Even though they’d all worked hard, Frankie doing her bit with a mop and bucket and what seemed like a thousand bin liners and trips to the tip, not to mention being chief cook and bottle washer, they’d managed to have some fun too. Ken was adorable, he really was and never had she seen a man graft so hard. He was matched only by his son who had been up with the lark every morning, raring to go.
Spud, well he was another story. He only had one gear: slow. But if you kept him moving and motivated it was possible to get some work out of him.
Ken said that it was like ‘pushing one of them giant bloody turtle things up a hill, a bleedin’ gormless one at that.’ And ever since that’s how Frankie saw Spud. He definitely wasn’t cut out for labouring but a taste of hard graft over lockdown had been enough to convince him to go back to college in September and study hard. Anything to avoid pushing a wheelbarrow for the rest of his life.
If ever Frankie wished she could suspend time, or turn it back, it was now because had she the power she’d have got to know Jed as soon as he turned up at the home of Devilchild. Or she’d wave a wand and make the week go on and on… like an endless summer even if it meant listening to Spud getting bollocked every two minutes, and Ken’s tuneless whistling.
As she set the plates onto the table her attention was drawn to a walker passing the gate, the same one as yesterday. Not in the mood for the usual friendly exchange so common amongst villagers, Frankie merely waved and saidbonjour, then focused on her task.
She was determined not to become maudlin and would send Ken, Jed and Spud on their way with full stomachs and a meal to remember. Then she’d be back to dining alone, only the dogs for constant company.
She badly wanted Jed to stay longer but he’d already promised to come back so she had to be content with that, and give him time to make arrangements and speak to his parents. Thank goodness she’d put her big girl pants on and told him how she felt – otherwise she really would have been sobbing into a napkin.
What could have been an awkward conversation arose when she and Jed were taking their nightly wander around her garden. Her evening routine wouldn’t be the same once he went home.
Belle and Oscar had added the ritual to their body clocks and more or less told Frankie it was time for their constitutional, their allegiance to Jed never wavering. It was at his feet they always plonked themselves, tails wagging, gooey-eyed and eager to set off with their new friendly human.
‘You’ve stolen my puppies’ hearts, you know that, don’t you?’ Frankie nudged Jed as they followed the dogs along the now well-worn path around the wire fence.
‘I have that effect on people, you know…’ A short silence, a deep breath and Jed continued. ‘And I hope you feel the same because there’s something I want to ask and I’ve been working up to it all week.’
Frankie’s heart flipped at Jed’s words and told herself that whatever it was – and she suspected it was to do with him leaving the following day – she was not going to wimp out. Then, sensing how serious he looked, Frankie lost her nerve so went for a jokey response, just in case she’d misread the signals. ‘Oh, what have I done now? I promise I put your tape measure back in the box, in the right place… I didn’t lose it this time, Brownies’ honour.’
Jed shook his head. ‘Nope, it’s far more serious than my tool OCD. What I really want to know is, where do we go from here with us? I’ll go first because if I don’t, you’ll put your barriers up and we’ll get nowhere fast.’
It was then that Frankie had an incredible urge to surprise him, prove him wrong maybe, maybe herself too, so interrupted. ‘It’s okay, because I want to ask you the same thing so for once in my life I’m going to say what I really feel and tell you all the madness inside my head. So are you ready? It’s scary stuff.’
A huge smile appeared on Jed’s face even though he feigned a frightened expression. He stopped and leant against a wooden fence stake, pulling her to him. ‘Oh God, I’ve unleashed a monster, but go on… tell me your madness and then I’ll tell you mine.’
‘Okay. This week has sped by too fast and if I could have a wish, it’s that you would stay longer, even though I know you can’t because your dad needs you. You’ve told me how much you love it here and there’s so much I want to show you but we haven’t had time. We didn’t even get to Nantes or La Baule, there’s so many things…’
When Jed stopped her mid-flow, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, Frankie knew she’d said what he wanted to hear.
‘That’s exactly how I feel. And yep, I love it here and you know I love you too. I don’t want to go home either. There, I said it.’
Before she could reply he kissed her again and when she came up for air, Frankie took his face in her hands. ‘And I love you more. There, I said it. So what the hell do we do now?’
Jed sighed and held her close. ‘I have no idea, and it’s not like I haven’t thought about it, over and over till my head feels like it’s going to explode.’
‘I know exactly how that feels, believe me.’
Jed brushed a stray lock of hair from Frankie’s face as he spoke. ‘Okay, so now we’re on the same track I reckon if we’re sensible we could make this work long-term, me coming back regularly for longer periods. But I am worried about something and I’d rather say it now.’
Frankie pulled away slightly, her look telling him to go on.
‘You haven’t had time to work out if you can manage here alone, you know, live your dream and find your feet. The last thing I want is to stifle you or get in the way of the plans you had. I also don’t want to be a crutch, which sounds harsh but I need to know you want me around for the right reasons. Does that make sense?’
‘Of course, and it’s not harsh; it’s honest and I get it.’ Frankie understood why Jed sighed, it must have been hard for him to say what he meant without hurting her feelings. ‘Okay, I admit I’d set myself up to be this independent woman who was striking out alone, all brave and determined, but somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I’m sure there was a smidgen of hope that if I let my guard down there’d be room for someone else. And I know one hundred per cent that person is you. Yep, I agree it’s all come about in a mad way and the timing was appalling, but maybe I was ready for a relationship, I just didn’t realise or want to admit it.’
‘And don’t forget I am pretty irresistible… you have to give me credit for that.’ Jed was doing his jokey-but-serious look, big brown eyes betrayed by the merest hint of a smile.
Frankie sighed. ‘Yes, obviously there’s that, plus we can’t plan for everything and my mum has always said that “when you know, you know” and she’s right.’ Frankie hoped it was enough to reassure him because where she was concerned her little speech had certainly done the trick.
‘That’s exactly how I feel, too. Even back at home I was telling myself it was all too good to be true, that I shouldn’t get carried away or fall for you because you were leaving but I couldn’t stop myself no matter how sensible I tried to be.’ Jed kissed the top of Frankie’s head then continued.
‘And I’m not even going to quote any ofmymum’s sayings because they’re all barmy and I’m sure she makes them up to fit any occasion. Let’s just stick with yours for now, it works. You know when you know.’
Frankie was laughing at the thought of poor Jenny and her words of made-up wisdom. ‘Well, I wish someone would tell us what to do… you already know Henri will take you on, so what if you and your dad worked out some kind of schedule, where you were there to help him with the big stuff and in the meantime you could work here. Oh God, that sounds so selfish no matter how I say it. You’re a family business and I hate myself for even asking.’ Frankie held her head in her hands. ‘Aargh, this is so frustrating, I can’t stand it.’
