Chapter 36
I woke up at dawn after a restless night.
My brain wouldn’t stop thinking about everything that had happened over the past couple of days.
It was like I was on an emotional roller coaster.
One minute, I had been so excited about the pumpkin patch and curled up in Dylan’s arms like we had been starting something special then both had been ripped from under my feet, leaving me unsteady and unsure.
And then everyone had stepped in and it looked like maybe we could pull off the patch but it was still touch and go, especially when it came to getting enough people onto the farm to turn a profit and pay off some of our debts.
Dylan was nowhere to be seen or heard although he had clearly been doing some things to try to help from wherever he was now.
I had no idea what the day was going to bring and part of me wanted to stay in bed, pull the covers over me and pretend Sunday hadn’t arrived.
Then I heard my dad get up and go downstairs, greeting Maple as he walked into the kitchen, turning on the lights and then switching on the kettle – something I’d heard every day for so many years.
That made me sit up and throw the covers back because this might be the last month that I would hear those sounds if I didn’t get out of bed too.
After a quick shower, I pulled on my leggings, a long jumper, a thick scarf and put my hair into a bun then I went downstairs ready to drink a very large mug of coffee.
‘How are you feeling today, love?’ Dad asked me gently as I leaned against the kitchen counter to take a big gulp of coffee. He was feeding Maple and had made us scrambled eggs but I couldn’t face eating anything. I was too keyed up.
‘Ready to get started. We have to open tomorrow; this needs to work,’ I said determinedly. ‘I had a panic yesterday. I thought there was no hope but you gave me six weeks to try and I don’t want to give up until the end of October.’
Dad looked worried. ‘Maybe I put too much pressure on you; maybe it’s impossible, we’re in too much trouble and?—’
‘Dad,’ I cut him off sternly. ‘You gave me six weeks, right?’
Reluctantly, he nodded.
‘So, it isn’t over until the fat lady sings as old Jim down the pub likes to tell us every New Year’s Eve.’
Dad chuckled. ‘Yeah, old Jim loves that saying. Okay then, we have until the end of October – let’s get started.’
We smiled at one another and I finally had a sense deep down in my bones that somehow, we’d be okay, whatever happened. I glanced out of the window at the golden birch trees that were scattering their leaves, ready for new beginnings, and I wanted to be just like them.
* * *
At the sound of a car coming up the driveway, I squinted against the Sunday-afternoon sun, lifting my hand to shield my eyes to see who it was.
I was alone outside of the barn, piling pumpkins into a wheelbarrow to take over to the field.
We had spent the day so far finishing the clear-up job we’d started yesterday and there had been extra help today with people from the town, the word spreading that Birch Tree Farm needed saving.
I’d never felt prouder to be part of Birchbrook.
I still didn’t relish asking for help but I knew we couldn’t do it without our friends, and somehow, I’d return their favours, even if it took the rest of my life.
Now the polytunnel had been repaired and we’d made sure things were secured better and we could cover everything each night just in case the weather turned bad again, we set about making everything inside the best possible for people to experience.
So, I was starting to bring the pumpkins over to do just that.
I recognised the car coming towards me and my pulse immediately picked up pace.
The sleek, black car pulled around the farmhouse to park outside of the cottages and I watched as Dylan climbed out of it.
He wore the clothes he had left in yesterday and he looked around.
When he saw me by the barn, he headed my way with a purposeful stride.
I was inclined to walk off and find Dad and Sabrina so I wouldn’t have to face him alone but I knew that would be as childish as sending him in the wrong direction had been.
I was learning that putting off bad things, sticking my head in the sand, didn’t stop the bad things from happening – it just delayed them and sometimes, that made them even worse in the end.
Perhaps if I had listened to my dad’s worries, we could have done something to save the farm before things had got as bad as they did.
I didn’t want to have to deal with any more ‘what if’s’ in my life.
So, I carried on loading up pumpkins in the wheelbarrow as Dylan walked over.
‘Hi, Willow,’ he said, pausing a few feet away from me like he was nervous to come any closer.
I stopped loading up the wheelbarrow and glanced at him. He looked the same, if a little tired and dishevelled, and not freshly shaven like he usually was. His clothes were a little bit crumpled. I wondered where he had slept last night. ‘Have you come to pick up your things?’
Dad had said, after I fled the farm, Dylan had taken off not long after in his car so I knew he hadn’t had time to pack. The cottage was still his. For now.
‘I wanted to speak to you. Can you take a break? We could have a cup of tea in the cottage?’
‘Let’s stay here; there is so much to do to get ready for tomorrow,’ I replied, not wanting to go back inside the cottage when the last time I had been there, we’d ended up sleeping together. It hurt to think about that passionate evening together.
He nodded. ‘Okay. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I left yesterday after you asked me to but all I did was think about the farm. I want to help get ready for the opening tomorrow. I made a pact to stay for six weeks and I want to do that.’
I put my hands on my hips and frowned at him. ‘But why? I can tell you now if this is a failure, I won’t be selling to Henderson Homes. Not after what you said to your brother, how you made me think that you liked me too?—’
‘I did like you,’ Dylan interjected. ‘I do like you, Willow. I told you, what you heard wasn’t what I really think or feel, I promise. But that’s not important right now.’
I raised an eyebrow. ‘It isn’t?’ This man was so confusing. I had no idea how he felt about me or how I should feel about him.
‘No, what’s important is opening the pumpkin patch and doing all we can so you won’t have to sell the farm to my brother, or to anyone.
I know you doubt my intentions, you aren’t sure whether to trust me or believe what I say, but I can help.
I can work on selling tickets and getting publicity, bringing people to the farm.
You have so much sorted, Willow, you have created what will be such a fun, autumnal day out for people and you are great at fixing things, coming up with ideas, bringing it all together – just look…
’ He gestured over to the field. ‘Let me help with the things that you can’t do by yourself, the things that I know how to do, that I’m good at.
Even if you don’t understand why I’m doing it, can you really afford to say no?
Why not just let me help and we can talk about us later?
Once the pumpkin patch is open tomorrow. What do you think?’
He looked at me so sincerely, I was stumped at what to say. He was serious. He wanted to help and God knew, I needed it. Yes, ticket sales had crept up slightly yesterday but we were way off what we needed to help keep the farm going until the summer season came around again.
But what would happen to my heart if I said yes?
‘Willow, I’ve come to help bring the pumpkins over.’
Dylan and I both jumped as Paul suddenly appeared with another wheelbarrow. He didn’t wait for a response but starting to pick them up to put in the wheelbarrow, acting like we weren’t even there.
Dylan smiled at me and I couldn’t help but smile back.
I had felt my heart break a little bit yesterday morning so the damage was already done.
Dylan wasn’t mine, and he never would be.
But the farm was what was important now.
And a tiny part of me was happy to have him back.
That yesterday hadn’t been our final goodbye.
So, even though I was worried about how I’d feel when he did leave for good, I wasn’t sensible enough to turn him away again.
I needed his help. For the sake of saving my home.
‘Okay, Dylan,’ I said finally. ‘Let’s keep our pact going.’ I picked up another pumpkin. ‘How can we get people to the pumpkin patch?’
‘I have lots of ideas,’ he said, starting to walk off.
‘Where are you going?’ I called after him.
‘To get my laptop, of course.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Of course.’