Cherry Blossoms (6 page)

Chapter Ten

On Monday, Cherry had mixed feelings about going into work. She wanted to see Oliver, but didn’t know if he would ignore her, perhaps regretting their physical contact. Usually she felt quite cheerful when she was preparing for work. She changed into her overalls and tied her hair back in a ponytail without saying a word to Pat.

“
Are you all right?” Pat asked as Cherry stuffed her clothes into her locker.

“
Fine,” she replied, plastering a false smile on her face. “Must get on.”

“It’s not like you not to stop and chat. I’m worried about you. I thought you would have been
singing with joy, now that you have somewhere decent to live and it’s all above board. You’ve had so many setbacks, it was no wonder you’ve been down, but surely you should be happy now.”

“You’re right, Pat. We
are
lucky.”

Cherry felt embarrassed when she bumped into Oliver as
she made her way up the stairs to the first floor. She could still feel the roughness of his damp jacket on her cheek.

“
Let me,” Oliver said, taking the box of cleaning materials she was carrying.

“
I’m sure you have better things to do with your time,” she said, as she unlocked the door of the first room she had to clean.

“
Probably, but I’d rather be here chatting to you. You’ll be pleased to know Darius set off for the conference this morning. No more gambling for Jay for a while. That brother of mine is a bad influence. Anyway, he seemed quite cheerful about going today. He seems to think there are going to be some attractive young women there. That’s all he seems to have on his mind . . .” He tailed off.

Aware
he was watching her, she stopped and turned to face him. “Oliver,” she said feeling her face flush, “we mustn’t get close again. I’m your employee. We’ve got to work together and I’ve got Jay to think of.” Looking at him now, she wanted to relive the moments when she’d hugged him and he’d taken her hand.

“
Mmm, you’re probably right,” Oliver said, gazing out of the window.

Cherry was disappointed.
He might have protested, made her feel that it had meant at least something to him. She turned and bashed the pillows into shape.

“
But as you say we do have to work together and . . . as your employer of course . . . I’d like you to go with me to look at the boats I was telling you about. I think we should make the decision together. Whether we like them and how many to buy. I’d like to go tomorrow if that fits in with your schedule.”

“
Tomorrow? I can’t. I’m so sorry, but as you know it’s half-term, and I can’t leave Jay all day to fend for himself. But I could bring him. That would solve the problem. Would that be okay?”

“
Will he be safe in a boat?” Oliver asked.

Cherry laughed.
“That’s a joke, right?” But Oliver wasn’t laughing. “You don’t want him to come, do you? We’ve just spent the last few years living on a boat. If Jay doesn’t know about the danger of water I don’t know who does.”

“
All right then,” Oliver huffed, “as long as we don’t have to eat fast food for lunch.”

“
He only eats burgers when we’re out,” Cherry teased.

Oliver groaned.
“I’m not very good with children. I’m never quite sure what to say to them. Do you speak to them in simple language or treat them like you would an adult?”

“
Just be yourself. I’m sure you’ll get on with Jay. He gets on with everyone.”

“
Thanks very much,” Oliver said, sounding annoyed. “You know Darius is the sociable one. He gets on with everyone, too, all ages: from babies to ninety-year-olds. Couldn’t Pat . . .”

“
No, she couldn’t. I’m not taking advantage of her.” Cherry was quick to dismiss that idea.

But after Oliver had left the room she longed to rush off and find Pat to ask if
she’d care for Jay. The thought of spending a day alone with Oliver was thrilling, but then she remembered what she’d just said to Oliver about being his employee. There would be no more holding hands with him. Although she’d thought she’d never fall in love again after Alan had left, she was beginning to understand what falling in love was really like. She’d never felt quite like this before.

* * *

Oliver waited in the hotel reception. He’d decided to dress casually in jeans and a shirt. His mother, despite her general indifference to his welfare, would have insisted he take a change of clothes as he invariably fell in when he went boating. He remembered, as a teenager, punting in Cambridge with friends and getting the pole stuck in the mud and holding on a little too long until he fell in. And it was just his luck that it had been where the river was thick with tourists. He didn’t want to make a fool of himself in front of Cherry or Jay. He wanted Jay to like him.

“
Hi!” Cherry took him by surprise. He jumped up from his chair.

“
Hello,” he said, taking her hands and admiring her slim figure and pretty blouse. He peered behind her. “Where’s Jay?”

“
Maurice wanted to take him fishing and reluctantly I agreed.” Cherry pulled her hands out of his grasp and crossed her fingers behind her back. She’d called to see Pat and Maurice the previous evening and asked if Jay could spend the day with Maurice. Pat in particular had been very enthusiastic about the plan. Maurice and Jay were now down on the river with their fishing rods and would happily spend the whole day there. Cherry had made thick sandwiches along with two large thermos flasks of tea. She’d promised to pick up fish and chips on the way home, although Maurice had joked that she needn’t bother as they’d be catching their own supper.

* * *

Oliver lay back on the cushions clutching a glass of wine as Cherry rowed the boat. “This is the life,” he said.

“
I think we’ll pull into the bank, in the shade of those trees, and then we’ll be able to enjoy the lunch you brought.” When Cherry had secured the boat to a tree on the bank, she hopped back on the boat and settled on the cushion Oliver had thrown her. He then passed her some pitta bread filled with minted falafel and salad and arranged Moroccan chicken wraps and fruit on a plate, before handing her a glass of wine.

“
To boating!” Oliver raised his glass. “Are you having a good time?”

Cherry raised hers too
. “I am, but I feel sad at the thought of our old home being bought and repaired by some stranger. I suppose things change,” she murmured aloud.

“
They certainly do,” Oliver agreed. It wasn’t so long ago that he’d been besotted by Rebecca and now he barely gave her a thought. All his thoughts were about this lively young woman who looked so serious at this moment. Then there was the hotel.

“
What is it, Oliver? You’re looking thoughtful,” Cherry said.

“
Just thinking how quickly things
do
change. I was working in the City when my mother died, leaving me the hotel. It was only four months ago. I didn’t know what to do at first. I had a good life there and enjoyed my job. Lots of friends, a good social life. It was a difficult decision to make, but I thought if I didn’t come and try to make a go of the hotel I’d regret it for the rest of my life.”

Cherry reached for a wrap.
“Any regrets about coming here?”

“
None at all,” he said solemnly as he gazed at her.

“
I’m sorry about your mother.”

Cherry
looked away and hoped by changing the subject she wouldn’t say anything
she’d
regret. Sitting on the gently rocking boat with Oliver just an arm’s reach away was almost more than she could bear. “I can’t really say I ever got to know her, she was quite distant with her employees, from what I’ve heard.”

“
We weren’t close. She was a rather distant mother, too, but I do miss her.” There was a catch in his voice.

Cherry reac
hed forward and took his hand. She squeezed it gently and was going to pull her hand away when Oliver grasped it firmly. She’d definitely made the right decision leaving Jay behind. Oliver pulled her towards him and gently kissed her. She felt an overwhelming wave of desire as he gazed into her eyes.

“
Cherry, I just want to say . . .”

But the moment was lost as Cherry leapt up
, almost overturning the boat. “Look we’ve drifted from the bank,” she shouted, “and I’ve left the oars there.”

“
Sit down, Cherry, you’re making me seasick. This is ridiculous.” Oliver grinned.

Ch
erry sat back down, hot and bothered. “You’ll think me such a fool, not keeping the oars in the boat. We should have brought Jay, he’s got more sense than me.” Hearing Oliver laugh, she saw the funny side of their situation, too, and pulling the cushion out from behind her, threw it at Oliver, almost knocking him off balance.

“
I won’t hold this against you as long as you’re prepared to do the swimming,” Oliver said.

Cherry
tested the water with her hand. “Way too cold for me. Anyway, it’s your outing. I’m prepared to meet you halfway, I’ll apologise for not being much good at tying ropes to trees.”

Oliver
hadn’t enjoyed himself so much for months and was quite happy to dive into the water. All that troubled him was the question of how much clothing to keep dry. He slipped his shirt off and, after a moment’s hesitation, stripped down to his boxers. Jumping in, he rocked the boat and heard Cherry clapping and shouting encouragement. Bobbing up, he pulled the boat back to the bank. Once on dry land he secured the boat and watched as Cherry leapt out clutching his clothes.

“
Here we are, Oliver, slip these back on,” she said holding them out for him. She couldn’t fail to notice his toned, masculine body. Being with him was becoming more and more difficult, especially as she’d told herself she must regard him as her employer and nothing more. Oliver was shivering and reached out for her.

“
Warm me up, Cherry, that water’s freezing.”

It took all
Cherry’s willpower to resist. She turned and stepped back to the boat. “Come on, Oliver, let’s get back in so that I can row us back to the yard. Then we can drive home with the heating on. It might be sunny, but it’s a cold day for May and we don’t want you going down with anything.”

“
This always happens to me,” Oliver said miserably. “I’m always the one who gets wet.”

Oliver
didn’t say much on the drive back to the hotel and Cherry didn’t know whether to chat or keep quiet. They pulled into the staff car park and Oliver slammed on the brakes. “Do you see that?” he said, angrily.

Cherry
couldn’t see anything unusual.

“
That car!”

It was a red TVR
, and meant nothing to Cherry.

“
It belongs to Darius. What the hell’s he doing back so soon?”

Chapter Eleven

Oliver was polite enough to open the car door for Cherry before marching off to find out what Darius was up to. Cherry couldn’t see a problem. She’d been surprised when Darius had gone to the conference, but he wasn’t the sort of man, in Cherry’s opinion, to spend a few days being told what to do. Obviously, he didn’t have an overwhelming interest in the hotel business. Hopefully Oliver would have time to change out of his damp jeans before confronting Darius.

She opened the car boot and starte
d unloading the picnic things. It had been a wonderful time and she’d loved being on the river. Crumpled up on the floor of the boot were Oliver’s socks. He said he couldn’t drive without shoes and he felt uncomfortable in wet socks. It was funny, reflected Cherry, a giggle threatening, how she found even his feet attractive. Tucking the socks into her pocket, she carried the picnic things back into the hotel. After she’d sorted them all out, she headed for the cottage.

Cherry was delighted to ha
ve all these rooms to herself. It was wonderful to have separate bedrooms and more living space. She’d stayed up late the night before trying out the oven. And it was such a luxury to have a washing machine and loads of hot water on tap. Almost without thinking, she ran herself a deep bath, pouring in vanilla and cocoa butter scented oil. Then she dashed to the bedroom for a book and the portable radio. She’d make up for her day at the river being cut short by spending some time in the bath! A luxury she’d been without while living on the boat.

Very comfortable and warm, Cherry turned the pages of her
Scarpetta crime novel, soothed by the piano music playing in the background. Suddenly, she sat upright, splashing water over the side of the bath. What on earth was she doing? Technically, she was still supposed to be at work. Because of her time on the river and the picnic, she’d forgotten that it was a working day out. Oliver had said he needed to know what sort of boats they wanted and how many. Pulling out the plug, she scrambled out of the bath, drenching her book, and dried herself before dressing in cream trousers and a lilac blouse. Her hair had gone frizzy from the humidity in the bathroom, but she had no time to try and tame it properly, just running a brush through it.

Ten minutes later
, she was sitting at the desk in the office, a pad of paper in front of her, chewing on the end of a biro.

“
Ah good, you’ve made a start.” Oliver came into the room, looking smart in a suit again, giving no indication that he’d stormed off, fallen in the river, or kissed her so deliciously.

Cherry pretended to be engrossed with scribbling lists onto the page and
didn’t look up. Eventually, she handed over the pad and said, “Here are my ideas. I hope you’ll find them satisfactory. Now, if it’s all right with you,” she glanced at her watch, “I have to go and pick up Jay.”

Oliver’s
head jerked up. “But I thought he was with Maurice.”

“
They’ve spent the day together, yes, but I can’t expect Maurice to look after him any longer. I think I’ve done all I can here today. If I think of anything further, I’ll make notes this evening and continue tomorrow. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“
Cherry . . .” Oliver started, but she swept out of the room.

* * *

“It was great, Mum. You should have been there. I caught a whopper!” Jay exclaimed. “It was that big.” He extended his arms as far as he could.

“
Sounds as though it would have fed us all.”

“Oh, most fishermen throw their catch back. It’s the thrill of the catch, not the kill,” Jay recited.

Cherry smiled to herself. Jay and Maurice had evidently had a good time together.

“
What shall we do now, Mum?” They were lounging on the sofa in the cottage watching the news on TV, but Jay was restless.

“
Come on then. I’ll buy you an ice cream at the hotel and you can eat it in the lounge.”

Jay scrambled to his feet and was out the door before Cherry could switch off the TV and grab her purse.

* * *

“
Darius! I thought you were away. Look Mum, it’s Darius.”

“
The conference didn’t take your interest then?” enquired Cherry feeling a bit uncomfortable.

“
It was quite boring, Cherry. I thought I’d have more fun playing twenty-one with my mate here, so I came back.” He took a pack of cards from his pocket, shuffled and cut them elaborately and slapped them down on the table. “Ready when you are.”

“
Do you still want that ice cream?” asked Cherry.

“
I’d rather play cards first. Can I, Mum?”

Cherry left them to it and sank into
a deep armchair by the window. Exhausted by all the goings on of the last couple of days, Cherry closed her eyes and tried to relax. Things were going well, she told herself. Jay had enjoyed a good day out and was now having a fun time. They had somewhere great to live and she didn’t need to impose on Pat and Maurice. She promised herself an early night. Hopefully, she wouldn’t be overwhelmed by bad dreams of Oliver. She thought of what might have happened if she hadn’t left the blasted oars on the bank. She remembered Oliver’s face with his inviting lips nearing hers. Finding it unbearable to think of what might have been, she snapped her eyes open. Then wished she hadn’t.

“
Mrs Talbot? What are you doing here?” Cherry struggled out of her reverie and looked up at her worst nightmare.

“
As a matter of fact, I called in for a pot of tea on my way home. I didn’t know you’d be here, I thought you’d be out with Jay as it’s his half-term holiday.”

Cherry
stood up and faced Mrs Talbot. “Yes, he’s . . .”

But Mrs Talbot
didn’t let her finish. “By the look of things, it’s just as well I did call in.” Her lips compressed, and she looked pointedly in the direction of Jay and Darius.

“
Twist,” yelled Jay, while Cherry’s insides twisted.

“
Oh no,” she breathed.

Just at that moment, Oliver came out of the office
and passed through the lounge. He advanced on Cherry and Mrs Talbot. “How do you do? Are you a friend of Cherry?” He beamed his most winning smile at her and extended his hand.

Short of being rude, Mrs Talb
ot had to shake hands with him. Cherry, not sure what was going on, but glad of the diversion, introduced her son’s social worker to her boss and explained that Mrs Talbot had just popped in for a pot of tea.

“
But now I find that the child is gambling,” she exclaimed, nodding towards the corner banquette.

Oliver’s
rumble of laughter took Cherry by surprise. “Gambling? Oh no, Mrs Talbot. I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick there. Just a minute.” He darted over to Darius, spoke briefly to him, and then returned. “The man with Jay is my brother. It’s as I thought. Darius is giving Jay some homework. You know, practising adding up, that sort of thing. We used to do it with our parents during the school holidays,” he continued smoothly. “Much better if you can make a game out of these things, I’m sure you agree, Mrs Talbot.”

Taking up the theme, Cherry said,
“Jay does need some help with his arithmetic and Darius was kind enough to volunteer. They only play for matches.” She was so relieved she hadn’t given in and let Jay gamble with pennies. She stole a look at Mrs Talbot who looked uncertain.

“
Good, now that’s settled, would you excuse me?” Oliver took Mrs Talbot’s hand once again. “I hope we’ll have the pleasure of seeing you here again soon.” He carried on through the hotel lounge before disappearing into the kitchen.

Cherry frowned at
Oliver’s strange behaviour, but he’d certainly saved their bacon this time and she sent silent thanks to him. “May I get you that pot of tea, Mrs Talbot?” Cherry asked. She just wanted the woman to go, but didn’t want to be seen to be hurrying her out in case she became suspicious about Oliver’s explanation.

As Mrs Talbot and Cherry settled down at the table by the window once again, one of the waitresses appeared and deposited a
bounteous tray in front of them.

“
What’s this?” gasped Mrs Talbot. “I only wanted a cup of tea.”

“
Mr Fingle’s compliments, madam. He thought you both deserved a full cream tea.”

They looked at the warm scones, pots of cream
, and strawberry jam. “This looks scrumptious,” said Cherry, despite feeling it was a little late to be serving up a cream tea. But she was delighted to see Mrs Talbot reaching for a plate. Cherry picked up the large teapot and poured a cup of steaming tea, handing it across the table.

“
These scones are delicious. It’s ages since I had a cream tea,” said Mrs Talbot. “In fact, it’s ages since I had lunch.” She took a large bite of scone, leaving a trace of cream and jam on the end of her nose. Cherry laughed and passed her a napkin. Maybe she wasn’t such an awful woman after all. She must have to deal with all sorts of people and Cherry was certain that it was the child’s welfare which mattered most to her.

Cherry took a deep breath.
“I’d like to thank you for keeping an eye on Jay. I know it’s your job to make sure that the children are looked after properly. I’m sorry if I’ve been less than helpful to you in the past.”

“
Believe me, Cherry, I’ve come across a lot worse people than you.” Well, that was a backhanded compliment if ever there was one, but Mrs Talbot didn’t seem to realise her gaffe. “As a matter of fact, I remember my own father taking me shopping in order to improve my arithmetical skills. I became very accomplished at mental arithmetic. Won a prize for it.”

Even having moved forward with her opinion of Mrs Talbot, Cherry still had difficulty trying to pictu
re her as a schoolgirl.

As she grinned, Mrs Talbot said,
“Cherry, since you’ve been living here, you seem a lot happier. I never did like the idea of you both living on a boat. It didn’t seem suitable somehow. And, of course, the water can be so dangerous.” A small frown clouded her face. Leaning forward, she confided, “I had a very nasty experience in a boat once, you know.”

Cherry
didn’t know, and couldn’t imagine. All she could think of was the wonderful time she’d had in boats. First of all living on one and then with Oliver earlier that day.

“
And that little lad of yours seems very happy and settled here,” continued Mrs Talbot. She took another giant bite of scone and settled back in her chair.

Cherry l
ooked over at Darius and Jay. Her mouth fell open as she saw Oliver sitting on the edge of the table, chatting and laughing with them. Considering how annoyed he’d been with his brother not long before, Cherry could only suppose that Oliver was putting on a show for Mrs Talbot. Oliver caught her look and gave a thumbs up, along with a brilliant smile. Cherry’s heart soared.