A Winter Wedding at Primrose Hall (Primrose Woods #6)

Chapter 10

10

On a crisp autumnal day, Jackson steered the jeep around the local country lanes while Pia peered out of the passenger door window and breathed in the scenery, appreciating the muted hues of the hedgerows laden with haws and berries. They were only ten minutes away from home when Jackson turned off the main road. There was a faded old sign by the roadside on which, if you peered closely at the peeling paintwork, you could just make out the words Rosewood Farm. Pia knew it of old, having driven through these lanes with her parents on a regular basis over the years, every time they took the trip into town. Sometimes they would call into the farm and pick up fresh milk and eggs, but that was many years ago now and the farm had fallen into disrepair a long time since. Pia didn’t know the full story but there had been rumours of a falling out between the two brothers who had inherited it, a rift that couldn’t or wouldn’t be resolved, which brought about a sad end to the business and the subsequent crumbling of the farm buildings. As they made their way along the lane, Jackson turned off into a side track and took the approach slowly, navigating the holes and bumps carefully until he pulled up outside a terrace of three cottages.

‘What do you think?’ Jackson said, turning to her, an expectant smile on her face.

‘Blimey, I think if I gave one big blow they might all fall down.’

Pia climbed out of the car and stood to examine the cottages more closely as Jackson came to join her. Up close, it was clear to see that the buildings were in a much worse state of disrepair than Pia had first thought.

‘Are they all empty?’

‘The two on the right are, but the one on the left is where Mr Adams lives. He used to own the farm many moons ago but then he moved into the cottage with his wife. She died about two years ago. She ran it as a smallholding with chickens and goats and sheep, but of course it became too much for Mr Adams to deal with when she died. He told me all this when I came to visit the other week. He’s moving into a care home in a few weeks, the one Abbey manages. I think he’s quite looking forward to it.’

‘So what are your plans for the cottages?’

‘We’ll completely gut them and basically start all over again. They’ll need repointing, new roofs, a total strip out inside, new electrics, bathrooms and kitchens. There are a few original features which I hope to retain, but effectively it will be a complete refurb.’

Pia could hear the enthusiasm in Jackson’s voice and she was in no doubt that he would do a fabulous job in restoring the buildings. You only had to look at the before and after photos of Primrose Hall to appreciate his attention to detail and skill set.

‘What, and then sell them?’

‘No, simply add them to the property portfolio. I was thinking we could let them out on short- or long-term rentals, preferably to young local people who are struggling to find affordable accommodation, or even maybe as holiday lets. To be honest, this was the project I wanted to hand over to Tom. He would have been great at managing this with all his experience from the builders’ merchants, but…’ He gave a shrug. ‘It doesn’t matter. This is small fry compared to what we did up at the hall. We can manage it between us. How are you with a brick hod?’ he said, dazzling her with a sidewards grin.

Pia laughed.

‘Well, I’m sure I could learn,’ she said doubtfully.

Jackson wrapped an arm around Pia’s shoulder, pulling her into his side.

‘I’m only kidding. We’ll employ the different trades. We’ll just need to manage the project and make sure the right contractors are here on the right days and that all the supplies are ordered and arrive in time. It’s good for you to see the site and to know what we’re trying to achieve. When we get back to the hall, I can show you the drawings. Come on, let’s go and say hello to Mr Adams.’

They walked through the picket gate that was hanging off its hinges and rapped on the old-fashioned knocker. They might have thought the place was empty if hadn’t been for the muffled sound of voices coming from the front of the house, and Pia could just make out a television flickering through the grubby net curtains. Jackson leant forward and tapped on the window, trying to peer inside.

‘Mr Adams! It’s Jackson Moody from Primrose Hall.’

There was an awful lot of shuffling noises and then a ‘You’ll have to wait’ before finally the door was opened. Mr Adams, hanging on to his walking frame, peered out at them through watery eyes, his expression disgruntled.

‘What do you want?’

‘Hello again, Mr Adams. It’s Jackson Moody,’ he repeated, unsure whether the elderly man recognised him or not. ‘I was here last week to talk about the cottages. I just wanted another chat, if that’s okay with you. This is Pia, my fiancée.’

‘Hmmm,’ he muttered, sounding none too pleased to be interrupted.

‘Actually, I just wanted to show Pia around the cottages as she’ll be working on them with me. Hopefully my solicitor will have been in touch with the agent and we can finalise the contract in the next couple of days.’

‘Pah, I don’t know about that. Look, I’m going to have to go and sit down,’ he said, doing a three-point turn with his walker. ‘My old legs can’t hang about here. You can come in if you were thinking of staying but I shan’t be able to make you a cup of tea.’ Mr Adams shuffled back down the hallway, grumbling. Pia followed tentatively, looking over her shoulder at Jackson, who encouraged her onwards with a nod of his head.

‘Look, I could always make a cuppa if you fancy one, Mr Adams?’ Pia asked, hoping she wasn’t overstepping the mark. The last thing she wanted was to offend him.

‘That might not be a bad idea,’ he said, dropping down with a thump into the armchair just inside the door of the front room. ‘I could do with one, now you come to mention it. The mugs and tea are in the cupboard above the kettle. I have carers coming in three times a day. They get me up and ready for the day, do me some breakfast, then they’re back at lunch, and again in the evening. I don’t like the idea of strangers coming in to do the things I should be doing for myself, but I’m not sure where I’d be without them.’

‘How do you take your tea, Mr Adams?’

‘Make it strong for me, will you, love, and one sugar. Oh, and call me Harry.’

Pia wandered off into the kitchen and easily found the tea-making equipment as she heard Jackson talking to Harry. The place was clean enough but there was a whiff of neglect and tiredness wafting in the air. She peered out of the window into the long and narrow gardens behind and what looked to be paddocks beyond. It was wild and overgrown, but she knew that once Jackson got the landscapers in it would be quickly transformed to show off its true potential. There was no denying that Jackson had great vision, and his determination and desire to do his best work in every project he took on was unquestionable, so she could easily imagine how the cottages would be converted into beautiful, sustainable contemporary homes. Standing in the small kitchen, she gave a thought to all the previous tenants who had made this place their home. Harry and his late wife in bygone years when the home would have been filled with love and laughter, the aromas of home cooking wafting in the air. Now, there was a stillness and sadness about the place that seeped out through the walls.

She found the fridge and pulled out a pint of milk, giving it a sniff before adding a splash to each of the mugs. It was all part of the natural course of life, she supposed. Her own family home, the setting for so many happy times and memories, had seemed sad and forgotten when she closed the door on it for the very last time. Nothing stayed the same forever and she hoped Harry would at least leave here with a raft of happy memories.

‘I’ve told them I’m not going until I’m good and ready. I don’t know that I really want to go into a home. I can’t have that much longer left so I might as well spend my days out here. I’ll get by somehow.’

Pia flashed Jackson a look as she came into the room with the tray of teas, and she noticed the tell-tale furrow of concern on his forehead.

‘This sale is more trouble than it’s worth. I’ve already turned down a couple of offers. I might be an old man, but I’m not bloody daft.’

‘I would never presume you are and I’m sorry if I’ve got hold of the wrong end of the stick, but I had thought after our conversation last week that we had agreed in principle a deal. I’m not here to cause you any upset or to put any pressure on you. You must do exactly what you want to do. We’ll have our tea and then be on our way. What I will do is give you my card and then if your circumstances change you can contact me.’ Jackson delved into his pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it over to Harry.

‘Primrose Hall, eh?’ His lips suppressed a smile. ‘I’ve already got one of these. Put it up on the mantelpiece for me, love,’ he said, addressing Pia. ‘I remember the hall from when I was a lad. I think there was a story about family difficulties, the wife running away. It stood empty and run-down for years.’

‘I don’t know if you’ve seen it recently, Harry, but Jackson has completely refurbished the hall. It’s a beautiful building now and we’re very lucky to live there. We run events like a classic car show and a Christmas carols concert in the grounds. Everyone says what a marvellous job we’ve done. We’re getting married there in December.’

Harry peered more closely at Pia.

‘Are you from around these parts?’

‘Yes! I lived with my family up at Meadow Cottages, all my life. I must admit I’ve not really travelled very far, but then I’ve never wanted to. I love this area and I can’t ever imagine wanting to live anywhere else.’

‘I know Meadow Cottages well.’ He nodded sagely. ‘You and me alike, love. I didn’t travel very far,’ he said with a wry smile. ‘My brother and I couldn’t agree on what to do with the farm and in the end we split it up. He took the main farm buildings and I had these cottages. He ran the business into the ground and then disappeared off somewhere. We never spoke a word again. I heard that he died a few years ago.’

‘That’s very sad that you weren’t able to resolve your differences,’ Pia offered.

Harry gave a shrug.

‘These things happen, eh? We never really hit it off. We were young, pig-headed. Both believing our way was the best way. He did his thing and I did mine. I was lucky, I had my Vera and all the time she was at my side I was happy. We had a little smallholding here, grew our own vegetables out the back and kept some animals, while I worked as a farm labourer on some other farms. Course, we had these cottages too. We rented them out to other labourers, who became our friends. It brought in a bit of extra cash, but mostly we were relieved that we had decent neighbours. We had lots of happy times here, but then… well, I’m the only one left now.’

‘At least you have some lovely memories to cherish. Do you have any family nearby?’

‘No, we didn’t have any children. Vera never much fancied them and they never came along so we always thought that was the way it was meant to be. Our animals became our family.’

‘I know exactly what you mean,’ said Pia, laughing. ‘We’ve got animals up at the hall. A donkey called Twinkle, a rascal of a Shetland pony called Little Star, and then a couple of dogs, Bertie the Dalmatian and Teddy, a little scruffy bitsa. They really do become like family members.’

‘Anyway,’ said Jackson, standing up with his empty mug. ‘We have taken up far too much of your time as it. We’ll leave you in peace. Sorry for the confusion and you’ve got my card if anything should change.’

Pia and Harry both looked up at Jackson, their disappointment evident in their expressions.

‘Surely you don’t have to rush away just yet?’ Harry turned his wrist over to look at his watch, before giving a resigned chuckle. ‘I forget, you people have busy lives. Places to go and people to see.’

‘Well, we’re not in that much of a hurry. We could stay for a while, couldn’t we, Jackson?’

Jackson gave a nonchalant shrug.

‘Of course. I just didn’t want to take up any more of your time than was strictly necessary.’ Jackson looked from his mug to theirs.

‘We could have another cuppa if you wanted one?’ Pia suggested.

‘Oh, let’s do that. I think there could be a packet of chocolate digestives in the cupboard too.’