Chasing Dreams at Hedgehog Hollow by Jessica Redland

Author:Jessica Redland [Redland, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

I hadn’t been to Chloe and James’s house in Bentonbray before, but I knew roughly where it was in the village and had seen photos. Approaching a double-fronted Victorian property with the name ‘Dalby House’ on a stone plaque, I spotted Chloe’s car on the drive.

Chloe answered the door, holding Samuel, who was drinking from a sippy cup.

‘Lauren!’

‘Can I come in?’

‘Sure.’ She shrugged as she stepped back into a grand entrance hall with beautiful Victorian floor tiles and a dado rail.

‘I was just about to give Samuel his dessert. Do you want to come through to the craft room?’

There was a craft room?

‘It was the dining room,’ she said as I followed her into a room at the back of the house, ‘but we’ve got a kitchen-diner, so I snaffled it.’ She lowered Samuel into a highchair, removed the lid off a fromage frais and handed him a spoon.

I looked round the light and airy room. White cupboards, shelving and cubby holes full of crafting materials ran alongside the longest wall. There was a large dining table and desk against the opposite wall and a window seat with pretty floral cushions on it. Chloe must have been mid-project when I arrived, as what looked like bunting was resting across a sewing machine on the table.

‘I wasn’t at Hedgehog Hollow because I was bored,’ she said, sitting on one of the dining chairs and indicating I should sit on another.

‘Sam knows that. She’s got a few things going on and she didn’t mean to take it out on you.’

‘Nice of her to apologise in person.’

‘She doesn’t know I’m here.’

‘So why are you?’

‘Because I wanted to make sure you’re okay. You looked upset.’

She shrugged dismissively but I noticed her eyes filling up.

‘I honestly was there to help,’ she said. ‘I know I’ve got form, but I’m trying to change. I wanted to show her something. Can I show you?’

‘If you like.’

‘I’ve joined a craft club in the village and this week we were asked for ideas for community projects the group can support over the next few months. I put Hedgehog Hollow forward and they all approved.’

She lifted the lid off a plastic crate. ‘Our last project was making fidget muffs and blankets for dementia patients, and it got me thinking about the comforters Samuel likes with ribbons on them. I thought we could make some hedgehog-themed ones to sell at the Family Fun Day, like this.’

Chloe passed me a piece of soft material about the size of a facecloth. A large hedgehog touching noses with a hoglet had been appliquéd onto it, there were satin ribbons sewn round the edges, and it made a scrunching noise.

‘You made this?’ I asked Chloe, running my fingers across the neat stitching.

‘It’s just a rough version I threw together, and I haven’t added the clip to it yet. It could have been neater if I wasn’t rushing, but I wanted to try a few things. I’ve made some bunting.’

A string of colourful hedgehog-themed bunting was thrust into my hands.

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