‘True,’ said Kezzie grudgingly. ‘I think we should show them what can be done though. Anyone up for a spot of guerrilla gardening?’
‘What, now?’ said Joel. ‘It’s dark, cold, and if you hadn’t noticed we’re still in the thick of winter.’
‘Yes now,’ said Kezzie. She opened the rucksack she was carrying and revealed some small forks and trowels and winter bedding plants. ‘Like a good boy scout, I always come prepared. Besides, spring is on the way. The snowdrops are already out, and you’ve got crocuses coming up in your garden you know. I’m up for it, if you are.’
‘I really have to get back and make sure everything’s OK with Troy and the girls,’ said Lauren, turning to go. ‘Sorry. Another time maybe.’
‘And I should get back to Sam,’ said Joel, looking at his watch. ‘Eileen’s daughter is babysitting for me.’
‘Oh go on, live a little,’ said Kezzie. ‘It’s only eight thirty, what time will she be expecting you? I’m sure Christine won’t mind. This won’t take long. I’ve already dug over the bit of ground I want to plant these winter pansies in. At least it will give some colour till the spring.’
‘When did you start digging in the Memorial Gardens?’ said Joel.
‘I went out a couple of mornings last week,’ said Kezzie. ‘I couldn’t sleep and so I thought I may as well do something useful.’
‘Oh,’ said Joel.
‘Come on then, what are we waiting for?’ Kezzie strode purposefully towards the playground, while Joel stood slightly irresolute behind her.
‘Oh OK,’ he said, ‘but only for a bit.’
‘That’ll do,’ said Kezzie, with a grin.
It was early in February, and the evening air was still cold. The gardens were in pitch darkness when they arrived. The rusting iron gates were padlocked and looked forbidding and unfriendly. For a moment even Kezzie felt a little daunted.
‘So how do we get in then?’ demanded Joel.
‘Oh ye of little faith,’ said Kezzie. ‘We get in the same way as whoever’s vandalizing the playground does. If you follow me round the corner, you will observe that there is a gap in the fence.’
Joel shook his head in amusement.
‘Does nothing faze you?’
‘Not much,’ said Kezzie, as she squeezed through the gap. ‘Careful, it is a bit narrow.’
Once in, she marched towards one of the beds to the side of the plinth.
‘This shouldn’t take long,’ she said. ‘We’ve got some plants to bed in.’
In fact they were hard at it for nearly an hour, but by the time they’d finished they’d transformed a bed that had been full of weeds into a vibrant patch of colour. Or that’s what Kezzie had assured Joel it would look like in the morning. It was difficult to tell in the dark.
‘Well done, partner,’ said Kezzie with a grin, and slapped him on the back. ‘How does it feel to inflict criminal damage in a public place?’
‘Fun,’ admitted Joel, who had been unprepared for the illicit thrill he’d got from their activities. Kezzie was amazing. And she was having a transformative effect on his life. Ever since she’d arrived in Heartsease, he felt that he was being propelled out of his grief-induced torpor to face up to life in the real world once more. She’d made him look at his house and garden, and reminded him what he’d planned before life had dealt him such a body blow. And learning about Edward and the history of the place had piqued Joel’s interest. Despite himself, he was finding he was beginning to engage in life again. He had to admit, it felt good.
‘You’ve got mud on your nose,’ he said. ‘Here, let me.’ Gently, he wiped it away with a hankie.
Kezzie looked at him with a slightly wistful expression on her face, and for a heartbeat he thought she might kiss him. But then she said, ‘Time to go,’ and started packing up her things.
‘Best get home,’ she added, as if by way of explanation. ‘I have work in the morning and I have a very demanding boss.’
‘Yeah, right,’ said Joel. ‘I think you could change that to soft-touch boss, who goes along with your crazy schemes.’
‘Does my soft-touch boss require a nightcap before heading home?’ Kezzie said, when they reached her cottage.
Joel looked at his watch – not quite 9.30 p.m. – ‘Oh, go on then,’ he said, and followed her into the cottage.
Kezzie went to the fridge in the compact but cosy kitchen. ‘Red or white?’ she asked. ‘I have both. Or beer.’
‘I’ll have a beer actually,’ said Joel, while Kezzie poured herself a generous glug of white wine.
‘Go easy on that, otherwise the boss might have to be very tough with you in the morning.’
‘Do you mind if I have a smoke?’ said Kezzie.
‘It’s your house,’ said Joel. ‘Do what you want.’ He wasn’t keen on women who smoked, but he had always had a live and let live attitude about that kind of thing.
Kezzie, it appeared, rolled her own, but it was only when she lit up that he realized what she was smoking.
‘Kezzie!’ Why was he surprised she smoked dope? It fitted in with everything else about her.
‘What?’ said Kezzie. ‘I did ask you. And like you said, it’s my house.’
‘Sorry,’ said Joel, ‘I’m just not really used to this kind of thing.’
‘What kind of thing?’ said Kezzie. ‘It’s a spliff, not crack cocaine. Where’s the harm? I find it relaxing. I don’t do it very often; it’s not like I’m addicted. Alcohol’s a worse drug.’
‘I guess,’ said Joel, but he felt faintly disturbed. Kezzie was a mystery, an exciting, mercurial, volatile mystery.
Chapter Fourteen
‘So, you’re going to trust me with the girls again?’ Troy asked Lauren the next time he came round to see the twins.
‘I expect so,’ Lauren had to reluctantly concede. She had been pleasantly surprised at the lack of chaos when she’d got home two nights previously. The girls were asleep, and later reported that they’d had ‘lots of fun with Daddy’, the house was tidy and Troy was sitting watching TV, looking completely relaxed. It seemed, despite her fears, he could be trusted to look after the girls.
‘Oh come on, Lauren, that’s a bit hard,’ said Troy. ‘I think I did a bit better than OK.’
Laughing despite herself – annoying how he could still make her do that – Lauren was forced to agree that Troy had passed his first babysitting stint with flying colours.
‘So I really think it’s time you let me have them for the day,’ said Troy. ‘I could take them out on Saturday. Give you a break.’
‘I’m not sure,’ began Lauren, when the girls came running in from the other room. ‘Daddy said he’s taking us out to the cinema on Saturday, please can we go, please!’
‘You sneaky sod!’ whispered Lauren. He’d already asked the girls, knowing she wouldn’t be able to refuse them.
‘I didn’t want you to say no,’ said Troy, ‘please let me have them.’
‘Please, Mummy,’ said Izzie.