Page 32 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

‘Do I get homework as well?’ asked Rose, with a wink.

Lily smiled and wondered whether perhaps she had come on a bit too strong with Annie. But hopefully not. She just needed to tick some things off today’s to-do list so she could really get going. After all, didn’t they want to get organised?

13

By lunchtime, Lily had realised that the kitchen was the hub of the house. Yes, Willow Tree Hall had an elegant drawing room, an amazing ballroom and many other rooms, but the kitchen was where it all happened. Everyone was always popping in for a coffee or tea. Snatching biscuits from the tin. Coming and going. Chatting and gossiping.

So that was where she decided to concentrate her organisation efforts to begin with. First on her list was to sort the cupboards. Although they were beautiful, she found the layout for everything very confusing. In one cupboard there was food. The next held cleaning stuff. Then there were baking tins. Then more food. Then loo rolls. It didn’t make any sense.

So, she spent a very happy couple of hours rearranging everything whilst it was quiet.

‘What’s all this?’ asked Sam, when he walked through the room in the middle of the afternoon.

The kitchen worktops were groaning under the weight of everything having been brought out of the cupboards.

‘I’m just having a little sort-out,’ Lily told him, as she wiped down a shelf. ‘Can I help you with anything?’

He shook his head quickly. ‘Nothing important that can’t wait.’

He went across to the corner and reached out his hand before looking nonplussed. ‘Er, where’s the kettle?’

‘Oh, that’s going to be over here now,’ said Lily, pointing at the nearest worktop. ‘It makes far more sense for it to be on this side of the kitchen.’

‘Right. Great!’ Sam fixed on a smile.

Encouraged, Lily carried on, and by teatime she was pleased with her efforts.

‘So, all the food is above this worktop,’ she explained to Annie, who was looking a little confused. ‘The cleaning stuff is all together on that side of the room.’

‘And the saucepans?’

‘Over there, next to the oven.’

‘OK.’ Annie was frowning.

‘Is everything ok?’ asked Lily quickly. ‘Have I done something wrong?’

Annie shook her head. ‘Not at all,’ she said in a bright tone of voice. ‘Any ideas where the big crock pot has gone? I thought I’d do chilli con carne for dinner.’

‘It’s on that lower shelf,’ Lily told her. ‘With the soup maker and other electrical items.’

She was satisfied with her work. After all, it made far more sense.

‘Where have the plates gone?’ asked Skye, a little while later, opening and closing various cupboard doors.

‘Over by the microwave,’ Lily told her.

Will wandered in through the back door. ‘I’m starving,’ he announced, walking across the kitchen. ‘Renovating barns is hard work.’

‘How’s it coming along?’ asked Annie.

Will made a face as he opened and closed various cupboard doors. ‘It’ll be fine if our bride and groom want a nice candlelit reception. If they want electricity that could be a problem.’

‘So if they want music and speakers?’ asked Annie.

Will blew out a sigh. ‘They can always borrow Tom’s guitar and go acoustic. OK. I give up. Where are the biscuits?’

‘I can’t remember,’ said Annie.