Chapter 15
My phone rang early the following morning as I was feeding the chickens and taking a walk around the farm with Maple.
Today, the sun had faded into a grey day, an autumnal breeze whipping around me.
My dad was in one of the polytunnels checking on crops.
We’d had an early breakfast together before the sun came up and then separated to do our chores.
I glanced over at the cottage a few times but there was no sign of life.
Dylan seemed to still be in bed. I envied him.
Our late night and wine had made it tricky for me to get up.
‘Hi, Sabrina,’ I greeted when I answered my phone, walking out of the chicken pen and closing the gate, following Maple as she ran towards the crop fields. ‘What’s up?’
I liked to walk the fields as much as possible as we headed towards winter to look at what had grown and sold well in summer, so then I could decide what to try to grow more or less of, what seeds I needed to order, when I needed to plant things.
And I had to keep an eye on when frosts came in, so I could protect some of the crops that weren’t sheltered in the polytunnels.
Winter was slower on the farm but still an important time to lay the groundwork for the following summer season.
If I could make an event in autumn, I would need to factor that in and so that was on my mind as I strolled around: whether I could fit in the extra work if I was running things on my own.
‘What’s up with me? What’s up with you?’ Sabrina cried down the phone, very excitable for such an early time, shaking me out of my thoughts.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I just dropped in to the café; the baby had a bad night so I thought a walk would help us both, plus I needed a very strong coffee, and I thought a fresh loaf of bread would be nice for some toast for breakfast,’ Sabrina gabbled.
I smiled at how she got to her points so long-windedly.
‘I was half-asleep in there but I realised everyone was talking about you. Paul was telling everyone what you said at the pub the night before last about the pumpkin patch, which of course I already knew about, but what was news to me – because my best friend clearly doesn’t think it’s important to tell me things – was that you were on a date with the man who you gave wrong directions to!
Which I can’t believe, because he wants to buy your farm! What were you thinking, Willow?’
‘First of all, breathe,’ I instructed, my eyes wide at my friend’s fast talking.
I heard her do just that. She was clearly walking back from the High Street to the cottage she shared with her husband, probably pushing the pram.
The contrast between our lives was stark.
‘Second of all, yes, we were in the pub together but it wasn’t a date.
Dylan is staying at the farm for a few weeks. ’
‘Come again?’
‘I know this is going to sound a little bit mad but…’ I told Sabrina about our pumpkin-patch pact.
There was a long silence. ‘But he’s the enemy. Why would you want him living there? Won’t he just sabotage the patch so you have to sell? Why has your dad let a strange man live with you both?’
I paused and looked over at the cottages.
Dylan was emerging from his and with purpose in his step, he headed straight for the field we were clearing.
It was weird; Sabrina was right. ‘I maybe jumped in like I often do, and it was kind of too late for my dad to stop me; you know what I’m like when I’m faced with a challenge… ’
‘You are determined to succeed. It’s what I love about you. Along with your big dreams. But you can’t trust this man, surely? And why has he agreed to it? I’m confused and worried.’
I watched Dylan get down to work then I continued following Maple across the crop fields.
‘I know, I almost called the whole thing off but he got under my skin, Sabrina. Everyone seems to think I can’t do this but I know I can, and I have to prove it.
In six weeks’ time, I will watch Dylan leave the farm with his tail between his legs. ’
‘I want you to succeed, I really do, Willow. I don’t want you and your dad to have to leave the farm and Birchbrook.
But I think you need to be careful. This man isn’t like us, is he?
A city boy who wears suits and drives a fancy car, who looks down on people like us and probably has a glamorous girlfriend waiting for him back home. ’
That jolted me. I hadn’t thought about Dylan having someone waiting for him back home. Surely, he wouldn’t be away from her for six weeks? Why was I even thinking about that?
‘You and him are different people,’ Sabrina concluded.
I looked back at Dylan finishing off mowing our grass.
His sleeves were rolled up again and he was working hard.
He glanced over then and lifted his hand to wave to me.
I couldn’t see if he was smiling but I found myself smiling anyway.
I waved back and turned to head in that direction, whistling to Maple to come with me.
‘Don’t worry,’ I assured Sabrina. ‘I know how different we are. You know I’d never want a man like he was when we met him in Birchbrook Café,’ I said, although I had already seen a different side to him.
I wanted to keep that to myself for some reason.
Maybe because Sabrina might not believe it.
‘This is just about making sure he doesn’t convince my dad to sell behind my back. Keep your enemies close and all that.’
‘Has he made you guys a good offer?’ she asked gently as if worried that question would anger me.
I thought back to last night in the cottage.
Dylan had shown me the Henderson Homes offer formally in writing, which he’d sent to my dad.
It stated the money they were giving us plus the plans for their development and a written agreement that our birch trees wouldn’t be cut down.
He was working on a virtual mock-up of what the development would look like and a pitch for planning permission.
It would be Henderson Homes’ biggest ever project, and the one they could make the most money on.
I knew that it would be Dylan’s biggest acquisition for his brother and he was hungry for it. But not as hungry as I was to stay.
‘Yes,’ I admitted to Sabrina. ‘It’s more than enough for both me and my dad to move away, clear our debts then buy a property, or even a small one each.’
‘God, the thought of you not living here…’ She trailed off with a sigh.
‘It won’t come to that,’ I promised boldly although I bit my lip, hoping I wasn’t lying to us both.
I thought for a moment about walking away from this place and starting over somewhere new.
I just couldn’t picture it. I knew people who had fled Birchbrook as soon as they’d turned eighteen, desperate for a faster-paced life, to see the world, or just try something different, but I had never felt that itch.
I had reached the field. ‘I better go; there is so much to do if I’m going to get this up and running for the start of next month.’
‘If I can help at all, you know I’m here, right? I know I haven’t got your imagination but I am behind you, Willow. If this helps you stay here, I am all for it.’
It was more supportive than she had been back in the café and I appreciated it.
Not everyone understood my dreams, I knew that, and maybe they dismissed me as being unable to live up to them but I wanted, this time, to make sure I did.
‘Thanks, Sabrina. I’ll keep you posted and we’ll catch up soon. ’
‘Definitely. I want to meet this Dylan Henderson.’
He looked up then although he couldn’t have heard her and our eyes caught.
‘I’m sure you will soon,’ I said then we hung up.
‘I slept through my alarm,’ Dylan said with a sheepish look. ‘I was up too late working on something my brother needed for today. I’m getting stuck in now, though.’
‘Don’t worry, I had to get my usual chores done,’ I said as Maple ran past me to greet him, her tail wagging as he reached down with a smile to pat her. I tried but failed not to find the way they were excited to see each other endearing. ‘You’re making great progress.’
Dylan’s phone beeped and he glanced down and looked at it, reading a message. He sighed and shoved it back into his pocket.
‘Everything okay?’ I asked, curious, suddenly wondering if Sabrina had been right about him having a girlfriend back in the city asking what he was doing out here with me. Well, not with me but…
‘My brother just being curt as usual, I don’t think he’s heard of the words “thank you”. I was up to all hours but apparently, I still missed a document he needed,’ Dylan replied with a sigh.
I wondered about their relationship. I had always thought having a sibling would have been a massive help out here on the farm but maybe I was better off on my own. ‘Do you need to go back to the cottage?’
‘No. We said we’d finish clearing today,’ he replied, getting back on with mowing.
‘I’ll get on with the bush. I sent a few emails when I got up this morning to suppliers so we can check on that at lunch,’ I said, walking past him to start work.
The word ‘we’ didn’t sound as odd as it should have done.