Page 67 of All Wrapped Up
‘Come on then, Pixie!’ I laughed. ‘Let’s get on. We’ve still got loads left to do!’
It was time for dinner when I’d finished dressing the cottage completely to my satisfaction and I spent the evening first fussing Pixie, then checking the festival pages online and finally, taking photographs of parts of the rooms which I would use on AutumnEverything over the coming months. I had been tempted to share a photograph of the geese, but feeling that spotting them that day had been such a special moment, I ultimately decided to keep it to myself.
I had barely finished posting an image of one of my autumn wreaths in lieu of the geese, when Lizzie commented on it and then sent me a photo of Ash and a few people I didn’t recognise, standing on the edge of what looked like woods. My guess was that Ash had found some people to join him on his walk around the new nature trail at Skylark Farm.
I examined the image closer and thought he appeared a littleout on a limb, but given how handsome he looked, all wrapped up in a knitted scarf and woolly hat, and the fact that there appeared to be a couple of women also there on their own, I didn’t think he’d be alone for long.
‘We wish you were here,’ I read aloud as Lizzie’s accompany-ing message loaded. ‘We’re heading to the pub in a bit if you fancy joining us?’
I glanced at the clock. I supposed I had time to get changed and join them in The Mermaid, but truth be told, what I had said to Ash still held. My heart belonged to Pixie and my cosy little home that evening and I was right where I needed to be. I no longer wanted to be holed up in Rowan Cottage forever, but a couple more days would completely restore my equilibrium after my intense bout of being sociable, and I had no desire to overrule that feeling.
Not tonight, but I’ll see you all soon,I therefore messaged back.Happy autumn!
By Thursday, I had satisfied my need to mentally rest and reset, which was just as well as the Fenview Farm Autumn Feast was happening that evening. That week, I had spent as many hours outdoors as in, keen to take advantage of the dry weather, and the garden was looking much better as a result. I had also taken lots of walks and seen loads more geese which was a total treat and I’d taken a few decent long-range photos that I shared just with Mum and Dad and then filed away for myself.
It was mid-afternoon when Ash’s truck pulled up and I realised, as he climbed out, that I had missed him every bit as much as Pixie who was greeting him with a cacophony of ecstatic barks and much tail wagging and jumping up at the gate. I hadn’tpurposefully avoided him, because I had just been getting on with things, but I realised with a jolt that the radio silence had been rather louder than I might have expected it to be.
‘Hello, stranger,’ I greeted him as he opened the gate and scooped Pixie up, though he couldn’t keep proper hold of her for long because she was wriggling so much.
He was wearing the same berry coloured scarf he’d had on in the photo Lizzie had sent and I suddenly found myself wondering if there had been someone among the group who had thought he looked as handsome in it as I did. Irrationally, I hoped not, then quickly dismissed the thought because it wasn’t any of my business.
‘I know I haven’t been in touch,’ he said, almost apologetically. ‘But we’ve been run off our feet at the practice and I’ve been immersed in a bit of a side quest, too. Also, I didn’t want to disturb your peace and quiet.’
‘Oh, Ash,’ I said. ‘You are kind, but I wouldn’t have minded if you had called.’
‘Really?’ he sighed. ‘Then I wish I had now. I’ll bear it in mind next time.’
‘You’re always welcome,’ I told him and meant it.
‘So, what are you up to then?’ he asked. ‘I hope I’m not disturbing you now?’
‘Not at all. In fact, I’m glad of the interruption, because I’m scrubbing out my bird feeders and it isn’t the most glamorous of chores.’
‘It’s essential though,’ he smiled. ‘And perfectly timed.’
‘Tis the season,’ I joked.
‘I didn’t mean that,’ he laughed, as Pixie continued to scamper about.
‘What then?’
‘I have some presents for you, courtesy of the side quest,’ he grinned. ‘Keep hold of Pixie and I’ll get them out of the truck.’
‘Oh, Ash,’ I said, as I picked Pixie up. ‘You’ve only just gifted me fairy Aurora, so you shouldn’t be giving me anything else.’
‘Where is she, by the way?’ he asked, as he walked back through the gate.
‘Currently sitting next to the fireplace,’ I told him. ‘I think she’s found her spot.’
He unloaded a small cardboard box, then a wooden sort of base and finally a magnificent painted and decorated bird table which would sit perfectly on top of it.
‘That’s the lot,’ he said, closing the gate so I could put Pixie down again.
‘Is this really for me?’ I gasped, as I looked at the details on the table.
‘It is,’ he smiled shyly. ‘And there’s this, too.’
Inside the box was a small feeding table, which matched the large one, but was designed to hang in a tree or under a ledge, by a metal chain.
