Page 35 of Match Point in Crumbleton
‘See that white house there?’ he said, pointing at the upper floors of a classic Crumbleton townhouse above the stone walls and greenery.
Cath nodded. ‘And we can really see into their garden from back here?’
‘Just a tiny part, but yes,’ said Andy, hurrying after her and then pointing at a gap where the high stone wall met a patch of laurel hedge.
Cath leaned in, using her hands to part the glossy leaves so that she could peer through.
‘I see strawberries!’ she said excitedly.
‘Great!’ said Andy with a sigh of relief. Just because he’d seen them there in previous years didn’t mean Harold was necessarily growing them again this year. That’s why they’d decided to check it out first. ‘Come on, let’s go knock on the door and find out more.’
The pair of them cut through a side alley back onto the high street, emerging just across the road from the Crumbleton Times and Echo offices.
Andy led the way past a couple of buildings up the hill and then knocked on a smart, navy blue front door.
‘Andy?’
Andy beamed at the elderly gent who’d just opened the door. His white candyfloss hair fluttered slightly in the breeze, and he leaned heavily on a wooden walking stick.
‘Hi Harold. Sorry to drop in unannounced,’ said Andy.
‘Don’t apologise, dear boy,’ said Harold with a broad smile. ‘I like company, and unexpected company is even better… especially when they turn up with beautiful women in tow!’
Andy grinned as a splutter of surprised laughter escaped from Cath.
‘Harold, let me introduce Cath Walker, she’s—’
‘Ah!’ said Harold, cutting across him. ‘Our new curator. Yes… the town’s abuzz with your exploits!’
‘It is?’ said Cath in surprise.
‘Certainly,’ said Harold, nodding and looking impressed. ‘Here not much more than a week, and you’re already making the headlines.’
‘I’ve got Caroline to thank for that,’ said Cath, smiling at him.
‘Hmm, more like your own hard work, I suspect,’ said Harold.
Andy nodded in agreement.
‘Well, I was hoping you might come to see me,’ he added, before beckoning them both to follow him inside.
Cath raised her eyebrows at Andy briefly, but he just grinned at her and stood back so that she could follow on behind Harold. After all, he was just there to make the introductions. Cath was the one with the magic touch when it came to making the whole of Crumbleton fall in love with her.
‘Erm… wow!’ breathed Cath, as they followed Harold along a narrow hallway and into a large kitchen at the back of the building.
Andy knew she wasn’t talking about the house itself—as lovely as it was. He had a feeling her surprise might be more down to the fact that every available nook and cranny was stuffed with jars of jam. No matter which way he looked, pretty, cloth-frilled jars with gleaming, ruby-red conserve stared back at him.
‘That’s a lot, Harold!’ chuckled Andy.
‘The jam?’ said the old man, sinking into a chair at the scrubbed kitchen table and indicating for them to do the same.
Andy nodded and watched as Cath inspected some of the handwritten labels on the jars lining the old-fashioned wooden dresser.
‘It’s the wife,’ said Harold. ‘She’s obsessed. She’s out at the moment, otherwise I’d introduce you. She’ll be back soon enough, though.’
‘But… this is several years’ worth!’ gasped Cath, staring around at the hundreds of jars.
‘You don’t need to tell me that, love,’ said Harold. ‘More than I can eat in several lifetimes. We’ve been together for more than fifty years… and she’s made strawberry jam every single one of them.’
