Gran shrugged. ‘Don’t plant anything you don’t plan on staying to harvest, my girl.’
Lily thought about Nick and their growing flirtation. Perhaps she needed to think a little more sensibly about it all, especially with Jess back home. And besides, she had no idea how he thought of her; she was probably delusional, she thought, and she set about cleaning up breakfast.
When Gran was settled in her chair after breakfast, Lily sat outside in the sunshine. The very fact that Gran said she didn’t want her to start anything she wasn’t planning to finish seemed to tease her even more, and she looked around and pulled a weed from the path, and then another, and soon she had weeded around the area where she was sitting.
Pulling out what you don’t want in your garden isn’t a bad thing, she told herself as she looked around. It wasn’t as fun or interesting as planting, but it was still good to see where the room was for new possibilities.
17
Nerves had somehow made their way to Pippin Cottage and Lily found herself fussing over the kitchen table before Nick arrived. She brushed out imaginary wrinkles in the faded embroidered tablecloth, which had seen better days but was still Gran’s favourite. Gran had also insisted the fine china be taken from the chiffonier and washed and set out for their takeaway Indian dinner.
Lily had put her foot down at Gran’s suggestion of the old brass candlesticks.
‘He’ll think he’s walking into a seance,’ she said to her grandmother.
‘He might be. You never know what ghosts are around these cottages,’ Gran said. ‘I’ve been seeing your grandfather more often lately. He’s often standing in the garden, just by the apple tree near the fence.’
‘Okay, well say hi to him from me,’ said Lily jokingly. She seemed to be moving things for no reason and checking the wine in the fridge was cold enough. ‘It doesn’t feel cold,’ she said as she opened the fridge again.
‘It can’t get cold, as you keep opening the refrigerator. Please, Lily dear, stop fidgeting,’ Gran said from her armchair. ‘It’s only Nick, not the Queen of Sheba.’
Lily felt her cheeks warm. ‘I know,’ she said. ‘Sorry, I’m overthinking.’
‘I’m sure he’ll think the table and its setter are lovely, no matter what.’ Gran’s voice had a knowing smugness to it, Lily thought, and before she could react, the doorbell rang, setting her heart racing.
She had worn a white linen skirt and a simple silk T-shirt in a lovely cornflower blue and her feet were bare. Her hair was pulled into a bun and she had tiny daisy earrings in each ear. She adjusted her T-shirt, took a deep breath, and went and opened it.
Nick stood on the doorstep, holding a bouquet of wildflowers in one hand and a large carry bag of food in the other. His hair was messy, as usual, and he was in jeans and a button-down shirt in a pale lemon. Lily’s stomach flipped slightly as she saw him and his smile.
‘Hi,’ she said, suddenly feeling like a tongue-tied teenager. She had been fine around him until now and suddenly she was being pathetic.
Nick’s effortless smile lit up his handsome face. ‘Hello yourself. These are for you,’ he continued, presenting the flowers. ‘And this,’ he explained, holding up the bag of food, ‘is our dinner.’
‘It’s perfect,’ Lily replied, smiling as she accepted both. ‘Come in. Gran’s excited to see you.’
As they walked into the living room, Gran looked up from her newspaper as though she hadn’t been waiting for him to arrive all afternoon, her blue eyes beaming. ‘Nicholas, it is nice to see you. What a lovely idea this is.’
Nick bent to kiss Gran’s cheek. ‘Hello, Violet, you’re looking well. I can take that dressing off tomorrow.’
‘You’re back tomorrow? You might as well move in,’ teased Gran. ‘We’d like that, wouldn’t we, Lil?’
Lily shot her a look but Gran’s smile was so serene, Lily was sure Gran was batting her eyelashes in innocence.
Lily took the food from the plastic containers and transferred it into serving bowls, which she placed on the table.
‘Dinner is ready,’ she said theatrically to the other two.
‘Let me help you, Violet,’ said Nick, assisting her up to standing and then walking the short distance alongside her walking frame.
Soon they were seated, wine was poured and plates laden and they tucked into the delicious, fragrant food.
Dinner was lovely, with Nick entertaining Gran with stories from the hospital and asking her many questions about Gran’s youth. As Lily listened she realised that there was still so much she didn’t know about her grandmother.
Most of the time, Lily found herself watching Nick. How his eyes crinkled when he chuckled, the delicate way he replenished Gran’s water glass without being asked, and the warmth in his voice as he chatted with Gran. It was all wonderful. Comfortable. He seemed very at home in this cosy little cabin with her and Gran.
Gran regaled them with stories from her youth, and her marriage and raising Lily’s dad and having Lily stay for the holidays.
Nick, for his part, listened intently, laughing at the appropriate moments and asking just the right questions to keep Gran engaged, but after dinner and a cup of tea and a shortbread biscuit, Lily could see Gran was fading.
