Page 114 of Love ad Lib
By the timeHenry’s mammy had finished describing in detail the Midsummer celebrations in at least twenty different countries, the rest of the house was awake and any thought of intimacy with Henry had been put on hold. Dervla took their now empty mugs of tea with her as she left, promising to see them later.
‘Can we go and stay with your family now?’ Henry asked.
Libby laughed. ‘You’ve never even met them before, how do you know it wouldn’t be worse?’
He raised an eyebrow as if her question were ridiculous.
‘A tiny house with two adults, six kids and us?’ she continued. ‘Can you imagine how loud and cramped that is?’
Toots and bangs from the horn and drum drifted in from outside, accompanied by an instrument that sounded like a set of bagpipes being murdered.
‘Is there any of that?’
‘No.’
‘Then I’m sold. South Birmingham? If we get a move on, we’ll be there by lunchtime.’
She giggled. ‘I’m not missing out on the once-a-year chance to find a magic fern.’
‘Okay, if you insist…’ He cleared his throat. ‘I did have an idea I wanted to run by you.’
Yes! To all of them!‘Hmm?’
‘Astronomically speaking, this is one of the most important times of the year and pivotal in biodynamic farming.’
Whuut?
‘The sun is at its zenith and nature is thought to be at its most fecund.’
Yes, Henry, I will ‘fecund’ you outside. Many, many times.‘Mmm?’
‘So, I thought we could take some flour and water into the estate and create Serafina mark two?’
Her train of thought stopped in its tracks as the field of flowers came to mind, the warm air filled with unseen life.
‘The flour is biodynamic and from here, and the water would be from the spring, so it’s as natural as possible,’ he continued. ‘It wouldn’t be exactly the same as Serafina, but hopefully it would still work.’
Libby thought back to when she’d first created her sourdough starter in a cramped London flat. The wild yeasts were dirty gangsters compared to what she might hope to capture at Foxbrooke.
Her throat was suddenly tight at Henry’s thoughtfulness.You’re amazing.She was determined to stay in this bubble with him until real life dragged her kicking and screaming away.
‘Thank you, Henry. That sounds perfect.’
* * *
Lucas: Lib-Lob, you there?
Lucas: I know you’re still alive…
Lucas: [Screenshot from Summer’s Instagram account of Libby in her Regency dress and Summer looking like a samba dancer from the Rio Carnival]
Lucas: We need to talk x
Lucas: I hope Foxy isn’t taking advantage of my girl?
Lucas: Do you need rescuing, babe?
Libby: I’m fine.
