It Started With A Tweet(66)

‘I thought you might want to test out your new kit,’ he says, pointing at me, before whipping his hand back into his pocket.

Instinctively, I look down at the new hiking trousers and comfy fleece that I’m wearing, and I put a hand on my hip as if I’m doing a catalogue shoot.

‘Well,’ I say, looking over at the stack of leaflets on the table and then back out the front door where I can see a full blue sky, ‘that sounds like a great idea. Come in while I dig out my walking boots.’

Jack comes in as I hunt around the kitchen.

‘This looks impressive,’ he says, pointing at our workflow plan.

‘I’m pretty pleased with it,’ I say as I sit down on the stairs to slip my boots on and lace them up. ‘Although, to be honest, there’s not a lot to it. Just listing the work that needs to be done and getting it in the right order. From then on, it’s chasing everyone to make sure they stick to the right timetable. Luckily, it’s not like a new build and most of the structural work’s been done already, or else there’d be a nightmare juggling contractors and contingency. Not to mention the weather. All our jobs are inside, thank goodness.’

‘Yeah, I guess that makes a big difference. Whenever I watch Grand Designs they always seem to have torrential rain for weeks when they’re trying to get the roof on.’

‘I know, they do, don’t they?’ I say, relieved that we’re not at the mercy of the Cumbrian weather, as we’d be massively behind schedule by now.

‘I’ll just leave Rosie a note to tell her I’ve gone out,’ I say, scribbling something down. I keep straining my ears, listening for the rumble of the Land Rover. I want to get away before she returns as I’m sure she and her meddling would have a field day that I’m going out with Jack on a hike. That, and I don’t want Alexis to invite himself along. It’s not that I don’t enjoy spending time with him, but I’ve been trying to keep my distance. Ever since our little sketch to Rupert, he’s been ever more tactile with me. Of course, I’m flattered by the attention, but, not only is Rosie right – it’s not a good idea when we’re all under the same roof – I also don’t want Jack to see him act that way and presume that something is going on between us.

I poke my head into the lounge and tell the carpenters I’m popping out, before I prop the note for Rosie up against my coffee cup. I then practically bundle Jack out the door.

‘Someone’s excited about the walk,’ he says to me.

‘Uh-huh. I can’t wait to test these beauties out,’ I say shaking my foot, which, with the extra weight, takes a whole lot more effort than usual. They feel like gravity boots.

‘I’m sure you’ll notice a difference with the Gortex. I might have to get you paddling through a couple of streams just to test them.’

‘Um, I think I’ll stick to dry land, thanks.’ I look down at my feet on the muddy path, ‘or what’s supposed to be dry land under all these puddles.’

Jack smiles and then opens a gate and we start to walk along the edge of the field. We walk for a while in companionable silence, mainly as I’m trying to avoid stepping in sheep poo while trying to stay vertical. I watch Buster as he zigzags along, investigating each and every smell thoroughly. Every so often he bounds over to us and loops behind us as if to round us up and check we’re still following.

‘Does he ever get tired?’ I ask. I’m exhausted just watching him.

‘Believe it or not, he sleeps most of the day. As you open the door and his paws cross the threshold he turns into a puppy, but I guarantee that the minute I light the fire in my cottage this afternoon he’ll curl up on his blanket in front of it and he’ll not move until I go to bed.’

I watch him dart to the other end of the field, scaring off a pair of magpies, and Jack’s right, I don’t believe him.

‘So, have you got any pets at home? I’m guessing you don’t have a dog or else you would have brought it, but a cat, maybe?’

‘I’m a single woman therefore I should own a cat?’ I say raising an eyebrow.

‘I didn’t mean it like that. But now that you mention it, I’m sure you could be a crazy cat lady.’

I shoot him a warning look and he smiles.

‘I just thought that, with working in London, a cat would be an easier pet to have.’

‘To be honest, I can barely feed and look after myself when I’m working. I doubt I’d be able to keep a goldfish alive, let alone something that actually remembers it has an owner.’

‘Your job’s full on, then?’

I nod. I hesitate for a moment before I realise I’ve got to correct him. As much as I’d like to pretend I’m still gainfully employed, I’ve got to come to terms with the fact that I’m not any longer.

‘My job was full on. That’s why I’m here with Rosie. I sort of had to leave my work.’

‘Voluntarily or forcibly?’

‘Um, I guess forcibly.’

I detect a note of pity in his voice and I cringe. This is exactly why it was a good idea to get away from everything. I can’t imagine having to tell everyone what happened.

We’re silent for a moment as I take in the scenery. Jack was right about the gentle incline; we’ve already gone quite far uphill and I’d barely noticed. We get to the end of the field, and we climb over a stile into a small wood. Jack holds his hand out for me to jump down and I gratefully take it as I steady myself.