Chapter 25
25
JOE
All the way back to the farm, Joe went over everything that had been said at Sandra’s home. He had hoped Paul’s mum might be able to give Skye some information but never imagined it would be this much. And she had a photo. He glanced at her and saw Skye studying it. How incredible must Skye feel to be looking at her parents together and happy. He wished he had more photos of his own father and his parents when they had first met, but the only time he had asked Faye about them she had admitted she had torn them up and disposed of them.
‘How do you feel?’ he asked, happy for her.
She swallowed before speaking. ‘I think I’m still a bit stunned.’ She held up the photo. ‘I never imagined in a million years that I’d find out his name, let alone be given a photo of him and Mum together.’
Joe had a thought and not wanting to upset her in any way pondered whether to share it.
‘I can see you thinking about something. What is it?’
He looked at her for a second, then straight ahead. ‘I was just thinking that going by the dates Sandra said she took that photo that you’re also in it. In a way.’
She held the photo closer to her. ‘I suppose I am,’ she said, her voice quiet and cracking with emotion.
‘Hey, I didn’t want to upset you by saying that.’
‘You didn’t, Joe.’ She rested her hand on his briefly. ‘What you’ve just said to me is the singular most amazing thing anyone has ever said to me. These are happy tears. Thank you.’
Relieved, but still unsure he was right to have shared his thoughts with her, Joe glanced at her again. ‘You sure?’
‘Yes.’ She sounded convincing so Joe chose to believe she actually might be fine.
‘I was wondering, though,’ Skye said.
‘Go on, what’s on your mind?’
‘If my father, or the man we presume to be my father’s last name is Ferreira, I was trying to work out where he might be from. I don’t think that’s a typical Jersey last name, is it?’
Joe shook his head. ‘No. I think he’s Portuguese, or from Madeira.’
‘Really? How would you know that?’
Joe remembered this was Skye’s first time in Jersey and that she wouldn’t have been here long enough to grasp any of the history of the island’s people. ‘The island has always had people coming from firstly France, then Italy and then Portugal, or Madeira to come and work during the summer seasons here.’
‘Really? That’s fascinating.’
‘As you probably know, the island initially was known for its farming, hence French people coming over to work the land on farms. When the tourist industry picked up in the late fifties and early sixties, quite a few Italian people came to work in hotels and restaurants, then when the island’s tourism was at its height in the sixties and seventies people came over to work the seasons in the hotels. I presume that’s what your father or even his family might have done. Many people settled on the island and are now part of the local community.’
‘I suppose it does make sense that my father was Portuguese going by my hair and eye colour.’
Joe was relieved to see that Skye seemed to like the idea and began to relax slightly. It had been a concerning time at Sandra’s and for a while there he had wished he had considered more the repercussions of him introducing Skye to anyone who knew her family.
Then again, he mused, making emotional discoveries could be extremely painful and life-changing but once you came to terms with that new knowledge things became more settled. Or it had done in his experience. Not that his parents’ divorce or his ex’s decision to dump him was the same as the situation Skye currently found herself dealing with.
‘They’re here,’ Skye said, pointing to the windscreen.
His thoughts returning to the present, Joe peered down the drive and saw Brodie’s ancient Land Rover drawing into the yard.
‘We made it just in time,’ Joe said, glad they hadn’t spent any longer at Sandra’s home. Even if Lettie expected him and Skye to have time away from the farm she wouldn’t be impressed if they both were absent from it for too long.
‘I’m so excited to meet baby Isla,’ Skye said, opening the door before he had completely stopped the car.
‘Hey, be careful. We don’t need you hurting yourself.’
She ignored him and after getting out of the car ran over to wait for Brodie to unstrap the baby and lift her carefully out of the car seat. Joe waited for Skye to hug Lettie, then did the same.
‘It’s great to see you looking so well,’ he said to his friend, surprised to see how relaxed Lettie seemed after the dramas of her going into labour early.
‘I’m fine, Joe,’ she assured him, hugging him tightly for a few seconds. ‘You two have been amazing, by the way. Isla and I thank you.’
‘So do I,’ Brodie said, handing the baby into Skye’s waiting arms and giving Joe a pat on the back.
‘Now you’ve got your sweet family and so much to look forward to,’ Joe said, smiling.
They began following the women into the house. ‘I’m a very lucky man,’ Brodie said quietly. ‘I never expected to have all that I do.’
‘You deserve your happiness,’ Joe assured him. ‘As does Lettie, and I’m thrilled for you both.’
‘Thanks, mate.’
Skye opened the front door and within seconds Spud and Derek bounded out to greet them, tails wagging, whining in excitement. Derek pushed his head against Brodie’s thigh, making him laugh. Joe watched his friend bend down to greet his beloved dog and realised how much he must have missed him. He had only adopted Derek the year before when the elderly lady who had taken him on from a neighbour who had had to move couldn’t cope and the two had become firm friends.
‘I’m going to have to introduce you to baby Isla,’ Brodie said as he patted the dog’s rump.
Spud was just as excited to greet Lettie, but Joe was relieved to see Skye take his attention and give him a pat.
‘Come along, boys, let’s get you both a treat for being so well behaved while we were out,’ she said.
After settling down in the living room with cups of tea and some biscuits Skye found in the cupboard, Lettie stroked Isla’s head as she lay in Brodie’s arms. ‘I’ll come and have a look around after we finish these drinks,’ she said. ‘Before that I thought Brodie and I should speak to you about our plans for the next few weeks.’
Joe swapped glances with Skye, hoping Lettie had given in to Brodie and agreed to spend some time with him and the baby at the cottage in the village.
‘You both seem to be getting along well,’ she said, giving each of them a searching look in case they had anything to share with her.
‘We are,’ Joe confirmed.
‘Yes, everything is going swimmingly so far,’ Skye agreed.
Lettie beamed at them, then at Brodie. ‘You were right after all.’
Joe laughed. ‘So what is it you’re about to tell us then?’
‘Well, Brodie and I thought that if both of you were happy for us to do so, that the three of us would spend a couple of weeks together with Isla living in his cottage.’
‘Our cottage,’ Brodie corrected.
‘Yes, well, as opposed to this house,’ she said. ‘We thought it would be perfect timing to be by ourselves with the baby and make the most of having the space to do that, at least until Mum and Dad return from their trip. I should be feeling ready to come back to running this place and when Mum is here, she’ll no doubt want to be hands on with her first grandchild.’
Joe pictured Lindy’s excitement. She would definitely want to take over and he completely understood why Lettie was happy to go along with Brodie’s suggestion.
‘Sounds like a brilliant idea to me,’ Skye said.
Joe heard the joy in Skye’s voice that echoed his own. ‘I agree. Anyway, you should have some time by yourselves, never mind having at least a few weeks’ maternity leave.’
‘That’s also what Brodie said,’ Lettie said, patting Brodie’s knee. ‘That’s not all though.’
Joe tensed but tried to look as if he was completely relaxed. ‘Go on.’
She looked from one to the other of them, her expression serious. ‘I’m not sure how desperate you both are to return to your normal lives, but Lindy called earlier to confirm she and Gareth will be home a week today.’
‘A week?’ Skye asked, sounding as alarmed as Joe felt at the news.
‘You don’t seem as happy as I expected,’ Brodie said.
‘It’s fine,’ Joe assured him, turning to Skye when she didn’t immediately reply.
‘What? Oh, yes, of course it is. They must be dying to meet their new granddaughter.’
‘You’re both welcome to stay at the farm for as long as you wish to though,’ Lettie said.
Relieved not to have to cut short his time with Skye, Joe nodded. ‘Thanks.’
Skye hadn’t spoken again and he wondered if she was thinking about her meeting with Sandra and presumed she must be.
‘You two have been so good accommodating us and all our changes.’ Lettie puffed out her cheeks. ‘You’re amazing, do you know that?’
Feeling slightly guilty that someone was grateful to him when what he was doing benefitted him and gave him the chance to spend quality time alone with Skye, Joe shook his head. ‘Don’t give it another thought,’ he said, unsure what else to say.
‘Joe’s right. We’re happy to do whatever you need us to,’ Skye said, giving him a quick look out of the corner of her eye.
Joe noticed Lettie frown thoughtfully for a second. Isla began moaning and distracted her, so he looked at Skye and gave her a relieved smile. He knew his friends wouldn’t resent him becoming close to Skye, but what was happening between them was new and both were treading into unknown territory. Who knew if anything would come from this, or if either of them would be hurt by the other. He hoped what they had would grow but for now was happy to keep their relationship, as fresh as it was, just between him and Skye.
Lettie bent down to sniff near Isla and grimaced. ‘She needs a nappy change.’
‘I’ll do that,’ Brodie said, standing as he held the grumbling baby. ‘Why don’t you go and have a wander around the farm, give your animals a cuddle, and I’ll see you back here. Then we can go home to the cottage.’
Hearing Brodie’s eagerness to go home with his fiancée and baby, Joe waved for Lettie to join him. ‘Come along then. Skye and I will show you what we’ve been doing and how well we’re looking after your animals.’
Lettie laughed. ‘I wouldn’t expect you to do anything less.’