Amanda gasped. ‘Oh man, I should have told him to jump off a bridge.’
Simon shrugged. ‘We were business partners and he also screwed me over and left me with nothing financially. Anika clearly chose the smarter one.’
Amanda pushed him gently with her hand. ‘Never say that, okay? Never. It’s their moral compass that’s broken, it’s not a sign that you’re lacking in any way. Never, ever speak about yourself like that.’
Simon turned and looked out over the garden. ‘I look back and I can see it all so clearly now, but I didn’t then. The furtive phone calls. Anika at the office claiming to be waiting for me but supposedly forgetting that I had said I would be home. Me signing papers in a rush and not looking at the fine print. I was stupid.’
Amanda came to his side. ‘You’re not stupid – they were lying to you. It’s easy to be hard on yourself now but seeing the best in people isn’t a fault, and becoming cynical and suspicious of people is poisonous. I would rather believe people are good. I mean, look at all of this.’ Amanda gestured to the garden.
Dennis and Frank were in deep discussion about a shrub, picking the leaves and inspecting them. Shelley was chatting to Carole as they set up a table and chairs outside on the cleared lawn that Simon had recently mowed, while Diana and Janet were standing next to the empty pond, Diana pointing at something with her walking stick.
‘I was given a house, and these people are here to help with nothing in return for them but the opportunity to be a part of something. Diana gave you a job at face value and you showed up. You’re always making a difference to Moongate and to me, because you’re my friend and even though you can be a grump, you’re a good person; I can just tell.’
Simon was staring at her, silent. A muscle in his jaw was twitching but he wasn’t angry, he was just listening intently.
‘Are you always so upbeat? Is it an American thing?’ he finally asked.
‘Usually. I mean, I try to be.’ She laughed, embarrassed. ‘I don’t know if it’s American as much as it is who I am as a person. Lainie, my best friend, said I’m too soft for New York, which is her way of saying I’m naïve and not tough, but I’m tough in my own way.’
Simon nodded. ‘You’re tough. I mean, who takes this on with no prior experience and assumes it’s possible?’
‘You don’t think it’s possible?’ she asked.
Simon shook his head. ‘No, I think you, Amanda Cox, can make anything happen. You have that sort of magic about you.’
Amanda knew she was blushing but also she knew it was true.
‘Maybe we’re good for each other,’ he said.
Amanda pushed him gently with her shoulder. ‘Then we really are friends,’ she said and he leaned in to her momentarily.
‘I guess we are. Now come on and tell me what I’m doing with this pond that Diana is always going on about.’
Simon and Amanda walked to Janet and Diana, who were deep in discussion.
‘We would need a heater system installed for winter if Amanda were to replenish the pond,’ Diana was saying.
‘Absolutely, and a small stream or water flow would be helpful,’ Janet replied.
‘What am I replenishing?’ Amanda asked with a smile.
Diana turned to her. ‘I was explaining to Janet that I did have koi in here for many years but one harsh winter it iced over and the fish died and it was very sad.’
Amanda looked at the large and deep pond. ‘What did it used to look like, this whole area?’ she asked Diana.
‘I have some old photos in the gatehouse that I can show you but I think the garden needs a renovation not a replication. We must always try and improve things if we can. Leave them better than they were before we came.’
Janet nodded. ‘You know, Simon, you should come and see our pond set-up. While we only have goldfish, it is still very tranquil. There are ferns surrounding it, which would look lovely here,’ Janet said.
Diana looked at the ground nearest to her at the pond’s edge. ‘There were ferns here, and papyrus, and creeping Jenny,’ she said.
‘Creeping Jenny – what a terrible name,’ said Amanda. ‘Imagine being the Jenny that the person named it after. “Jenny, you’re such a stalker that I’m going to name a plant after you.”’
Simon laughed and Amanda joined in but Diana and Janet looked at her as though she had lost her mind.
‘Come on, that’s a good joke, isn’t it?’ She looked at Simon for confirmation who nodded.
‘It’s funny,’ he admitted and Amanda crossed her arms.
