Chapter 19

It had been a warm day, and Rory arrived home, a big grin on his face.

"Grab your bag, we are going to the pub."

"Okay. Any particular reason?" Nina asked.

"It's hot and I need a beer."

"Good enough."

They sat outside with their drinks, chatting and people watching. A smell of freshly mown grass and the evening sun, made it a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours. Rory talked about his work and Nina told him that she had a new contract with the agency. The memory of the vases came to her.

"Oh yes. Did you touch my vases?" Smiling at Rory, an admission or an over the top denial was expected. He just looked confused.

"No."

"You really didn't touch them?"

"No, why?"

"I noticed this morning that one of them had been moved. Only a tiny adjustment, about an inch, but I had placed them really carefully and it was different."

"No, it honestly wasn't me. That's a very small change, are you sure it had moved?"

"Absolutely sure. You know how precious I was about them. I was fiddling with them for ages to get them perfect. I had lined them up using the frame of the mirror. That was how I knew that one of them was not in the right place."

"Is this the work of the Meadow Lane ghost? If it is, it's not exactly scary is it? Nudging a vase an inch out of place. Someone else may not have even noticed it."

"We better tell Len and then he can spin it into a scary story."

A mystery, but a small one. Nina was puzzled, but not disturbed. It was more intriguing than anything else. Back at home, the vases were forgotten as they cooked a meal together. Some pasta, cream, mushrooms, pancetta, and parmesan made a tasty supper.

That night Nina lay awake as Rory slept beside her. She was not restless or worried. Smiling, she was sure that the night of passion had begun the process that would lead to motherhood. As her hands smoothed across her flat belly, an image of how it might look with a baby inside, made her sigh. How wonderful if it was true.

Looking back only a couple of months, Nina recalled the journey to their new home. The ambivalence, which had replaced hostility, to the move had made her unable to feel happy. Now, her attitude had changed dramatically. The conversation with Maria had made her think about her circumstances. What had made this change possible?

All that fuss about the vibrancy of the city and how it would be missed. This life, lived at a slower pace, had relieved the tension. Wandering around in a dressing gown until 10am, not styling her hair, wearing no makeup, these things would never have happened. There was no one watching and judging her in Fernborough. Perhaps that had been the case in the city, too. She had simply been swept along with the tide of overachievers and had conformed to their standards. 

It felt like a competition in the city. People everywhere were trying to outdo each other. Nicer clothes, more expensive handbag, eating at pricier restaurants and having more fun. There were some on the periphery, not playing the game, but the circles they had moved in were taking part. It was exhausting.

The house had appealed to her from the time she had seen the details. On the viewing, Nina had liked the bones of the house. Decoration could be changed, it was the dimensions of the rooms, the high ceilings, the features, she had seen. The, slightly crazy, tour of the place, in which she had befriended her home had sealed the deal.

The house was hers. The comfort she felt within its walls had extended to the town and surrounding areas. As new places were visited and discovered, Nina was more content. Maria was becoming a good friend and Rory was obviously happy. Having his parents close by and the countryside on his doorstep, as well as a job he loved, made him relaxed.

Rory could make the best of any situation, but the move had changed him. Nina could see the lightness in his step. There was no sigh as he set off to work. The determined, sometimes manic, positivity was now natural. His happiness had encouraged hers. If they could have a child, that would be amazing.

Her good mood prevailed until she went into the living room the next morning. One glance at the mantlepiece revealed that the vase had moved again. The same one, the same difference. Nina viewed them from several angles, in case it was a trick of the eye. No. The vase had moved.