Second Chances in Tuppenny Bridge: A totally heartwarming feel-good read, page 11
Sometimes he drilled holes into the letters instead of putting them on a stand, so people could hang them on their walls, but he’d decided Tawnie had so many family photos on her walls already there wouldn’t be room for this, so he’d made it a standing ornament instead.
‘They are,’ Jonah said. ‘I thought I might as well do something useful with them. They took some cleaning up I can tell you. Do you really like it?’
‘I love it! I like the way you’ve replaced the letter “O” with a love heart. When did you start making things like this? Or is this the first one you’ve made?’
‘I’ve been making them for ages,’ he admitted. He hesitated. ‘After I met Sofia I wanted to give her something special that I’d made with my own hands, and I started experimenting with different designs. I’ve got a few in the forge. Then, after she left I had a lot of empty evenings to fill, so I spent them making even more stuff. I do all sorts—lots of things made from recycled horseshoes, and other items too. Candle holders, fireside companion sets, that sort of thing.’ He decided not to mention the more intricate objects of art he’d created, far from certain they were worth mentioning.
‘Just like Dad used to,’ she said softly. ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘It didn’t seem that important at the time,’ he said. ‘To be honest, it was just a way of taking my mind off the empty house. Then, when Tommy came home I didn’t have time to do it any longer, so I haven’t really made anything for the past year.’
‘Well, I think you’ve got a real talent. Dad would be so proud of you. And, hey, remember how much money he used to make from it? It was a very lucrative sideline as I recall.’
‘Dad had time,’ Jonah pointed out. ‘He spent every weekend and evening in the forge to get away from Mum, didn’t he?’
Tawnie laughed. ‘I suppose he did. You ought to do something with it; show them to other people.’
Jonah ran a finger under his shirt collar. ‘I—I sort of am,’ he said awkwardly. ‘Fact is, I’ve taken a stall at the sheep fair. I’m going to try to sell some of them. Well, I’ve got a whole stack of things just lying around in the forge, doing nothing, and I thought I might as well free up a bit of space. Not that I’m expecting to sell many, but if even one or two go it will be something.’
Keith frowned. ‘I thought you were doing a couple of shoeing demonstrations at the show?’
‘I am. I’ll have to juggle the stall with those.’
‘Or,’ Keith said, ‘here’s a radical idea. You could get someone to man the stall for you.’
‘Are you volunteering?’ Jonah asked in amusement.
‘Me? No chance, mate. I can’t make it I’m afraid. I’ll be away that weekend. My team are playing away.’
Knowing Keith’s passion for his football team, Jonah knew there was no contest when it came to choosing between attending a sheep fair or following the team to their next away game. He couldn’t blame his brother-in-law for that.
‘I could help you out on the Sunday,’ Tawnie said hesitantly, ‘but I promised to take the girls up to Kirkby Skimmer on the Saturday. There’s a new film that they wanted to see at the cinema, and we’re going to make a day of it. Unless…’
‘Unless what? Please tell me you’re not suggesting Mum!’ Jonah said, horrified at the thought. She’d hate his designs and would no doubt pour scorn on them anyway. The last thing he needed was the stress of her chipping in with her thoughts and criticisms.
‘Actually,’ Tawnie said, ‘I was thinking of Kat.’
‘Kat?’
‘Don’t say it like that! Why not, Kat? She’s been really helpful with Tommy while he was poorly, so I’m sure she’d mind the stall for you. And you said she needs money for a deposit on a bigger place, so surely any extra cash would come in useful?’
‘She’s got Hattie to look after. Besides,’ he added uncomfortably, ‘she’ll probably want to wander round the show, not be stuck selling, or more likely not selling, a bunch of my old tat.’
‘Stop fishing for compliments,’ Keith said. ‘You know perfectly well it’s not tat. Not if this item’s anything to go by anyway.’ He smirked. ‘Bit touchy when it comes to Kat, aren’t you?’
‘Not at all, but she’s probably had more than her fill of helping me out,’ Jonah said. ‘She spent half of last week looking after Tommy, remember.’
‘Which was surprisingly noble of her,’ Tawnie agreed. ‘Did she and Tommy get on okay?’
Jonah eyed her suspiciously. ‘Obviously, or I wouldn’t have asked her to stay on until the Friday evening. What’s your point?’
Tawnie’s eyes widened. ‘What point could I possibly be making?’
‘I think she’s asking if you fancy the girl, Jonah,’ Keith said, raising his glass of beer and grinning at him. ‘I’d quite like to know that, too.’
‘Oh for goodness’ sake, not you as well! Look, how many more times do I have to say this? She’s just Kat!’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Tawnie demanded.
‘It means—it means she’s an old mate. I’ve known her most of my life, and there’s absolutely nothing more to it than that. Do you really think I’m interested in any woman after what happened with Sofia?’
He broke off and rubbed his forehead wearily. ‘I’m not going down that road again, and it should surely be obvious to you why Kat—of all women—is definitely out of bounds.’
‘Because of Leon?’ Keith asked, frowning.
‘Or because of what happened with Tommy?’ Tawnie said gently.
Jonah took a deep breath. ‘Take your pick. Both. Anyway, even if neither of those reasons were there it still wouldn’t happen. She’s just Kat.’
‘Oh! If you say she’s just Kat one more time!’ Tawnie playfully punched his arm in exasperation. ‘All the same, putting aside any possible romantic thoughts about Kat, you’ve got to admit she was a godsend to you last week when Tommy was ill.’
‘I’m not denying it,’ Jonah said with feeling. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done without her.’
‘It’s a shame she won’t be on maternity leave for much longer, but I suppose she’ll be going back to work at the wool shop before too long, right?’
‘Not exactly, no.’
‘Oh?’ Tawnie exchanged glances with Keith. ‘Why not?’
‘If you must know,’ Jonah said, ‘it turns out the Pennyfeathers are selling the shop. Apparently it’s not making enough money, and that means she’s going to lose her job and her home. Not the best news when you’ve got a baby daughter to support.’
‘Oh no! Poor Kat. That’s awful.’ Tawnie’s eyes were full of sympathy. ‘Fancy the Pennyfeathers having to sell the shop. It’s been in Tuppenny Bridge forever. It won’t be the same without it.’
‘Maybe not,’ Keith said, ‘but are you surprised? How many wool shops do you see around these days? I can’t imagine any of them making much money.’
‘You’d be surprised,’ Tawnie said. ‘Knitting’s always been a big thing in the Dales, and there’s been a growing interest lately among the younger generation. Will the Pennyfeathers be staying in the town?’ she asked. ‘I mean, they’re not moving away or anything? It just wouldn’t be right without them. They’re funny old ducks, but even so.’
‘I don’t think Miss Lavender would let them move away,’ Jonah said, laughing. ‘They’re her spies on the ground, so to speak. She relies on them to gather intelligence, and of course they do all the dirty work for her, organising the bets so she doesn’t have to sully herself with it all, while she no doubt creams off the profits.’
‘Well, that’s something at least,’ Tawnie said.
‘Actually, they’ve offered Kat a room at their home, so she won’t be on the streets anyway.’
‘Really? Imagine living with Rita and Birdie,’ Tawnie said.
‘You lived with your mother for long enough,’ Keith remarked. ‘I should think living with those two would be a walk in the park compared to that.’
‘Kat’s dreading it,’ Jonah admitted. ‘Don’t get me wrong, she loves her aunts to bits, but their cottage—well, you only have to look at the two of them to picture what their home looks like. Kat can’t imagine how bad it’s going to be when you add Hattie’s things into the mix.’
‘No,’ Tawnie said slowly. ‘I should imagine it will be an awful jumble.’
‘She’s got that look on her face,’ Keith said, giving his wife a knowing look. ‘I’d run for it, Jonah. She’s up to something.’
‘I’m not up to anything,’ Tawnie said indignantly. ‘Well,’ she added as an afterthought, ‘maybe I’ve just had an idea that could help both you and Kat, that’s all.’
‘He won’t let her move in with him, love, so give it up,’ Keith advised.
Jonah spluttered coffee in shock. ‘Move in with me? I don’t think so!’
‘Oh, but before you dismiss it out of hand—’
‘You’re serious? Bloody hell, Tawnie, are you insane? After what I just said!’
‘Will you just listen?’ Tawnie put her mug back on the table and leaned towards him, her eyes eager. ‘I was thinking of a business arrangement. Think about it! Kat needs a job and a home. You need someone to take care of Tommy and the house so you can get back to working full-time hours. Well, let Kat move in and both of you get what you want.’
Keith wrinkled his nose. ‘Maybe Jonah doesn’t want a baby under his roof for one thing.’
‘He won’t be responsible for her,’ Tawnie protested. ‘He won’t have to do anything for her. Besides, Jonah’s good with children, you know he is. But he’ll be out at work all day anyway, and the baby will be asleep after tea, so he won’t have much to do with her. And,’ she added excitedly, ‘that will mean there’ll be someone around at weekends so you can spend time in the forge making more of your designs! That could really take off you know, Jonah. A sideline like Dad’s. It would probably pay for Kat’s keep right there.’
‘It would never work,’ Jonah said, gripping his mug of coffee tightly. ‘For one thing, why would she want to move in with me any more than she wants to move in with her aunts? The whole point is that she wants a place just for her and Hattie.’
‘And maybe one day she’ll be able to afford that, but right now her only option is the Pennyfeathers’ cottage, and let’s face it, Forge Cottage is probably paradise next to that. It’s big and airy and modern and nothing like Whistlestop Cottage.’
Jonah frowned. ‘Have you ever actually been inside Whistlestop Cottage?’
‘Well, once I think. Years ago, when I was about twelve. I can’t remember why.’
‘I’m sure it’s changed a lot since then.’
‘Hmm, and probably for the worse, and it was bad enough then. Oh, come on, Jonah, are you honestly telling me that Kat would be better off there than at yours?’
‘No, but… What about Tommy? It’s not fair on him to expect him to put up with strangers.’
‘Except they’re not strangers,’ Keith pointed out. ‘Kat took care of him last week when he was poorly, and if Tommy didn’t mind being around her and Hattie when he wasn’t feeling too good, I can’t see him minding now he’s full of beans again. He’ll probably love having them there.’
‘And just think,’ Tawnie added slyly, ‘no more rushing around in the morning trying to get him ready for school in time, or worrying if he’s ill and can’t go in, or taking time off work because it’s half term or whatever. You’ll be able to get your business back up to full strength. Surely you can see that it’s a great idea from your point of view?’
‘She’s right,’ Keith said. ‘Sorry, Jonah but it makes sense for both of you. You’ve got a couple of spare rooms at Forge Cottage, and plenty of living space, and a garden. Kat would have a home and breathing space to look for a job. You’ll get peace of mind and the chance to make more than enough money to cover the expense. Plus, you’ll have a bit of adult company for a change. That can only be a good thing if you ask me.’
‘You see? If even Keith can see how much sense it makes you must realise it too!’
‘Oh okay, you’ve made your point.’ Jonah puffed out his cheeks, feeling slightly under attack. ‘I’ll think about it, okay? Now can we talk about something else please?’
The trouble was it did make sense. Everything Tawnie had said added up, and he could see that it would be a great solution for both him and Kat, not to mention Tommy and Hattie.
It wasn’t that the arrangement wouldn’t suit them that worried him. It was that the arrangement might suit them too much. He couldn’t deny the thought of Kat moving in to Forge Cottage permanently had filled him with an excitement he really hadn’t been expecting, but that was the problem.
He liked Kat. He’d always liked Kat, even when they were kids and she’d only ever had eyes for Leon. But she was his friend, nothing more, and he’d quite like it to stay that way. He couldn’t deny, though, that ever since Noah’s remarks he’d been forced to look at her in a different way, and quite frankly it terrified him.
He hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d told Tawnie that Kat was the last person he should get involved with. The truth was, after everything he’d gone through with Sofia, he couldn’t face it all happening again.
Having seen the way Kat had reacted at Monk’s Folly when she’d come face to face with all those old memories of Leon, he realised her heart still lay with him, even after all this time. She clearly only saw him as a friend, and that was what he wanted and needed. So why had seeing her reaction to that old photo given him a feeling akin to a punch in the guts?
He knew he could be very useful to Kat, but could he really trust her not to break his heart the way Sofia had? If he let her into his life it would give her the opportunity to do just that, and he didn’t think he could bear it.
Tawnie leaned forward and said quietly, ‘She’s not Sofia, Jonah. You know that really, don’t you?’
He met her gaze and as she eyed him steadily he felt himself relax a little.
She was right. Kat wasn’t Sofia. He’d known her forever, and she just wasn’t made like his ex-wife. She would never do to him what Sofia had. He could trust her. The question was, could he trust himself?
NINE
Jonah dropped the foot of the bay pony whose hooves he’d been trimming, and straightened as Joseph Wilkinson, owner of Whispering Willows Horse Sanctuary, stroked its nose and told him what a good lad he’d been, standing so patiently.
‘That should do him.’
Joseph nodded. ‘Ta very much, Jonah. Good job as always. I heard you’re going to be doing shoeing demonstrations at the fair again this year.’
‘You heard right,’ Jonah said, putting the rasp back into his toolbox. ‘One on Saturday and one on Sunday afternoon. Will you be there?’
‘I might have a wander round,’ Joseph said. ‘See how I feel.’
Jonah eyed him thoughtfully. Was it his imagination or did Joseph look tired? Obviously, running a horse sanctuary was hard work, and Joseph was in his mid to late sixties, but even so. And he seemed to have lost a bit of weight too.
‘Are you feeling all right, Joseph?’ he asked, picking up the toolbox and carrying it over to his van.
‘Me? Right as rain. Got Little Miss Sunshine to help me out, haven’t I?’ He grinned and nodded across the yard, where Jonah could hear Summer Fletcher—who worked at the sanctuary on a mostly voluntary basis in between shifts at The White Hart Inn—singing to herself as she mucked out one of the looseboxes.
Jonah pulled a face. ‘Does she often sing?’ If, he thought, you could call it singing, which was debatable.
‘All the bloody time since she got with Ben Callaghan. Proper Pollyanna she is. It’s sickening.’ Joseph laughed. ‘No, I’m happy for her, for them both. Everyone needs a bit of love in their life, don’t they?’
‘I suppose so.’
‘Mind, I’ll stick with horses if it’s all the same to you. They’re a lot less trouble than women from what I’ve heard.’
‘Yeah… you’re probably right there.’ Jonah nodded. ‘Are we all done then, Joseph?’
‘We are, thanks. You’ve done a good job on Duggie’s hooves. I love seeing them start off all mucky and rough and watching the way you peel all that off and leave them all shiny and bright. Proper satisfying to see it.’
‘Satisfying to do, too,’ Jonah agreed. ‘Especially when a horse’s feet have been neglected and the hooves are really overgrown.’
‘Aye, who needs women?’ Joseph laughed. ‘Bank transfer all right?’
‘Isn’t it always?’
‘I’ll send it over this afternoon. Thanks, lad.’ Joseph began to lead the pony across the yard. ‘I’ll try to pop over and watch one of your demonstrations,’ he called over his shoulder.
‘Honestly, you don’t have to!’
‘I’d like to support you. You never know, I might be the only bugger watching.’
Jonah laughed as he packed his equipment back in the van and removed his apron. Well, that was a cheery thought. He felt far more confident now. Not.
As he climbed into the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut, he thought about the stall he’d taken, and his stomach turned over with nerves. He’d done shoeing demonstrations before and knew they usually attracted a good audience, but the stall was a different proposition.
What if no one wanted to buy any of his creations? He’d feel such a fool. What had possessed him to take it in the first place? Okay, he’d wanted to clear out some of the items that had been taking up space in his forge for over a year now, but he could have just taken them to a charity shop. Or a tip.
He should have quietly shoved them on the Callaghans’ removal van he thought grimly. No one would ever have known, and he’d have been rid of them for good. As it was they were going to be on display for all the residents of Tuppenny Bridge to gawp at and discuss.
He’d already decided how much they were going to sell for, having looked online at comparable items, but now he was wondering if he should lower the prices. He might actually sell one or two if he reduced them to a few quid.
