A Welcome Visit

A welcome visit

They were lucky to get the tickets. Some rich family had recently bought the old stately home and, according to social media, were planning a complete renovation. Lucy wanted to see it again before that happened. She recalled happy summer days there with her parents gazing in wonderment at the magnificent dining room, the table set with shiny glasses, crockery, and cutlery, all ready for important guests. One time she’d wriggled free of Mum and Dad’s hands to run up to the huge picture window and look out over the never-ending gardens. She imagined herself riding across in a sparkly carriage pulled by huge white horses with flowing manes.

            ‘Lucy, come back here this minute.’ Oh, the sting on her legs stung from Mum’s slap!

            Even after Mum died there were more visits, with Dad. She was a teenager then. They had a routine. A quick hot chocolate or lemonade in the little café (depending on the time of year), then he would leave to explore the flower and vegetable gardens whilst she tagged onto a group tour. Dad was a gardening enthusiast. In fact, in his youth he’d helped his own Father who used to be the Head Gardener. Lucy was always much more interested in listening to The Guide’s tales of past owners, particularly the one about the old Duke who had allowed the house to be used as an orphanage early last century.

            She wanted Josh to see the place. Okay, Amelia was only ten weeks old, but it would do them good to get out for a couple of hours. The baby seemed to love being carried in the sling, and she’d make sure that she fed her before the tour. If all went to plan, Amelia would sleep for the couple of hours or so it took to go around the house. The blurb on the ad said that there was a break half-way. They could judge how she was then and opt out of the second bit if she’d started to get fractious. ‘Time to sample our home-made pastries and freshly brewed tea or coffee,’ it said on the tickets.

            ‘Time for them to screw some more money out of us. I bet we finish in a gift shop.’  Josh could be sceptical at times. 

            Snow carpeted the grounds, but they had wrapped up well, and the drive, and carpark were gritted. Lucy felt her heart race as Amelia’s snuggly bonnet fell onto the sprouting daffodils. ‘Quick, Josh, before it gets wet,’ she shouted, flapping her spare hand.

            ‘She’s fine, our little beauty,’ he said, slipping the bonnet back onto the baby’s head and kissing her smiling face. Lucy bent to kiss Josh’s bald patch and hugged him and Amelia close, happy in their little cocoon.

            ‘Your Dad wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the gardens today, even if he was still with us.’ Josh quickly checked Lucy’s face, anxious that he might have upset her. He just didn’t think, sometimes.  

            ‘Come on,’ she said, zipping up that new, ingenious coat around Amelia and the sling. Perhaps she hadn’t heard? Hopefully not.

            They were about twenty minutes early and the first to arrive so opted to wait in the massive entrance hall. Lucy trundled across to a stone bench and took the opportunity to give Amelia a quick top-up feed. Josh paced around, worrying that someone might storm in and start tutting at Lucy breast feeding in public. He was a bit uncomfortable with it, but she wasn’t at all bothered. His gaze fell on a huge grey angel, with wings, high above Lucy’s head. It seemed to be guarding them. He couldn’t help but smile as he watched and heard his baby daughter making contented little grunts as her tiny tummy filled. It was such a shame that Lucy’s parents would never get to meet her. His own Mum and Dad couldn’t get enough of her. They said that she was the image of him as a baby and, looking at the photos they were constantly digging up, he had to agree. He was so happy. Today wasn’t quite his cup of tea, but it meant a lot to Lucy and she and Amelia were his main priority now.

            Lucy raised her eyes and smiled. ‘Just look at her little face. She’s milk drunk,’ she said, easing Amelia back into the sling whilst readjusting her own clothes.

            The door opened, bringing with it a blast of cold air and three wellington clad women, all looking to be in their late sixties.

            ‘Ah, bless,’ said one. ‘Is she okay? Can we have a peep?’

            They cooed and ahhed over Amelia, before changing into trainers and preparing for the tour. A man, about the same age, entered and immersed himself in studying the rather grand painting of a racehorse owned by a former inhabitant. Lucy watched him for a minute, before rezipping her coat, thinking that he might say something about the baby, but his attention was obviously elsewhere.

            An inner door flew open, causing her to jump.

            ‘Well, it just looks like our little group today. It seems that the weather has frightened off any other takers,’ the woman announced, nodding as her eyes skimmed around the room. Not many of us to count up, Lucy thought. The guide, Helen her badge said, didn’t even ask to see the tickets.

            ‘This way,’ she announced, leading them up the grand staircase towards the dining room. A quick glance at Amelia confirmed that she was in a deep sleep, so Lucy allowed her anticipation to build at the treat of seeing her favourite room for the first time in six years. She heard herself breathe in as her eyes feasted on that magnificent dining table, newly laid on a pink and grey tablecloth. There were white and pink roses in small white vases stretching down the middle, and each place setting was decorated with a pink carnation, which, Lucy knew, must have been specially grown. A sprig of greenery here and there just set it all off perfectly, and she smiled on seeing the tiny piece of holly placed on each of the seats as a deterrent to anyone fancying a rest. The man in their group must have noticed, as he smiled from the other side of the table, with his full lips and crinkly brown eyes. She harboured a hope that Amelia’s dark blue eyes might turn brown soon. She’d definitely inherited Lucy’s dark hair. That was one thing Josh couldn’t lay claim to, but that high forehead was definitely from him.

            The man seemed to be watching her more closely now, but she strangely didn’t mind. Lots of people stare when you are out with a baby in a sling. ‘Beautiful isn’t it, this room?’ she said. He smiled again and nodded.

            She saw that the rest of the group were leaving to move on to the drawing room. Josh waited for her at the door, and the man held out his arm to allow her to go first. ‘Honestly, Luce, I didn’t think I’d enjoy this but it’s great, isn’t it, seeing how the other half lived?’ A wave of relief swept over her. She’d been wary of Josh’s reaction to the place. The three women were all over the drinks trolley, spotting their own favourite tipples. ‘Dubonnet. I’ve not seen that for years,’ said the tallest, laughing, and pretending to pour herself a drink. The man caught Lucy’s gaze again, and he raised his eyes. She reciprocated and felt like they were sharing a moment, like they knew one another.

            ‘Onward,’ Helen ordered, and they all followed, into the library. It appeared more neglected than some of the other rooms and most of the books were dusty, as though they’d been trapped away on those shelves for decades. Lucy couldn’t help but think that it would look much more appealing after the refurbishment. It could do with some new books, perhaps something on childcare. There were some older editions of Homes and Gardens magazine down at the far end, and she was surprised to see Josh following that man down to them. ‘Won’t be a minute,’ Josh said. ‘I’ll go and see if I can pick up any tips.’ They’d just moved into a new build apartment and Lucy was always telling him she wanted to put their own stamp on it.

            It was the bedrooms next. Amelia sneezed, and Josh was by her side in an instant to check that they were okay. ‘Once you’ve seen one four-poster, you’ve seen them all,’ he whispered. ‘I think I fancy a scone before we look at the kitchens and cellars.’ Thankfully, Helen announced that they’d reached the half-way point and now was time for a comfort break, and perhaps a little refreshment.

            Amelia remained sound asleep, so they were able to enjoy their break in peace. They watched two of the three women getting the huge helpings of cream and jam everywhere and eventually licking their fingers to get rid of it all. ‘Look at that other one. She looks embarrassed to be with them.’

            ‘Stop staring, Josh. Anyhow, I wonder where the man’s gone. He might have disappeared with Helen.’ Lucy felt Josh turn so quickly that it startled Amelia in the sling. Her little eyes opened and closed, before she smiled, and settled.

            ‘Sorry,’ Josh mouthed, looking around before speaking, ‘What man?’

            ‘The one in our group. He looked at those magazines with you.’

            ‘I’ve not seen any man, Luce.’

            She blinked and placed a hand on his arm. ‘Josh, sometimes!’

            ‘Sometimes, what?’

            ‘Sometimes you can be so unobservant.’ He looked hurt and was shaking his head. ‘I know it’s a big deal for us, first proper trip out after the baby and all that, but even I saw the man. Dark hair, brown eyes, big hands, a bit like…. Oh, never mind. Look, Helen’s back. Time for the second round. You’ll see him.’

            ‘Okay. I’ll consider myself told off. I’ll look for him now.’

            She smiled and kissed his cheek, offering her arm for him to help her up. The group reassembled but there was no sign of that man. Helen didn’t mention him. No one did, except Josh who kept telling Lucy that he still couldn’t see her mystery man.

            She puzzled over what could have happened to him. Perhaps he’d had enough after the first half? Perhaps he wasn’t interested in the kitchen and cellars? To be honest, the first half was definitely the best bit. Refurbishment had already begun in the kitchen, and it looked nothing like Lucy remembered. Amelia started to grizzle, and Lucy was pleased when Helen announced that the tour had ended, but they would be free, in a few minutes, to visit the little gift shop, perhaps to buy a memento of their visit.

            Helen clapped her hands, looking pleased with her position of authority, as she stood tall in the middle of the entrance hall. ‘If I can just have your attention one last time, please? Because this is the last tour before the builders move in, we would like to mark the occasion by giving you all a bunch of flowers from our gardens and greenhouses.’

            The three older women whopped with delight, dancing out in their wellingtons, each ladened up with bags, trainers, keepsakes, and flowers. Helen approached Lucy and Josh. ‘I was asked to save the biggest bunch for you two.’ She beamed, looking at Amelia, ‘Well,

three of you.’

            ‘How kind.’ Lucy had always loved lilys and freesias, and these made her think of winter skies with fluffy blue and white clouds, just like the ones today. ‘They are beautiful. Thank you.’

            ‘Good. I’m so pleased you like them,’ Helen said. She picked up a big key from the shelf at the side of the door. ‘Come back after the restoration. You’ll be amazed.’

            Lucy caught a look from Josh that signalled for her to leave, and she heard the key being jangled around. Josh stepped outside as Helen followed Lucy to the door. She turned to look before leaving and was sure she saw that man again, tossing back that thick dark hair as he slipped beyond that internal door.