“Mummy, look at this one!” Gus beckoned his mother to observe the worm he was waving in the air. “It’s enormous.”
“I want to keep one as a friend,” said Storm. “Can I, J-P?”
“Of course. We can put it in a jar and give it a name.”
“Why not call him Worzel the Worm,” suggested Miranda. Then, inspired by the idea, she announced that she would go get a jar.
“Clever Mummy,” said Storm, spotting another worm hiding in the soil and bending down to pull it out.
“That’s a fat one,” said Mr. Underwood, chuckling happily. “You’ve got quite a few there.”
“Bring something to drink,” Jean-Paul shouted after her. “This is thirsty work, eh!”
“Je suis faim,” said Storm.
“J’ai faim,” Jean-Paul corrected. “J’ai aussi soif,” he added.
“That means thirsty,” said Gus.
“Gus-the-Strong and Bright-Sky, you are learning fast!”
“That’ll be French,” said Mr. Underwood, nodding admiringly.
“Correct,” said Jean-Paul, grinning at him. “You, Mr. Underwood, are as clever as an old fox!”
While Miranda was in the kitchen, the telephone rang. It was Blythe. “Hi there, stranger.” Miranda was pleasantly surprised. She hadn’t heard from her friend since their lunch before Christmas.
“How are you?” Miranda asked.
“Fine. I have to go to court next Monday for the settlement.”
“Don’t let him get off lightly. Remember what David advised.”
“How is he? I haven’t seen him for a while.” She sounded down.
“Truth is, Blythe, I don’t see much of him either. He’s working really hard. Comes down late on Friday night and leaves early Sunday afternoon.”
“You should take a lover,” said Blythe brightly. “That’s what I’d do if I were stuck in the middle of the countryside. Happens all the time, I should imagine.”
“Don’t tempt me,” she replied, thinking of Jean-Paul.
“I just want the whole thing over and done with, then I can move on with my life.”
“Why don’t you come down for the weekend?” Miranda suggested. “David would love to see you. The gardens look beautiful and I’d like to show off the house.”
“You’re settling in then?”
“Yes. Right now, there’s no place I’d rather be. I wake up every morning to the sound of a hundred birds in the trees and the scent of flowers wafting in through my window. It’s heaven. Do come, I’d love to see you.”
“I thought you were a city girl.”
“I was, I’ve just got out of step with the rhythm of London. I prefer the slower pace down here.”
“I haven’t seen many of your articles. Have you stopped working as well?”
“Just a little pickier!”
“Has the countryside quelled your ambition?”
“There’s just so much to do down here, I don’t seem to find time to get to my computer.”
“It sounds blissful. When do you want me?”
“Whenever you like. Things are very relaxed in the country. I have no plans.”
“This weekend I’m tied up but the one after I’m free.”
“Great. I’ll tell David, he’ll be thrilled. If you’re not careful he’ll give you some more of his advice. Great big pearls of wisdom.” She laughed.
“I could do with that, believe it or not. You know, most of our friends have taken the bastard’s side. I’m known as a scarlet woman.”
“Ignore them. He’s just got a bigger mouth than you.”
“Oh, I do miss you, Miranda. You’re such a good listener.” She sighed. “You’ve made me feel so much better.”
“Come down here, my garden will make you feel wonderful. I feel utterly transformed.”
“You sound utterly transformed. Though I wonder how long it will take before you scamper back up to the city?” asked Blythe cynically. “All those designer collections. You can’t have changed that much.”
“We’ll see,” Miranda replied nonchalantly, feeling not an ounce of envy for her friend. She put down the receiver and passed her eyes over the jug of cow parsley that sat on the kitchen table and the three baskets of lilac hyacinths Jean-Paul had put on the windowsill. The air was infused with spring.
She made up a jug of elderflower cordial and found an empty jar in the storeroom. As she walked back into the hall she glanced into her study, where her laptop sat in shadow. She didn’t feel guilty or frustrated. She almost skipped through the French doors onto the terrace. The sun was out, the air was warm, Jean-Paul was in the garden, transforming the place with his own unique brand of magic. Magic she was beginning to understand.