Page 48 of Welcome to Pennycress Inn

‘Wow, that does sound good. I’ve not been to a carnival since my hometown stopped having them when I was in my teens. I never understood why they stopped, to be honest. They were always the highlight of the summer.’ One year Laura, Jenny, Richie and Jackson had been involved in transforming Farmer Gilkes’ trailer into a sea of flowers for the local dance company, who danced, or attempted to, whilst Farmer Gilkes pulled the trailer through the town centre with his tractor. All had been going well until the tractor had taken the corner at St Hughes Street a little too fast and the dancing children had all toppled into the wooden flowers they’d all spent weeks painstakingly painting. Still, until then, their trailer had looked the best.

‘It’s a lot of organising – and I mean a lot – but all the local groups and clubs get involved.’ Jill replaced her notebook and perched on the stool next to Laura’s. ‘Just think, Pennycress Inn will be booked out that week.’

‘Oh, I do hope so.’ Laura frowned into her glass. That would be if she were able to get all the work completed before she ran out of savings. She looked across at Jill. Was she someone she could trust? ‘Can I ask… why the change of heart?’

‘About the volunteering?’

‘About you coming to speak to me at all.’

Jill took a slow sip of her wine before looking at Laura. ‘Vivienne seems to like you. She says you only want the best for the inn.’

‘Oh, is that why?’ Laura frowned as she watched Vivienne standing up and refilling the glasses around the table. She’d justtold people she liked her? And now she was suddenly accepted into the Meadowfield community? That’s what she’d wanted and she should feel happy, relieved, she knew she should but on the other hand, these people still didn’t know her, they were only acting the way they were because they’d been told to.

‘Well, that and the fact that she said you’d bought the inn. Is that right? And you’re going to keep it as the Pennycress Inn we all know and adore? You’re not part of some big hotel chain who’s going to transform it into some grey box before moving on to the next one?’ Jill looked earnestly at her, obviously seeking some sense of reassurance.

‘What? No, of course not. I love the style and the feel of Pennycress. It was what drew me to put in an offer in the first place. I love it as it is.’ Laura shifted on the stool. ‘Of course, there is some remedial work I need to do to the place, but everything I do will be in keeping with the age and style of the building. And there one hundred per cent won’t be any grey.’

‘Or any moving on to find the next hotel?’

‘Nope. I’m here to stay. Whether people accept me or not.’

‘That’s a relief to hear.’ Jill shook her head and looked down into her glass. ‘There are just so many rumours going around about you and Pennycress. We were caught off guard and believed them, believed that you were some high-and-mighty business tycoon just after a good deal which led to Mr Yates evicting Vivienne.’

Laura laughed. Had people really imagined her as a business tycoon? She needed to remember that phrase to tell Jenny and Richie. They’d never believe her. ‘That is so far from who I am. All of this is new to me, and I probably shouldn’t say this, but I’m kind of learning on the job. I haven’t owned an inn before. Heck, I haven’t even owned a business or got anywhere in my previous career either.’

‘Really? How are you coping then? I can imagine running an inn would be quite a big task?’ Jill questioned, her voice full of curiosity.

Maybe she shouldn’t have admitted she was a complete novice. Just when people had seemingly decided to give her a chance, she’d given Jill all the ammunition she’d need for people to plot against her again. If they didn’t think she was up to the job, then they’d shun her once more. ‘It’s a learning curve, that’s for sure, but I’m so determined to do my best for Pennycress and to make it a success that I’ll do all I can in order to do it justice.’

‘I’ll drink to learning new things and taking on new adventures then.’ Jill held up her glass to Laura.

Raising her glass, she clinked it against Jill’s before taking a sip. ‘To new adventures.’

‘I’m taking on a new adventure soon myself, too.’ Jill leaned in towards her.

‘You are? What are you doing?’

‘I’m starting my own gardening business. You know, upkeep, landscaping, things like that. It’s super early days, but I’m excited to finally start using my knowledge of horticulture.’ Something clouded Jill’s face for a moment. ‘Not that I’ve done anything remotely to do with horticulture since I left uni eight years ago, that is. I seem to have been popping out babies, raising them and organising events for Meadowfield.’

‘I’m sure it’s not something you forget. Besides, if you’re passionate about it, I think you’ll be able to make anything work. By the sounds of things, you’re brilliant at organising and I’ve only known you for like…’ Laura glanced at the clock behind the bar. ‘Half an hour.’

‘I like you.’ The smile returned to Jill’s face.

‘Thanks.’ Laura tilted her head, thinking. ‘When are you starting your business?’

‘In a couple of months, probably. I need to get little Kasey settled into nursery first. Why? You’re not looking for a gardener, are you?’ Jill clamped her hand over her mouth. ‘Oh, excuse me, I shouldn’t have asked that. It was so rude of me.’

Laura laughed. ‘Please don’t apologise, but yes, I might be. I mean, yes, I definitely will be. I know nothing about flowers, plants or gardening at all. I can work a lawnmower, but that’s about it, and with the size of the inn’s back garden, it would be safer if I entrusted its upkeep into the hands of an expert.’

‘Wow, seriously?’ Jill’s face lit up. ‘I’d absolutely love love love to work on the inn’s garden! Vivienne always did such a lovely job on it. It was one of the reasons I studied horticulture at university, actually, her garden. She had a knack of making that place look magical and she inspired me. Sounds silly, doesn’t it? Choosing a whole life path because of one person’s garden?’

‘Not at all.’ Despite her spending hours alongside her dad and Richie trying to clear the back garden, they’d hardly made a dent in the amount of work which needed to be done. But if Jill really could work some magic, then it would be a huge asset to the inn. ‘Pop round when you start your business. It sounds as though you’d know exactly what to do with it.’

‘Oh, I will. I’ll start drawing up plans now from how I remember it…’ She indicated her glass. ‘Well, tomorrow anyway, and maybe I could visit to take a look sometime? See how different it is from what I remember and go from there?’

‘Haha, yes, no rush. Just let me know when you’re ready.’

‘Oh, I’m ready. Now you’ve promised I can let my creativity loose on Vivienne’s famous garden, I’d be thrilled to begin planning.’ Jill grinned.

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