Summer at the Dog & Duck Read online

  He raked a hand through his hair in a move so natural he could have no idea the impact it had upon me. ‘Yep. That new development I’m working on has run into problems. The usual stuff, suppliers not meeting delivery dates, subbies letting me down, cashflow issues. I think I’ve pulled it back on track now, but it’s made me realise I need to have more of a hands-on approach with this project.’

  I bit on my smile. In the months since I’d come to know Max, I’d quickly realised he didn’t work any other way. He was a very successful property developer, but liked nothing more than getting stuck in on a project at a grass roots level, helping out his sub-contractors and getting his hands dirty. It was one of the many things I adored about Max, his passion and his dynamism, his enthusiasm for getting the job done.

  When the renovations were being carried out on the pub it was Max who worked through the night, stripping and painting the woodwork and laying new floors, just so that the pub could re-open on Christmas Eve. It was his surprise Christmas gift to me. I’d been devastated when he’d told me that he was closing the pub down just before Christmas, in fact I’d stormed off and vowed never to speak to him again, but what I hadn’t known was that he was working all hours to ensure the pub could reopen in time for the Christmas celebrations, just as I’d wanted.

  Max might own the freehold to the pub, but he didn’t get involved in the running of the pub at all. ‘This is your territory,’ he’d told me, when we’d first signed the paperwork. ‘You’re far too good at what you do for me to be interfering. That’s not to say, I’m not here if you want to bounce some ideas off me or need any advice.’

  Those words from Max had reassured me, knowing he had absolute faith and trust in me to run the pub the way I wanted to. As far as Max was concerned business was business and our personal relationship, well that was something else entirely. I didn’t want to look too far ahead, but for the moment we were happy, even if we didn’t get to spend that much time together. Something I’d learned over the last couple of years was that it’s not always best to make too many plans. Sometimes it was better to just go with the flow and see where life took you. That was the approach I’d adopted ever since I’d been back in Little Leyton and, so far, it had worked a treat.

  ‘When’s the completion date?’ I asked.

  ‘This project? End of the month, but I’ve got another development lined up straight afterwards. To be honest, I’m not feeling it at the moment.’

  ‘Really? Why?’

  He shrugged nonchalantly. ‘Not sure. Sometimes I feel as though I could do without the hassle. You know what it’s like, it’s full on, and for the first time I’m thinking I might like to live a simpler kind of life.’

  ‘Oh, Max. Are you kidding? You’d hate that. You thrive on what you do.’

  ‘Yeah, I suppose you’re right. Although there are other, more important things in life than working seven days a week.’ His gaze lingered on my face for a moment too long, and a little shiver ran down my body.

  ‘Well listen, if you ever need a less stressful job, I can always find you something to do here in the pub. Washing up, collecting glasses, that kind of thing.’

  ‘Ha! Thanks for that. I’ll bear it in mind, but I could never work with you, Ellie. You’d be way too much of a distraction.’ He paused, running his hand along my forearm, from across the other side of the bar. ‘Look, Ellie, I’m going to have to cancel dinner tonight.’

  ‘Oh really?’ I felt the disappointment like a physical pain. ‘You’re blowing me out again?’ I said lightly, trying not to show it.

  ‘Yeah, I’m really sorry, but something’s come up.’ An image of Sasha’s smiling face flittered into my mind and I felt a pang of alarm. ‘Family stuff. Apparently all’s not well in Spain and Katy has been causing all sorts of problems. I’ve got to dash off and collect her from the airport’

  ‘Your sister?’ I asked, ashamed at the huge amount of relief I felt.

  ‘Yeah, there’s been a massive fall-out. To be honest, I’m not sure what’s been going on, but Mum was in a real state, crying down the phone, saying she can’t cope with Katy anymore. Something to do with Alan, I think.’

  ‘Katy’s boyfriend?’

  ‘No, Mum’s husband. He and Katy always used to be close so I don’t know what’s gone quite so wrong.’

  ‘How old is Katy now?’

  ‘Um…’ Max screwed up his face, trying to work it out. ‘Seventeen, maybe eighteen?’

  ‘Hmm, well it can be a tricky age. Perhaps she’s just asserting her independence. It’s natural for teenagers to want to rebel against their parents.’

  ‘Yep, I guess, although I’m not sure Mum sees it that way. Katy’s supposed to be at school, doing A levels, or whatever it is they do out there, but she’s left and is refusing to return. She’s saying she doesn’t want to live with Mum and Alan anymore, and is giving Alan a whole lot of grief. She’s acting up, staying out to all hours of the morning and coming home drunk. I think Alan’s put his foot down and said something has to change. Mum’s worried sick and feels caught in the middle.’

  ‘Oh, that doesn’t sound good,’ I said, grimacing.

  ‘Exactly, that’s why I agreed to have Katy come and stay for a couple of weeks.’ He shrugged. ‘Mum begged me to so I could hardly say no. Not that I’m sure I’ll be a lot of help. I don’t have a great deal of experience with stroppy teenage girls, and Katy and I have never spent any length of time together before, so it’ll be interesting, if nothing else.’ He lifted his palms to the air, looking hopelessly out of his depth.

  It was lovely to think that Max wanted to help out his sister, even if it might mean us having even less time together. Still, I was sure it wouldn't be for long and I was excited at the prospect of meeting Katy as he hadn't introduced me to any of his family yet.

  ‘Well that’s probably all that’s needed,’ I said. ‘A change of scene and a bit of distance between Katy and her mum. I bet, a couple of weeks spent in Little Leyton and she’ll be dying to get back home again.’

  ‘Yeah, well that’s what I’m hoping. To be honest, I’m going to be pretty busy these next few weeks, but she can make herself comfortable at home, do whatever it is teenage girls do. She’s not been to the house before and it will give us a chance to get to know each other.’

  ‘Well if there’s anything you want me to do to help out then just let me know.’

  ‘Thanks Ellie. I’m really sorry about tonight. I’ll make it up to you some other time. I promise.’

  ‘Don’t worry. I understand. You need to be there for your family right now.’

  Max downed his drink and flashed a rueful smile. He rarely spoke about his family. As far as I knew he hadn’t seen any of them in the time since I’d known him. Max’s father died when Max was still a teenager and his mother had quickly remarried and moved to Spain with her new husband to make a fresh start, taking Max’s little sister Katy with them. Max hadn’t said as much, but I’d got the impression he wasn’t particularly close to his family. The only person that Max spoke about with genuine affection was his grandfather, Noel, who I’d known long before I’d met Max. It was the reason Max had come to Little Leyton in the first place, to take care of his grandfather in the final weeks of his life. Sadly Noel, who had been a regular at the pub, always sitting in the rocking chair next to the fireplace, a chair that was now affectionally referred to as Noel’s chair, passed away soon afterwards, leaving a hole in the hearts of the villagers who’d grown fond of the old man, and an even bigger gap in the heart of his grandson.

  Funny to think I’d ever doubted Max’s motives for wanting to buy the pub, when all he’d wanted was to keep the Dog and Duck running, in respect to his grandfather’s memory. I looked across at him now, feeling a warmth spread round my skin.

  ‘Families, huh?’ he said, with a shrug.

  ‘I know,’ I replied, smiling at his obvious bemusement, ‘but it sounds as though they need you right now.’

  ‘Come
here.’ He beckoned me over to his side of the bar and I walked around into his arms, relishing the sensation of his strong embrace, resting my head on his chest, soaking up his delicious male scent. Outdoorsy, fresh, all-masculine, all-Max. He ran his fingers through my hair, looking at me imploringly. ‘I know I’m guilty of not giving you enough time at the moment, Ellie, and I feel bad about that.’

  ‘There’s no need, we’re both busy.’

  ‘Yes, I get that, but I don’t want our relationship to suffer as a result. I know we both have our other commitments, but once Katy goes home we ought to make more of an effort. What do you reckon?’

  Relief swept through me hearing Max talk like this because I’d had a niggling worry ever since Sasha had turned up the other day, wondering why she was here and what she wanted. I’d been planning on mentioning something to him, but given what he’d just said, and the way he was observing me with those dark intense eyes, I figured her visit couldn’t have been important and was probably not worth bringing up now.

  So, what did I reckon?

  With Max's face so close to mine, it would have been hard to disagree, but then again why would I have wanted to.

  ‘Definitely. I’ve been thinking the same.’

  ‘You have?’

  I hadn’t wanted to push it with Max, but I had to admit it was frustrating only seeing each other occasionally, snatching moments together when we could. As brief and delightful as those moments were, they always left me feeling slightly bereft and longing for more.

  ‘Well, it’s good to know we’re of a similar mind.’

  Could we really be of a similar mind? Did Max really feel the same way as me? I still didn’t know. Ever since Max had volunteered to be my co-driver on the charity run to France last year when Eric needed to pull out after breaking his ankle, I’d felt a sense of gratitude towards Max and a deep connection too. I’d been horrified at first at the thought of being stuck with the sexy, but hugely intimidating newcomer to the village in a van on a trip to the continent, but I’d had no need to worry. Being with him had felt so natural and my feelings for him grew quickly, feelings I’d had to keep a lid on when I found out he had a gorgeous girlfriend installed at Braithwaite Manor. When Max later split up from Sasha, our relationship was given the chance to flourish, but ever since then there had been a small part of me holding back from completely letting go. Wasn’t it time to let go now?

  Four

  After Max left, I popped round to the flower shop next door where Polly was perched high up on her stool at the worktop, seeing to some paperwork. She smiled as she looked up to greet me.

  ‘What are you doing tonight?’ I asked.

  ‘Um, let me consult my very busy social calendar.’ She ran a fingernail down her order pad. ‘Yes, as I suspected, absolutely nothing. Why do you ask?’

  ‘Great. Fancy going out for something to eat at that new pizza place in town?’

  ‘Well in the unlikely event that Daniel Craig is going to waltz through that door and whisk me away from all of this, then yes, I’d love to,’ said Polly, her face lighting up.

  I didn’t take many nights off work and having already organised cover at the pub for my date with Max, it seemed a shame to see the evening go to waste. Besides, it had been far too long since Polly and I had a proper catch-up, I realised, as I sat across her from the table in the restaurant later.

  ‘So where’s Max tonight then,’ Polly asked, as she topped up my glass from the bottle of Prosecco in the ice bucket.

  ‘Well, he’s had to go off to the airport to collect his sister, Katy. Between you and me, she’s been having a few problems at home, so she’s coming to stay with Max for a little while.’

  ‘I didn’t even know Max had a sister,’ said Polly. ‘I guess you’ll get to meet her then?’

  ‘I hope so. I haven’t met any of his family yet, well apart from Noel, but that was before I even knew Max. I’m not sure he’s terribly close to Katy. She’s about twelve years younger than him and they didn’t spend a lot of time together growing-up. Obviously they’ve seen each other a few times over the years, but I think only for fleeting visits. To be honest, Max doesn’t talk much about his family.’

  ‘Oh right. Well, he’ll have no choice but to get to know his sister now,’ said Polly wryly.

  ‘Exactly. In a way it’s a good opportunity for them all to build some bridges. Although I think Max is a bit apprehensive about how it will work out. As he says, he’s not used to dealing with teenage girls.’

  ‘Well, at least they'll be doing it in style, up in that lovely manor house in Little Leyton, he could take in a whole minibus full of orphans if he wanted to. I’ve always thought what a shame it is that it's only him rattling around inside there.

  ‘I know,’ I chuckled. ‘It does seem a bit mad.’

  I’d thought the same the first time I’d visited the manor. I’d been overwhelmed by the scale and grandeur of the place. With over ten bedrooms, state-of-the-art appliances, oak woodwork throughout and acres of landscaped gardens outside, it was like something from a glossy magazine. I’d wafted around the place, waltzing up and down the vast sweeping staircase with a flourish, imagining myself to be a movie star from a bygone age. It was a stunning house, a showpiece, but lacking in that one vital ingredient, that something indefinable, that turns a beautifully constructed house into a warm and welcoming home.

  ‘Anyway, how are you doing now?’ I asked her.

  Polly lifted her chin, her eyes narrowing as though not having the faintest idea what I was talking about.

  ‘You were a bit down the other day,’ I reminded her. ‘About Johnny?’

  ‘Johnny who?’ she said sharply, before a smile caught on her mouth. ‘Oh, I’m sorry about that. I was a right old misog that day, wasn’t I? I shouldn’t have offloaded on you like that.’

  ‘Don’t be daft. We’re friends. That’s what I’m here for. I know I might seem preoccupied with the pub at times, but anytime you need to talk, I’m here for you.’ I leant over and placed my hand lightly on hers. ‘I mean it, Polly.’

  ‘Thanks, Ells.’ She sighed, intertwining her fingers together. ‘I know Johnny and I hadn’t been together that long, just a matter of months really, but I thought we had something special, something that might go somewhere. I could never have imagined he would just up and leave the way he did.’ She lifted her gaze from her fingers. ‘He broke my heart, but what can you do?’ she asked, a weak smile forming on her lips. ‘I can’t waste any more time pining over him. As much as I might not like it, Johnny’s moved on and that’s what I have to do too.’

  ‘Easier said than done, eh?’

  ‘In this village, it is. Sometimes I wonder where I’m going to be in five years’ time. If I’ll still be preparing bouquets for other people’s wives and girlfriends, without ever finding someone special of my own.’ She flapped her hand against her chest. ‘It’s that feeling of being left behind. As if life is something that’s happening to everyone else, while I’m still waiting to even get on the bus.’

  ‘Oh, Polly, it will happen to you too.’

  She gave a shrug. ‘Funny thing is, I didn’t realise I was even looking for it until Johnny, and now I know how lovely it is to have someone to share those simple things in life with, I know I want it again.’

  ‘Yep,’ I nodded, mulling over the truth of Polly’s words. ‘I suppose deep down it’s what everyone hopes for, to find that special person to spend the rest of their lives with.’

  ‘Well you’re all right,’ said Polly, rallying. ‘You’ve got Max.’

  ‘Yes, but it’s still early days for us. Who knows what might happen?’

  ‘Nah, you two are solid. He adores you. You only need to see the way he looks at you to know that.’

  A warm feeling flooded my stomach. Deep down I knew Max was my ‘one’. I could only hope he felt the same way too. If Polly had noticed, then maybe I ought to start believing it was true.

  ‘Well, look. Mayb
e it’s time for you to start dating again. To test the water,’ I said. ‘Nothing too serious. Just to get out there and start having fun again.’

  Polly gave me a doubtful look. ‘The last time I went on a date was before Johnny and that was with the carpet man. Remember him? And how fantastically that went?’

  We both sniggered at the memory. It had been a double date, of sorts. Johnny and I had gone along for moral support, which was just as well really because it turned out that the carpet man could bore for England. We’d made our excuses as quickly as we politely could and after dispatching the carpet man the three of us ended up in the Dog and Duck laughing about Polly’s lucky escape. It wasn’t long after that Polly and Johnny got together…

  ‘By the way, did you find out what Sasha was doing back in the village?’

  ‘No, I didn’t like to ask, Max was a bit preoccupied with all this business about Katy. I expect it was something to do with work, Sasha’s an interior designer and I know she’s worked on a couple of projects with him before. Max would have said if it was anything else.’

  ‘Ah right,’ said Polly, nodding.

  I mean, it had to be work, right? What else could she possibly want with Max?

  *

  Walking into the pub on a Friday night was a life-affirming experience. As soon as we pushed our way through the heavy front door, we were greeted by a warm buzz of conviviality. Lively conversation, laughter and the sound of people enjoying themselves wrapped around us in a welcoming hug.

  Usually, I’d be behind the bar, in the thick of all the action, serving pints, clearing glasses, exchanging banter with the customers, not stopping for a moment to draw breath, but to be able to take a moment in the hubbub of all this activity to see the place through a customer’s eyes was lovely. I thought of Eric, off now on his travels, and how delighted he would be to see the pub he’d given so many years of his working life to, still thriving and serving the community of Little Leyton as it had always done.