Sunday's Child (2 page)

“Well, I married Penny. And Mum and Dad were Peter and Pauline. So it's a family tradition and you can't break it.”

“I don't even
have
a boyfriend, let alone want one, and you're talking marriage? Thinking about it, I don't actually know any blokes whose names start with a P, unless you include Pastor Jack and I think Cassie would object to me marrying him.”

“There's a chap starting with P out there somewhere.”

“He can stay there. I'm planning on being the spinster aunt.
The
Miss Steele.”

“Yeah, right, you'll change your mind when someone comes along and asks you out. I could set you up with someone if you want. There's this really great bloke I know that you'd adore and—”

“I'm good, thanks.” She turned back to the computer, and hit save. Her brother took teasing her about her singleness to a whole new level and it grew irksome after a while. Though sometimes she did wish a swashbuckling knight on a white horse would gallop up and whisk her away from this place. If she ever did get married, she wouldn't stay here, that's for sure. “There. All ready to go to the printers, bar a final spell check. Either you or Penny can do that. I need to go make a start on dinner.”

“Thanks, Hattie. I'll do it later.”

Hattie stood and stretched, her curiosity finally getting the better of her. “What's all the fuss over this new guest anyway? Is he some kind of superhero or politician or something? Will him getting sick ruin your reputation quicker than anyone else?”

“Don't you know who he is?”

“If I knew I wouldn't ask. All I know is that his name is Callum Trant. Which is important because—?”

“Hattie.” Steve looked at her, hands on hips, a mixture of amusement and shock on his face. “He's only the greatest footballer that ever lived. He played one hundred and twenty times for England, was capped ninety times, and scored thirty-seven goals at international level and another three hundred and fifty at club level.”

“And this matters because…?” Brother baiting was her favorite pastime and he never failed to rise to it where football was concerned. The thing was, she really didn't understand this fuss over kicking an air filled ball of leather around a field. Nor did she want to.

“Because it's
football
. And because he's Callum Trant.
The
Callum Trant.” Steve shook his head, sheer despair on his face. “Of course it matters. Wouldn't it matter to you if, oh I don't know, if say Beethoven came to stay?”

“Beethoven is dead. He has been for hundreds of years. And you can't put one of the greatest composers that ever lived in the same league as an over paid bloke who runs around a field all day complaining when he trips up.”

“I can't believe you just said that.”

She laughed and waggled a finger at him. “Oh yeah, I went there.” She dropped her hand and slid it into her pocket, heading to the door. “In any event, you can't possibly compare what a footballer does with a soldier or firefighter, and they get nowhere near as much money. And I'm going to start dinner now while you lay up the dining room and I have you gobsmacked.”

“
Soldiers
? Where'd that come from?”

“Those on the front lines don't make in a lifetime what a top flight footballer makes in a week.” She took a deep breath. “But I'm not getting into that now. I have fish to bone and potatoes to peel and…”

Steve's face fell. “Right. Potatoes…”

“You forgot? Ste-eve. You'd forget your own head it if wasn't screwed on. You'd best run to Asda and get some. A ten pound bag will do for now.” She shook her head as her brother rushed out. Taking her tea with her, she headed to the kitchen. There would be twenty guests for dinner tonight now, plus the three of them. And she still had no idea what to make for dessert.

 

****

 

Callum Trant stepped out of the taxi and looked up at the cream three story guest house in front of him. A multi-colored sign declaring the name
Rainbow Lodge
arched over the front door. Net curtains hung at every window, with different colored shutters surrounding them. Flowers nestled in window boxes under each casement, each one a different color and matching the shutters. Each color of the rainbow represented. Someone had gone to a great deal of trouble to create the perfect first impression. It looked bigger than what the brochure said, but still a great deal smaller than what he was used to.

But that suited his new way of life better. He'd be the first to admit the stardom had gotten to him and turned his head, stifling his faith. This was why he'd retired and left the game completely instead of going into coaching or management. A few people on the mainland still recognized him, but he liked his otherwise incognito lifestyle. And to the people back home, well to most of them, he was simply Cal the Carpenter.

“That'll be twelve fifty, mate.”

Cal pulled the cash from his wallet and paid the taxi driver, leaving him a substantial tip. Picking up his case, and shouldering his bag, he headed up the stone steps to the arched door. Sun shone through the rainbow stained glass, casting a pattern onto the tiled floor of the hallway.

There was no reception desk, just a bell set into the wall with a rainbow tag saying
please ring for attention.

He pressed and waited. There had been no accompanying ring. Perhaps it didn't work. He was about to press it again, when a blonde woman came through the door marked
private
. Her hair was pulled back in an untidy ponytail and she wore no makeup. A blue gingham apron tied over her jeans and open neck shirt did nothing to hide her slim figure and ample feminine curves. She wasn't amazingly pretty, but there was something about her that made him want to know her better.

Cal felt the familiar blast of heat surge through him and he did his best to quash it. That belonged to his old self, when women threw themselves at him and he took advantage. That part of his life, no matter how hard he tried, still raged like a wild animal within him. He prayed for help as his heart pounded and his pulse raced.

“Can I help you?” Her melodic voice rang in his ears like silver bells. That wasn't helping.

He rubbed his hand on his chinos before offering it to her. “Callum Trant. I have a room booked.”

Her face broke into a smile. “Of course, we spoke on the phone. I'm Harriet Steele. Welcome to Rainbow Lodge and Headley Cross. It's a pleasure to meet you.”

Her touch was cool and sent a ripple of peace through him. Not something he was expecting.

“Did you have a good journey?”

More than a little thrown, it took him a few seconds to articulate a response. “Nice to meet you, too. The journey wasn't too bad. Better than I expected at any rate.”

“I'm glad. Let me show you to your room, Mr. Trant.”

Before he could respond, she picked up his case and headed down the hallway. “The dining room is just there.” She nodded to a room to the left. “The lounge is straight ahead. There is a downstairs bathroom just behind the staircase. The games room is through the lounge and the conservatory is just beyond that.”

Cal glanced into the lounge as they walked. Huge sofas sat around a coffee table, laden with magazines and coasters. Ornaments lined the mantelpiece above an open fire. A TV hung on the far wall. It looked and felt as warm, welcoming, and cozy as his grandmother's house.

A fish tank nestled under the stairs, filled with tiny tropical fish, the filter humming and bubbling. The stairs themselves curved up and around to the first floor. Cream doors opened off beige walls, giving the place a comfortable feel. Each door had a brass number on it. He followed Miss Steele, and it was Miss as he'd noted the absence of a ring when he shook her hand, up another staircase to the second floor.

This floor had the same pale green carpet as was downstairs, but brown doors and cream walls. She unlocked room nine and went inside, placing his suitcase on the deep pile cream carpet.

The room was bigger than he expected, with a double bed, chest of drawers, wardrobe, and even a sofa. He turned around, taking in the décor and pictures on the wall. It really was lovely. A real home away from home, just like the brochure had said.

Miss Steele smiled at him. “Here you are. The ensuite is just through there, although there is another bathroom on the landing. You have tea and coffee making facilities over there on the dresser. We replace them daily, but if you need more, just ask. I've just put the kettle on if you'd like a drink now?”

“I'd love some tea, please. The buffet car on the train wasn't working.”

“That could be a blessing in disguise. The last time I drank railway tea, it was hot, wet and tasted of nothing.” Her smile shot straight through him. “Here are your keys. The silver one is this room. The gold one is the main front door. Its open all the time apart from Sunday's when I'm at church, and we lock up about half past eleven at night. I'll be right up with the tea.”

“Thank you.”

Cal turned to the window as Miss Steele left. The garden spread out beneath him. A swing for the kids, sandpit, and seating area nestled amongst trees and flower beds. A brick built barbeque stood against the corner of the patio. High fences around the perimeter ensured privacy. It was perfect.

He just hadn't expected to find the owner so—alluring, he decided was the right word. It was more than a little disconcerting, not to mention disappointing, how fast his body betrayed him. The body is willing, but the spirit is weak, wasn't that the usual saying? In his case, the spirit
was
willing, more than willing, desired to do God's will, but his body was weak and still strove after the old ways. But he'd be out all day, every day and would probably rarely see her.

He picked up his case and set it on the bed, starting to unpack. How long had it been since he'd had a proper break? He didn't remember. Straight from retiring from football, he'd gone back into the family building business and worked alongside his father and uncle.

Dad had always insisted he have a trade alongside his football career and he'd chosen carpentry. Keeping his hand in over the years, now stood him in good stead as the quality of his work meant customers were asking for him by name having been referred by friends and neighbors.

He picked up his wash bag and went across to check out the bathroom. Small, but functional and perfect for the long hot showers he loved to take first thing in the morning and last thing at night. He unpacked his toothbrush and other things, setting them on the glass shelf over the sink.

Then he headed back into the main room.

His older brother, Carter, helped out with the decorating side of the business in between cycling tours, which wasn't often. A professional cyclist, Carter competed for his country and last year had won the Tour de France. Something that meant more to Cal than all the caps, goals and medals he'd won himself combined.

A knock on the door made him turn. Miss Steele stood there with a tray in her hands. She smiled and came in, setting it down on the side. “Just leave it here when you're done. I'll pick it up later. Dinner is at six, evening drinks at ten and breakfast at eight. Is there anything else you need to know?”

“Thank you for this, and no I'm fine.” Cal paused. He'd better ask as he needed to be safe rather than sorry later. “Did you get my email about my nut allergy? I didn't get a reply so I just wanted to double check.”

Her smile wasn't fixed or condescending, rather genuine. “I did and I'm sorry you didn't get a reply. You should have done. I don't use nuts as a rule anyway, but will read all the packets carefully during your stay and I've made sure there is nothing in the kitchen containing nuts.”

“Thank you.” He turned back to his unpacking as she left. All of a sudden, two weeks didn't seem long enough.

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

Hattie returned to the kitchen with the intention of finishing dinner. Steve had bought the potatoes. She'd prepared enough to accompany the new recipe she was trying tonight. She'd made potatoes like this a hundred times and loved the way they looked piped onto the plates. It was so much prettier than plain mash.

Penny came in with a pile of serviettes to fold. “Well, is it him?”

Hattie sighed. “As I told Steve, I have no idea who
he
is, but Mr. Trant has arrived and won't be treated any differently to any other guest.”

“But he's Callum Trant. The best footballer we've—”

“And you've been married to my brother for too long. I've already heard that way too many times today. Steve's corrupted you. Mr. Trant is retired and probably doesn't want constant reminders about it. So no asking for autographs over dinner.”

Penny pouted and complained to her husband as he came in from the garden with a handful of rhubarb. “Steve, she's being bossy again.”

“I don't care,” he sing-songed back. “There's the rhubarb you wanted for the crumble tomorrow, Hattie. I'll put it in the fridge.”

“Thank you.” Hattie turned back to her preparations. Experimenting with a new dish was no excuse to let her standards slip.

“So what's he like?” Penny persisted.

She turned the pastry before rolling it again. “He's a man.”

“No. That's a shocker.”

Hattie smirked. “Yeah, a man. Not like we have many of them staying here. If we have any at all.”

Penny laughed. “Seriously, what's he like.”

“He's tall, dark, handsome, fit and scores a nine, but charming and pleasant along with it.”

Steve groaned. “Not the hunk rating
again
.”

“You're just jealous because you're not on it,” Hattie teased.