‘I love what you two have done round here.’ Joanne gestured at the kitchen. ‘Everything is much tidier.’ Her cheeks coloured. ‘Oh goodness, Lila, I’m sorry. That sounded awful. What I meant was that I’m glad you’ve been able to… find more space.’
Lila giggled. ‘I know what you mean and it’s fine. I’d sunk into slobbery as my grief dragged me down, but having a good clear out was very cathartic and I’m so grateful to Roxie for helping me.’
‘I would have helped too, Lila, but I’ve had so many shifts at the café because I’m trying to save and—’
Lila held up a hand. ‘Joanne, I didn’t expect you to help. I know how busy you are. I didn’t actually ask Roxie to help but she volunteered.’
Roxie laughed. ‘I twisted your arm behind your back and forced you to do it, you mean. It was just time to sort things out, honey. You’d hit rock bottom so the only way was up. Besides which, I had the time to help you out.’
Lila nodded and looked down at her plate. The quiche was scrumptious with its light, golden pastry and perfect combination of salmon, cheese and asparagus. She’d served it with potato salad, juicy red tomatoes and dark green spinach with basil olive oil sprinkled over the leaves.
‘What’s next?’ Joanne asked. ‘Are you going to make more greyhounds?’ She nodded at the dresser behind them where Lila had piled all the crocheted dogs to clear space on the table.
‘Yes and other animals. I’ll get them photographed and listed in my online shop then see if I get any commissions too.’
‘They are adorable.’ Joanne smiled. ‘We might be able to sell some at the café.’
‘That would be great, thank you. I also think I need to get some work done here.’ Lila peered around her kitchen. It was warm and cosy but now that everything was tidy, she could see what needed to be done. The window that overlooked the garden was loose and rattled in its frame on windy days. Lila had become accustomed to the noise, but knew that it needed sorting. She could get a whole new window or see if someone could redo the seals. Then there was the cupboard under the sink where the door had come off its hinges. She rested it against the cupboard frame but it wasn’t a long-term solution and sometimes she forgot and pulled it open only to have it land on her toes. Upstairs, there was the stain on her bedroom ceiling and all of the walls could do with painting. ‘There are things I can’t ignore any longer plus I think a coat of paint would freshen everything up.’
‘You could do the painting yourself,’ Roxie suggested. ‘I could help with that.’
‘I’m not letting you do another thing round here, Roxie. You have your own life to lead too. But thank you, anyway. Yes, I could paint but it would take weeks and if I get someone in to do it then I can focus on being creative and hopefully start to earn some money.’
‘I think that’s a very good idea.’ Joanne nodded. ‘To creativity!’
They all drank some more wine.
‘Was that the door?’ Roxie asked, looking up from her glass.
‘I think I heard the letterbox go but it could have been the wind.’ Lila stood up. ‘I’ll go and check.’
She headed through to the hallway and saw something sticking through the letterbox. She pulled it through, read it, then smiled.
Back in the kitchen, she held it out to her friends.
‘Look at this! Talk about fate.’
‘What is it?’ Roxie peered at it. ‘I haven’t got my glasses on. Read it to me.’
‘It’s a leaflet for a local painter and decorator. It says “No job too big or too small. Reasonable quotes. Friendly and reliable”… “experienced” … and so on.’
‘Is there a name on it?’ Joanne took the leaflet from Lila. ‘Yes! It says “Ethan Morris” and there’s a number.’
Roxie frowned. ‘Freda Morris’s son! Well how about that?’ She flung up her hands. ‘Isn’t it handy that he moved back to the village?’
‘Handy!’ Joanne laughed. ‘Because he’s a handyman.’
Roxie and Lila shook their heads.
‘Roxie, I meant to ask you after we bumped into Ethan that day and destroyed his eggs… what did you mean about his wife? You said you were sorry about her.’
Roxie nodded. ‘I did. Don’t you remember about eighteen months ago, Freda lost her daughter-in-law?’
Lila frowned. Now that Roxie mentioned it, she did recall something about Freda losing a family member but she hadn’t really thought any more about it because the relative hadn’t lived in Wisteria Hollow so the funeral hadn’t been local.
‘How did it happen?’ Lila asked Roxie.
‘Cancer. Apparently it happened very quickly and she was very young.’
‘How tragic.’ Lila rubbed her chest, sympathy for the poor young woman, Ethan and for Freda flooding through her. ‘We never know what other people are going through do we?’
‘We don’t.’ Roxie shook her head. ‘However… back to you and your current issues… You need to phone Ethan right now and book him. If he’s posted these around the village there’ll be loads of people after his services.’
‘I’m sure it can wait until tomorrow,’ Lila said, her stomach now churning.
‘No it can’t. You need work done and he’s available. It’s fate. So secure his time now while you can.’
‘But I don’t like to put on a man who’s lost his wife and been through so much.’
‘Lila, this is his business and seeing as how it’s new to the area, he’ll want to get it off the ground. Therefore, rather than hindering him, you’ll be helping him. Think about it that way.’
Lila looked at Roxie then at Joanne and both of them nodded. They were right. If Ethan got booked up it could take months to get him here and if he was starting over in the village then this would be a positive thing for him too.
She grabbed her mobile off the dresser and started to type.
‘What are you doing?’ Roxie frowned.
‘Texting him.’
‘“Texting”?’ Roxie grimaced.
‘Yes. It’s fine, I’m sure. He’s probably having his dinner now and I don’t want to disturb him. If I text, he can reply when he’s ready.’
Lila pressed SEND.
‘She’s right.’ Joanne looked at Roxie.
Half an hour later, they were tucking in to raspberries, meringues and clotted cream when Lila’s mobile buzzed. She jumped and looked up. Roxie and Joanne were grinning.
‘Go on then, see if it’s him.’ Roxie picked up Lila’s mobile off the table and handed it to her.
Lila looked at the screen then swiped her thumb across it.
‘It’s him. He said… He can come round tomorrow and take a look.’
Lila’s stomach did a somersault and she took a sip of wine to wash down the meringue that seemed to have lodged in her throat. Why was she anxious? Why such a visceral reaction to a text message?
‘Woo hoo! Fan-bloody-tastic!’ Roxie clapped her hands. ‘Time to celebrate with another bottle of wine.’
While Roxie got up and went to the fridge, Lila replied to the text, suggesting Ethan come round at ten. That would give her time to do a quick look around to ensure Willy hadn’t brought anything in overnight and to prepare to have a man in her home. There hadn’t been a man past her front door since Ben left and that had been fine with Lila, so the thought of having a man in here was somewhat daunting. But, of course, he was a workman coming to look at a job and that was all.