Page 18 of All Wrapped Up
‘All right,’ he said, sounding disappointed. ‘I’ll be in touch and I promise I’ll be more awake when we talk again.’
We ended the call and I fell to wondering if Ash was really going to have any spare time to help out with the festival after all. His work was clearly full-on and then there was his house-hunting. And Pixie, of course.
‘You might end up flying solo after all, Clemmie,’ I sighed, as another event idea landed and I eagerly jotted it down.
Chapter 5
By the end of Monday afternoon, I had developed the festival ideas list even further and was feeling extremely pleased with what I had come up with. There were some very obvious suggestions it would have been ridiculous not to include, such as loads of things to do with the pumpkins that had inspired Moses to come up with the festival idea in the first place. Given the reputation the Wynbridge area of the Fens had for successfully growing them, they had to take centre stage, but there were also lots of other things that I’d now added to the plan, some of which were a little more unusual.
As I set about steaming some salmon and making a late summer salad for dinner, I hoped all of the ideas were going to be well-received as there wouldn’t be much time to come up with more. Lizzie seemed resolute that I was going to be seen as a situation saver, rather than an interfering interloper, but time would tell and whatever folk thought, I really was going to need at least a little help to pull it all off. And talking of help…
‘Just a sec!’ I shouted, jumping almost as high as the kitchen ceiling as someone knocked loudly on the cottage front door and I quickly turned down the steamer on the hob.
As a result of Lizzie’s visit, I felt rather tentative about welcoming anyone in, but when I saw who it was, I had a feeling my Insta secret would remain safe. Not that I was prone to making assumptions about my followers, but I didn’t think my current visitor would be an AutumnEverything devotee.
‘Ash,’ I smiled, thinking his timing was impeccable. ‘Hello.’
‘Hi,’ he smiled back. He looked rather tired, so I knew he still hadn’t properly caught up on his sleep after the hectic nights on call. I hoped my earlier phone call hadn’t completely put paid to his opportunity to rest. ‘I know we didn’t make a plan, but I happened to be passing and as you hadn’t called back, I thought I’d stop. I hope that was okay. No problem if you’re busy…’
‘I didn’t ring again because I was worried about waking you,’ I told him. ‘And I’m not busy. I was just making some dinner, but it’s nothing that won’t keep. Come in.’
I opened the door wider and stood back.
‘I’d better not, if you don’t mind,’ he said, looking towards his truck. ‘You see, I’ve got Pixie with me and I can’t leave her for long.’
‘I don’t mind if you want to bring her in,’ I offered. I really wanted to have the festival conversation sooner rather than later and this was too good an opportunity to waste. ‘She’s very welcome.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course. I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it.’
‘All right,’ he said after a moment’s hesitation. ‘Hold on.’
While Ash collected Pixie, I checked the salmon, which was now perfectly cooked, turned the steamer off and covered the salad with a tea towel.
‘Make yourself at home,’ I called through to the sitting room when I heard him come in and close the door. ‘I’ll just be a sec. Would you like a drink?’
‘Yes, please. If it isn’t too much trouble.’
When I carried in a tray bearing a jug of my summer staple, chilled elderflower cordial, and two glasses, I found Ash sitting in one of the armchairs with Pixie on his lap. She had her head buried between his arm and his chest and her back to the room.
‘Oh dear,’ I said softly. ‘She’s really not happy, is she?’
I hoped coming into a different environment wasn’t going to be too unsettling for her.
‘Nope,’ Ash sighed. ‘She’s been in full on invisible mode today.’
‘I’ve put a bowl of water down for her in the kitchen, but I can’t imagine she’s going to go looking for it. Shall I bring it in here?’
‘No, don’t worry. She’s only just had a drink, so she’ll be fine.’
‘Is there anything in particular that’s triggered her today?’ I asked, while Pixie slowly turned around so that her head was facing the room.
I wouldn’t have thought it possible for a dog to express so much emotion, but she looked utterly forlorn.
‘Earlier this afternoon, I took her to meet a potential new owner,’ Ash explained. ‘They were keen to take her, but it didn’t work out. Pixie didn’t respond to them at all and I need to know there’s more than a spark of connection and some genuine affection on her side before I can let her go.’
‘Of course.’
