and even then we lingered awhile, drawing in the slowly cooling air. I let my gaze wander over the grassy stretches and woodland opposite the cottage, wondering if the road ever became really busy, and if the quietness of it all might eventually send me slightly crazy. From Baron’s Court to the wilderness in one bold leap. Daunting.
But I felt good, oh so good . Exhausted too, but pleasantly so; I didn’t resent my aching muscles at all. I pulled Midge close and she slipped an arm around my waist, resting her head against my shoulder.
‘I’m so happy, Mike,’ she said softly. ‘I can’t tell you how much. Gramarye means so much to me.’
I smiled and kissed her forehead. ‘Me too, Pixie. Me too. I think we made the right decision. Look, even the flowers out there have revived themselves to make us welcome.’
‘It must be all the rain we’ve been having lately. The colours are so beautiful.’
‘No need to look far for your inspiration around here.’
‘I’ve got all I need right beside me.’
‘Yuk.’
‘I know, but it feels good to tell you.’ Her pale eyes shone up at me. ‘Things are going to work, aren’t they, Mike?’
‘No question. Things are gonna be terrific. God, I feel a song coming on!’
‘Spare me that!’
‘I can’t help myself!’
I opened my mouth wide, but she dug me in the ribs. ‘You’ll frighten the animals.’
‘Oh yeah. Forgot. Jeez, I could sleep for a week.’
‘Can I get you a beer?’
‘You mean Igor and Mongo didn’t finish ’em off?’
‘I kept them too busy shifting furniture. One half-hour for beer and sandwiches was all any of you were allowed.’
‘I remember. You know what I’d really like?’
‘You said you were tired.’
‘Not that. Well, not right at this moment. No, I’d like some tea.’
‘Can this be the same hellraiser I shared a flat with in London? Must be the pure country air. Not even coffee?’
‘No. I’m in the mood for tea.’
‘Simply because you’re near me.’
‘Funny but when you’re – ’ I began to sing. Then, ‘Just put the kettle on.’
She skipped inside, chuckling to herself.
I strolled to the front gate and heard a car approaching. It soon appeared round the bend and I watched it pass by, thinking entertainment sure was spare in this neck of the woods. The Citroën’s occupants gawked back at me and I gave them a friendly wave. One of the two passengers, a girl in the back seat, smiled and then the car was gone, leaving only a faint smell of engine fumes in the air.
The show over, I sauntered back down the path, taking in the chocolate-box view of the cottage with its brooding woodland behind, the wild array of flowers enlivening the foreground. I experienced a deep flush of contentment. This new life might take some getting used to and there was still a lot of hard graft ahead to make the place comfortable, but the good vibes were already weaving their spell, calming and delighting me at the same time, alerting my senses to everything that was around. I was acutely aware of Midge’s presence within those irregular-shaped walls, as if she had instantly become a part of Gramarye’s personality, a little of its essence. She belonged in such a setting.
I stopped dead. Hold on here, I admonished myself. Let’s not get carried away. I wouldn’t like to upset you, Mrs Chaldean, but we’re talking about bricks and mortar with a pleasant view, not a goddamn shrine. Shaking my head at my own cogitations, I walked on.
I came to a halt once more when I noticed the chaffinch on the doorstep. The bird’s back was to me as it peered into the gloom inside with jerky stretching movements, occasionally cocking its head to one side as if listening for something. I waited, not wishing to scare it off; this was my first close encounter of the feathered kind.
Midge appeared inside the doorway and she was moving smoothly forward, cooing a gentle welcome. She knelt as she drew close and I was surprised that
But I felt good, oh so good . Exhausted too, but pleasantly so; I didn’t resent my aching muscles at all. I pulled Midge close and she slipped an arm around my waist, resting her head against my shoulder.
‘I’m so happy, Mike,’ she said softly. ‘I can’t tell you how much. Gramarye means so much to me.’
I smiled and kissed her forehead. ‘Me too, Pixie. Me too. I think we made the right decision. Look, even the flowers out there have revived themselves to make us welcome.’
‘It must be all the rain we’ve been having lately. The colours are so beautiful.’
‘No need to look far for your inspiration around here.’
‘I’ve got all I need right beside me.’
‘Yuk.’
‘I know, but it feels good to tell you.’ Her pale eyes shone up at me. ‘Things are going to work, aren’t they, Mike?’
‘No question. Things are gonna be terrific. God, I feel a song coming on!’
‘Spare me that!’
‘I can’t help myself!’
I opened my mouth wide, but she dug me in the ribs. ‘You’ll frighten the animals.’
‘Oh yeah. Forgot. Jeez, I could sleep for a week.’
‘Can I get you a beer?’
‘You mean Igor and Mongo didn’t finish ’em off?’
‘I kept them too busy shifting furniture. One half-hour for beer and sandwiches was all any of you were allowed.’
‘I remember. You know what I’d really like?’
‘You said you were tired.’
‘Not that. Well, not right at this moment. No, I’d like some tea.’
‘Can this be the same hellraiser I shared a flat with in London? Must be the pure country air. Not even coffee?’
‘No. I’m in the mood for tea.’
‘Simply because you’re near me.’
‘Funny but when you’re – ’ I began to sing. Then, ‘Just put the kettle on.’
She skipped inside, chuckling to herself.
I strolled to the front gate and heard a car approaching. It soon appeared round the bend and I watched it pass by, thinking entertainment sure was spare in this neck of the woods. The Citroën’s occupants gawked back at me and I gave them a friendly wave. One of the two passengers, a girl in the back seat, smiled and then the car was gone, leaving only a faint smell of engine fumes in the air.
The show over, I sauntered back down the path, taking in the chocolate-box view of the cottage with its brooding woodland behind, the wild array of flowers enlivening the foreground. I experienced a deep flush of contentment. This new life might take some getting used to and there was still a lot of hard graft ahead to make the place comfortable, but the good vibes were already weaving their spell, calming and delighting me at the same time, alerting my senses to everything that was around. I was acutely aware of Midge’s presence within those irregular-shaped walls, as if she had instantly become a part of Gramarye’s personality, a little of its essence. She belonged in such a setting.
I stopped dead. Hold on here, I admonished myself. Let’s not get carried away. I wouldn’t like to upset you, Mrs Chaldean, but we’re talking about bricks and mortar with a pleasant view, not a goddamn shrine. Shaking my head at my own cogitations, I walked on.
I came to a halt once more when I noticed the chaffinch on the doorstep. The bird’s back was to me as it peered into the gloom inside with jerky stretching movements, occasionally cocking its head to one side as if listening for something. I waited, not wishing to scare it off; this was my first close encounter of the feathered kind.
Midge appeared inside the doorway and she was moving smoothly forward, cooing a gentle welcome. She knelt as she drew close and I was surprised that
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