17
Stefan
Stefan was assessing a garden gnome along the road whilst wondering why he had agreed to the request. ‘Yes, I would definitely say a bit of glue might help, Mrs Harris.’ He was hoping to get back in his car and head off, as Florence was waiting for him at Silver Wish Farm.
Lindy waved at the swan that came over to say hello. ‘Dad, can I get out the car?’
‘No, we’re leaving now.’
‘But what about Gulliver?’ said Mrs Harris, pointing at her garden gnome.
Stefan tried hard not to glare at the ornament with the broken foot. ‘Do you have any glue?’
Mrs Harris beamed. ‘Be right back.’
He went over to Lindy, poking her head out the window for a better look at the swan. ‘I just need to perform an operation on a gnome, then we’re out of here.’
Lindy giggled.
Honeysuckle, the swan, fluttered closer to Stefan, causing him to take a side step away. He was so pleased to see Mrs Harris hurrying down the pathway. He knew he shouldn’t have pulled over when she flagged him down. He could have simply waved and carried on his way, but no.
‘Here you are, Doc.’
Stefan carefully glued the chipped foot back on the ornament, then placed it on top of a small stone wall. ‘There, that should do the trick. Now, just leave it to dry for a bit.’
‘Ooh, lovely. Thank you, Doc. You’re ever so good.’
‘My dad’s the best,’ said Lindy, waggling a hand towards Honeysuckle.
Stefan smiled politely, feeling a tad pleased with himself, then remembered Florence had invited him to dinner with the Silver family. ‘Best be off, Mrs Harris. Have a good evening.’
She waved as he got in his car and drove away.
‘Can we get a gnome, Dad?’
‘Don’t you think they’re a bit creepy?’
‘No. I love them. And Gulliver looked friendly.’
Stefan visualised the rosy cheeks and red hat. Perhaps that particular gnome didn’t look so bad. ‘We can look online tomorrow. See if there’s a doctor gnome, then we can put it outside the windmill.’
Lindy clapped her agreement. ‘Can we go horse riding later?’
‘No, we’re just at the farm for dinner.’
‘Can we buy one of their Christmas trees?’
Stefan chuckled. ‘Sure, as soon as Christmas arrives.’
Lindy started singing a Christmas song and didn’t stop until they pulled up outside the main house on the farm.
Florence opened the door, standing beside the owner, Fran Silver, a woman in her sixties with white hair and soft features.
Stefan approached, offering a box of chocolates to Fran. ‘I knew I couldn’t bring flowers.’ He shared a smile with Florence.
Fran looked at Lindy. ‘This is what happens when you have a garden centre. Hardly anyone buys me flowers.’
Lindy’s eyes widened. ‘I’ll buy you some.’
Fran smiled. ‘Aww, thank you, Lindy, but these choccies will do just fine, thank you.’
‘Thank you for inviting us for dinner,’ said Stefan. He glanced at Florence. ‘Or should I say hosting on Florence’s behalf?’
Florence placed her hands on her hips. ‘Hey, I’ve helped cook, just so you know. But Fran wanted to have you over at her house.’
Fran nodded. ‘Thought it would be homelier than the B&B for you, Dr Bedford.’
‘Call me Stefan, please.’
‘Come inside, Stefan,’ said Fran, leading the way. ‘We’re set up in the dining room. More room and not as hot.’
Stefan touched the collar on his pale-blue shirt. ‘It is a warm evening.’
‘Not everyone is here, I’m afraid,’ said Florence, closing the front door behind them. ‘Finn’s working over at the RNLI station, and Willow has gone away for a week with her husband, Cody.’
‘They’re in Norfolk,’ said Fran. ‘But let me introduce you to everyone else. Not sure who you’ve already met.’
Stefan smiled at each person already sitting around the dinner table.
Fran placed her hand on her youngest son. ‘This is Tyler and his girlfriend, Erin.’ She pointed at Rhett. ‘I know you two know each other, but have you met her husband, my eldest, Heath?’
Stefan reached out a hand to the muscular man who stood to greet him. ‘Pleased to meet you.’ Stefan took Lindy’s hand. ‘This is my daughter, Lindy.’
Heath smiled at the girl. ‘Ah, yes, Rhett tells me the horses love you.’
Lindy beamed.
‘I’ll take you to say hello after dinner,’ said Florence, making Lindy even happier.
‘Have you met my sister yet?’ asked Rhett, gesturing towards the woman peering into a pram behind her.
‘Oh, hi,’ she said, turning. ‘I’m Vivien, and if I fall asleep during dinner, just ignore me. I never realised just how exhausting it is having a baby.’
Stefan shared a smile with Rhett. ‘I remember those days.’
Rhett nodded at her sister. ‘And you still lose sleep over them when they’re adults.’
Vivien crinkled her nose. ‘Well, that’s good to know.’
Fran offered her guests chairs next to Florence. ‘Sit here. I’ll bring in the dinner.’
Rhett and Tyler got up to help along with Florence.
‘So, Doc, how you finding it here?’ asked Heath.
‘We’re buying the windmill,’ blurted Lindy, making everyone laugh.
‘I guess that answers that,’ said Heath.
‘I came here just before Christmas,’ said Erin. ‘And I can honestly say, this place has a way of drawing you in.’ She moved her long dark hair from her shoulder and smiled up at Tyler as he came back in, carrying a large dish of roast potatoes.
‘It was the Silver charm she fell in love with,’ said Tyler, giving her a peck on the cheek.
Stefan stole a glance at Florence as she brought over a bowl of steaming mixed vegetables.
‘I love the beach,’ said Lindy.
Erin smiled at the girl. ‘Me too.’
‘Dad wants to buy a beach hut, but there aren’t any for sale.’
Florence sat down. ‘They are so adorable.’
Stefan shook his head. ‘I only said I’d liked to.’
‘I prefer being on the farm,’ said Heath. ‘That sand gets everywhere.’
‘But don’t you love the seashells?’ Lindy asked him.
Heath smiled as he started to put some vegetables on his plate. ‘They are very pretty.’
Lindy nodded whilst pushing her dad’s fork away from trying to put broccoli on her plate. ‘Dad bought Florence and me a seashell necklace at the Mermaid’s Festival, and we put them on the special wall.’
All eyes turned to Florence as she choked. She reached for her glass of water, smiling as she sipped.
‘You okay?’ Rhett asked her, and Stefan could see a slight grin on Rhett’s face.
‘Fine,’ replied Florence.
Stefan decided to change the subject before all eyes turned his way, as he was sure questions might be swirling in heads. ‘So, nice weather we’re having. If a little too hot.’
‘Garden centre’s been busy,’ said Fran, bringing in sliced cooked beef. She sat down and grabbed her fork. ‘And Rhett’s got a lot more bookings for horse riding.’
Rhett glanced up from eating. ‘Hmm, but we try to take them out in the morning when it’s cooler or late evening.’
‘And it’s school holidays now, so we get more kids,’ said Florence.
Stefan turned to her. ‘Oh, you must be needed at the stables.’
‘I still help out in the evenings and on my day off, but Rhett has some volunteers during the summer. You’ve already met one. Daisy.’
He nodded. ‘Yes, Daisy Walker, from Pepper Pot Farm.’
‘That’s the one.’ Florence nudged Lindy’s arm. ‘We can go to the stables more often now you’re on your summer holiday. What do you think?’
Lindy shrugged. ‘Will Kasey be there?’
Florence nodded. ‘Sometimes.’
‘I might ride when she’s there.’ Lindy glanced at her dad, and Stefan wanted to fist bump the air.
‘She seems nice, doesn’t she?’ he said casually.
Lindy gave a small nod, then carried on eating her dinner.
He smiled at Florence, knowing she held the same thoughts as him. If Lindy started making friends again, it would be a huge turning point. He decided he’d mention it to Bethany.
The rest of dinner went well, and Vivien managed to stay awake.
Fran went to make some coffee, and Heath and Rhett took Vivien and the baby home.
Tyler turned to Florence. ‘Hey, we’ve been meaning to ask if you’d be interested in renting Erin’s flat above the sweet shop.’
Erin nodded. ‘Yes, we’re in the process of having the internal door renovated so it becomes an external door. That way the tenants won’t have to go through the shop to come and go, as that wouldn’t be suitable at all.’
‘We know you’re looking for a place for when Tiggy is here,’ said Tyler. ‘So we wanted to offer the flat to you first. Rent will be reasonable.’
Erin smiled. ‘What Ty means is, if we rent to you, Florence, we’ll give you a reduced rate.’
Florence stopped swirling the crumbs of her cheesecake around her plate. ‘Oh, erm, I don’t know what to say. That’s quite unexpected.’
‘Sounds good though,’ said Stefan, nodding at her.
‘Yes,’ she agreed. ‘And very generous of you.’
Tyler smiled. ‘Hey, you’re family to us. We all help each other.’
Stefan warmed at the kindness around Florence. He was so pleased she had some peace in her life, what with everything going on with her sister. ‘Worth a view, I say.’
‘Yes, I’ll pop over on Thursday, if that’s okay?’
Tyler and Erin nodded.
Stefan knew that was her day off, as Lindy was at the therapy centre then. He could offer to view the flat with her, but he thought it best to step back. Besides, he wanted to have a chat with Bethany and get a progress report.
‘Can we see the horses now?’ asked Lindy.
Florence nodded at Stefan. ‘Whenever you’re ready.’
‘Dad’s ready now,’ said Lindy. ‘He doesn’t like to drink coffee this late, as it gives him wind.’
Stefan frowned. ‘Yes, thank you.’
Tyler laughed out loud. ‘Just keeps me awake.’
Florence stood. ‘Come on, let’s say goodbye to Fran first.’ She took Lindy’s hand, and Stefan followed them into the kitchen.
‘Ooh, you off, lovely?’ Fran asked, stroking over Lindy’s hair.
‘We’re going to see the horses,’ Lindy told her.
‘Go on then, and you come back and see me again whenever you like. You can always help me with the flowers if Florence gets too busy with riders during the summer holiday.’
Lindy’s pale eyes twinkled. ‘Can I, Dad?’
‘Don’t see why not.’ He smiled at Fran. ‘Thank you.’
Fran opened the side door, following them out into the muggy air. It was still light out and so peaceful. ‘Just know you’ve got the Silver family to help you at any time, Stefan.’
He thanked her again, touched by her generosity, whilst Lindy skipped off in front.
‘They’re a lovely bunch, aren’t they?’ said Florence, walking by his side.
‘Yes, I can see why you love it here so much.’ He accidentally bumped into her arm, then stepped away in a bid to stop himself from wanting to hold her hand.
I can’t let myself fall for Florence. Lindy needs my full attention .
But it was hard to hold back when Florence made his heart smile.