Follow My Lead Episode 33
Danielle and Lydia had been up early to make sure the cottage was clean for Danielle’s mum’s visit.
“Not that Mum’s houseproud,” Danielle shouted over the noise of the vacuum Lydia was pushing round the room.
“Not unless she’s changed since we shared a flat,” Lydia shouted back, laughing.
“But cobwebs would be too embarrassing,” Danielle reasoned, whisking the duster round the windows.
Danielle climbed down from the step stool.
“That’ll do for now.” She cast a glance out the window. “Quick! Throw the vacuum in the cupboard. Mum’s here.”
Lydia was first to the door.
“Marie! It’s so fabulous to see you!”
All Danielle could see of her mum was her amused eyes meeting hers from the depths of Lydia’s tight hug.
Marie did at least manage to twiddle her fingers at her in a wave.
However, it was Lydia who broke the hug.
“I’m so happy to see you. Danielle’s all yours. I’ll make some coffee.”
“Actually,” Marie replied, “did I see a farmers’ market when I drove through the village? I might pick up some scones for lunch and some to take home.”
Marie had driven to Thornville, but they left her car at the cottage and walked round to the green where the market was held.
“I like to see what’s new in the village,” she explained.
“That would be me, I think.” Lydia grinned.
The market consisted of stalls set out on the grassy area.
It was a breezy day and the awnings billowed and flapped in the sunshine.
The weather had brought out the locals, so there was a crowd milling around the stalls, which sold everything from honey to organic chicken, fruit and veg to artisan gin.
“Morning, Lydia.” It was Sylvia from the shop, a smiling face passing amidst the throng. “We’ve lots of sign-ups on the newsletter.”
“Great! I’ll catch up with you later.”
More people smiled and greeted them as they passed, and Danielle felt her mum nudge her elbow.
“Is there anyone she doesn’t know?” she asked, laughing. “I shouldn’t be surprised; she’s always been like that.”
Before Danielle could reply, her mum’s attention was caught by pyramids of jars stacked on a table.
“I spy honey. I’ll take a jar back for your dad. You know his sweet tooth.”
“Like someone else I know,” Lydia put in, and Danielle felt herself blush.
She still hadn’t phoned Stu, in spite of Lydia’s tactful urging. She couldn’t get past the fear that she had misinterpreted the whole date thing.
Almost as if she had conjured him up, she suddenly spotted his head over the milling crowd.
She stood on tiptoe and waved, but he turned away.
She turned to find Lydia and her mum watching with interest.
“Who’s that?” Marie asked.
“That’s Stu,” Danielle replied.
“Ah.” She’d told her mum all about Stu and their friendship, and the date – or not. “I see.”
They all looked again to where Stu had been, but there was no sign of him now.
He had seemed to be looking straight at her. Hadn’t he seen her?
Disappointed, Danielle braced herself for more questions, but she was saved by Cyrus popping out from the crowd to greet Lydia with his usual hug and kiss on the cheek.
“Morning – again.”
Danielle knew he and Lydia had shared their yoga practice earlier, but Marie’s eyebrows shot up.
“I’m ready for a rematch on our chess game,” Cyrus went on.
“I’ve figured out where you were bamboozling me and I want my revenge!”
“Any time,” Lydia replied with a laugh, before he wandered off with an airy wave.
“I’ll be in touch.”
Marie’s eyebrows were still up in her hairline.
“Who’s that?” she asked, and Danielle saw her godmother blush.
“That’s Cyrus. He’s just a friend,” Lydia said with mischief in her eyes.
Marie folded her arms, her expression comically miffed.
“Don’t think I’m going to let you off with that old line!
“I obviously have a lot of catching up to do,” she went on. “I’m not going home until I know everything!”