Katie Fforde - Summer of Love

Er, hello!

Sian put down her fork and looked over the garden wall. A woman was smiling at her, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and a jam jar full of flowers in the other.

Hello! said Sian.

I hope you dont think Im appallingly nosy but I noticed the furniture van drive away yesterday and thought Id pop round and welcome you to the village. Im Fiona Matcham. I live in the house up the end. She swung the wine bottle vaguely in the direction of the lane.

Oh, said Sian. Would you like to come in? She suspected that her visitor meant the Big House, a beautiful building that her mother had raved about when shed come down to help Sian move in.

I dont want to stop you working, but I could come and watch you.

Sian laughed and wiped her hands on her shorts. Shed managed to get all the strawberry plants in that her mother had given her. No, no, Im quite happy to stop. Im Sian Bishop.

Hello again, Sian. Fiona waved the jam jar at her. Here, take these. Fiona Matcham handed Sian the bottle and the flowers over the wall and then walked up to the gate and let herself in. Oh! Youve got a boy! How lovely! I love boys!

Rory, who was digging with his little spade in the soil his mother had softened for him first, looked up and stared quizzically at Fiona from under his blond fringe.

Youre doing good work there, arent you? Are you going to grow something? Fiona Matcham addressed Rory while producing a jar of jam from the pocket of her loose linen jacket.

Yes, said Rory seriously.

Were hoping to grow our own vegetables now were in the country, said Sian. Rorys got that patch, and Im going to have a bigger patch in the back garden. Weve planted strawberries. Salad well do later. Rory, would you like to stop for a drink now? Or carry on while I make tea?

Carry on while you make tea, said Rory, turning back to his digging and ignoring them both.

Sian knew her son felt shy and would probably join them when he realised the tin of chocolate biscuits his grandmother had left had been produced. You would like a cup of tea? Sian asked her guest. Ive kind of assumed...

Oh yes, tea would be lovely. If you dont mind.

Sian had already decided that this woman, who seemed to be in her mid-fifties, wasnt the sort who would be critical of a house not in perfect order, or why had she brought the wine? The flowers, too, were artistic and original and no doubt from her own garden, not a conventional bouquet. Sian was inclined to like her already.

Sian led the way into the cottage. It seemed dark after the bright June sunshine outside and smelt of damp. But, as her mother had pointed out, it was very cheap to rent, had a big garden and the landlady, who lived in France, had expressed herself happy for Sian to make necessary improvements provided they werent extravagant. She found space for the flowers on the table and instantly everything looked better.

Excuse the mess, said Sian, removing a half-unpacked box of crockery off a chair. I couldnt bear to be inside when the weather is so lovely. Do sit down. And thank you for the flowers. They make the place look so much more homely, somehow.

Her guest popped the jar of jam on the side with a For you, pulled out an unoccupied chair and sat at the table. Well, as this might be our entire summer it would be a shame to waste the sunshine unpacking. She paused. I brought the flowers in a jar so you wouldnt need to hunt round for something to put them in. Nothing is more irritating when people turn up for dinner with flowers that mean you have to abandon your guests, the dinner and the drinks to find a vase. I no longer have a husband, she added. Single-handed entertaining.

Im a single parent, so ditto. It wasnt really a test but Sian had discovered, in the four years since shed had Rory, that people who were unlikely to become friends would flinch a bit when she said this.

Ive been that, too. The boys father died when they were quite young. Its tough.

Sian smiled at Fiona across the half-light of the gloomy hallway-cum-dining room. She had a feeling shed made a new friend already.

Ill put the kettle on. What kind of tea would you like?

I cant believe youre so organised as to have a choice already, Fiona replied, perched on the chair as if ready to leap up and help at a moments notice.

Sian smiled. My mother stayed with me for a few days. I drink builders, she drinks Earl Grey. Those are the choices unless you want herbal tea.

Builders is fine.

Ive got some biscuits. My mother brought a huge tin of them. Ill be back in a moment, Sian said as she disappeared off to the kitchen.

I do think Luella ought to take that wall down and make this room into a big kitchen diner! called Fiona. Why dont you suggest it?

Do you mean Mrs Halpern? Shes been very co-operative and said as long as I dont go mad I can make changes. But I think she might consider taking down a supporting wall as going mad, Sian called back.

She was no longer alone in the galley kitchen. Her guest, apparently not one to sit around and be waited on, had joined her.

Look at the damp on the floor! exclaimed Fiona. Its appalling. Mind you, it might only be the gutter that needs clearing. Would you like me to send someone round to look at it?

If its only the gutter I can probably manage it myself, said Sian. If I cant, Id be grateful for the name of someone reliable. Sian liked to be as self-sufficient as possible but she knew there would be things she couldnt deal with. Since shed moved her dad was no longer round the corner to do those things for her.

Well, just say. Ive lived here so long since Noah and Mrs Noah were courting I know more or less everyone. Oh, hello, Rory, she said as he appeared in the doorway.

Can you take the biscuits? Sian handed her son the tin. Why dont you take them out into the back garden? She turned to Fiona. Theres a table and chairs there. Ill make the tea.

Good idea. Rory and I can go and get settled and have a chat. My name is Fiona, she said to the boy.

Wouldnt you rather be Mrs Matcham? asked Sian.

Oh no, she said firmly. Fiona is much better. She smiled, possibly to offset the firmness.

Would you mind taking the milk out? asked Sian.

Oh, just put it in the mugs in here, why dont you? Then when you and Rory come over to visit me, I can be my usual slutty self.

Sian smiled and put tea bags in mugs. She could just imagine her mothers delighted reaction when she told her about Fiona. She would see her as a wise older friend and a potential babysitter, not to mention someone who lived in a lovely house and so might perhaps be a customer for her daughter as well. Richard would be pleased too. Although it was because of him that she had moved to this particular village, and he had taken her and Rory under his wing, hed be glad that the neighbours were being friendly.

Fiona Matcham and Rory were up the far end of the garden when Sian brought out the mugs of tea. Sian sat down on one of the chairs and sipped hers, watching them together. She was pleased that Rory had forgotten to be shy and was making friends. She had been a bit worried about taking him away from everything he knew in a busy city out into the country, although, as Richard had pointed out, it was in a village, not a remote location miles from anywhere. There was a school, a pub, a church and two shops, one of which was also a post office. Which makes it a heaving metropolis, Sians father had said dryly. He was less sanguine than his wife about his daughter moving away with his only grandchild, although both her parents accepted she was moving for very good reasons. Teas up! she called. And biscuits!

Rory turned and ran back down what would be a lawn one day if Sian was able to stay that long of course, she thought wistfully, and her landlady didnt object followed by Fiona.