Follow My Lead Episode 15
Had that been a knock at the door, or was it just one of the house’s odd creaks?
No, it was definitely a rat-a-tat at the letter-box.
Lydia closed the laptop.
Not that she’d been doing anything constructive on it. After an exchange of e-mails with Danielle’s mum, Marie, she’d sat staring at a blank screen.
She opened the door to a handsome young man.
“Hi. I’m Stu – a friend of Danielle’s. She mentioned putting up some shelves and I said I’d lend her this.”
He held up a power drill.
Lydia opened the door wider.
“Ah, Stu. It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.
“I’m Lydia. Danielle’s at work at the moment, but won’t you come in for a minute?”
She led him into the living-room.
“I’ve just made a pot of tea. Can I talk you into a mug?”
“I never say no to tea. Thanks. Milk, two sugars.”
She liked his open grin.
Lydia brought through a tray, and Stu eyed the pack of biscuits with approval.
“You’ve detected my sweet tooth,” he joked.
“The clue was in the two sugars.”
She smiled as she took a seat on the sofa.
He had settled into one of the armchairs. He sipped the tea and crunched into one of the biscuits.
“How did Danielle get on with Ollie’s family yesterday?” he asked. “Did she say?”
Lydia had heard the story of the lost dog when Danielle had come home.
“OK, on the whole. They were glad he was safe, and they seemed to appreciate the efforts Danielle had gone to to find him.”
Stu was nodding.
“Good. She did all she could. And how about you? Are you settling in?”
“I am, thanks,” she replied, curling her legs up under her. “Danielle couldn’t have made me more welcome.
“I understand I have you to thank for that, too. The painting?”
He ducked his head.
“Oh, no worries. I’d do anything for Danielle.
“I mean . . . well . . .” He blushed furiously, and Lydia took pity on him.
“Did Danielle tell me you’re a chimney sweep?” she asked. “I didn’t realise that was still a job.”
He raised an amused eyebrow and nodded towards the woodburner.
“With so many of those around, I’m busier than ever. Chimneys don’t clean themselves, you know.”
“Of course. I never thought of that.” She laughed. “I’m more of a townie than I’d realised!
“I think Cyrus next door already sees me as a bit of a project,” she went on.
“He allows me to join him for his morning yoga, and he’s teaching me about taking life more slowly.
“I’m not sure it’ll ever come naturally to me, but I’m trying.”
“Good for you.” Stu hesitated. “Danielle told me about your job. I’m sorry about that. Do you have any plans?”
“Not really.”
She thought about the call from Basil and how she’d got her hopes up that he might be looking to give her back her old job.
But when she’d returned his call, it turned out he’d only wanted to check a detail in one of her last features.
It had been a pretext to call her, she suspected.
He’d been looking for a sympathetic ear to his worries about how safe his own job was.
Still, she’d enjoyed their chat. They’d always been good friends.
Her thoughts circled back to Stu’s question.
“What am I going to do with myself?” she said. “I need to earn an income. I can’t lodge with poor Danielle for ever.”
“How about writing?” he suggested. “I assume that’s still what you want to do?”
“If I can.” Lydia nodded. “I have a few feature ideas, including one about forest bathing, thanks to Danielle.
“The trouble is, freelance writing is a very crowded marketplace, and it’s not particularly well paid. I’m not sure I could rely on it.”
“Maybe now’s the time to write your novel. They say everyone’s got one in them, don’t they?” Stu said.
“Maybe. I –” She broke off as the door opened.
“Hi, Lydia. It’s only me.”
It was Danielle.
“Oh, hi, Stu!” The girl blushed as she popped her head into the room.
“I brought that drill round for the shelves,” he explained. “I’d better get back to work.”
He stood up hastily.
“Thanks for the tea, Lydia. It was nice to meet you.”
“You, too, Stu. It’s good to put a face to the name when I’ve heard so much about you.”
Danielle blushed again at that.
As Stu left, Lydia observed them.
Maybe it was time for a novel. Perhaps she could make it a romance, with those two as inspiration.