to get the details for my painting workshop. And Amanda said to complain about the lack of gardening interest.’ His lips curled in a slight smile.
‘Gus, it’s winter. Who wants to garden in the winter?’
‘Amanda!’ they both said and laughed.
Gus’s wife, Amanda, lived for her gardens. She was even out there in the snow, protecting her plants. But although the gardening courses were popular – funnily enough, especially with the younger generation – they weren’t in demand in the winter, when bookings had all but dried up.
‘I’ll sign Hector up,’ Pippa joked. ‘That’ll keep her happy.’
‘She’s got enough to do, really,’ Gus groaned. ‘Not only with existing clients, but she’s also taken on a new client. A rich family have bought a crumbling old manor house near Bath and they’ve got acres of grounds that need restoring. The house, too. Amanda hasn’t met them yet, but I think they might be Russian billionaires from the sound of it. Probably Mafia or something like that.’
‘Tell her to be careful, then. Although it sounds like a great project.’
‘She says it’s all grand statues and water features at the moment. But I’m worried she’s overstretching herself.’
‘Let Amanda do what she wants to do, Gus. Don’t clip her wings.’
Gus’s first marriage broke down because his then wife ran off with one of his friends, but afterwards she’d said that Gus had suffocated her by trying to please her all the time. Gus could be a bit like that. Unfortunately, he was the sensitive member of the family and their hard-to-please father didn’t really do sensitive. So Gus had spent most of his childhood trying to please their father, something their father recognised later in life and apologised for, but Gus was still battling with insecurity as a result. Amanda made him happier than he’d ever been, but old habits died hard.
‘I know, she’s happy, we’re happy, and I need to remember that. You know what a nightmare I can be!’
‘Exactly. Right, here’s your next two painting workshops.’
‘Any sign of Freddie?’ Gus asked.
‘No. Gemma dragged him home a couple of hours ago but that hangover isn’t going anywhere soon.’
‘Typical Fred.’
Pippa laughed. The Singers had settled into themselves and for four siblings who were so close, they were all so utterly disparate. Harriet the boss, Gus the sensitive one, Freddie the fun one and her … Pippa was still trying to find herself. She was on her own now for the first time, she was working for the first time and she was getting to know herself for the first time, but she still had a lot to learn. She might be in her thirties, but she felt as if she was only just now discovering who she really was.
Pippa was absorbed in reading the latest edition of Hotels, a trade magazine, in the office, when she heard the front door bang open and raised voices. The noise startled her and she jumped. Glancing at her watch, she saw it was later than she thought. She must have been miles away.
‘Are you here?’ Freddie boomed, bursting into the office as she stood up.
‘Fred,’ she greeted.
‘Pippa, gorgeous as ever.’
Hector, with his floppy, public schoolboy dark hair, and his favoured look of chinos and a cable-knit sweater, stepped forwards and engulfed her in a hug. He was tall, well-toned – he liked his fitness – with a smile that lit up rooms. His body was often featured in magazines as being a ‘hot bod’ and his blue-green eyes were the subject of many a crush. Hector, with his boyish good looks, wouldn’t have been out of place in a Hollywood film.
As she felt his arms around her, Pippa couldn’t help but smile. It was so familiar, hugging Hector; he’d become one of her closest friends over the years. Pippa didn’t have many friends. She had her family, the villagers and Gemma. All of her girlfriends had been lost when she was married – Mark didn’t approve of her mixing with anyone he hadn’t chosen for her – and that made her sad, but now she knew she should count herself lucky.
‘Welcome back, Hector. Hope the drive with Freddie wasn’t too bad?’ Pippa arched an eyebrow.
Freddie had offered to pick Hector up from the train station in Bath. It gave him a chance to drive his Porsche outside the village and also to catch up with Hector, with whom he was firm friends.
‘It was great. Honestly. I’m so happy to be here,’ Hector gushed. ‘Missed the old place. America was nice but crazy busy and you know, just before I was due to leave I didn’t think of my flat in London, I thought of here.’
‘Right, first things first, welcome drink,’ Freddie announced. ‘Come on through to the bar.’
‘It’s only four o’clock,’ Pippa pointed out. ‘And I’ve got to organise food for you for tonight.’ Pippa knew that she shouldn’t be thinking of work but she always did.
‘Honestly, Hector’s just arrived back after a successful book tour and you can’t even toast him?’ Freddie tutted.
‘Of course I can,’ Pippa argued, narrowing her eyes at her brother.
Freddie had a habit of turning anything into a celebration. He’d celebrate a letter arriving, even if it was a bill. And, of course, they’d only just got over the hangover from the party two days ago.
‘So, I’m guessing that we’ll be eating pizza tonight and probably won’t leave the bar?’ she conceded.
She knew when to give in; there was no arguing with her brother sometimes. And, of course, Hector’s arrival did warrant a celebration.
‘That sounds like my perfect welcome-home evening.’ Hector’s eyes shone. He was so easily pleased.
‘Where’s Gemma?’ Pippa asked.
‘She’s gone to visit her nan’s grave thingy at the crematorium. You know, she goes regularly but she wanted to tell her about the anniversary party and stuff.’ Freddie’s features softened when he spoke of his girlfriend.
‘Why didn’t you go with her?’ Hector asked.
Pippa had been thinking the same thing.
‘I tried, I’ll have you know, but she wanted to be alone. She doesn’t have family anymore, as you know, so talking to her nan’s important to her. I did offer but she said she’d go when I was picking up Hector. Anyway, she’ll be back any minute, so I’ll get her to join us.’ He pulled out his phone and started texting.
‘Listen, I’ve only just recovered from the party hangover, so I’m really not going to drink much,’ Pippa said.
‘As long as we get the pleasure of your company, I really don’t mind,’ Hector replied with his familiar grin that made most people swoon.
‘So,
