He'll Come Through - Chapter 18 - Village Life

18 - Village Life

Quinn hit the village green before her, and stopped in his tracks. She knew he’d be stunned at the hustle and bustle of village life at its best. As she drew level with him, she smiled; they had not let her down!

The green that had previously decked with several marquees, was now skirted by miles of bunting draped between the buildings and the various gazebos and tents, and it created almost a tunnel of colour. The stumps for the later cricket match were already in pride of place, and guarded by orange and white security ribbon, tied around a variety of chairs, protecting the beloved wicket from the villagers and children milling around.

She spotted her mother at the cake stall, the pile of cakes she’d lovingly provided, already dented significantly as most people wandered around with some form of treat in their hand. Mrs Munroe, the headmistress from the local primary school was wandering around with a large clipboard looking very officious, as she did every year. Her much beleaguered husband Jonah manned the large chalkboard that listed the day’s events, and the times.

Quinn was reading the list in amazement.

                “Tug of war? Cake competition? Iron man? Best picture....” He turned to her his mouth open in surprise, “is there anything that this village doesn’t do?”

Lilah laughed and shook her head, “it’s traditional, all manner of visitors – balloon makers, face painters, stilt walkers, and lots of competitions all day, it ends with the cricket match. When that finishes there a hog roast, dancing on the green, and of course fancy dress competition...fancy dress is compulsory by the way.” The words were thrown over her shoulder as she marched past him into the commotion. 

When Quinn finally caught up with her she was sat near her mother drinking coffee – more coffee he thought, boy did she have a problem? Negotiating the throng of people with a pram was bad enough, but it seemed that every resident wanted to stop and coo at Freddy, it seemed that his son was both famous and adored in these parts, and by the way that he was examined by the same residents who worshipped his son, he knew that he was a long way from being accepted here!

Lilah glanced up as he approached and smiled, he looked more than a little fraught. Good he deserved it!

                “Quinn!” Her mother exclaimed, “and my darling Freddy!” She clucked over the two males, fixing Quinn a coffee he didn’t really want and cuddling her grandson briefly before returning to the busy cake stall. Quinn pushed Freddy up to Lilah, ensuring he was in the shade, then dropped onto the floor in front of the bench where she sat.

                “This is quite the event isn’t it?” He lounged back on his elbows and closed his eyes, it was still quite early and the sun was warm to the skin. He really was a vision, with his tanned skin, dark hair that was longer than she remembered, fitted t-shirt and combat shorts that seemed to hug his thighs and bum without being ridiculous. Even his legs had a certain intrigue about them, crossed at the ankle in an elegant way. She knew he was the topic of lots of attention and gossip, after all he’d just waltzed through the village pushing their son.

                “It’s the envy of the other local villages; it’s become a real competition. If you look around, those scrutinising are generally the non villagers, looking for a flaw. But the woman with the clipboard,” she gestured towards Mrs Munroe, “she’s my old headmistress, and she misses nothing. This is a well oiled ship and will not be beaten! That’s not a boast; it’s a fact of life!”

He studied the older woman for a few moments, “she looks like a battle axe!”

Lilah nodded, “she has her nice side...so I’m told, though I’m not sure any of us have ever seen it!”

Quinn closed his eyes, dropping back flat on to the grass, “everyone’s got a good side.”

                “You make even that sound a challenge!”  She shook her head as he shrugged, there was no end to his ability to wind her up! As she finished her coffee, she noticed her mother starting to panic.

                “What’s up?” she asked walking over to her. Before answering her own question, her mother’s prize winning coffee and walnut sponge was looking a little bedraggled, and there was less than an hour until the judges came around. “Go home, sort it out. I’ll hold the fort here.”

                “You sure?”

She nodded then smiled as her mother dashed off to the house to redecorate the competition entry. Freddy was fast asleep in his pram, so she pulled him into the shade of the gazebo, then started to serve the cakes and hot drinks. This was always a busy stall and time flew by. She wasn’t sure how long had passed but when she looked up there was no sign of Quinn. Saying that there were enough stalls for him to amuse himself, and she was anything but concerned about him. 

Her mother appeared eventually with a smile on her face, disaster averted. “Thanks so much Dee-lilah! You’ve once again saved the day!”

At that very moment Mrs Monroe’s nasal voice echoed over the PA system, “all entries for the cake competition to the judging marquee, judging will commence in fifteen minutes with our guest judge.”

                “Wish me luck!” her mother rushed off to the marquee. Within a few minutes Dora, another village stalwart had come to relieve Lilah, so she took Freddy and made her way to the judging arena. It wasn’t unusual for there to be several hundred at this fete, and for a moment it seemed they were all gathered in the marquee to see the results of the cake, jam and chutney competitions.

                “We’ve had a record number of entries this year,” Mrs Munroe started the blurb as she did every year. “And Mr Donald the postman was looking forward to judging all the competitions as usual. Unfortunately, he’s been taken into hospital, and whilst he may have to have surgery for gallstones, he is well and sends his regrets. So I’m extremely grateful that we’ve had an emergency fill in, someone who’s very infamous if not famous around these parts, Mr Southland, our own Delilah Dawson’s hero and rescuer has stepped in. Round of applause please!”

As everyone clapped and whooped, straining to see the actual legend in the flesh, Lilah groaned. Even the ice woman Mrs Munroe had fallen for his charm, hook line and sinker. Waving a good luck to her mother, she left the canopied area, pushing Freddy back out into the sun. Checking her watch she was relieved to see it was gone eleven, what the hell she thought, cutting across the grass with  Freddy still in front of her, she made for the pub, Alfie the land lord smiled at her via the hatch that served the beer garden.

                “Bottle of beer please Alf!” she called as she manoeuvred the pram between the seats.

                “Coming up Lilah!” cracking open the bottle he handed it to her and took the note she offered. “Early start?” When she nodded, he added, “nice bloke your man Quinn. Did he really rescue you? He was in here last night, top man....and he looks so....normal!”

She laughed because she knew that was the appropriate response, “looks can be deceiving, hey?”

He nodded before craning to smile at the sleeping Freddy, waving to him, she turned to head for somewhere quiet. The old crossroads sign was mounted on top of a rocky island in the centre of the road that was closed for today, so she perched on the short wall and watched the World go by.

The beer was divine and there was something a little illicit about drinking so early in the day.

                “Lilah!” she turned to the sound of Maria’s voice and caught the hurtling child in her arms.

                “You having a good day?” Her hair had several decorated plaits and her face was painted as a very feminine tiger, so there was no doubt she’d been busy. Sitting next to Lilah she proceeded in telling her all about the horse rides, the balloon sword she’d had but had burst in a mock fight with some of the other village children. Lilah nodded appropriately and laughed at her antics.

                “So I’m going in the tug-of-war with the other girls in a bit too!” She finished.

                “Sounds like a very busy day!”

Maria nodded before promising to be good and disappearing off into the chaos. Lilah smiled, kids these days had such a restricted life always being where they should be, that Maria was embracing the day and the unlimited freedom. Lilah remembered that every school holiday had been filled with days like this, running around through forest, over hill, with little regard for her own safety.

                “Penny for your thoughts!” The voice grated through her as she looked to see Quinn striding towards her grinning, as she scowled he only grinned more, “I have to confirm that your Mrs Munroe is a pussy cat. LOVELY lady!”

Lilah ‘pftted’ at him and turned to look away. She felt him sit beside her, and when he took the beer bottle from her hand and took a drink she flipped. In a tone that left no question of her anger, but an a hushed volume so as not to draw attention, she snarled, “everyone here might think you are the dogs bollocks, but I don’t! You can ingratiate yourself into this town, my family, but it’ll make no difference on me. I will not change how I feel, do you hear me?”

The casual smile, the knowing eyes only inflamed her further, “you make out that I’m faking, what to get you into bed?” He laughed then, “I already told you, when it happens it’ll be what you want, how I act in this town has no bearings on that.” He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “and I AM the charmer that everyone loves Blondie, this is not an act!” He stood up, “time for cricket!” Blowing her a kiss, he strode across the green and out of view. Leaving Lilah once again in a confusion of desire, anger and frustration...how the hell was she going to survive the weekend. Then a thought flashed through her head, what if he didn’t leave after the weekend, he might stay for a week, or two. She’d never hold out that long!