A Summer Wedding at the Cornish Manor, page 17
Kate doesn’t miss a trick and here’s where I need to be a little wary. ‘She was also great friends with my grandma. And from the point of view of what Prudie is trying to achieve for the wider community of artists in Cornwall, Cappy truly believes it would be a great addition to Renweneth Farm. I agree with him, but we simply don’t have enough space to accommodate her. I advised Prudie to look elsewhere to avoid disappointment. It would require half of the occupants of The Courtyard Hub to leave en masse, and the people on the reserve list to drop out, to give her what she wants. I simply can’t see that happening and even if they did, it’s not ideal anyway. There isn’t enough natural light.’
‘It’s not that I don’t like Prudie,’ Kate reflects, her attitude softening. ‘It’s just that you know she’s going to get her own way at some point, don’t you? And I guess that’s how you felt about me, going to such lengths to get me a stall.’
I give Kate a warm smile. ‘No, it was distressing for both Vyvyan, and me, that you were upset, and you were kind enough to help Ivy out when she was struggling. You’re a great baker, Kate, and you love what you do. Why wouldn’t we want to support you?’
She turns, sliding a spatula under one of the freshly baked cookies and offers it to me.
‘Chocolate orange. They melt in the mouth. Try one.’
Kate is right and my taste buds instantly react. ‘Mmm… now that’s a real treat.’
‘I’m sorry for getting wound up, Jess. I think what you’re doing at the farm is amazing. I know how hard it is to set up a business and how easy it is to fail. It hurts, and I let Prudie’s anger about losing out to Flo fire me up because I, too, felt I was being excluded. I’ll have a word with Vyvyan and apologise, as that was one long rant of a phone call.’
‘How are you doing with the stall?’ I ask, gently.
‘It’s keeping me baking and I’m getting telephone orders for my special occasions gift boxes. It’s allowing me to keep going, just.’
‘Well, the proof is in the eating, and you deserve success, Kate. I hope business picks up quickly.’ As Kate sees me to the door, I have a sudden idea. ‘Have you thought about maybe making up small cookie gift boxes and seeing if the stationery stall in The Courtyard Hub would sell them for you? It’s a nice little gift to go with a card and would widen your exposure.’
‘Ooh… now that’s an idea. Thanks, I’ll wander over there this afternoon. It can’t hurt to ask, can it?’
*
‘How was your morning?’ Riley gives me an artful grin.
‘Nerve-racking. I was straight with Kate and said the only person we broke our rules for was, in fact, her. I’m going to have a word with Ivy, because at the time, it looked like it was Kate stirring up trouble and gossiping. But it all leads back to Prudie. Even this latest incident is because she’s… Oh, you can’t blame the woman for having a passion. Honestly, when it comes to willpower and determination, Prudie is quite something. Now I’m beginning to wonder whether her plan is to wear me down.’
Riley is already halfway through his pastie, but as hungry as he is, he stops eating to look at me. ‘And what… erect a studio for her in the middle of the courtyard? Ivy’s customers need that space.’
I look at him, aghast. ‘Do you think that’s what Prudie is angling for? Don’t even say that in jest. That is not happening. The courtyard is a communal area.’
‘How about Cappy’s idea of extending the mezzanine in the small barn? You could have two studios instead of one.’
That idea fleetingly passed through my mind, too. It wasn’t a suitable solution for Ivy and Adam, but if it had solved all their problems, I would have gone with it. But an art studio needs a lot of natural daylight and there’s nothing at all we can do to achieve that.
‘Not you, too!’
He looks shamefaced. ‘I’m just thinking outside the box, that’s all. So, Kate now understands there’s nothing dodgy going on, but you still have the little problem of Prudie to deal with.’
My shoulders sag at the very thought of it. ‘Do you think it would be better coming from Cappy, or me?’
Riley’s expression is one of concern. ‘I don’t know. The thing is Jess, in two and a half months, the lease on Cappy’s house in Stroud will be up. I’m just throwing this out there, so don’t shoot the messenger, but would it make a difference to his decision to stay if Prudie’s art school were here?’
I’m rendered speechless. What is Riley trying to say? I stare at him questioningly.
‘I only meant that they’re friends and enjoy each other’s company. Now that the Beer and Bait Club are meeting up again, wouldn’t it be yet another reason for him to stay?’
‘She’s just an old friend of Grandma’s, really. As far as I know, Cappy doesn’t have any interest in art. Maybe this is something I need to deal with myself.’
However, I make a mental note to ring Mum for a chat. Cappy talks to her several times a week and perhaps she can give me an insight into what he’s planning for the future.
‘Oh, before I forget… Vyvyan and Keith are looking to move closer to Renweneth Farm. Vyvyan asked whether you were thinking of selling the cottage at some point.’
Riley’s face pales. ‘Oh… um…’
‘Sorry, I only mentioned it because she asked. If you do decide to go down that route, could you have a chat with them before you do anything, given that they’ve shown an interest?’
It’s no big deal and I don’t want Riley to think I’m interfering, but I feel honour-bound to mention it.
‘I will. Now, I’ll clear the plates away while you sort out what it was you wanted to discuss, with regard to the work schedule on the manor.’
Today, the kitchen table is a lot clearer, and I switch on the laptop, plugging in the Ethernet cable while Riley makes us both a coffee.
‘Oh, you’ve sent me an update.’
‘Yes, sorry, I assumed you’d already picked it up. You asked me to ramp things up but, obviously, there will be a bit of a time lag. I can’t talk to the various trades until you approve the corresponding increase in budget.’
As Riley saunters back to the table carrying two mugs of coffee, he gingerly steps over the trailing cable. ‘You know, I’m going to get the electricians to pop in and hardwire this in. There’s plenty of room for you to have a small computer table in the corner and it would avoid the trip hazard.’
‘You’re a real gem; do you know that, Riley?’
‘Hey, if something is important to you, it’s important to me, too. Anyway, have you calculated the impact of the delays on the bottom line?’
I let out an involuntary groan. ‘Ugh… nothing comes cheap these days, does it?’
‘Talk to me about money, Jess. The cost of materials keeps rising and I’m beginning to wonder whether the date we’ve set is too ambitious. There’s no point in overextending yourself, is there? It’ll just add additional pressure that you don’t need right now.’
He’s in earnest and it would be wrong of me to ignore Riley’s concerns.
‘You were probably right when you said I should double the budget, at least for phase one of the work. The good news is that the farm’s income is growing and fast; the bad news is that what accompanies that is a big tax bill. Effectively, in the first year of any sudden jump, we get hammered, as I’ve got to set aside double the tax on the increase.’
‘Ah… the payment on account. And the income is going to continue to grow, as you haven’t yet had a full year’s rental from The Courtyard Hub.’
‘I know. That’s why I’ve decided to make a loan to the business.’
Riley was just about to take a sip of coffee, but he immediately places the mug back down on the table. ‘What?’
‘It’s just a loan,’ I reiterate.
‘Does Cappy know?’
I shake my head. ‘There’s no reason why he should.’
‘Because you know he wouldn’t be happy about it. And when will you get it back?’
I shrug my shoulders. ‘I’m not in a rush; the idea is to continue to plough the profits into the manor until it’s completed. After that, I’ll receive staged payments after other capital investments at the farm are covered.’
I’ve never seen Riley looking so unsettled before, but as he sits there, I can see he’s not happy about it. ‘You’re putting in your own money just so we can hit our target?’
‘It’s cash sitting in the bank doing nothing, Riley.’
‘No, after ten years’ of marriage and working, it’s your nest egg. It’s your safety net for the future if anything goes wrong.’
I stare at him pointedly and his eyes don’t leave mine. ‘No, having Lola, you and the farm is my safety net. This is our future and I’m done waiting.’
‘Okay… what if I sell the cottage and you use that money instead? I’m not in a hurry to get it back, either.’
Now he’s challenging me. ‘That’s daft, Riley, and you know it. For the time being, you need your own place, just until we sort things out with Fiona regarding Ollie. And whatever you decide about the cottage, that’s your legacy to him.’
He wraps his hands around his coffee mug, looking dejected. ‘True, but in the meantime, I could just move into The Farmhouse. Why would a loan from me be any different to a loan from you?’
‘Because my money is readily available, and it takes time to sell a property.’ I reach out to touch his hand. ‘I know you mean well, but I know what I’m doing. Let’s not make this about who’s putting in what, because you’re the driving factor to get the work done. We are doing this together, but it’s slightly different because the farm is a trust.’
‘But Renweneth Manor is going to be our home for the rest of our lives and that makes a huge difference to me.’
I tilt my head back and take a few seconds to gather my thoughts together.
‘I love you, Jess,’ Riley continues. ‘If you have a problem, then I do too.’
‘Money isn’t the problem; it’s the schedule. Let’s put our heads together and find a way to make it work. We need to be in by the first of August, so that everything is ready for our wedding on the sixth. Can we get it done?’ There’s a catch in my voice before I fall silent.
‘If that’s what you want, that’s what will happen.’ Riley winks at me conspiratorially.
Somehow, whenever I succeed in tying myself up in knots, he has this knack of making everything seem so simple. I’m beginning to doubt that it’s doable, but it won’t be for lack of trying.
May
Riley
17
The Proposal
The first half of May seems to have flown by. First thing tomorrow morning, Jess and I are setting off to York, ready for Tom and Helen’s wedding the following day. Lola will be having a double sleepover at her dad’s and she’s mega excited about it.
I’m in the large shed behind the manor, scrabbling around for a piece of wood. I’m trying to repurpose an old armoire that has huge sentimental value for Jess. When my phone starts ringing, I’m surprised to see that it’s Adam calling. ‘Hey, mate. Is everything all right?’
‘Yeah, all good. I need a favour.’
‘Ask away.’
‘Last night, Ivy asked me to look at one of the sliding rails on the stone art wall. I meant to pop into the café before I set off this morning, but I forgot. Karl mentioned it was sticking and it might need a plane to coax it. She won’t like to bother you, but it’ll probably only take a couple of minutes and I don’t want Prudie getting on her case about it.’
‘No sweat. I’ll head over there now.’
‘Thanks, mate. How are you feeling ahead of tomorrow?’ Adam asks, hesitantly.
‘Honestly? Conflicted. Obviously, it’s a joyful occasion, but given the situation, my nerves are jangling. One moment I find myself breaking out in a cold sweat just thinking about it, the next I’m telling myself to man up.’
‘Hey, that’s only natural. But you’re not doing this alone and with Jess by your side, you’ll be fine.’
‘I have no idea what sort of reaction we’re going to get, Adam, but I’m simply going to hope for the best.’
‘And are you all prepared for your romantic evening for two?’ He begins chuckling to himself.
I make a small moan, glancing behind me to check that Jess isn’t within earshot. ‘As much as I can be. Ivy and Erica have the food all sorted and Cappy is charged with keeping Jess well away from the attic today. We’re quitting work at five this afternoon so I can go home and change. Jess thinks we’re going to The Lark and Lantern.’
‘Well, you’ve certainly had your work cut out pulling this together. How did the video call go with Harry and Celia?’
‘Jess’s parents were surprised but pleasantly so. I said that things had moved so fast, and I felt bad that I hadn’t asked for their approval to marry their daughter. It felt good and the look on their faces told me it was appreciated. They’re old-school and I guess, in a way, I’m a bit of a traditionalist, too.’
‘You know, I felt the same way when I asked Ivy’s dad for his permission. Ironically, it was Jess’s grandma who prodded me. She said that Ivy was getting impatient, and I should just get on with it, so I did.’ He laughs softly to himself. ‘Anyway, I hope it all goes smoothly tonight. Jess isn’t one for making a big fuss and I think you’ve nailed it. Right, good luck for later, Riley, and thanks for the favour, mate.’
*
Late morning, Jess heads off for a meeting with Vyvyan and her accountant, Michael. Cappy gives me the nod when he sees her exit the car park and it’s time to get things moving. There are several pieces of furniture to carry up two flights of stairs and when I call for a volunteer to lend a hand, I end up with three. Many hands make light work, as my dad would say, and when I let them in on the surprise, everyone is eager to do something to help.
Two hours later, I make my way over to The Courtyard Hub to see Anna. The jewellery stall is very popular and being able to watch her at work when she’s making a new piece is fascinating.
‘Riley! This is an exciting day for you.’ She beams at me, pulling something from beneath the counter. She places a small, pale-blue box in front of me.
‘I took the stone you chose and set it on a fourteen-carat, white-gold band, alongside three accent white diamonds either side.’
Gazing at it, it takes my breath away.
‘You’ll notice that the pear-drop-shaped aquamarine stone is flawless; I’m thrilled with how it’s turned out.’
‘So am I, Anna, and I can’t thank you enough. Not only is it unique, but it’s stunning. Jess is going to love it.’ It might only have cost eleven hundred pounds, but I know that won’t matter to the woman I love. This ring was designed for her, and it was worth working evenings to get the money together.
‘Take it out and have a good look at it. Hold it up to the light. See how the stone throws soft blues from the faceted finish. It really is one of the loveliest aquamarine stones I’ve ever seen, and it was a real pleasure designing this for you.’
I very gingerly slip it back into the box, beaming from ear to ear as I do so. ‘Let’s just hope she says yes.’
Anna begins to laugh, and I join in. ‘I think that’s a given, Riley, as the wedding planning is in full swing, but every girl remembers the moment her guy popped the question, doesn’t she?’
*
My stomach is in knots as I park the car and walk across to The Farmhouse. It’s only the second time I’ve ever bought Jess flowers. I’m not even sure what’s appropriate for a proposal, but the woman in the florist’s shop suggested I wander around for inspiration. I kept going back to the roses, and as they were Jess’s grandma’s favourites, that’s what I went with in the end. However, two dozen red roses and some frothy bits of greenery with tiny white flowers on them means the bouquet literally fills my arms.
As I stand here, wearing my best suit and waiting for the door to open, I glance around, conscious that I probably look like a bit of an idiot. But when Jess’s face is staring back at me and she breaks out into one huge, beaming smile, I don’t care.
‘Jess Griffiths, would you be so good as to accompany me to dinner at Renweneth Manor?’ I ask. Her eyes begin to sparkle. ‘Oh, and these are for you.’
She puts out her hands to take the bouquet and before she has a chance to respond, I step forward to take her arm and lead her across the courtyard.
‘This is… un… unexpected,’ she stutters. ‘And look at you! I didn’t even know you had a suit.’
‘I’m a man of many surprises,’ I inform her, solemnly.
‘Dinner… at the manor?’
‘Yes, our first meal in our soon-to-be new home.’
When we step through the archway, her face lights up as she sees the flickering candles lined up along the half-height walls of the farmer’s porch. I would have loved to have had a trail of tea lights to guide us up to the attic; however, as it’s still a building site and I’m in charge of the project, I couldn’t throw caution to the wind. We can’t risk the place burning down, even in the pursuit of a romantic rendezvous.
‘Riley, have you gone mad?’ She giggles, but it exudes a happiness that warms my heart. ‘This is crazy!’
‘Just keep walking.’
With the new staircases now in situ, it’s nice to be able to appreciate the progress that has been made. Yes, we’ve a long way to go, but I don’t think either of us have really had time to take in what we’ve achieved so far.
As we step into the first of the attic rooms, nothing much has changed since we replaced the rotting woodwork, although all the damaged floorboards have now been replaced with reclaimed ones. It’ll probably be another nine months before we start work up here in earnest, but I hope Jess isn’t disappointed when she sees the pop-up restaurant. That thought makes me smile to myself as I grab her hand, leading her forward.
‘And we’re eating up here?’ she queries, frowning.
The second room isn’t any better. When I swing open the door to what will eventually become bedroom five, formerly known as the apple store, Jess sucks in a deep breath. She steps forward, to gaze in awe at her surroundings.
