Later that day, over on the other side of the village, Anna had just cleared the last lunchtime table in the Little Orchard Tea Shop when Jonathan poked his head around the door. Back before he’d been reconciled with his brother, Matthew, Jonathan had been a regular fixture at the table in the bay window of the tea room, choosing to work there at his laptop, and Anna still thought of that table as his, even though he’d moved back into his old office on the cider farm these days. Anna’s husband, Matthew, was the major shareholder in Carter’s Cider, Jonathan having handed his own share of the business that he’d inherited from their father Jack’s estate to Matthew in return for the building, deeds and title to the flagship restaurant, The Cider Kitchen, in the spring of last year. Jonathan had then gifted the entirety of The Cider Kitchen, bricks, building and brand, to his now wife Caroline as a gesture of his love for her. The two of them had been running the restaurant ever since, although it was noted by the Carter’s Cider accountants that the crockery bills had increased exponentially since the pair had been working full-time together. Either Jonathan was very clumsy, or their rows had involved throwing dinner plates from time to time.
‘Hello, stranger!’ Anna called as she took the last of the dirty plates to the kitchen. ‘Long time, no see.’
‘Hi, darling,’ Jonathan called, settling himself at the table in the bay window. As Anna came back out from the kitchen, she noticed that her brother-in-law didn’t look his usually perky self, and that, far from being busy on his phone, he was just gazing out of the bay window, chin resting on his hand, as if he was mentally somewhere else entirely.
‘Everything OK?’ she asked.
Jonathan’s head jerked up, and, a beat too late, he turned on his usual smile. ‘Sorry, Anna, I was miles away.’
‘Anywhere interesting?’
Jonathan laughed. ‘Not really.’ His laugh stopped as soon as it started. ‘Look… have you got five minutes for a chat?’
Anna gestured to the now empty tea room. ‘I’m not exactly busy after the lunchtime rush, and my high tea regulars aren’t due in for another hour or so. Why don’t I grab us a couple of coffees and you can tell me what’s on your mind?’
‘Sounds like a good plan,’ Jonathan replied. As Anna walked over to the chrome coffee machine and prepared them a drink each, he began to talk. ‘I came to pick your brains.’
‘About?’
Jonathan sighed. ‘About Caroline.’
Anna was glad that the milk frother was quite loud; it gave her time to formulate a diplomatic response. Since Jonathan and Caroline had married, she’d found herself acting as an intermediary on a few occasions, and it was beginning to become a bit too regular for her liking. Marriage had been a challenge for them both, and at first Anna had put it down to the novelty of the situation, but she was beginning to concede that actually it was because the two of them were just plain set in their ways. She usually had an infinite well of patience, but she didn’t like being stuck in the middle.
‘What’s happened this time?’ she said when the milk was ready to pour.
‘Nothing, really,’ Jonathan sighed. ‘That’s kind of the problem.’
‘In what sense?’
‘Caroline’s been quite distant lately. Every time I try to get close to her, she backs off. I’m starting to think that maybe…’ He trailed off, clearly not wanting to put his fears into words. ‘Has she said anything to you?’ Jonathan asked as Anna placed a steaming hot latte in front of him on the table.
Anna shook her head. ‘Nope. Not a thing.’ She looked thoughtful. ‘Although you’re right, she has been a little bit elusive. She usually pops in to see Ellie after school at least once a week, but it’s been about three weeks since she’s been over. I did have a quick chat with her when she came in here the other day, but she didn’t stay too long.’
‘Well, there’s something up,’ Jonathan said. ‘I mean, it’s like we’re back where we were when we first met. And not in a good way. I feel like she’s closed off from me, and I haven’t got a clue why. Are you sure she’s not said anything to you?’
‘Honestly, Jonathan, I think you’re having this conversation with the wrong person,’ Anna said gently. ‘Don’t you think you should be talking to Caroline?’ She’d offered the same advice to both of them on a few occasions over the year they’d been married, but it obviously hadn’t sunk in yet.
‘You’re right, of course,’ Jonathan sighed. ‘The problem is, every time I try to do it, she makes up some excuse to talk about something else. She’s just so difficult to read sometimes. Even now I’m married to her, sometimes I feel I still don’t know her at all.’
‘You know the history,’ Anna said. ‘She struggles to trust anyone. And she’s spent so long being her own support, it’s likely she’s still adapting to having you in her corner.’
‘No.’ Jonathan shook his head vehemently. ‘A year ago I’d have bought that excuse. Six months ago I probably would have, too, but not now. She knows I’m completely crazy about her, and that I would go into battle for her over anything. Why won’t she just talk to me?’
‘You need to be saying this to her, not me,’ Anna said gently. ‘If being subtle hasn’t worked, then you need to be more direct. She’s complicated, Jonathan. You both are. If you think there’s something wrong, then there probably is.’
Jonathan shook his head. ‘I’d ask you to have a word, but I think that’s a bit of a cop out, isn’t it?’
Anna smiled. ‘Sorry. This is one conversation you need to have yourself.’
‘Why didn’t anyone warn me that marriage was so hard?’ Jonathan grumbled as he took another sip of his latte.
‘Would it have made any difference if we had?’ Anna said wryly.
‘Probably not. It’s just that you and Matthew make it look so easy.’
‘Oh, believe me, we have our moments,’ Anna replied. ‘But in the end, everyone’s marriage is a mystery to those on the outside. You just have to do the best you can, and love the best you can. And I know how much you love Caroline.’
‘I do,’ Jonathan said. ‘I really do. That’s what makes this whole thing so frustrating.’
‘Go and talk to her,’ Anna said. ‘Instead of sitting here in a tea shop, talking to me.’
‘OK, boss.’ Jonathan finished his coffee and stood up. ‘Thanks for the friendly ear.’
‘Any time,’ Anna replied, taking the coffee cups back to the counter. ‘Keep me posted.’
‘I will.’ And with that, Jonathan wandered back out of the tea shop.
Anna watched him leave and tried to put aside the worry that he’d stirred up. She hoped that whatever was bugging Caroline so much, Caroline would see just how much Jonathan loved her, and that she would confide in him. Jonathan was worth the trust.