Follow My Lead Episode 35
“Hasn’t this been a perfect day?” Lydia asked.
It was two hours later and they’d barely moved.
The sun had swung round towards the west, but the garden remained bathed in its light.
The two older women were on bistro chairs. They had blankets and the woodburner was aglow.
They were replete from lunch, yet every so often one or other of them would reach out to pop a cherry tomato into their mouths, or an olive.
Marie sighed.
“I suppose I’d better think about making a move, though I can’t be bothered driving home.”
“Why not stay over?” Danielle suggested. “You can have my bed; I’ll take the sofa. Dad won’t mind.”
“He won’t,” Marie agreed.
“He’ll relish the excuse to phone for a carry-out and binge watch ‘Sopranos’ without my nattering in the background.”
Marie gave it a few more seconds’ thought, but it was a dozy yawn that seemed to help her decide.
“OK. Thanks, Danielle.” She nudged Lydia beside her. “It’ll be like old times!”
“Party time,” Lydia agreed lazily.
Marie shuffled her bottom backwards on her seat to sit up.
“We should make it a party,” she said. “We have a lot to celebrate. Danielle, do you have any fizz?”
Danielle did a mental stocktake of her drinks cabinet – one shelf in her kitchen cupboard – and came up blank.
“Nope.”
“I know a man who will.” Lydia sat up, too.
“Cyrus?” she called. “Cyrus, are you there?”
His window was ajar, but they saw a hand reach to undo the catch and open it wider, then his face appeared.
“You called, my lady?”
“Cyrus, do you happen to have any fizz?”
“I do. It’s rather a nice bottle, as it happens. Something to celebrate?”
“Yes, and we’d love you to join us, if you’ll bring your bottle!” she teased.
By the time Danielle had fetched an assortment of glasses, Cyrus had brought round both his bottle of champagne and a canvas camping stool.
He opened the bottle with some panache, and there was hilarity as the foam erupted.
“What’s the occasion?” he asked, dispensing the drinks.
Marie raised her glass.
“I’m drinking simply to Danielle being the best daughter in the world.”
Danielle groaned, then raised her own glass.
“I hit a bump in the road with my business. I thought I was going to lose everything.
“But things are looking better now and I think it’s back on track.”
“And you?” Cyrus turned to Lydia.
“I’m celebrating making a huge decision.”
She allowed a long pause, teasing him.
“I’ve decided to stay in Thornville.” She held up a hand.
“I’m going to take the job managing the farm shop,” she said, ticking off one finger.
“I’m going to help Danielle and Stu with the hall,” she said, ticking off a second finger.
“I’m going to see Charlie about that blue car in his yard,” she said, smiling at Danielle as she ticked off finger number three.
“And I’d better start looking around for a place of my own.” That was finger number four.
Cyrus hadn’t moved, but his gaze, resting on her, was so intense they all felt it.
“Good,” he said simply. “That’s good.”
They shared a smile that seemed more like a promise.
“Oh, and something else.” Lydia switched hands and raised another finger.
“If anyone can recommend a good local hairdresser, I’d appreciate it!”
Amidst the laughter, a voice called from somewhere behind them.
“Hello? Is anyone home?”