Chapter 44
My twenty-sixth birthday started out like most days on the farm, which I didn’t mind at all apart from my dad making us pancakes for breakfast after I had completed my farm chores in the darkness of the October morning.
I walked Maple to feed the chickens and I thought about my mum, which I often did on my birthday.
She had always woken me up early, even more excited than me for the day, and insisted we eat the cake she had baked for breakfast and open my presents in bed.
My dad and I had tried to carry on that tradition a few times but it had felt hollow without her so we had tried to create new traditions instead.
I still missed her though as Maple barked excitedly at the chickens.
I had thought Mum would have been around for many more milestones than she had been.
It was a shame she couldn’t see the changes we were making on the farm.
But also the change in me. I could feel it.
I looked over as Dylan made his way to the farmhouse for breakfast and I knew he had been a part of that change.
‘Come on, Maple, the chickens have had their breakfast; it’s time for ours,’ I said, whistling for her.
I had left my hair down today as I’d washed it and was letting it dry naturally and it blew across my face on the morning breeze.
I pushed it back as Maple ran eagerly to my side and we walked into the warm house and through to the kitchen where the table was set up for breakfast. It had two cards and presents on it as well as a bunch of pretty orange and yellow roses: my favourites.
Dad was bringing over a large plate of pancakes while Dylan carried coffees and the maple syrup. I fed Maple and then joined them at the table.
‘Happy birthday, love,’ Dad said. ‘We thought we’d have a quick celebration before the day starts and then we can let our hair down tonight with Sabrina and everyone.
Not that I have much to let down,’ he added, a twinkle in his eyes.
It was nice to see. Sometimes, he could be melancholic on my birthday without Mum around so I was glad he was in a good mood.
He handed me his card, which had a Border Collie on it, and his present.
I opened it up and smiled at the large, gold-framed photo of me and Maple in the pumpkin patch.
He’d taken it the day we opened despite my protests as I wasn’t a big fan of having my picture taken.
‘That’s so sweet, Dad,’ I said. We never went crazy on birthdays, preferring thoughtful gifts over expensive ones and in later years, we were glad of that tradition as we certainly couldn’t justify pricey presents.
‘I’ll put it on my bedside table.’ We had a big hug and then as he dished up pancakes, Dylan handed me his card and present.
Dylan had chosen an autumn-themed card – it was covered in assorted leaves and said:
Have an unbe-LEAF-able birthday!
I giggled at the terrible pun and opened it up to read his message.
Willow, I hope you have a very happy birthday. Thank you for making me fall in love with October. Dylan.
My breath hitched a little bit. I glanced at him – he was watching my reaction. I smiled across at him and he dropped me a wink. I then opened up his present and unwrapped a small, velvet jewellery box.
‘I know what this cost you to part with, and I thought you deserved to have it back,’ he said as I lifted the box open and gasped.
‘What is it?’ Dad asked as he drizzled maple syrup over his pancakes.
Unable to speak, I tilted the box to show Dad the gold and diamond necklace inside. The gold and diamond necklace that my mum had passed down to me and I had sold to make the pumpkin patch and try to rescue the farm.
‘Oh my,’ Dad said, his eyes widening.
Mine misted as I looked over at Dylan. ‘You bought it back…’ I was so touched, I could barely get my words out.
Dylan nodded. ‘I could see how hard it was for you to sell it, how much you wished you hadn’t had to. You’ve done incredible things these past few weeks. I have been so inspired by your ideas, your determination and your hard work. I knew this should come back to you.’
I jumped up and went over to him. Despite my dad being there, I couldn’t stop myself from giving him a kiss on the lips. I reached out to touch his cheek as he looked up at me, startled by my kiss. ‘Thank you, Dylan. Will you put it on me?’
He stood up and I lifted up my hair. I felt his breath on the back of my neck as he gently draped the necklace around my neck and then fastened it. He quickly brushed his fingertips on my skin before I put my hair back down.
I looked at my dad, who was beaming. ‘What do you think?’
‘I always said you should wear it more,’ Dad replied, looking a little bit misty-eyed himself. ‘Dylan, Willow’s mother would be so happy that she has it back. Thank you, son.’
It was Dylan’s turn then to be unable to speak.
* * *
My third birthday present was The Star Chronicle publishing the article about Pumpkin Hollow on their website. We were flooded with bookings after that. Dylan came to find me just before we closed up for the day.
‘Willow, I just checked and we’ve sold out for half-term!’
I paused in lifting pumpkins out of the wheelbarrow to replace the gaps in the crates in the field. ‘What?’
‘Half-term is now completely sold out!’
‘Oh my God!’ I bounded over to him and fell into his arms. Dylan picked me up and twirled me around. ‘I can’t believe it!’
Dylan put me back on the ground and smiled at me. ‘Now we just need to sell out of pumpkins too.’
‘I might really save the farm,’ I said in wonder. Goosebumps spread down my arms beneath my wool jumper. ‘This is definitely the best birthday ever.’
‘Well, you deserve it.’ Dylan started to let me go but I held on to him. He raised an eyebrow as my gaze flicked to his lips. ‘You want another kiss, baby?’
‘Yes,’ I admitted.
‘How much?’ he asked, looking into my eyes hungrily.
‘A lot,’ I gasped out.
Dylan leaned in then but he passed my lips and pressed his close to one of my ears. ‘I’ll kiss you tonight if you still want me to. Come to my cottage after your party.’
And then he let me go and walked off, leaving me breathless.
I finished unloading pumpkins and helping the last visitors of the day but whenever I had a moment of not being occupied, my mind kept replaying Dylan’s words.
Him buying me back my mum’s necklace had shown that he did know me, that he wanted me to stay here, that he knew what was important to me.
I wanted to trust his feelings. I couldn’t deny the fact I had feelings for him.
He had chosen us over his brother and I knew that had cost him a lot.
I liked being with him. We made a good team.
I wasn’t sure that I could resist the craving I felt to properly kiss him again.
This morning, I had longed to deepen that quick kiss and now it was all I could think about.
After I closed the pumpkin patch for the day, I had a shower and got changed for the dinner that my dad and Sabrina had organised.
I put on leggings and a long, striped shirt and kept my hair down as it had been all day.
Then I added my DM boots and my mum’s necklace, and finished it all off with a spritz of my favourite perfume.
I glanced out of my bedroom window before I went downstairs and saw the cottage was lit up.
Would I go back there tonight? My pulse quickened at the thought of being in Dylan’s arms again.
The pull to kiss him, to feel his touch, to be naked with him again, was stronger than my fear of being hurt when he left the farm.
Maybe we could make it work somehow.
Maybe this was real.
Maybe I would find out tonight.