Chapter 40
Paul had driven off with the van saying he’d be back tomorrow so I supposed that was high enough praise from him for now. There was a feeling that half-term would be the best judge of our success so we had until then to drum up publicity and get as many families through the gate as possible.
I walked slowly to find my dad, who was tidying away the payment station with Maple running around now we’d let her out of the farmhouse. I glanced at the cottages. Dylan’s car was still here but there was no sign of him or his brother so I had no idea what had happened once I’d left them alone.
I didn’t regret what I had said to Nate but nerves swirled in my stomach about what Dad was going to say about it.
We had an agreement for six weeks but I’d gone back on that.
I had told Nate and Dylan I’d never sell to them, but it was Dad’s name on the deeds to the farm.
It was ultimately his decision. I knew I needed to tell him but I was scared at how he’d react.
Had I been too impulsive once again?
While I waited for Dad to finish up, I walked into the pumpkin patch and glanced around.
We’d sold a few pumpkins that I’d replenished and everything looked tidy so I covered up the pumpkins that were outside and made sure that the polytunnels were safe and secure.
It was due to be dry for the next few days, thankfully, but I was paranoid after the damage from the storm and needed to double-check everything.
‘How do you feel about it all?’ Dad asked, coming to stand beside me with Maple.
‘Good, I think. We just need to see what happens with ticket and pumpkin sales over the next few days. The decider is going to be the penultimate week of October though, isn’t it?
Half-term week. I really hope that will go well.
’ I took a breath. I couldn’t risk Dad speaking to Dylan before I confessed what I had done earlier.
‘Dad, I need to tell you something…’ I began, hoping he wouldn’t be too angry with me.
‘Dylan’s brother showed up earlier and he really wound me up.
’ I gave Dad a shortened version of our conversation.
‘He sounds awful,’ Dad replied. ‘I’m sorry he spoke to you like that. If I’d been there…’
‘I can handle myself,’ I said, although I wasn’t sure if I had handled it properly or not.
‘I know that but I’m protective of my only daughter. So is this one,’ he added, patting Maple, who sat down in between us.
‘Don’t be mad but I kind of told him he could stick his offer for our farm,’ I blurted out nervously.
‘I just couldn’t stand the idea of someone like him owning this place.
Even if we can’t save it, we can sell to someone else, can’t we?
I know I can be impulsive and I’m sorry if you think that I?—’
‘Willow,’ Dad said gently, stopping me from babbling. ‘You should have spoken to me about it first.’
‘Shit, I know, I let my temper get the best of me,’ I said miserably. I’d let him down all over again. I looked down at my feet, wondering if Dad was going to wash his hands of me completely. ‘It’s your farm. I know that. I’m sorry, Dad. What shall we do?’
‘You didn’t let me finish. You should have spoken to me about it first. But if you had done, I would have said I agree with you.’
My head snapped up. ‘You agree?’ I repeated in surprise and relief.
‘He shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.
And I’m not naive to think we’ll be able to sell to anyone who will keep this as a farm, this land will be developed if we do have to move on, but I’d want to respect whoever we did end up dealing with.
And that is not a man to respect.’ Dad glanced over my shoulder.
‘His brother though, I did respect him, but I’m not sure if I should or not. ’
I followed his gaze to see Dylan walking over from the cottage. He was still here then. I wondered for how long, though.
‘I’m not sure either, Dad. I like him but it’s not like we have a future, right?
His brother is probably right that he’ll move on and we won’t see him again.
And I must admit, thinking about him going back to work for his brother after the way Nate treated us both today – I’m not sure that’s a man I could respect. ’
‘Give him a chance. Look at what he’s done for us.
He must care about you too.’ Dad gave my shoulder a squeeze.
‘We have some leftover lasagne; I’ll start heating it in the Aga and make some garlic bread.
Come in whenever you can. Let’s go, Maple; you can help me.
’ He whistled for her and set off for the farmhouse, giving Dylan a nod as they passed each other.
I went to sit down on one of the school benches as Dylan made his way over.
I could see the moon above the pumpkin patch.
It would be full by the time Halloween came around.
Perfect for the lantern festival too. I hoped that Dad could persuade the mayor to involve the farm somehow in the event.
I had so many ideas running around my head.
I wanted to make them all happen. I just needed the chance.
‘Hey.’ Dylan sat down next to me. ‘Okay if I join you? It feels like we need to talk.’
I nodded but I didn’t look at him. I felt like it would be too distracting. Looking into Dylan’s eyes made me lose all focus for anything other than him. I couldn’t risk that right now.
‘No good conversations start with that phrase,’ I said lightly.
Dylan chuckled softly. ‘You have a point. Maybe this can be the first one, though.’ He sighed.
‘I’m really sorry about earlier. I’m so embarrassed at the things my brother said to you.
But also I’m embarrassed by my behaviour over the past few days.
’ He shook his head. ‘I don’t want to be someone who lies or plays games. I’m an honest man, I swear it.’
‘I really am confused about this weekend,’ I admitted. ‘I thought we had such a lovely night together, but then everything went wrong.’ It had been so strange to have felt so close to him one minute then so hurt by him the next.
‘You’re right to be confused. I’m sorry, Willow. It really has all been my fault.’
‘Just tell me the truth, please, Dylan,’ I said. I was tired of playing a guessing game with him and his feelings. We’d started out at loggerheads and then everything seemed to change but maybe you shouldn’t go from being enemies to sleeping together.
‘I started out determined to get you to sell. The pact we made was crazy. You pushed my buttons that day. I was annoyed that you’d sent me in the wrong direction and that you were trying to stop your dad from dealing with me.
I’d as good as promised Nate I would get this land for us, and he seemed so impressed with me, finally.
It’s embarrassing to admit I wanted my brother’s approval, for him to be proud of me for once.
It’s felt all my life like I can’t live up to him.
Especially in our dad’s eyes.’ Dylan sighed.
‘I’m ashamed to admit all this, but I want to tell you the truth. ’
‘I’m glad you’re explaining it to me,’ I said quietly, knowing this was a big thing for him to get off his chest. I understood the feeling that you weren’t good enough.
Of wanting your family to be proud of you.
I couldn’t tell him off for feeling that way.
I’d been so determined to save the farm for my family, after all.
‘I thought if I agreed to stay on the farm, I could persuade you to give up your crazy pumpkin-patch idea, or I could persuade your dad not to let you try it. I thought you’d soon agree to sell to me. Arrogant, right?’
I turned to face him then. ‘Very,’ I replied.
‘But you intrigued me from that first night. You were so feisty and determined. You had all these big ideas. You didn’t let me bulldoze over you.
You fought right back. And, God, I admired the hell out of you.
And it was more attractive than I was expecting.
You drove me crazy. Which is why it got harder to keep trying to persuade you against your ideas.
I felt this urge to help you make them all happen instead.
’ Dylan smiled a little bit. I tried not to smile back but it was hard.
His eyes were soft on mine like he really was fond of me.
‘When we kissed at that inn, it was better than I’d been imagining it would be.
We had such a great night together. I couldn’t face hurting you.
And I knew by then how much it would hurt if you had to let go of the farm.
But it was hard. My brother was breathing down my neck, confused why I was still here but hadn’t got your dad to accept our offer yet.
And then you said our night together had to just be a one-night thing… That hurt, I have to say.’
‘Well, I just felt like I was setting myself up to get my heart broken. I knew you were only here for six weeks, and we wanted different things. We were enemies, basically.’
‘No!’ Dylan cried. ‘We were only enemies for about five minutes. I was hooked as soon as you challenged me to make that pact with you.’
‘So, you were happy when we slept together again?’ I asked him, really hoping he had been.
‘Over the moon. I’m sorry I fucked it all up afterwards.’
‘Why did you?’
A yellow leaf floated down then, landing on the bench between us. I picked it up and twirled it between my fingers as I waited for Dylan to answer.
He watched me holding the leaf and sighed.
‘Nate phoned me so I left you sleeping. He said Dad was irate that I was still on the farm and wanted me home. Nate said I was letting them down not getting your dad to sign our deal, and I should just give up. He said similar things to what he said today, like I was useless and he regretted offering me a job. Instead of telling him where to stick his job, I found myself telling him that it was all in hand and I’d get you to sign.
I wanted for once to shut him up, to prove him wrong.
And I suppose for a second, I did wonder why I had let go of my original plan.
Why I had let you get under my skin and into my heart.
I told him we’d slept together so now I could get you to do what I wanted. ’