Page 39 of All Wrapped Up

The next evening, the cloud cover was too dense to catch even a glimpse of the full moon, so I didn’t bother sitting out, but I did feel grateful that Molly, the so-called Wynthorpe Witch, had alerted me to the lunar cycle before I’d checked it myself and I hadn’t gone to the trouble of setting up Draconid meteor shower stargazing events as a result.

Even though the forecast predicted clear skies going forward, the brightness of the only just waning moon would have made it hard for attendees to spot much and with my friendship with Ash in ruins, a night out with him under the dimmed constellations trying to keep everyone entertained was the last thing I would have wanted. Assuming he turned up.

Before I’d taken Pixie to the vets I had felt resolved to clear the air between us, but the fact that he’d changed the appointment and then gone in to hiding to ensure he wouldn’t have to see me, spoke volumes and I began to realise I’d put my faith in the wrong friend.

Consequently, I spent some time coming up with excuses I could make and situations I could conjure to avoid running into him for the next few weeks.

It would be easier once the festival was finished, as long as I remembered to book Pixie’s future appointments at the vets to specifically see Will, but in the meantime, I’d just have to remain in stealth mode and on guard whenever I thought it likely that our paths were going to cross.

Ash was the only person I’d talked to about Callum since my move to the Fens and, even though I hadn’t shared much, I regretted telling him that I was a widow and that I’d closed my heart to any prospect of love in the future.

Ash hadn’t turned out to be the friend I’d hoped for and knowing that I’d shared such intimate details after knowing him for such a short time only served to make me feel even more of a fool.

‘Never again,’ I said vehemently, as I went around the cottage and pulled the curtains closed to shut out the night. ‘I’ll learn the lesson and never share that part of myself with anyone I don’t know again.’

They were harsh words, fiercely spoken, and, in that moment, they were most sincerely meant.

When I got up the following morning, there was a message on my phone sent from Amber at Skylark Farm, asking me if I might have the time that evening to walk around the nature trail and give my opinion on the lighting they’d installed and whether I thought a couple of autumnal moonlight walks might be a suitable addition to the festival schedule.

Personally, I thought the idea had the potential to be another health and safety nightmare for Jason to flag, and it was that concern which prompted me to say that yes, I would be happy to call in and take a quick tour.

There were still some dates on the festival calendar that coincided with the next lunar cycle that might work out, so it was paramount that the idea was given careful public participation consideration.

Not that I was going to be liable for any potential mishaps, such as trips over tree roots – that would be Jake and Amber’s responsibility – but I was nonetheless eager to eliminate any further grumblings from Jason.

‘Come on, Pixie,’ I said, as she wrestled with the pretty plaid coat I’d bundled her into. ‘Best feet forward and all that.’

The yarn bombers, now they’d finished decorating the square, were knitting a variety of autumn themed outfits for dogs with a view to having a ‘best dressed’ competition at some point.

I had been rather taken with the pumpkin outfit and wanted to enter Pixie for judging wearing that, but if she objected this much to a bog-standard coat, then I didn’t reckon much for my chances of wrapping her up in an orange orb!

‘If you stop worrying at it,’ I told her as she gave me a martyred look, ‘you’ll soon forget you’re even wearing it.’

There were a couple of vehicles parked up when I arrived at the farm, but with Amber already waiting for me in the yard, I didn’t have a chance to work out if they belonged to the family or notice if Ash’s truck was amongst them.

‘Clemmie,’ she said warmly. ‘Thank you so much for turning out to do this tonight. We really appreciate it.’

‘I’m happy to,’ I told her. ‘It’s a wonderful idea and, as long as the path is safe to walk in the dark, it will be an interesting addition to the schedule.’

‘That’s what we thought, too,’ she smiled. ‘And with you having such a wonderful grasp of everything, we thought you’d be the best person to ask.’

‘That’s exactly what you said to me just five minutes ago, Amber,’ said a voice behind me and I spun around.

‘Ash,’ I gasped, as I felt my tummy tumble. ‘I didn’t know you were going to be here.’

‘Likewise,’ he responded and turned bright red.

Given his behaviour over Pixie’s appointment, I hoped he felt as mortified as he deserved to. I wasn’t sure how I felt.

‘As you’re both so involved with the festival,’ commented Jake who then joined us, ‘we thought we’d ask the pair of you to walk the trail.’

‘That’s fair enough,’ I breezily said, taking the high ground. ‘In the interests of the festival and the safety of its attendees, I think that’s a great idea.’

‘Me too,’ said Ash, but he didn’t sound as convinced as I did.

‘Right then, let’s go,’ I said, and tried to get Pixie to move, but she was still so preoccupied with tugging at her coat that she missed my cue for her to budge and I nearly tripped over her.

‘What on earth is she wearing?’ Ash frowned.

She then realised he was there and gave him a welcome that pierced my heart. I bet she wouldn’t have bothered with him had she known he’d hidden from the pair of us just the day before.

‘A coat,’ I bluntly said. ‘It’s cold.’

‘It is cold,’ Jake then said. ‘So, why don’t you two head straight off and then we’ll have a bite and something to drink when you’re done?’

I didn’t much like the thought of walking the trail with just Ash for company and I was certain he wasn’t going to want to be alone with me, either.

‘You two aren’t coming?’ he asked, with a nod to Amber and Jake, confirming that thought.

‘No,’ said Amber, ‘we need to check on the kids and if we come around, we might influence you. You need to experience it for yourselves, really.’

‘In that case,’ I said, ‘Ash needn’t come at all because he’s walked it already.’

‘Not in the dark,’ Jake pointed out.

‘Right,’ I tightly said. ‘Let’s go then.’

‘See you in a bit,’ said Amber as she and Jake headed over to the farmhouse and I followed Ash down the yard, through a gate a little way into a field and then to the start of the trail.

We didn’t speak until we were at the start, when it became obvious that you could take the path in either direction.

‘Right, I think I’ll go around this way,’ I pointed, when I could see he was going to head the other way. ‘We can meet back in the yard when we’re done.’

‘You don’t want to go around together?’ He frowned and I shook my head.

‘Given your behaviour in the vets, on the back of the frosty welcome I received in the pumpkin field, I hardly think you’re going to want us spending any more time together than we have to, are you?’ I huffed.

‘Oh god, Clemmie,’ he groaned. ‘I’m so sorry about what happened in the practice. You must think I’m a total idiot.’

‘To tell you the truth,’ I sniffed, ‘I’ve been far too busy feeling embarrassed for myself to consider what my thoughts are about you. Apart from the fact that I keep wishing that I hadn’t ever got to know you in the first place, of course.’

Apparently, my sharp tongue wasn’t exclusively reserved for challenging conversations with Joanne. Though I hoped, now she’d bared her soul and we’d got to the bottom of her frustrating behaviour, I’d had the last of those.

‘I suppose I deserved that.’ Ash swallowed and he looked so heartbreakingly upset that I almost forgave him. Almost. ‘Will you let me explain?’

‘Another time, perhaps—’

‘I wish you would,’ he pleaded. ‘Please walk with me, Clemmie, because I really want to tell you why I’ve been such an idiot.’

He began to walk away and my head told me it was time to cut my losses, apologise to Amber and Jake and head home.

I could still see where my Land Rover was parked in the yard and it would be easy enough to leave, but my heart was having none of it.

There was some internal conflict playing off inside me and it kept me rooted to the spot until my heart finally won out and I followed Ash on to the path.

We walked some of the way in silence, and in single file, each of us focused on keeping our feet, especially along the stretches that weren’t specifically lit and where the brightness of the moon didn’t pierce the tree canopy.

It might have been autumn, but there were still plenty of leaves on the trees and I couldn’t help thinking that even though it was doubtless a beautiful walk, it wasn’t a particularly practical, or safe one in the dark.

‘There’s some seating among the trees about halfway round,’ Ash said, over his shoulder, ‘we can talk properly there.’

‘Rather than walk and talk?’

‘If you don’t mind.’

I didn’t reply and a short while later, the path opened out and we found ourselves in a clearing which was lit by fairy lights and looked to be the prettiest part of the trail so far. In the dark, anyway.

‘This is nice,’ I said, looking around.

‘The lights look great, don’t they? Jake said he was setting something up here.’

‘Really great.’

‘They’re not solar because it’s quite shady here, so I’m not sure how he’s running them.’

The small talk was fine, but my heart hadn’t won the battle with my head to discuss the aesthetics of outdoor illumination.

‘Ash—’

‘I know,’ he said, pulling off his hat and pushing a hand through his hair. ‘I know. I’m sorry. I thought I’d have worked out what to say by now, but I’m still not sure where to start.’