‘Right now, I wouldn’t care if it did,’ Tom confessed. He glanced at the old chap, thinking he looked extraordinarily well for his age, and he told him so.
‘Ah, well, that’s ’cause I’m allus on the go. Seventy-three year old, an’ I’ve never once had to see the doctor … except to register, o’ course, an’ I broke a toe once but it soon mended.’
‘You’re a lucky man, Jasper, to be so content.’ Tom had forgotten how that felt.
Jasper’s response was a question. ‘You never did tell me yer name, sir?’
Tom laughed. ‘Well, I can tell you one thing,’ he chided, ‘it’s not “sir”!’ Taking one hand off the steering-wheel, he grabbed Jasper’s outstretched hand. ‘The name’s Tom Arnold, and I’m ready for some of that “magic” you were just talking about.’
The old man pointed ahead. ‘There she is: Cliff Cottage; pretty as a picture.’
Tom looked, and what he saw took his breath away. With thatched roof and white-painted walls festooned with masses of climbing roses of every hue and colour, it looked enchanting. ‘My God! It’s perfect!’ The cottage was bigger than he had thought, and as they drew up in front of it, he could see the well-tended gardens stretching back as far as the eye could see.
Getting out of the car, Jasper led Tom through the small white gate, and along the flower-lined path. ‘I know this place inside out,’ he imparted proudly. ‘I tend the gardens … clean the windows, and last summer I painted the whole house from top to bottom.’
The more Jasper told him, the more Tom thought how, like the cottage, the old fellow was amazing.
‘Right then, Tom Arnold, let’s see what yer think o’ the inside.’ Taking a key from his waistcoat pocket, Jasper slotted it in the lock and, turning with a flourish, he swung open the door. ‘In yer go!’
Stepping back to allow Tom by, the old fellow followed, giving detailed commentary as they went from room to room. ‘This ’ere’s the living room,’ he said. ‘Not so big, mebbe, but like I said, it’s cosy and warm, and of a winter evening the glow from the fire throws out a cheer … an’ there’s a whole supply o’ logs in the woodshed … small-chopped and neatly stacked.’
Tom’s gaze roved over the room; with two windows, one facing west, the other south, the light poured in and filled the room with evening sunshine. Surrounded by clean blue tiles, the fireplace contained a vase of fresh-smelling flowers. ‘That’s my doing, is that.’ The old man caught the look in Tom’s eye. ‘Picked ’em this very morning … must’a known yer were coming.’
He gave a wink, and Tom smiled. ‘I bet there isn’t much you don’t know,’ he declared.
The furniture was good: there was a brown leather sofa on one side of the fireplace, and a matching armchair on the other. The big green rug in front of the fire set the whole room off a treat. Against the back wall stood a small oak dresser, with nothing on top but a large, round china bowl.
The curtains were of plain beige colour but ‘expensive material’, according to Jasper. ‘The lady had good taste,’ he told Tom. ‘A quiet soul she was,’ he imparted fondly, ‘… kind-hearted too.’ He added quietly as an after-thought, ‘She had her troubles too, poor soul.’ When he realised Tom was waiting for him to expand on that remark, he swiftly moved on. ‘Right then, son, here’s the kitchen.’
Tom followed dutifully, sensing that whatever the old chap had been about to say with regard to that ‘kind, quiet lady’ he had thought better of, and that was all right by Tom. He knew from experience that, occasionally, and for whatever reason, there were some things best left unsaid.
The kitchen was small but functional: there were pretty floral curtains at the window, and a smart white kitchenette with drop-down front and glass doors at the top. On the shelf near the window there was a stack of recipes and cookbooks by favourites such as Marguerite Patten. ‘Used to pride herself on being an excellent cook,’ Jasper revealed.
Both upstairs bedrooms were finished in the same subtle colours. The largest one had a theme of green: smart pink-and-green patchwork eiderdowns, apple-green curtains to match; a dressing table and wardrobe of adequate size.
The second room was done out exactly the same, though finished in blue.
Between the two rooms was a tiny bathroom, which was small but adequate. This too was a light, airy room. Emanating from a small dish of broken blossom in the window-sill, the sweetest of fragrances filled the air.
There was soap and towels already laid out, as if Jasper really had been expecting a visitor. ‘The thing is,’ he said after Tom made the comment, ‘I wanted it to look nice in case I had to show anybody over.’ His face creased into that wonderful, homely grin. ‘Though, if yer happy with it, I’ll not be showing nobody else, will I, eh?’
Outside, in the twilight, the garden reflected the same love and care. There was a lawn surrounded by flower-beds and corner shrubberies, a delightful summer-house and orchard further down, and from the terrace there was the most magnificent view imaginable.
Tom stood at the end of the terrace, lost in the scenery. The endless sea shimmered and danced in the flickering light and, as the sun was beginning to dip in the heavens, the whole sky was marbled with rivers of red and yellow. ‘It’s the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen.’ He could hardly tear himself away.
Raising a thumb upwards, Jasper suggested mischievously, ‘I had a word with ’im upstairs and asked him to show yer what he could do.’
Quietly smiling at Jasper’s outlandish remark, Tom still had the look of wonder on his face. ‘I know what you mean now,’ he said, ‘about the “magic” taking hold.’ Already his soul was beginning to quieten. Here, in this seemingly timeless place, he was experiencing the first real joy since the day of the tragedy.
‘So, does that mean you’ll stay?’ Having taken a liking to Tom, Jasper wouldn’t let go.
Tom didn’t even hesitate. ‘I’ll need the cottage straight away,’ he answered, ‘if that’s all right? I mean … do you need to contact anybody … will the agent want to see me before I take on the tenancy? I can stay at the pub if that’s the case.’ He hoped he wouldn’t have to. Somehow he felt as though he belonged in this delightful, cosy cottage.
Jasper had no doubts. ‘Look, it’s the weekend, and as far as I’m concerned, you’re already the new tenant. There’ll be time enough to tell him on Monday. I expect he’ll be round to have a chat with you … checking you out, like … papers to sign, that kinda thing. But I’m sure he’ll agree with me that you’ll do fine. So don’t you worry, son, it’ll be all right.’
Grinning from ear to ear, Jasper handed him the key. ‘I’m away now, but I’ll be back in about half an hour.’ He began talking to himself. ‘Let me see, you’ll need bread … milk too, an’ tea if you take it. Oh, an’ you’ll want to start a fire … it’s an old cottage … gets a bit chilly when the sun’s gone down, even in summer. I’ll need your ration book, if that’s all right. Give me a list of what you’d like.’
He carried on talking as he went out the door, addressing Tom in fatherly tones. ‘You’ll find everything works … electric, water … there’s a bulb gone in the back bedroom, but I dare say you’ll be sleeping in the front one so it won’t matter. All the same, I’ll have one fitted afore you know it.’ He clapped his hands and softly chuckled. ‘Glad to have you aboard,’ he said, and left whistling.
Following him to the door, Tom watched the old man walk down the hill and away out of sight. ‘It seems I’ve found a friend,’ he mused, ‘and a home.’ It