it had stood partially hidden behind the trees. As if rooted to the spot Sarah marvelled at the splendour of the wooden structure.
“Come on,” Jamie encouraged her. Together they walked the remaining few steps of the path and up the steps to stand under the canopy.
The gazebo was truly beautiful. Octagonal in shape, it had waist high wooden palings that wrapped around seven of its sides. Each individual paling had been intricately carved, with delicate swirl details featuring on each. As she examined the palings Sarah realised that no two were exactly alike, yet similar enough to create a flowing pattern between them. The eighth side of the gazebo had been left open, inviting people who passed by it to enter and stand under its cover.
Leaving Jamie standing in the centre, Sarah walked across to one of the main pillars holding the structure upright and caressed it. The intricate carving that had featured on the palings was replicated on a larger scale on each of the eight pillars. Drawing her eye up the pillar Sarah gasped as she looked for the first time at the roof that stretched above her. What she’d at first assumed was a simple domed roof was an intricate network of shingled wooden pieces. Starting from a central point in the middle of the roof, the shingles moved off in eight separate directions creating an effect that was spectacular.
“This is incredible. The detail is unbelievable,” she whispered reverently. Turning back to Jamie she reddened as she realised he had been watching her as she’d inspected the gazebo.
“I take it you like it then?” he asked. From where she stood it seemed Jamie’s usually vivid green eyes had turned a few shades darker. Trick of the light.
“Who wouldn’t like it? This thing is extraordinary. You can just imagine couples getting married down here.” She turned back and ran her hand over the carving once more.
“They do. My parents and grandparents were married here.”
“Family tradition then? This thing doesn’t look old enough to have been here that long for your grandparents to have been married under it,” she turned to face him genuinely surprised at what he’d said.
“Mum’s got the pictures on their wall to prove it,” he joked. “Clive makes sure he keeps this place it in tip top condition. Good for business I guess.”
“It would be. People want the perfect spot when they get married.”
“Yeah, I suppose. I’ve always figured it’s more important to make sure you’re with the right person than worry about the right place to get married.” Jamie’s tone suggested he had experience with the wrong person.
“I couldn’t agree more. Marriage is supposed to be for life. Being with the wrong person just isn’t worth it,” Sarah was emphatic.
“That sounds like voice of someone who’s been burned,” he commented moving to the side of the gazebo.
“Haven’t we all?” she countered.
Jamie gave a wry laugh and nodded.
“I guess the big question is how do you know when you’ve met the right person?” Jamie asked looking at her intently.
“You got me on that one,” she admitted. Looking past Jamie’s shoulder she frowned. Between the trees she could just make out the group where they were sitting. “What on earth is Becca doing? Is that the Macarena?”
Jamie turned and looked in the direction that Sarah was facing. What she had said seemed to be right. Becca was waving her hands around as she was moving about and talking animatedly to the others at the table. From where they were standing it looked to Sarah and Jamie as if she was attempting to teach them the once popular dance. Whatever she was doing clearly had Cam and Spence in stitches.
“Oh my god, that’s hilarious,” Sarah guffawed as Becca continued through the movements of the routine. “I can’t imagine Cam getting up and doing that.”
“Yeah he would - he’d do anything for Becca. The man’s crazy about that girl.” Jamie laughed along with Sarah lightly as he watched his friends at the table.
As they watched Gabe stood up next to Becca and started waving his arms in the air attempting to copy what she was doing.
“That boy has no rhythm at all,” Sarah cackled as Gabe put his hands behind his head and tried to swivel his hips. Fortunately for Gabe the waitress chose this point to arrive with their meals stopping him before he could embarrass himself any further with his lack of dance moves. Turning towards the gazebo Gabe waved at the pair unsure if they had seen the arrival of the food. Waving back at him Jamie let him know that they had.
“Are you and Gabe okay?” Jamie asked as they moved in step towards the waiting group, this time at a faster pace than their slow amble on the way down to the gazebo had been.
“We’re okay,” she replied. As long as he stops asking certain questions we will be.
“You sure? I thought I heard the two of you yelling at each other in the house this morning,” he clarified.
“It got a bit heated for a second, but it’s fine. He was just being a friend to you lot.”
“What do you mean?”
Sarah ducked her head in embarrassment at admitting the reason. “He was trying to warn me off you.”
“He did what?!” Jamie stopped and grasped her by the arm, turning her to face him. He was clearly stunned at what she’d told him.
“It’s okay. He was just trying to look out for you. He saw your sleeping bag at my place, and thought we’d spent the night together. Said something about some woman who did the dirty on you and thought I was going to do the same. Gabe just put two and two together and came up with six.”
“Jesus. I’m sorry, Sarah. He shouldn’t have said anything at all.” Jamie jaw was set and he was clearly irritated at the thought of what Gabe did.
“Maybe not, but it’s all sorted now."
“He still needs his ass kicked,” Jamie insisted.
“He was just looking out for you. Just leave it, okay?” she pleaded. He looked at her surprised at her defence of Gabe. “Please?”
He frowned, but nodded.
“He made one really good point though,” Sarah admitted.
“I doubt it,” Jamie opined.
“He couldn’t figure out why you didn’t just tell them about spending the night on the floor at my house instead of making up that story with the woman from Franklin. And to be honest, neither could I.”
Jamie stilled for a moment. “You know how Spence teased you when you made that slip up about being easy? Times that by a hundred. That lot would never have let you hear the end of it.” He nodded up at the table towards the group of friends.
Sarah gulped at the thought of jokes at her being someone’s one night stand, even if they were made in jest. As free as she’d felt earlier in telling Gabe exactly what she’d thought Sarah knew she wasn’t ready for something like that. Not yet. Not after what had happened.
“It wouldn’t have bothered me, I’m used to them,” he shrugged not noticing her hesitation. “Other than Spence, I’ve known that lot all my life. You though, you’re fresh meat as far they’re concerned.”
“Fresh meat? What am I? A steak?” she demanded incredulously, laughing in an attempt to throw off her discomfort.
“Yes. And I’m hungry. So we need to move it before they start stealing all the fries off my plate,” he declared grabbing her hand pulling her towards the waiting group.