The Fire House on Honeysuckle Street by Rachel Dove

Author:Rachel Dove [Rachel Dove]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-04-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Agatha woke up and turned to her side to look out of the window. She loved the view from her bedroom window, looking out at the fields and trees beyond. The window was open, letting the sound of birdsong fill the room. She leant forward to get out of bed, but a hand snaked across and dragged her back under the duvet.

‘Mrs Taylor, where on God’s green do you think you’re going?’ A gravelly voice came from beneath the layers of frilly floral pillows and thick duvet and comforter, muffled and deep. ‘Trying to escape from the floral sweatbox that is our marital bed, are we?’

She giggled at his choice of words. ‘Sweatbox is hardly the best word to use, darling, it’s rather vulgar.’

‘Ah, you love it.’ Taylor slid his other arm underneath her, wrapping her into his arms and pulling her close. ‘It’s your own fault, I mean who has all these blankets on in the middle of summer? And don’t get me started on the patterns.’

Agatha huffed indignantly. ‘This room hasn’t long been decorated! It might not be on trend, as Amanda keeps reminding me, but it is contemporary.’ She dropped a kiss on his lips.

‘Fair enough, but the throw pillows need throwing right off the bed, and never putting on the bed again. It took me ten minutes to get in last night!’

He kissed her again, snuggling into her.

‘What’s the plan for today then, with the girls? I know something’s happening when you lot get together. What’s brewing in the cauldron?’

‘Marlene’s niece, Lucy? She’s new to town and the girls thought it would be good to show her a good summer, make sure her and Xander settle in.’

Taylor, as ever the quiet, observant type, let her finish.

‘She’s staying in the holiday cottages, but Marlene thinks she might move here, given the right opportunities. The cottages can be let long term, so she can extend her stay at a cheaper rate till she finds somewhere else. She worked in a deli back home, but those skills are transferable anywhere really. Retail is very diverse.’

Her husband was aghast. The woman was a powerhouse, and he could almost hear the whirring of the cogs as her mind ran through the scenarios, lightning quick.

‘You know the fundraising afternoon tea party we’re hosting?’ He started to nod along, but she didn’t draw breath. ‘Half the proceeds are going to the fire house, and I just wondered, what do Alan and the boys do exactly?’

Taylor sat up in bed, bringing her with him and karate-chopping a few pillows for good measure as he got comfy.

‘Well, the people who work there are actually called firefighters, and they’re men and women who put out the fires. With water and foam, not by actually fighting them. Do you understand now?’

The resulting look she gave told him she did, and wasn’t amused.

‘What I was asking, is what in the village would be under their remit?’

‘You mean, how can you get the new fireman to do things for you?’ Taylor laughed to himself.

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