Chapter 38
‘Did I just see Blake?!’ Willow rushed over to me. ‘What’s he doing back?’
I filled her in on our brief interaction. ‘God knows what it’s all about.’
‘Well, I’m glad he came to his senses and is back in Birchbrook.
This is turning out to be a great first day!
’ She winked as she went over to speak to a couple picking strawberries, offering to take a photo of them.
I rolled my eyes. She was confident this was a good sign but I wasn’t sure.
I wasn’t able to brood for the next hour though as Adam asked me to help him at the till table.
We had an influx of people wanting to pick over lunch as they knew Paul’s café van was on site so there was a rush of checking tickets, taking payments and handing out punnets.
Dylan then came to relieve me from my post, and also hand me and Adam a sandwich and orange juice each. When I was ready, I found Blake greeting the ponies.
‘Let’s go,’ was all he said so we strolled over to his car and set off.
I eyed him as we drove out of the farm, wanting to see if our week apart had changed anything. He hummed as he drove, as if he didn’t have a care in the world. It was pretty annoying.
‘The farm looks great,’ Blake said when he caught me glancing across at him. ‘I’m so glad the ponies didn’t ruin things. I’ve been so annoyed at myself for leaving the gate unlocked. Things were so chaotic that day. I wish I’d done a lot of things differently.’
‘Is this why we’re doing this?’ I asked curiously, wondering exactly which things he would have changed. It was all so cryptic.
Blake nodded. ‘I want to put right what I can. Will you trust me, Daisy? I’ll explain everything when we get there, okay?’
I sighed but I leaned back in the seat and decided not to ask anything more.
He clearly wanted me to find out along with his dad and sister.
It was frustrating to have to wait. I wasn’t sure why I was even involved but a small part of me did wonder whether my message to him might have sparked something, and that’s why he wanted me here too.
I hoped he was doing something that would make him happy.
I was sure it wouldn’t include me, and I told myself not to have any hopes related to that.
But my heart wouldn’t listen; it had been beating faster ever since Blake came back to the farm.
The now-familiar sight of Blake’s hometown came into view and we drove through the High Street, passing by his dad’s antiques shop, before heading out to his family home.
Blake said he’d messaged ahead so his father and Bronte were expecting us.
When he pulled into the driveway, the two of them came outside and I could tell they were just as confused as I was.
Blake jumped out and hugged them both and I did the same, then we walked out into the garden and sat at the patio table with a pitcher of iced lemonade.
I glanced around, breathing in the scent of the lovely flowers Bronte had planted. It helped calm me down a little bit. When my gaze met Blake’s, I couldn’t wait any longer. ‘Are you going to tell us what’s going on?’
‘Yeah, please, this is all very mysterious,’ Bronte agreed. She spoke lightly but I noticed that her knuckles were white as she gripped her glass of lemonade. She was nervous like me, definitely.
‘First of all, I’m sorry I took off in such a hurry without saying goodbye or anything,’ Blake started, a little bit falteringly like he was also nervous.
He cleared his throat. ‘I felt I owed it to Sarah to go back to the city and have some meetings about our app. Plus, I couldn’t just forget about all the work and money we’d put it into it over the past year, you know? ’
‘We understood, son,’ Bill said kindly. ‘You didn’t need to come all this way to tell us you are moving back there.’
‘Why would you…’ Bronte began indignantly but a sharp look from her dad made her stop. ‘I just don’t understand,’ she mumbled, shifting in her chair.
‘I’m not moving back there,’ Blake said quickly.
He glanced at me again but I tried not to react.
I took a deep swig of lemonade. ‘That’s why I wanted to talk to you guys.
We met with a large tech company interested in our dating app.
Listening to them talk about the use of AI and how they would like to develop it made me nervous, though.
I told them about the concerns I had with it, much to Sarah’s annoyance,’ Blake said, his voice becoming more confident as he spoke.
‘The company ended up actually agreeing with me. They suggested turning our AI idea into a dating coach app. Instead of using it to meet people, you would use it to help you with the dating process on apps or in person so it will be like having your own personal dating coach. The aim would be to make people more confident and to help them choose the right way to meet new people. That made me feel better about the use of AI. What do you think?’ He looked at me again.
I was surprised he was asking for my opinion.
I felt better that he had changed the concept of the app.
‘It did feel weird to think people would be chatting to someone who was using words dictated by AI. You want to know if you have a connection with someone, not that they’re telling you what you want to hear.
But I found using apps a nightmare so having something that might help you could be good.
I kind of wish we could move away from technology altogether in the meeting process, though,’ I said.
‘I’d much rather meet someone organically, offline.
’ I tried not to meet Blake’s eyes after I said that.
‘I’m so glad I met my husband at school,’ Bronte agreed. ‘So, you’re going to help develop this dating coach app?’ she asked Blake.
‘No. I’ve sold my share in the app. They’ve paid me off basically to play no further part in the company. I wanted to have a clean break from it, and from Sarah.’
There was a short silence after Blake said this. No one seemed to know what to say or do.
Even though I wished it hadn’t, my heart had leapt at his words. I took a long a sip of my drink in case I smiled too widely or something.
‘Sarah told me I was a fool – if the app becomes huge, I’ll lose out on millions – but they paid me enough to walk away.
I don’t want to be part of her life any more or to live in the city.
The app was never something I was passionate about.
I just fell into it.’ He leaned forward. ‘It’s not the life I want.’
I read between the lines – Sarah wasn’t who he wanted either. I tried not to feel any sort of hope but it was hard – Blake was single again and didn’t want to move back to the city.
‘So, what do you want?’ Bronte asked him, thankfully, so I didn’t have to.
‘I want to put the money they’ve given me into the family businesses and help you both with them.
I want to come home. For a bit anyway. I might want my own place one day soon…
’ He grinned. ‘But I know the businesses aren’t doing as well as they could, even though you tried to hide it from me, and I want to help. ’
I let myself smile then. I was so happy to hear he wanted to help his family. I wondered if I’d played any part in him coming to this decision or not.
Bronte looked at her dad in shock then back at her brother.
‘But I thought you didn’t want to work in the family businesses any more?
I mean, you left us.’ Her voice broke a little at the end of her sentence, although she tried to hide it, showing just how hard she had taken Blake leaving last year.
‘I’m sorry I did that,’ Blake said quietly.
‘Sarah got into my head about it all. Making me feel like I wasn’t good enough for staying in my hometown and working with family.
She kept saying I should want bigger and better things, that I would regret it one day.
And I guess…’ He visibly swallowed hard.
‘I thought about Mum.’ He glanced at his dad apologetically.
‘What did you think?’ Bill asked him.
‘Well, that maybe I would end up feeling like she had done and that I should try to broaden my horizons as maybe I’d be happier if I did, like she was.
But Daisy said something that made me think.
I have no idea if Mum was any happier when she left us, or if she is happy now.
’ He paused and glanced at me. I knew then my message to him had struck a chord. I was relieved, and happy to hear that.
He was going to help his family. I could see they were thrilled.
Now I knew what he had wanted to tell them, I couldn’t help but wonder why Blake had wanted me here too.
Was it just because of my message? He knew I’d be happy he was going to help his family but was there also a possibility that he might want me to be part of his new future?
‘I’ve realised that I loved living here,’ Blake continued.
‘I love the antiques shop and our horses. I missed it all after I left. Especially you guys. I know I will regret not coming back much more than regretting coming home.’ He paused and turned to his dad and sister.
‘I mean, that is if you’ll have me back? ’
‘Of course,’ Bill said. ‘But are you sure about putting your money into the businesses? I was thinking maybe I should sell the shop as it’s struggling so much. Maybe there isn’t a way to save it.’
I couldn’t stay quiet any longer. ‘You can save it,’ I said.
‘Willow’s farm was struggling and she’s turned it around so much.
And I love your shop! I know people who will love it too.
You just need to spread the word and… Sorry, I’m getting carried away,’ I said, my cheeks turning pink at my burst of passion.
‘No, it’s nice to hear someone who loves the shop like I do,’ Bill said. ‘I was beginning to think I was the only one.’
‘I agree with Daisy.’ Blake threw me a warm smile. ‘We can save it, Dad. And I want to invest in our businesses. It’s not only about my future but our future.’ He looked at Bronte. ‘What do you think though, little sister?’
‘You told me once that love is a choice. And you have to keep on choosing it. Is this really a life that you can love like we love it?’
‘I never stopped loving it,’ Blake replied.
‘Then let’s do it.’ She grinned. ‘You could buy me a present with the app money too, if you like.’ She nudged him and they giggled like they were kids again.
Their family moment made me miss mine. I was happy for them, though. I just wished I knew if Blake wanted to include me because I’d encouraged him to help his family or if he thought there was any chance for us.
‘There is so much to plan but I know you need to get back to the farm soon, Daisy,’ Blake cut through my thoughts. ‘And you’re coming too, Bronte, in a bit?’
His sister nodded.
‘Okay, well, I’ll drive Daisy back then maybe we can chat about things later? I could come and stay tonight here if that’s okay?’
They both assured him that was more than okay.
We left then, with the assurances that they’d talk about things in more detail later, saying we’d see Bronte at the farm soon.
I followed Blake out of the house and back into his car, curiosity burning in me and hope that I was trying to keep under control while it desperately tried to burst out of my chest. I waited until we had set off towards the farm together.
‘Why did you want me to be there for that?’ I asked him.
‘Surely you know?’ he replied, arching an eyebrow.
We glanced at one another and I wondered if Blake felt as aware as I did of how close we were. My body turned towards his like it couldn’t help it. But I shook my head. I needed him to explain so I didn’t get carried away, and hurt again.
‘Because of what you said in your message. But also the look on your face when I said I was leaving… You were so disappointed in me, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
I went back to the city and Sarah just assumed we were back together and I felt like I was being swept up in it all again.
I couldn’t stop thinking about you and I wanted to leave immediately.
I had to sort things out, though and think about what I wanted.
But when you sent me that message, I knew you were right.
About it all. It’s taken a week to sort it all out but I know I’ve done the right thing. ’
Exhaling, my head swam with all what he was telling me.
My hope kept on blooming. ‘I’ve been worrying that my message was too much.
But I came to talk to Bronte about helping with the ponies and saw your dad in the shop, and I did feel a bit disappointed with you.
That you could leave all this…’ I gestured outside of the car.
‘I would give anything to have all you have,’ I added quietly.
‘I know.’ Blake reached over and touched my hand briefly before letting go.
My skin warmed instantly at the contact.
‘I thought about that. I realised I was making a huge mistake. I belong here. I know that now. God, this sure has been a crazy summer so far. I started it ready to propose to Sarah and now I’ve left her for good. ’
‘You have?’ My pulse spiked at those words; I couldn’t stop it.
‘I realised that being with someone who makes me feel bad about my life isn’t what I want. I want someone to support my dreams, to dream with me, not to tell me what I should want. That’s why you’ve changed things so much, Daisy. You keep asking me what it is I want out of life.’
‘You asked me that too,’ I reminded him. Henry and his family hadn’t cared what I wanted from life either. ‘You made me think about what I want too. This summer has turned everything around for me.’
Blake glanced at my lips then quickly lifted his gaze back to my eyes.
But I saw it. Was he thinking about our kisses and touches too?
I bit my lip to stop it from tingling in anticipation.
‘I felt so shit about how we left things,’ he said then.
‘Can you forgive me for leaving like I did? I just needed to sort my head out. So much had happened in such a short space of time. I didn’t want to hurt you.
I’d never want to do that. But when you sent me your message, I realised I had hurt you by leaving. ’
‘I guess I did think what had happened between us kind of meant nothing to you,’ I said softly.
‘What?’ Blake cried, looking over at me. ‘Are you serious?’
I nodded. ‘Yes,’ I whispered, remembering how shocked I’d been that he could just go back to the city when meeting him had shaken up my whole world.
‘God, Daisy. Hang on…’
He surprised me then by pulling the car over to the side of the road.