Page 29 of A French Inheritance

The last thing Elliot needed when he got home after a hard day was for Lucy to hand him another letter from the TV company when, with Luna at his side as usual, he popped into the kitchen to say ‘Hi’ to them both. He took the letter with a resigned, ‘Thanks.’

‘You look exhausted,’ Lucy exclaimed. ‘You staying for supper?’

Elliot shook his head. ‘No, thanks. Had an early supper with Julian. It’s been a manic day today. The veterinary practice has been so busy. How the hell Julian managed with only the four of them beats me. Anyway, you two okay?’

Adam nodded. ‘It’s been one of those days here too. Non-stop phone calls and people turning up on the door. Didn’t get half of what I wanted to get done today.’

‘Day off tomorrow, I can give you a hand,’ Elliot offered.

‘Sure? Would be grateful but don’t want you knocking yourself out.’

‘A walk down to the lake with Luna for half an hour now, a good night’s sleep and I’ll be as right as rain,’ Elliot said, hoping that would turn out to be true.

‘Come up for breakfast in the morning,’ Lucy said. ‘Full English is on the menu.’

Elliot looked at her. ‘God, Lucy. Any time you get tired of my big brother you can move in with me.’

‘Ow, watch it, kiddo,’ Adam said.

‘See you both in the morning.’ Elliot shoved the letter in his pocket and turned to leave, Luna instantly at his side.

Elliot took the back farm track down to the woods and the lake, hoping that he wouldn’t bump into Briony.

He still hadn’t sorted out his feelings in regard to their friendship.

He knew that he wasn’t ready for anything too serious yet, but surely he could cope with bumping into her occasionally?

He’d enjoyed the evening she’d cooked supper more than he’d enjoyed an evening in a long time.

As for the letter currently in his pocket, he’d hoped his silence would have told the TV company that he wasn’t interested.

When he got back to the cottage, he’d write an email telling them he didn’t want to be involved and not to contact him again.

He stood still for a moment, closed his eyes and took some deep breaths.

He could feel the stress building up again even simply thinking about everything that had happened.

When he opened his eyes, Luna had gone ahead and was down on the edge of the woods being petted by Briony. Despite how he’d hoped he wouldn’t see her, he felt a small smile breaking across his face and he hurried down towards her. The memory of seeing her hugging the tree flashed into his mind.

‘Which tree are you hugging tonight?’ he said, smiling, the words out of his mouth before he stopped to think. Briony didn’t know that he’d seen her that day. The look on her face told him he was in deep trouble.

Briony gave him a hard stare. ‘I didn’t think there was anyone around. You saw me? Watched me? Sounds a bit stalkerish to me.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Elliot said. ‘I definitely was not stalking you. I promise as soon as I saw you, I turned back. I didn’t watch you for a single second. I didn’t want to disturb you in your moment of…’ he shrugged, not knowing what to call it. ‘Your moment of quiet contemplation.’

‘Thank you for that,’ Briony said, staring at him. ‘You look stressed. I think you need to hug a tree.’

‘What? I definitely do not need to hug a tree,’ Elliot said, turning away.

‘You do. It’s surprisingly therapeutic. And it’s scientifically proven to make you feel happy. You can’t knock something or ridicule it, if you have never tried it,’ Briony said, a challenging edge to her voice.

There was a silence for several seconds before Elliot slowly turned back to face her. ‘Scientifically proven, eh? Okay. Which tree?’

Briony turned and pointed to the trunk of a large oak. ‘That one. You need to banish sceptical thoughts and empty your mind. Close your eyes and hug the tree.’

‘How long do I hug it for?’

Briony shrugged. ‘You’ll know when you’re ready to stop hugging. I’ll keep Luna with me. Go on.’ Her hand waved him in the direction of the tree.

Shaking his head in disbelief at what he was about to do, Elliot moved towards the oak tree.

A quick hug and he was out of here. Standing under the tree looking upwards at the developing canopy of green leaves, Elliot closed his eyes, stilled his thoughts and reached out to place his arms around the trunk of the tree.

His fingers began to trace the grooves of the rough bark under his hands before he stilled them and leant into the tree.

His breathing deepened and he could feel himself becoming calmer.

He had no idea how long he stayed like that before he opened his eyes, let his arms drop to his sides and turned to face Briony.

‘Well, there you go, Mr Sceptical. Feel happier? Less stressed?’

Elliot gave a surprised nod. ‘I do actually.’

‘That will be the calming phytoncides chemicals that the tree emits. No need to thank me,’ Briony said. ‘I need to get back. Night.’

‘Night,’ Elliot said. ‘And thank you,’ he called out to her retreating back. Briony raised an arm in acknowledgement but didn’t turn around.

* * *

The next morning, Briony smiled to herself as she ate her breakfast, remembering Elliot’s obvious embarrassment over the tree hugging.

Expecting him to walk away, she’d been surprised when he’d accepted the challenge she’d thrown at him.

The fact that he’d stayed hugging the tree for several minutes had to mean that he had connected with not just the tree but with mindfulness deep in himself.

Now the question was – would he do it again?

She doubted that she’d ever know the answer to that question.

After breakfast, Briony set off for the farm for her second Thursday as Lucy’s Girl Friday.

Lucy was on her own in the kitchen when Briony walked in.

‘Let’s go straight to the office,’ she said. ‘I’m hoping you can do a couple of hours’ admin this morning?’

‘Whatever you want me to do,’ Briony said. ‘Did we get any firm bookings for the Stables?’

‘Yes, thanks to you. Both are booked for Easter. The Cider House has a repeat booking, so for the first time all three g?tes are booked. There’s also been several bookings for next month too, as well as enquiries for later in the year.’

‘That’s great.’

‘I’ve got your lease here ready for you to sign.

’ Lucy opened a folder and took out a piece of A4 paper.

‘It’s just a formal agreement between the three of us, protects you and us.

It’s a one-year lease, with an option to renew, three months’ notice on either side, rent is due quarterly and a quarter’s rent is paid as a refundable deposit when you leave, provided the unit is left in a good state.

You sign there and date it and I’ll do the same here. Happy?’

‘It’s really happening, isn’t it?’ Briony said as she signed the paper. ‘I can’t chicken out now, can I?’

Lucy looked anxious. ‘Are you having second thoughts? I can tear up the lease right now if you want me to and we’ll forget it was ever mooted.’

Briony shook her head. ‘Oh no, I really want to do this. It’s just a little scary thinking about having my own business.’

‘I know that feeling,’ Lucy said sympathetically.

‘Adam has always been his own boss, but when I married him, I found the uncertainties of being self-employed overwhelming, but it soon became a way of life for me. It’ll be fine, you’ll see.

’ Lucy put the lease back in the folder. ‘Have you got a name for the business?’

Briony shook her head. ‘No. I’m going to have a brainstorming session with the laptop soon!’

Lucy handed over the lease.

‘Thank you,’ Briony said before glancing at Lucy. ‘Can I talk to you about Elliot?’

Lucy gave her a surprised look. ‘Of course.’

‘He was extremely kind and helpful over Pascal, I made supper as a thank you and we had a good evening. I thought we were becoming friends, and then I met him down by the lake yesterday and he was stressed and horribly moody at first if I’m honest, although he was better before I left him.

Is he like that with everyone, blowing hot and cold, or is it me that rubs him up the wrong way without meaning to?

’ Briony shook her head. ‘I can’t make him out. ’

Lucy sighed. ‘He’s not really been himself since all the trouble last year.

He used to be as even-tempered as Adam. Nothing ever fazed him.

I’ve noticed, though, that the slightest thing can set him off these days.

Since he’s been working again, he’s been a lot better, but I do know he had a letter yesterday which wound him up.

And also Robyn – his ex-wife – has been trying to get in touch. ’

‘Well, it’s a relief it’s not just me,’ Briony said.

‘I probably shouldn’t say this,’ Lucy said quietly. ‘I think the problem is that since Robyn, he has had trust issues and he’s frightened of getting too close to anybody at the moment and keeps backing off.’

‘Okay.’ Briony nodded. She could identify with that, although she wasn’t about to say that to Lucy.

‘You’ll need to give him time if you want to be friends.

’ Lucy gave Briony a quizzical look. ‘I don’t know whether you know, but Robyn was – is – an investigative journalist, and TV presenter, she’s all over the media sites on the internet,’ Lucy said.

‘Maybe do your own investigation of what she writes? Might give you some idea of what she put him through until he tells you himself. Cup of tea and a slice of cake before you leave?’ she said as she strolled to the kitchen.

Briony stared after her. Lucy clearly wasn’t going to gossip about her brother-in-law but had indicated that if she really wanted to know she could find out for herself with a couple of clicks on the computer.