The Beautiful Hummingbird - Part I

The Kitchen Edit

Facing two huge arched oak doors I pull down on the thick cream rope hanging loosely to the side and I hear the sound of the bell clanging loudly inside. The chunky rope feels rough against my palm as I let it slip quickly back through my fingers.

I stand waiting patiently for one of the doors to open, whilst rubbing my cold hands together and watching the white vapour of my breaths visible as the late winter afternoon chill is setting in.

Suddenly there is movement on the other side, a grind in the lock and one of the thick doors swings open wide letting streams of light and swarms of heat from the house spill out onto the porch to greet me.

Anne has the phone to her ear chatting animatedly but beckons me inside with a tick of her head and a mouthed 'hello'. As I step inside she kicks the front door closed with her foot and ushers me down the hallway and through into the large kitchen beyond.

"Unfortunately I am unable to stop by this weekend due to a change in family plans, I am really sorry," she apologises into the phone.

She pulls out a stool at the kitchen island and gestures me to sit whilst placings her free arm around my shoulders and giving me a hug.

"Ok, well I really appreciate that, thanks for being so understanding. Good luck this weekend, I hope it goes off with a bang. Yes, yes, I'll see you sometime next week, you too, bye."

She presses the call end button and setting the phone down on the counter lets out a stressful sigh as she looks at me. "Tasha, hello lovely, thanks so much for coming over today, you are a lifesaver. I'm not sure whether I'm coming or going. Would you like some tea?"

Nodding in agreement at the offer of a cuppa, I watch Anne as she immediately fills the kettle and switches it on to boil.

"Well if Mohammed will not come to the mountain, the mountain must come to Mohammed!" I reply with a hint of amusement in my voice.

"Sorry to drag you over here, it's just with Harry coming home this weekend I really needed a day at home to get everything ready." She seems stressed as she busily pulls two mugs out of the cupboard and pops teabags into them.

"It really is no problem for me to stop by, I was on my way home anyway. I know you have a lot on this weekend plus it's always lovely to see you."

"Well thanks again as it has saved me so much time plus of course it is wonderful to be able to catch up with you," she smiles broadly. "So, what have you got for me then, let's have a look." She grabs her reading specs out of their case and perches on the edge of a stool on the other side of the island whilst I open the file and pull out a wodge of papers.

"Well everything is coming together nicely but it's these papers that require an urgent signature to meet the Charity Commission deadline. I need to get them in the post this evening," I point out handing her a set of forms.

I sit in quiet contemplation of Anne as she reads through the notes and checks the approval sheets that have been carefully prepared by Alan, charity accountant. She is such a strong woman but not in an over-confident way. She is subtle and caring. She gives you her opinion but never in a harsh or condescending way, rather more constructive and thoughtful. Her big smile can light up a room and pull anyone out of the doldrums. Her gentle voice brings me out of my thoughts.

"Well these all look in order, here you go, all signed." She hands the forms back and rises off the stool to make tea. "Is there anything else I need to sign or look at?"

"Umm, just these two papers and this report. All need reading and your comments so I'll leave them with you if that's ok?" I confirm flicking through the pile of documents to sift out what I need to leave with her.