Page 9 of All Wrapped Up

By the end of Monday afternoon, I had developed the festival ideas list even further and was feeling extremely pleased with what I had come up with.

There were some very obvious suggestions it would have been ridiculous not to include, such as loads of things to do with the pumpkins that had inspired Moses to come up with the festival idea in the first place.

Given the reputation the Wynbridge area of the Fens had for successfully growing them, they had to take centre stage, but there were also lots of other things that I’d now added to the plan, some of which were a little more unusual.

As I set about steaming some salmon and making a late summer salad for dinner, I hoped all of the ideas were going to be well-received as there wouldn’t be much time to come up with more.

Lizzie seemed resolute that I was going to be seen as a situation saver, rather than an interfering interloper, but time would tell and whatever folk thought, I really was going to need at least a little help to pull it all off. And talking of help…

‘Just a sec!’ I shouted, jumping almost as high as the kitchen ceiling as someone knocked loudly on the cottage front door and I quickly turned down the steamer on the hob.

As a result of Lizzie’s visit, I felt rather tentative about welcoming anyone in, but when I saw who it was, I had a feeling my Insta secret would remain safe. Not that I was prone to making assumptions about my followers, but I didn’t think my current visitor would be an AutumnEverything devotee.

‘Ash,’ I smiled, thinking his timing was impeccable. ‘Hello.’

‘Hi,’ he smiled back. He looked rather tired, so I knew he still hadn’t properly caught up on his sleep after the hectic nights on call.

I hoped my earlier phone call hadn’t completely put paid to his opportunity to rest. ‘I know we didn’t make a plan, but I happened to be passing and as you hadn’t called back, I thought I’d stop.

I hope that was okay. No problem if you’re busy… ’

‘I didn’t ring again because I was worried about waking you,’ I told him. ‘And I’m not busy. I was just making some dinner, but it’s nothing that won’t keep. Come in.’

I opened the door wider and stood back.

‘I’d better not, if you don’t mind,’ he said, looking towards his truck. ‘You see, I’ve got Pixie with me and I can’t leave her for long.’

‘I don’t mind if you want to bring her in,’ I offered. I really wanted to have the festival conversation sooner rather than later and this was too good an opportunity to waste. ‘She’s very welcome.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course. I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it.’

‘All right,’ he said after a moment’s hesitation. ‘Hold on.’

While Ash collected Pixie, I checked the salmon, which was now perfectly cooked, turned the steamer off and covered the salad with a tea towel.

‘Make yourself at home,’ I called through to the sitting room when I heard him come in and close the door. ‘I’ll just be a sec. Would you like a drink?’

‘Yes, please. If it isn’t too much trouble.’

When I carried in a tray bearing a jug of my summer staple, chilled elderflower cordial, and two glasses, I found Ash sitting in one of the armchairs with Pixie on his lap. She had her head buried between his arm and his chest and her back to the room.

‘Oh dear,’ I said softly. ‘She’s really not happy, is she?’

I hoped coming into a different environment wasn’t going to be too unsettling for her.

‘Nope,’ Ash sighed. ‘She’s been in full on invisible mode today.’

‘I’ve put a bowl of water down for her in the kitchen, but I can’t imagine she’s going to go looking for it. Shall I bring it in here?’

‘No, don’t worry. She’s only just had a drink, so she’ll be fine.’

‘Is there anything in particular that’s triggered her today?’ I asked, while Pixie slowly turned around so that her head was facing the room.

I wouldn’t have thought it possible for a dog to express so much emotion, but she looked utterly forlorn.

‘Earlier this afternoon, I took her to meet a potential new owner,’ Ash explained. ‘They were keen to take her, but it didn’t work out. Pixie didn’t respond to them at all and I need to know there’s more than a spark of connection and some genuine affection on her side before I can let her go.’

‘Of course.’

‘The woman was so disappointed when I said she couldn’t take her, but it just wasn’t right.’

He sounded choked and stopped talking to take a drink.

I knew how long it had taken for me to even consider trying to connect with anyone after losing Callum, but of course poor Pixie didn’t have the benefit of being able to understand what was happening to her, let alone know that one day she might come through it.

All she must have wanted was for her owner to walk back through the door and take her home.

I felt choked myself as I imagined her feeling so abandoned and confused.

‘She was with her owner when she died, you know,’ Ash then told me as he gave Pixie’s back a gentle rub. ‘She was found sitting right next to her. She’d been there for hours.’

‘Oh, Pixie,’ I gasped. ‘You poor darling girl. No wonder you’re so traumatised.’ Her lovely, dark eyes met mine. ‘Losing the person you love most in the whole world is excruciatingly painful. Must be excruciatingly painful—’ I corrected and blushed.

I quickly picked up my glass before I made more of a mess of what I was trying to express and ended up revealing too much.

‘Clemmie,’ Ash then started to say, his brow furrowed as the cogs in his brain began to turn in a direction that I would have preferred they didn’t. ‘Have you…?’

Thankfully, what Pixie did next stopped him further developing that thought. She slowly stretched, then jumped off Ash’s lap, timidly crossed the room and stared up at me.

‘Hello, my darling.’ I smiled down at her.

‘I don’t believe it,’ Ash gasped as Pixie’s tail slowly wagged.

‘Have you come to say hello?’

She took a step closer and lifted her front paws on to my legs, with her tail still wagging.

‘Well, I never,’ Ash said in astonished wonder.

I put my hand out and she licked it, then tried to jump up.

‘Can I pick her up?’ I asked, my eyes flicking to Ash’s face.

‘I think you’d better.’

He looked even more astounded when I carefully lifted Pixie up, lowered her on to my lap and she made herself at home. She felt like she weighed nothing as she turned around on the spot, then snuggled cosily up as familiarly as if she’d done it every day of her life.

Ash and I looked at one another, but didn’t speak, then sat silently for a while as I slowly ran my hands over Pixie’s head and down her back and she relaxed further into my lap and then fell sound asleep.

‘So,’ Ash whispered, finally breaking the silence. ‘Remind me what your thoughts are on dog adoption, Clemmie? The day we met, you didn’t really say that you’re not a dog person, did you?’

‘I did,’ I confirmed, as I continued to gently stroke Pixie. ‘I’m not.’

‘Well,’ he chuckled, ‘the evidence in front of me is suggesting otherwise.’

‘That’s as maybe,’ I quickly but quietly said back, ‘but as I recall also on that day, you were adamant that Pixie could only live with someone you knew.’

‘Well,’ he grinned. ‘I know you now, don’t I?’

‘Hardly,’ I pointed out.

‘I know enough.’

‘Such as?’

I was curious to know what he had gleaned and whether it was right or not.

‘Well, I know you’re single,’ he started to reel off. ‘That you have a beautiful home and garden, a passion for poultry and, given the number of feeders I’ve spotted hung up outside, a fondness for wild birds, too.’

‘That’s not all that much.’ I smiled, but I was surprised by the amount he had managed to take onboard about me in the short time we’d known each other. And what he’d focused on noticing, too.

‘And I also know,’ he carried on, ‘that Lizzie messaged me earlier saying I had to talk to you today though I’ve no idea why. Oh crikey.’ He then puffed, ‘I hope Joanne hasn’t been thinking about my love life again. No offence…’

‘No, don’t panic.’ I laughed and Pixie sleepily sighed at the disturbance. ‘Lizzie wants us to talk about pumpkins, not passion.’

I had no idea why I’d put it like that and felt my face flush as a result. Ash looked rather warm, too.

‘Pumpkins?’ he frowned. ‘Are you trying to put me off giving you my dog adoption spiel by talking about the Fens’ favourite crop?’

‘No.’ I smiled, although getting off the dog topic was part of my desire to change the subject. ‘Though it is connected.’

‘So, what is it then?’ he asked, his head endearingly cocked.

‘Well,’ I said, as I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. ‘It actually is about pumpkins.’

‘Clemmie!’ Ash scolded.

‘I’m being serious!’ I giggled, then took a deep breath. ‘Pumpkins are going to feature heavily because I, by which I mean, we, are going to honour the idea Moses Talbot had and organise the first ever Wynbridge Autumn Festival.’

‘What?’ Ash gasped. ‘Are you being serious?’

‘I am,’ I told him. ‘The festival is now happening because we’re going to set it up.’

‘No way,’ he blinked. ‘I don’t believe it. I can’t believe you’re taking it on!’

‘ We’re taking it on,’ I hastily corrected him. ‘I’ve said I’ll do it, but only if your offer to help out still stands.’

Ash ran his hands through his hair and sat back in his chair.

‘Well?’ I asked, when he didn’t say anything. ‘Please don’t tell me you’ve changed your mind?’

‘No,’ he said. ‘No, I haven’t changed my mind.’

‘What then?’

‘It’s nothing.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

He gave me a look I couldn’t fathom.

‘Come on,’ I urged. ‘Spit it out, because there’s clearly something stopping you jumping for joy.’

‘Well, it’s just that, I’d hate for Joanne to use this as an opportunity to try and push us together when we’re both so contentedly single. It would be awful if she meddled and caused some stress and tension between us.’

She’d clearly really done a number on him. The poor guy was paranoid, but her interference in my life was the last thing I wanted, too.

‘You don’t have to worry about that,’ I reassured him. ‘Lizzie and Jemma have had serious words with her and Joanne’s properly got the message now that neither of us will tolerate being set up.’

‘Really?’

‘Truly.’

‘So, we’re safe then?’ Ash asked, sounding hopeful.

‘Safe as houses,’ I confirmed. ‘And Lizzie has said she’s going to remind her yet again now that we’re running the festival, just to be on the safe side, because the last thing she wants is us dropping it because Joanne has given us so much as a loaded look.’

‘Oh, well, that’s put my mind at rest.’ Ash applauded, looking relieved. ‘That really does sound sorted.’

‘It is,’ I said. ‘No interference is allowed from Joanne, or anyone else, in any aspect of either of our lives.’

‘Well, in that case,’ he said happily, ‘count me in!’

‘You’re sure?’

‘One hundred per cent,’ he pledged. ‘Every spare minute I have, is yours, Clemmie. The festival’s, I mean…’

‘Well, that settles it then.’ I smiled. ‘We’re kicking everything off with a planning meeting in the pub Wednesday night. I’ve only met a few people so far, so it would be great to have you there for some moral support. Will you be able to make it?’

‘Of course.’

‘Fantastic.’

‘And, as that’s so soon now, we’d better start coming up with some ideas. From what I can remember, Moses hadn’t got any further than having pumpkins take centre stage but we’re going to need more than that if we’re going to make a success of it and have an entire season’s worth of celebrating.’

‘We’re going to need loads more and don’t worry, because I’ve already made a start,’ I told him, pointing at the notebook on the table next to my chair. ‘I’ve got a few suggestions to offer that I think should work.’

‘Okay, let’s hear them then,’ said Ash, making himself comfier in the chair.

My tummy gave the loudest rumble as I reached to pick the notebook up and my mind flitted to the salmon and salad in the kitchen. I could easily double the salad and I’d steamed two salmon fillets to have one in a different dish the next day.

‘Ash, I don’t suppose you fancy staying for dinner, do you?’ I offered, before I could overthink it. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d shared a meal with someone and issuing the invitation felt like another leap forward. ‘Unless you’ve already got plans?’

‘No plans,’ Ash smiled, ‘and thank you, I’ll happily stay, but on one condition.’

‘Which is?’ I cautiously asked.

‘That you’ll rethink your opinion about hound rehoming.’

He nodded at Pixie who was still fast asleep on my lap. It felt so comfortable with her there and she was the perfect fit.

‘Well,’ I said, as I looked down at her. ‘I’m not sure—’

‘Just think about it,’ Ash said softly. ‘Please, because I haven’t seen her as content as this for a single second since she’s been in my care.’

‘Well, all right,’ I relented, ‘I’ll think about it, but please don’t go getting your hopes up. Or hers.’

‘I’ll try not to.’ Ash smiled. ‘But the two of you do look made for each other.’

If only he knew.