The two tiny holes in the wood halt my knock mid-air as blissful thoughts of Harry's poem blush my cheeks. His handwritten words were the start of my 21st celebrations and the excitement of the weekend that just was still has me buzzing. My knuckle finally raps against the door and in anticipation, I step back.

The last couple of days I have been ensconced in the world of my business. My exam piece canvases arrived and now have pride of place on the wall behind the sofa, where two custom-made cushions of other pieces of my work are scattered. I purchased a small mini fridge and a coffee machine from the bargain store but my piece de resistance has to be my charity shop find.  I was browsing the crockery section just as the box came in; talk about being in the right place at the right time.  The vintage teapot with mismatched dainty cups and saucers, sugar bowl and milk jug was meant to be mine. 'Lily's, With Love' is finally ready to start receiving clients.

I made a start at contacting some of the potential business opportunities from the list I had previously compiled.  As expected, the events manager at each venue dismissed my call with a bulk standard, "send me some information and I'll look at it." Undeterred, and knowing to stand out from the crowd I have to create a good first impression, I spent an afternoon following up my initial contact calls with a visit to the venues to introduce myself.

Along with my business details, I gave each contact a mini floral bouquet with my business card inside. They were so simple and inexpensive to make using what the garden had on offer but I hope they made a good impression. Of the four biggest venues in town - The Town Hall, two hotels and the golf club - two confirmed they were currently reviewing their suppliers so I have everything crossed that some work may find its way in my direction.

I also designed an A5 flyer sheet with a business card attached to drop into every place I could think of that holds information tables or notice boards promoting local businesses. This method is not my preferred but exposure is key, even if only one booking comes off the back of it. I am hopeful that once I get some happy customers under my belt, it will be word of mouth that propels my business forward.

I could not have done as I did without the help of Nathalie's chauffeuring skills. It also gave us an opportunity to chat. Although she did not open up any further about her feelings for Billy, I could tell from our conversations she is looking at things differently. I know she will talk to me when she's ready.
After all that, I was shattered but rather than sleep I felt the overwhelming need to sit in my little studio and be quietly creative. I put the finishing touches to the surprise piece I am working on for Harry. The final result is exactly what I envisaged but I am a little apprehensive about it, so have decided to give it to him after Jeff leaves.

Thinking about Jeff, I am nervous about meeting him today and the door swinging open half way and a head popping around it, startles me out of my reverie.

"Hello." I smile warmly by way of introduction.

"Hi, wait one moment please," he replies, curtly. Despite the fact I know this man is Jeff because Harry has shown me photos of him, the American accent is a dead giveaway. He turns and shouts back into the house. "Harry, there's a delivery lady at the door!"

I pout ever so slightly and gaze down to check out my outfit. As I thought, I am not wearing a uniform, do not have a name badge on or have a clipboard in my hand. Perhaps this is his test; him trying to exert authority from the outset on how he sees the hierarchal structure that surrounds Harry. Whatever it is, I have no intention of dancing to his tune.

Confidently, I extend my hand to introduce myself. "Hello Jeff, I'm Lily, it's lovely to meet you."

He eyes me with barely a flicker of emotion. "So, I finally get to meet the young lady that caused my team such turmoil a month ago. Jeffrey Azoff, Full Stop Management."

Only now, from his elevated position of the doorstep, does he extend his hand to grasp mine. His formal handshake borders on an aggressive grip and I half expect him to reach inside his pocket to hand me his business card!

Despite my trembling inside, I pause to study him. His intimidating aura does not match the softness of his features. Harry loves this man like an older brother. They are as near as family can be without actually being blood related. Best friends, they have been inseparable for the last few years. Olive and I spend a fair amount of time together but these two take the title of 'best friends' to a stratospheric level. Not only that, they have now officially added a business relationship into that mix.

Harry trusts Jeff so implicitly that I consider my response to him carefully. Is he threatened? After all, Harry has been 'his' for so long. Oh do not be ridiculous Lily; he is a grown man in his early thirties. But, this is the start of our interactions and therefore, my answer in the next twenty seconds will determine our relationship going forward.

"Harry has spoken to me fondly of you to me. I hope we agree that he is his own man with his own mind, his own ambition fuelled by hard work, desire and loyalty to those around him. No one, and certainly not I, pull his strings."

Before he can respond, Harry appears behind him, pulling the door open fully. "Delivery, where?"

"Misunderstanding," Jeff responds bluntly, waving his hand dismissively about the subject.  However, that does not stop the vacant smirk that is still plastered on his lips.

"I see you two have finally met!" Harry happily exclaims as he sweeps past Jeff and steps out the house. "Morning, Lily." He slides his palms down my arms and pulls me to him, offering a quick kiss on my lips before grazing his cheek across mine and pecking another swift kiss against my earlobe as he pulls away. I understand his formality; he doesn't want to be all over-the-top in front of Jeff and neither do I. That does not stop the lingering scratch from his stubble against my cheek or the heat of his breath against my ear though as it stirs my insides into a frenzy.

Jeff taps Harry's shoulder and indicates with his thumb back towards the kitchen, "we've got that call coming in from London soon."

Harry acknowledges him, "yeah, be right there," then focuses back on me.

Cue awkward moment as Jeff stands there holding open the door and waiting for Harry who stands there looking back and forth from him to me. Jeff gestures with his hand for Harry to step back inside. He pecks my cheek again and whispers, "see you later, Beautiful."

I decide not to overthink whatever that was. At least Jeff left the door ajar and did not shut it in my face.  I wander into the garden to attend to more pleasant things. Time to get some overdue jobs done.

Summer is progressing and July has been hot. The garden is flourishing and apart from the lawns growing at the rate of knots, it all looks in order. It is such a relief that Mum and Harry have hired a gardener to do the lawns and hedges. They are big jobs that are one step too much for me right now.

I deadhead some plants to keep the blooms coming and blitz the weeds that thrive in the sunshine. A check of the orchard apple and pear trees finds no apple scab disease; the fruit is looking healthy with no brown spots of concern.

The vegetable patches are thriving with courgettes ready for picking before they grow so big they turn in marrows. Strawberries and tomatoes are still plentiful and they smell so naturally fresh in my trugs, along with an array of other vibrancy ready for eating.

The colourful delphiniums have grown so strikingly tall, they are now prone to collapse if the weather should turn. I grab some canes and twine from the shed and the propping up job is complete in no time.

Growing and nurturing flowers and plants from seed is much more satisfying than simply buying ready grown. I collect some seeds from the Calendula and Love-in-a-Mist and am standing at the bench in the greenhouse sorting my finds when the door slides open, startling me.  I shoot my stare sideways to see Jeff walking casually towards me with a bottle of water in his hand.

"Hi," he greets, sheepishly, as he raises his hand in a welcoming gesture. He hands me the bottle that I take from him with a fleeting smile of gratitude.  "Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot earlier, or should I say I got us off on the wrong foot." He extends his hand to me again. "Hi Lily, I am Jeff and it is lovely to finally meet you."

"Did Harry send you out here?" I question, eyeing him suspiciously.

His response is very definite.  "No, like him I am my own man. I realise my error of judgement."

I pull off my gardening glove and wipe my sweaty hand down my jeans, before extending it to his second markedly gentler handshake of the day.  "Thank you and no harm done."

"I hope you can understand I am more than just a manager to Harry. He is first and foremost my best friend, more like family really and I suppose I sometimes take the overly protective big brother thing a bit too far." He makes a strained facial gesture then lets out a little nervous laugh of embarrassment.

"Yes, I respect that." I nod with another smile. "I am only concerned in the matters of Harry's heart and not his business." I try to ease the tension that still appears to be lingering in the air between us. "I will stay in my lane if you stay in yours!"

Before responding, he looks thoughtfully at me and scratches his stubble. "Sadly Lily, I cannot promise that because for Harry the two are not exclusive. Sometimes I will have to swerve into your lane."

"I appreciate your honesty but there's swerving and then there's meddling. The two are not the same."

He holds one palm up between us. "Don't get me wrong, Harry's heart is free to giveaway to whom he chooses but on the business side, I have to do what is right for Harry as an artist."

I look back towards the seeds I am sorting. Jeff is watching me intently and I flick my eyes up and catch his stare. "And similarly, I have to do what is right for Harry as a person."

"Do you mind if I give you some advice and it's not at all meant in a patronizing way?"

"Of course."

"If you are not on the same page as Harry it isn't going to work. On the whole, men don't show emotions too much, then there's Harry who is different and that is what partly makes him unique. He is deeply emotionally charged."

My fingers fiddle with Percy's collar bracelet at my wrist. "I know he is." I nod in agreement with a lump in my throat.

"People don't understand where those lyrics he writes come from. They come from a deep place of constant thought where he continually asks why, why but why. He looks at the world differently; he's a glass half full. He is so positive and strong, stronger than anyone I know apart from my dad but when he's weak, he's vulnerable, and Lily, right now over the next few months he needs strength around him not fragility."

His mini speech is veraciously direct and I admire that honesty but it pulls a frown across the bridge of my nose because I am not sure how to read his words. "It seems we both want what is best for him," is all the answer I can find to say.

"Yes, absolutely, that is right." Jeff responds. "Well, I'd best get back, we've got another call with NY."

He leaves me still mulling over his words. I realise I have zoned out and glance up to see the grey of his shirt through the greenhouse glass blurring as it moves further away.  I hobble to the door, sliding it back and shouting out the gap, "Jeff!"

He has yet to reach the end of the path and turns on his heels back towards me.

I pause for a split second before, "I would have signed an NDA," tumbles out of my mouth.

It is now his turn to look perplexed. Although my words are long gone on the breeze, he turns his head to the side and leans towards me, as though straining to comprehend what I have said even though he heard it loud and clear.

"Harry told you about that?" He quizzes, scratching the palm of one hand with the fingers of his other.

"Yes, he called me Monday night after your discussion."

"Oh." Jeff looks lost for words and is now standing facing me again. "Well, he has made it clear it is not what he wants and so the subject is closed," he utters from his lips with an underlying indignant tone.

"But I sense you are unhappy about that?" I offer, kindly.

"No disrespect to you but I was, now not so much."  His hunched shoulders relax a little.  "Please can I ask you one favour though?"

I hesitate because he looks so serious. "It depends on what it is."

"Please promise me you will always look after his heart and do what's best for it and him."

"That is my only intent," I declare, a little taken aback.

"I think you," he replies softly, "and I are going to get on just fine, Lily," he adds, nodding his head and smiling.

"Yes, I think we are." I agree.

"Everything ok here?" Harry's gruffness disperses the heavy air between us.

"Yes, absolutely," we respond in unison.

"Glad to hear it because you two are two of my most favourite people in the world," Harry professes.

His arm curves around my waist to pull me into his side and he plants a kiss on my lips.  With his other arm casually draped over Jeff's shoulder, he pulls him into his other side and exaggerates kisses on his forehead.

"Too much Hersh, get off!" Jeff pushes away from his side.

"You love it!" Harry grips onto Jeff's shoulder to stop him backing away from the huddle.

He stands tall looking pleased with himself. "I have just spoken to Mum and she, Robin, Gemma and Michal are coming this weekend so get your chef's hat on Jerome, your bbq skills are required."

"It will be great to see them again. Hope you told them to bring their trunks and suits, that pool is crying out for a swim." Jeff responds animatedly, before peering round Harry to look at me. "Have you met the family yet Lily?"

"I have met Anne and Robin but not Gemma and her boyfriend." I reply, thinking fondly about Anne.

"Well, we won't see Mum and Lily for dust.  They'll be too busy talking plants all weekend!" Harry interjects, sarcastically.

"That's fine by me!" I shrug with a smirk, not able to take my eyes for his.

"If you two lovebirds could put each other's eyes down for one moment, that call to New York isn't going to make itself, Hersh," Jeff laughs.

"Yes, you are right, let's go," Harry spins round towards the direction of the house.

"Before you go, just one thing. Hersh and Jerome?" I question.

Harry looks at Jeff and chortles. "Yeah it's a long story. Do you want to tell her later J or shall I?"