Chapter 36
‘A taste of Wales,’ I say into the camera. ‘Any food producers, get in touch. We want you to come along. Let people taste your food and tell them where it’s come from.’
‘Now all we have to do is hope,’ I say in the shed, the next morning, after Llew has filmed me talking about our new year food festival. ‘Hope the producers turn up and people come to eat the food.’
I can’t bear to think what will happen if this doesn’t work. The farm will definitely have to be sold. We’re out of options.
Llew puts down the phone and walks over to join me.
‘Hope,’ he says, looking at the lamb: she has been reunited with her mum, wearing a warm jumper Evie knitted.
‘What will you do now?’ I ask. ‘When do you have to go back?’
‘I’m not sure,’ he says. ‘What about you?’
‘If this doesn’t work? Look for another job.’
‘What about the B-and-B idea? People would love to stay here. I know I do.’
‘It could work with something else, but not on its own. If the street-food festival took off, and the barns, it could be part of it.’
‘Stronger together?’ he asks.
I nod.
‘I get it. A bit like the people I’ve met since I’ve been here,’ he says. ‘You, Mae, Owen, Evie, your dad and Myfanwy, you’ve all rallied around Owen and Jess.’
‘I don’t want to sell. I’m staying here and I’m going to make this work! I can’t do it on my own. You’re right, we’re all stronger together. I thought I was a lone wolf when I worked at the hotel, didn’t need any help, but it wasn’t a team. People worked for me. Here, we’ve got to work together.’
I look at him as he pulls me close. ‘Same when I gave in my notice. I realized I didn’t care about what I was doing. I wasn’t helping people. I thought I was, but it was about getting the deal. Competing with my colleagues. Seeing who could seal the most deals. It didn’t mean anything.’
I stare at him, suddenly terrified of saying what’s on my mind.