Page 118 of Escape to the Country

Chapter 40

As the end of July approached, the temperature shot up into the late eighties and the whole country sweltered in the heat.

Tom was grateful for being outside, even though his work on the stables was nearly complete. He had written a couple of songs for his new album but found that having the radio on when he was working benefitted both him and Eleanor.

One afternoon, one of his own songs came on. Eleanor appeared out of her workshop and smiled. ‘They’ll play any old music these days,’ she told him, with a cheeky grin.

He smiled at her before singing along with his own voice coming through the speaker.

When he had finished, Eleanor applauded. ‘Very good,’ she told him. ‘It’s like having my very own private Glastonbury.’

Her face suddenly dropped and she rushed back into her workshop. He knew she was still embarrassed about the kiss. He, on the other hand, found himself cherishing the memory of it. He only wished that he had an opportunity to repeat it.

Later that day, Annie announced that she would be having dinner outside.

‘We really should make the most of eating outside whilst the warm weather’s still here,’ she said. ‘Plus Hazy Memory are on their way next week and we’ll never be able to fit everyone around the table inside.’

So Tom helped Sam carry an enormous wooden table further along the patio so that it was in the sunshine.

‘Is it safe to use?’ asked Annie, giving it a push, which made the table wobble alarmingly.

‘I’ll put some extra nails in it to make sure,’ said Tom.

‘There’s still no shade though,’ said Annie. ‘What about that large garden umbrella?’

Sam shook his head. ‘Broken.’

‘What will we do? Arthur and Rose will need some kind of cover.’

‘I can build them one,’ said Tom, surprising himself by volunteering. ‘There’s some old beams down by the stables.’

Annie and Sam exchanged a look.

‘It helps him write,’ said Sam, palms up.

‘That’s fine by me,’ said Annie, nodding her approval.

Using Arthur’s old tape measure, Tom worked out what kind of cover was needed. It would probably be best to be some kind of pergola, he thought. That was a simple enough structure. Just six, or perhaps, eight vertical beams connected by more horizontal ones across the top.

It only took a day to build but he was relaxed, working in the sunshine of the courtyard.

When he had finished, Eleanor came along to view his work.

‘Very nice,’ she said, gazing up at the structure. ‘But it still doesn’t give any shade.’

‘In the middle east, they drape material across to keep the area cool,’ he told her.

But when they suggested it to Annie, she grimaced. ‘I’m not sure these are quite good enough,’ she said, holding up a couple of old sheets that were dotted with moth holes.

‘Mum’s got tons of material,’ Eleanor told her. ‘She’ll sort something out for you, I’m sure.’

As they walked back to the courtyard to tidy up, Tom asked, ‘How’s your mum doing now that the animals are finding new homes.’

‘She’s okay,’ said Eleanor. ‘Well, a bit lost, I think, but thankfully Annie has commissioned her to make the new curtains for the guest bedrooms. They’re nearly done so that’s why I thought she’d be happy to help out with the new pergola. She’s always been good at sewing.’

‘Are you?’

‘Can’t stitch or knit to save my life,’ she told him, with a wide grin.