Page 57 of Watch For Me By Candlelight

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She brought the bicycle back home and tucked it up in the barn, pushing all thoughts of Theo out of her head. The ducks quacked desultorily at her, and they looked pretty plump and well-fed, so she supposed even if Jenna had forgotten them, nobody else had.

The answer to that supposition was on the reception desk, in the shape of a wicker basket stuffed full of goodies.

‘Ooh.’ Kate lifted the corner of the red and white gingham cloth that covered it. ‘Food.’

‘Delilah’s food,’ said Jenna disinterestedly. ‘She said it was for you. She sent a smaller basket for me and the ducks.’ She emerged from the shadows and sprawled against the desk.

Kate couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Well I hope you shared it nicely.’

‘Bloody greedy beasts,’ Jenna muttered.

‘They look like they enjoyed it anyway. Did Delilah mention why she’d brought it over for me?’

Jenna shrugged. ‘Said something about giving you a treat as she suspected you’d been busy all day and she worried about you getting lunch. Said she’d put enough in for both of you.’ Jenna frowned. ‘She’d seen you and a man together earlier and she loved your outfit. It’s to share with him. I did wonder if Chris had come up again.’ Her interest sparked for a millisecond then died again. ‘But if he did, he never came here.’

‘I haven’t been back all day. And no, I don’t believe Chris is anywhere near Hartsford.’ Kate shook her head. Chris had posted her keys back to her soon after the break-up, with no note or begging letter. There was no way he was around. ‘I don’t know where she’s seen me. Oh, well.’ She tucked the corner of the cloth back in.

‘She said they would go off.’ Jenna inspected her nails. ‘So you have to eat them today. And if Chris isn’t here, you’ll just have to eat them yourself and get fat. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

Kate watched Jenna sashay out of the reception area, her mouth opening and closing like a goldfish’s.

‘Well, thanks for that,’ Kate muttered, after the girl had disappeared around the corner.

She pulled the gingham cloth off the basket and surveyed the contents. There were four scones, a pat of butter in a white enamel pot, a jar of homemade strawberry jam, a punnet of fresh strawberries, another pot full of clotted cream, two well-filled ham and cheese wraps and a thermos flask. She picked up the flask and shook it. It was weighty and sloshy with something and she suspected it was hot, sugary, milky tea — just the way she liked it. Tucked down the side of the basket was a greaseproof-paper wrapped bundle and a tweak at that wrapper revealed the corner of a lovely fruity slice of cake. It was probably cider cake. Delilah knew she loved it.

Kate’s stomach gave a greedy rumble and she pressed her hand against her abdomen, groaning softly. No way could she eat all of this — and it might not go off as such, but it certainly wouldn’t taste as good tomorrow.

Kate went up into her flat and tossed the 1930’s outfit onto her bed. She wriggled into some denim shorts and a black vest top, her thoughts occupied by what she could do with Delilah’s picnic basket.

She sat down at her dressing table and brushed her hair out. The waves kept springing back, and she wondered if she could get away without the bendy rollers tonight. From there, she went into the bathroom and scrubbed all the make-up off until her skin tingled with a mixture of cold water and slight sunburn. The freckles were back — in force, she noted.

When she was finally satisfied that she looked like herself, she meandered downstairs and opened the basket again. She delved a little further to see if there were any treats she’d overlooked and her fingers closed on a stiff little rectangle. She pulled it out and saw a notecard with a picture of cupcakes on the front and smiled; Delilah, of course.

She opened the card and read it.

Enjoy these little gifts, Kate. Just a few of your favourites as I’m sure you deserve them tonight. I expect you to share with that lovely man who you were with earlier. He looks like he deserves a treat too. Also, you two looked like you were having fun. So good to see!

Theo. He was the only one she could mean, because she would have recognised say, Tom, of course—

Actually, that was a good point — she texted Tom.

Where are you? Fancy sharing a picnic?

The text came straight back.

Am in Kent. Hever Castle. Tudor trail totally rocks! Found some pleasant company so won’t be Skyping later.

He ended that with one of those winky-faced emoticons that left Kate in no doubt as to what constituted pleasant company for Tom. She suspected he’d forget the woman’s name by next week. Kate desperately wished he’d find a nice girl and settle down — it was what he needed.

So, it looked like Kate and Delilah’s picnic would spend a pleasant evening together — or she would have to do what Delilah had asked and share it with Theo. It had to be Theo — there was simply no other possibility. The thought worried her slightly, after the feelings she had experienced when she was in his arms earlier. She would have to go to the campsite though — or risk Delilah’s wrath, because she would find out if Kate disobeyed her.

Hartsford was that sort of village.

Chapter Twenty

Theo fiddled with his watch strap, wondering whether it was worth heading into the village. The evening stretched ahead of him and much as he loved his solitude and the fact he could please himself out here, he knew there was more Hartsford could offer, if he only sought it out.