I’d barely looked around last time I was there, but I was sure it had been dusty and disused. By contrast, it was now spotless. With my screaming bladder, I didn’t hover and quickly made my way into the hallway, shining the torch ahead of me, thankful for its light. The first thing I noticed was another vase of flowers sitting on a wooden sideboard halfway along the exposed stone wall. It was similar to the one in the kitchen but a bit smaller. I had a quick smell, recoiled as the lavender hit my nostrils, then scurried to the toilet before things got embarrassing.

The bathroom, like the kitchen, was spotless, with a distinctive smell of disinfectant. Someone had cleaned it that day, and I said “Thank you” out loud. So desperate to take care of business, I hadn’t noticed the note stuck to the mirror above the vanity. After I washed my hands by torchlight, I pulled off the paper and picked up the torch. It was for me, and when I glanced at the bottom, I smiled when I saw Bea’s name.

Dear Juliette,

When Leo told me he was taking you to the farm, I thought I’d take care of a few housekeeping issues.

First things first, there’s a battery-operated lantern on the vanity. Just flick the switch.

I shone the torch across the vanity top and located said lantern. I flicked it on and the room was illuminated by a soft glow. I continued reading.

There’s another lantern by the picnic basket in the kitchen. It’s full of everything you’ll need for a winter picnic. I took a wild guess and assumed Leo would forget to bring food.

I kept reading as I started walking back down the hall to the kitchen, so incredibly touched by what Bea had done for us.

I think you’re just what Leo needs to help him face his past. The fact you are there at all speaks volumes. He won’t talk about what happened and I think it’s eating him alive.

Bea

xx

What on earth happened here? I wondered, staring at her note.

I picked up the basket and lantern and hurried outside to set up the picnic in the garden. When I laid the blanket out, I rushed back inside for the other lantern along with the flowers. When I stepped back outside, I picked out the lavender and carefully placed them by the back step. Once I was happy with the way it looked, I returned to Leo. He still looked nervous and fidgety.

“Was it okay?” he asked, looking up and exhaling when I re-entered the shed.

“Better than okay, actually.” I wasn’t sure how he was going to react to Bea’s gesture. “The bathroom was spotless and clean towels were hanging on the rails. There were vases of fresh flowers.”

“Purple flowers?”

“Too much lavender,” I replied, scrunching up my nose.

He shook his head and clenched his jaw. “Beatrix.”

I took a step forward and touched his arm. “She’s a really good friend. I have to say I was relieved to see toilet rolls.” I chuckled nervously.

“I’ll be sure to thank her.” He bowed his head. “That sounded sarcastic. I am genuinely grateful to her for your sake.”

“She really went above and beyond.” I took his hand and led him outside. I’d left the light lanterns next to the picnic so it was easy to find in the otherwise pitch-black garden.

Leo remained quiet as we approached the lights.

When we were standing next to the blanket, I stated the obvious. “She left us a picnic and these lanterns.”

“She knew I’d forget.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

“I’m actually really starving now.” I released his hand, stepped forward and knelt next to the basket. I patted the ground next to me. “Come on. We had ice cream for dinner last night. This can be our first dinner date.”

“Hmmm… It’s freezing cold and I forgot to bring food. I’m not setting the bar very high.” He sat down on the blanket, shaking his head.

I shuffled forward on my knees to hand him a sandwich. He looked down at the sandwich in his hands but wouldn’t look at me. I placed my hands on either side of his face and waited for him to raise his eyes to mine. “You’re here and I’m here. I’m as happy as I can be.”

A small smile was all I needed and I gave him a big one in return. “Eat your sandwich and stop with the feeling sorry for yourself.”

Leo chuckled. “Bossy Juliette is very sexy.”

We devoured the sandwiches Bea had provided and washed them down with a beer. I couldn’t think of a time I’d felt more content. When we were done, we packed everything back into the basket.

“So, are you ready for the after dinner show?” Leo switched off the lanterns, then lay down on his back.

“I think it’s a bit cold for that?” I shivered involuntarily.

“Lie down next to me, Jules.”

When he asked me to do something with that sexy-as-sin voice, it was impossible to deny him. I lay down on my back, looked up and gasped. “That’s quite some light show.”

The night sky was now an inky canvas, shot by thousands of tiny light bullets. I stared, completely spellbound—understanding for the first time how the city lights and pollution had deprived me of something truly wonderful.

“Pretty incredible, huh? Mother Nature was on my side tonight.”

I glanced at him briefly and nodded enthusiastically before returning to the panorama above.

“Those two really bright stars,” I said, pointing in the general direction. “What are they?”

Leo shuffled as close as he could to me, and I felt his warmth against my side. He pointed to the sky. “They’re actually planets. The one that appears lower is Venus, and the other one’s Jupiter.”

“And that one there?” I pointed to one halfway between Venus and Jupiter.

“That’s not a planet. It’s called Regulus and it’s actually four stars quite close together. We’re seeing it tonight with light rays which left Regulus way back in 1937.”

I tilted my head to the left so I could look at him. “You know a lot about this stuff, don’t you?”

He closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath. “My mother was fascinated by the stars.”

“Oh really?” I was inwardly thrilled to hear him mention his mum again. “Was she into astronomy or astrology?”

“Before I was born, she was a Classical Studies professor. Her interest was primarily Greek mythology and the names they gave the twelve constellations.”

“That is fascinating,” I said sincerely.

“She was obsessed with it. My bedtime stories were The Odyssey and The Iliad.”

“Oh. I love those books.”

“Me too.” He exhaled a long breath as if this subject was making it difficult for him to breathe. “She moved to the country to be with my father and gave away her career.”

“So you became her student?”

“Kind of. I guess. I loved the myths and legends, but I began studying astronomy on a more scientific basis. Constellations are just groups of stars with no real association to each other; they’re usually hundreds of light years apart.”

We lay together in silence. He moved his arm under my head so I could snuggle into him, star gazing on a cold winter’s night but cocooned by his warmth.

“I could stay here all night,” I sighed. “Will you tell me more about the stars?”

“Last night you asked me about my name.”

I held my breath, remembering how his whole body had gone rigid.

“I did,” I whispered, studying his side profile.

“That star you picked out—Regulus. It’s the brightest star in the Leo constellation.”

“Oh! Wow.” I turned my head skywards again.

“You know Leo is the Latin word for lion?”

“I didn’t know it was Latin.”

“Okay. Well, that group of stars were perceived as a lion by ancient civilisations as far back as 6000 BC.”