Katie Fforde Summer of Love FEATURE

Er, hello!'

Sian put down her fork and looked over the garden wall. A woman was smiling at her, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and a jam jar full of flowers in the other.

Hello!' said Sian.

I hope you don't think I'm appallingly nosy but I noticed the furniture van drive away yesterday and thought I'd pop round and welcome you to the village. I'm Fiona Matcham. I live in the house up the end.' She swung the wine bottle vaguely in the direction of the lane.

Oh,' said Sian. Would you like to come in?' She suspected that her visitor meant the Big House, a beautiful building that her mother had raved about when she'd come down to help Sian move in.

I don't want to stop you working, but I could come and watch you.'

Sian laughed and wiped her hands on her shorts. She'd managed to get all the strawberry plants in that her mother had given her. No, no, I'm quite happy to stop. I'm Sian Bishop.'

Hello again, Sian.' Fiona waved the jam jar at her. Here, take these.' Fiona Matcham handed Sian the bottle and the flowers over the wall and then walked up to the gate and let herself in. Oh! You've got a boy! How lovely! I love boys!'

Rory, who was digging with his little spade in the soil his mother had softened for him first, looked up and stared quizzically at Fiona from under his blond fringe.

You're doing good work there, aren't you? Are you going to grow something?' Fiona Matcham addressed Rory while producing a jar of jam from the pocket of her loose linen jacket.

Yes,' said Rory seriously.

We're hoping to grow our own vegetables now we're in the country,' said Sian. Rory's got that patch, and I'm going to have a bigger patch in the back garden. We've planted strawberries. Salad we'll do later. Rory, would you like to stop for a drink now? Or carry on while I make tea?'

Carry on while you make tea,' said Rory, turning back to his digging and ignoring them both.

Sian knew her son felt shy and would probably join them when he realised the tin of chocolate biscuits his grandmother had left had been produced. You would like a cup of tea?' Sian asked her guest. I've kind of assumed...'

Oh yes, tea would be lovely. If you don't mind.'

Sian had already decided that this woman, who seemed to be in her mid-fifties, wasn't the sort who would be critical of a house not in perfect order, or why had she brought the wine? The flowers, too, were artistic and original and no doubt from her own garden, not a conventional bouquet. Sian was inclined to like her already.

Sian led the way into the cottage. It seemed dark after the bright June sunshine outside and smelt of damp. But, as her mother had pointed out, it was very cheap to rent, had a big garden and the landlady, who lived in France, had expressed herself happy for Sian to make necessary improvements provided they weren't extravagant. She found space for the flowers on the table and instantly everything looked better.

Excuse the mess,' said Sian, removing a half-unpacked box of crockery off a chair. I couldn't bear to be inside when the weather is so lovely. Do sit down. And thank you for the flowers. They make the place look so much more homely, somehow.'

Her guest popped the jar of jam on the side with a For you', pulled out an unoccupied chair and sat at the table. Well, as this might be our entire summer it would be a shame to waste the sunshine unpacking.' She paused. I brought the flowers in a jar so you wouldn't need to hunt round for something to put them in. Nothing is more irritating when people turn up for dinner with flowers that mean you have to abandon your guests, the dinner and the drinks to find a vase. I no longer have a husband,' she added. Single-handed entertaining.'

I'm a single parent, so ditto.' It wasn't really a test but Sian had discovered, in the four years since she'd had Rory, that people who were unlikely to become friends would flinch a bit when she said this.

I've been that, too. The boys' father died when they were quite young. It's tough.'

Sian smiled at Fiona across the half-light of the gloomy hallway-cum-dining room. She had a feeling she'd made a new friend already.

I'll put the kettle on. What kind of tea would you like?'

I can't believe you're so organised as to have a choice already,' Fiona replied, perched on the chair as if ready to leap up and help at a moment's notice.

Sian smiled. My mother stayed with me for a few days. I drink builder's, she drinks Earl Grey. Those are the choices unless you want herbal tea.'

Builder's is fine.'

I've got some biscuits. My mother brought a huge tin of them. I'll be back in a moment,' Sian said as she disappeared off to the kitchen.

I do think Luella ought to take that wall down and make this room into a big kitchen diner!' called Fiona. Why don't you suggest it?'

Do you mean Mrs Halpern? She's been very co-operative and said as long as I don't go mad I can make changes. But I think she might consider taking down a supporting wall as going mad,' Sian called back.

She was no longer alone in the galley kitchen. Her guest, apparently not one to sit around and be waited on, had joined her.

Look at the damp on the floor!' exclaimed Fiona. It's appalling. Mind you, it might only be the gutter that needs clearing. Would you like me to send someone round to look at it?'

If it's only the gutter I can probably manage it myself,' said Sian. If I can't, I'd be grateful for the name of someone reliable.' Sian liked to be as self-sufficient as possible but she knew there would be things she couldn't deal with. Since she'd moved her dad was no longer round the corner to do those things for her.

Well, just say. I've lived here so long since Noah and Mrs Noah were courting I know more or less everyone. Oh, hello, Rory,' she said as he appeared in the doorway.

Can you take the biscuits?' Sian handed her son the tin. Why don't you take them out into the back garden?' She turned to Fiona. There's a table and chairs there. I'll make the tea.'

Good idea. Rory and I can go and get settled and have a chat. My name is Fiona,' she said to the boy.

Wouldn't you rather be Mrs Matcham?' asked Sian.

Oh no,' she said firmly. Fiona is much better.' She smiled, possibly to offset the firmness.

Would you mind taking the milk out?' asked Sian.

Oh, just put it in the mugs in here, why don't you? Then when you and Rory come over to visit me, I can be my usual slutty self.'

Sian smiled and put tea bags in mugs. She could just imagine her mother's delighted reaction when she told her about Fiona. She would see her as a wise older friend and a potential babysitter, not to mention someone who lived in a lovely house and so might perhaps be a customer for her daughter as well. Richard would be pleased too. Although it was because of him that she had moved to this particular village, and he had taken her and Rory under his wing, he'd be glad that the neighbours were being friendly.

Fiona Matcham and Rory were up the far end of the garden when Sian brought out the mugs of tea. Sian sat down on one of the chairs and sipped hers, watching them together. She was pleased that Rory had forgotten to be shy and was making friends. She had been a bit worried about taking him away from everything he knew in a busy city out into the country, although, as Richard had pointed out, it was in a village, not a remote location miles from anywhere. There was a school, a pub, a church and two shops, one of which was also a post office. Which makes it a heaving metropolis,' Sian's father had said dryly. He was less sanguine than his wife about his daughter moving away with his only grandchild, although both her parents accepted she was moving for very good reasons. Tea's up!' she called. And biscuits!'

Rory turned and ran back down what would be a lawn one day if Sian was able to stay that long of course, she thought wistfully, and her landlady didn't object followed by Fiona.