Between Heaven and Rock (The Swallow Barn Cottage Series, Book 3)

Leavings and Offerings

1/2 ;) K. xx <3 XD

Ulla climbed out of Rhys' truck, slammed the door closed behind her - it's a bloody tank! - and gave him a wave. She made her way to the cottage slowly, through the fresh thick snow on the ground. When she rang the bell, he was still waiting in the driveway, and she snorted. The Holyoakes were a funny bunch, she thought. Even the rough-on-the-edges, mountain man Rhys Holyoake opened doors for her, and stood up when a woman came into the room. 

The door opened, and she met the eyes of Fiona Holyoake.

"Oh, Ulla, you're just in time for tea," the woman said and peeked behind Ulla. "Ah, Rhys." She waved her hand towards the truck, and the engine revved several short roars, and then the truck started moving. "Duffus," Fiona murmured affectionately.

Rhys Holyoake, a– duffus? Seriously?

"Are you sure it's a good time?" Ulla asked.

"Yes, yes, of course," Fiona said and ushered her inside.

Ulla came in and immediately stumbled over boxes in the hallway.

"Oh right," she muttered. "The renovations." She threw Fiona a guilty look. "About your studio–" She cleared her throat. "You see, because I was staying with Oli, James spent less time working on the upstairs, and–"

"Oh don't be silly," Fiona interrupted her and gave her a look over. "C'mon, coat off. Let's eat."

"I've eaten actually," Ulla said, feeling even more embarrassed. "Rhys fed me. A lot. And I mean, a lot. It's like all I did today, chose tiles, picked furniture, and ate."

Fiona laughed softly.

"Get used to it. It's a Holyoake trait. They provide." Fiona widened her eyes dramatically, and Ulla heard Will's rumbly laughter from the kitchen. "And they hear everything. And not only those of them who'd trained for it," she shouted pointedly towards the kitchen. "They're all like that. They hear and notice everything. Some would say it's exhausting to live with."

Another  bout of quiet laughter announced that Will Holyoake indeed heard and noticed. Ulla dragged off her coat and hung it in the familiar closet. There were now some jackets hanging in there, and she stared at them. It's so bizarre. Like it's not even the same cottage where she's spent the past couple of weeks. But there's Oliver's jacket. She stretched her hand and touched the sleeve. God... She missed him so much it hurt.

"When are they releasing him?" Fiona asked softly.

"In three days," Ulla answered, pulling herself together. "So, regarding the state of your cottage," she started again. "I feel responsible, to be honest. Because I was staying with Oli–"

"Ulla," Fiona interrupted and patted her upper arm. "It's really nothing. I'm sure James would have finished by the time we came back, if everything had gone according to the plan. We couldn't have known. And it's just the studio, I don't have much time to paint for now anyway. Let's go."

She walked to the kitchen, and Ulla followed her. Will was sitting at the table, with Teddy in a bouncer near him. The baby was making drool bubbles and watching his father. Teddy had funny - surprisingly thick for an infant - eyebrows and lively dark blue eyes. Maybe, babies aren't that disgusting, Ulla thought. This one seems to be somewhat pleasing aesthetically.

"Evening," Ulla said, and Will looked up from his laptop and gave her a slow nod. "Oliver asked me to pick up his papers," she said to the writer. "And I think I might have left some of mine here as well. It's all been sort of a–" She wiggled her fingers in the air gesturing some sort of a 'wibbly wobbly... stuff.'