Chapter 27
The afternoon was long while we waited for news.
We tried to keep on top of everything that needed to be done on the farm.
Then we headed into the shady, cool kitchen and Blake made us dinner.
He admitted the only meal he was really good at was macaroni cheese and that was fine with me.
I poured us both a glass of wine as he put the dish into the Aga to crisp up.
My phone, which I’d placed on the kitchen counter, rang out.
I grabbed it and answered the call from Dylan. ‘Hi, is Uncle Adam okay?’ I asked him breathlessly and hopefully.
‘He’s okay,’ Dylan said without preamble.
‘It wasn’t a heart attack. He collapsed as his blood pressure spiked and he got really dizzy.
They’re putting him on medication and we’re going to stay here overnight.
But it wasn’t a heart attack. They are trying to bring his blood pressure down, and are talking about changes he needs to make, but he will be able to come home tomorrow. ’
I breathed out. ‘Thank God.’ I smiled at Blake, who was watching me with concern. ‘Send him and Willow my love.’ We said goodbye and I hung up, my chest sagging with relief.
‘Will he be okay?’
‘Yes,’ I said, letting out a sob. I had feared the worst. But my uncle was going to make it. ‘I’ve tried so hard not to get hurt again…’ I started but I was unable to finish my sentence.
‘Come here.’ Blake held out his arms and I stepped into his embrace. ‘It’s okay. That was such a shock. Your uncle will be fine, right? What did Dylan say?’
I leaned against Blake’s chest as I told him what Dylan had said on the phone.
Blake stroked my hair while I talked, and it was so soothing.
I looked up at him then. ‘I stayed away from here for five years after my aunt, Willow’s mum, passed away.
I couldn’t take losing someone else I loved.
I really thought for a moment I was about to. But you know what?’
‘What?’ Blake asked me gently as he held me tight still.
‘I realised I wouldn’t have regretted coming back. If anything, I would have regretted it more if I hadn’t seen Adam again and spent this time with him. I’m glad I’m here.’
‘Your family are glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re here.’
‘It really helped having you by my side today,’ I admitted. Blake had helped me not panic by offering a practical plan. By doing what was needed, I kept myself in the present moment and didn’t freak out over worst-case scenarios like I so often did.
Blake’s face lit up, rewarding me with his full smile. ‘I feel the same way. We hardly know each other but why do you feel so good in my arms?’
His words flooded me with warmth. ‘I was so scared to let down my walls for years, but with you, I’m not so scared any more.’
‘I don’t want you to ever be scared again.’ Blake leaned down and brushed his lips against mine, sending warmth trickling down my spine. ‘I don’t want to stop kissing you but dinner is ready,’ he said with a smile.
Maple barked behind us like she recognised the word ‘dinner’ and wanted hers. I wouldn’t put it past the clever dog either. We both laughed and reluctantly parted.
While Blake got our dinner ready, I fed Maple then we sat down together. Candlelight flickered between us and we smiled across the table at one another.
‘Shall we toast to your uncle?’ Blake asked after pouring us both a glass of wine. We had bowls full of comforting macaroni cheese in front of us.
‘To Adam,’ I agreed and we clinked glasses. I took a long gulp then Blake urged me to try the pasta. I took a big bite, suddenly starving. ‘Oh wow,’ I murmured. ‘This is just what I needed.’
‘Me too,’ Blake said, catching my eye. I felt my cheeks blush a little under his piercing gaze. He flashed those dimples at me again and I wondered if he knew how they made him look as delicious as this pasta he’d made me. ‘Are you blushing, Daisy?’ he teased me.
‘No!’ I cried then I laughed. ‘Maybe a little bit. Sometimes, it feels like you’re guessing my thoughts.’
Blake chuckled. ‘You do that to me too. It feels like I’ve known you for so much longer than I have. It’s kind of crazy how Sarah jumped to the conclusion we were together…’
‘Maybe she saw something before we even did.’
‘I told you – when I saw you in your wedding dress, I wondered if I was having a premonition.’ Blake winked then reached across to touch my hand. I moved it so he could take hold of it properly. ‘It’s never felt fake between us, even if our exes weren’t sure what to believe.’
‘Henry admitted he saw something and that’s why he acted so adamant that we weren’t together.
Maybe he was trying to convince himself, and me.
But you’re right; I’m not sure it was ever a lie.
We connected so quickly. I’ve opened up more to you already than I ever did with Henry.
And when you kissed me, my world turned upside down. ’
Blake nodded. ‘I know exactly what you mean.’
We finished up our food and cleared up together as I told Blake I’d asked my cousin if I could stay for the rest of the summer. ‘I just feel like this is where I need to be right now,’ I said.
‘She will need your help if your uncle has to take things easier. There’s only a week until the pick-your-own opens, and Willow and Dylan seem to have so much to deal with. I think you’re doing the right thing, Daisy.’
‘Only a week left of your stay, though,’ I said lightly, but the thought of him leaving already felt sad.
‘Let’s not think about that right now.’ Blake gestured to Maple, who was sitting by us, her tail wagging as she stared us down. ‘Think this one is waiting for her w-a-l-k,’ he said, spelling the word out.
I smiled. ‘I think you’re right.’
‘Why don’t we go together? We can bring the ponies in for the night too. And it’s looking like we’ll get another beautiful sunset.’
I eyed him. ‘You’re a romantic, Blake Daniels, aren’t you?’ I said teasingly.
He grinned. ‘You seem to make me think about romantic things, Daisy Connor. I don’t think I looked at the sunset once in the city but out here, it’s too beautiful not to want to look at it.’ He reached out and took my hand. ‘Is it too corny to say I feel the same about you?’
‘Yes, definitely too cheesy. But I liked it anyway.’ I kissed his cheek. ‘Let’s go outside. I know what you mean about being here; I want to be outside more than I ever usually do. Maybe it’s a sign I don’t really want to go back to living in a city now.’
We left the farmhouse, Maple running off in front of us, the light golden and hazy outside as the sun began to set.
‘Being back at my family home has made me realise just how much I’d missed living in the countryside.’ Blake looked out at the scenery around us. ‘It’s one of the reasons I’m reluctant to agree to carry on working with Sarah. We’d have to be in the city.’
‘What would you do though if you let go of the app?’
‘That’s the million-dollar question.’ Blake reached out for my hand and our fingers entwined as we walked out towards the crop fields. ‘How about you?’
‘Come back and ask at the end of the summer.’ We looked at one another.
After I’d said those playful words, I realised that Blake wouldn’t be here then.
Would we still talk? It seemed impossible that he could leave and that we wouldn’t see each other any more.
It felt almost as if fate had brought us both to the farm together this summer.
The pony enclosure came into sight then, the sun dipping behind the ponies. Maple barked as soon as she caught sight of Jasmine and Blossom.
‘Still suspicious of them?’ I asked the dog with a laugh.
We followed her, and the ponies moved towards the fence when they saw us coming.
I glanced at Blake as Maple barked again at the ponies.
‘Hope she doesn’t know something we don’t.
Stay, girl,’ I said, gesturing for her to sit beside me while Blake went over to open up the gate to let the ponies out.
He clucked for the ponies and led them through the gate and I joined them, whistling for Maple.
The ponies had got so used to this walk now that they followed us without us needing to use a lead.
Maple ran off too towards the barn, also having memorised the evening walk now the ponies were on the farm. Animals were pretty remarkable.
Once we had put the ponies into the barn for the night, we walked the long way back to the farmhouse so that Maple could stretch her legs more. The sun had fully set then, the sky turning indigo blue. The stars had woken up and were twinkling down on us.
We reached the farmhouse door then and Blake turned to me. ‘Shall we look at the stars again?’