Chapter 40
The second week of the Strawberry Fields Trail went as smoothly as it possibly could.
Word started to spread about the things Willow had added to the farm this year and people spent longer on their visits now, enjoying the photo opportunities, walking through all the fruit, veg and sunflowers, and pausing for refreshments at the café van.
Bronte’s pony rides also went down a storm.
They loved children and as long as they got a treat at the end, they were happy to walk around their enclosure each afternoon.
Bronte had a board up, showing details about her riding school and displaying a discount to anyone who came for a lesson.
The farm was working well. Willow had me helping her with whatever she needed, and Dylan was able to be around quite a bit now that the builders had started the renovation work on the cottages as he just needed to supervise them.
Taylor had come by on Wednesday when I worked in the flower shop to lend a hand so my uncle could stay at the till table and not do anything physical.
This weekend, the local teenagers would be working too.
Once the schools broke up for the summer, they could help out every day so I was hopeful Willow wouldn’t get too stressed with me gone twice a week, and my uncle could take things easier.
Friday arrived and I was looking forward to having a restful evening after a hard week’s work.
As dinner time approached, Blake drove over to eat with me.
I suggested we have a picnic out in the strawberry fields.
We’d both worked on the area but hadn’t had a chance to enjoy it so it seemed perfect.
Blake said it was a great idea and told me he’d bring everything we needed.
When I walked out of the farmhouse, I smiled to see him pulling out a large picnic hamper from his car.
‘It’s good to see you.’ Blake leaned in to kiss me softly on the lips. ‘I feel like we haven’t had much time together this week.’
‘Looking forward to fixing that tonight,’ I replied, smiling because I too had felt like I wanted to see him more.
I slipped my hand in his and we walked down the Strawberry Fields Trail together, the sun growing hazy around us.
We both wore shorts, T-shirts and trainers.
I had no make-up on and my hair was loose.
Blake was as simply dressed and as sun-kissed as me. I felt calmer around him. It was nice.
‘How was today?’ Blake asked as we walked down the trail together.
The farm was closed now and the others were all inside the farmhouse so it was peaceful out here.
We passed by all the fruit and veg, the sunflowers and the strawberries, the ponies grazing in their enclosure, the chickens winding down for the day, and strolled over to the picnic area.
‘We had our busiest day yet as it was Friday and some people don’t work or finish early. Once school finished for the week, we had a few families stop by. But the weekend is when we’ll see the biggest influx.’
‘Dylan told me that tickets were already over half-booked for the summer and you’ve had a few walk-ins each day. He’s hopeful that in the summer holidays, visitors could double,’ Blake said.
‘I’m relieved that things are starting out so well after all our hard work,’ I replied. ‘Willow deserves it to be a big success.’
‘It will be, I’m sure.’
We reached the finale to the trail then and sat on the bench closest to my flower arch. Blake opened up the hamper, pulling everything out.
‘I confess my sister had a hand in helping me put this together,’ he said as I marvelled at everything he placed on the table.
‘But I made sure that we had this.’ He pulled out a chilled bottle of rosé wine and two glasses, and he poured us both one.
He sat down next to me on the bench, our thighs touching.
‘Cheers, Daisy.’ We clinked glasses, smiling, and both took a sip.
‘Okay, pile your plate up. Then I need to know how Wednesday went in the flower shop. I know you gave me a brief lowdown on the phone but I haven’t seen you to hear all about it. ’
We hadn’t been fully alone since we’d kissed by the wildflower field; things had been so full-on for us both.
It was nice that he wanted to know how I’d enjoyed working with Mary so I chatted as I filled my plate with salad, chicken wings, crusty bread and quiche.
There were strawberries and whipped cream for dessert and a tub of chocolate brownies that I couldn’t wait to try too.
‘I loved it. Even more than working out here, which has been really fun. I love advising people which flowers will work for them. Helping them find what they are looking for. And Mary is so nice.’ I could feel myself smiling with happiness.
‘She found this the other day.’ I pulled the photo out of my pocket to show him.
Mary had taken a picture of my mum next to the pink bike outside the shop.
Mum was beaming with pride, her hands resting on her large belly, where I was waiting inside, ready to see the world for myself.
‘She was pregnant with me here. Helping Mary out one summer. It was her idea to have the bike outside with flowers in it.’
‘Your hair is just like hers,’ Blake said. ‘And you have the same smile. I think she would be so happy that you’re working with Mary too.’ He picked up my hand and kissed the back of it.
I smiled happily at him. ‘I think so too. I didn’t realise when I cut my hair, how similar it was to Mum’s back then. I think it just fits this summer and all the changes I’m making. So, how are things going at home?’
‘Well, I’ve been thinking about the money I’ll be getting for the app and how best we can spend it in the right way to improve both businesses.
The riding school needs work in terms of the indoor and outdoor arenas and the stables, plus my sister could do with another horse or pony for real beginners.
Then the antiques shop needs customers through the door – we need to work on visibility and advertising and spreading the word.
I think the shop itself could be spruced up too and the stock needs looking at.
It’s hard to see the wood for the trees in there. ’
‘I think that all sounds great. I love the clock I bought from your dad. It’s in my room here, and one day, I’d love it to be on the wall somewhere of my own.’
‘I wish my dad had reached out to me after I left. He said he didn’t want me to feel obligated to come home.
My sister thought I was like our mum. There was so much we weren’t saying to one another.
I’m glad we’re getting back to where we were.
I do like working with them. And being back home. I missed it. And my horse.’
‘I’ve never been on a horse,’ I confessed then.
‘I’d be happy to teach you to ride if you ever wanted to.’
I nodded eagerly. ‘I’d love that.’
We finished eating our picnic, catching each other up on everything that had been going on. Then we poured out a second glass of wine, which we enjoyed with the strawberries and cream.
Contented, we lapsed into silence as we gazed out at the farm.
The sky started to shift into hazy pink and orange patterns, the sun lowering towards the horizon.
I looked at the beginning of the sunset, thinking how, for the past five years in the city, I hadn’t noticed the sunset much at all.
Now, I loved to drink it in, enjoying the beauty around me.
‘I really like living back in the countryside,’ I mused aloud. ‘This place feels more like home than anywhere I’ve lived since childhood.’
‘Good. I want you to have somewhere you feel like you belong. You deserve that.’ Blake wrapped an arm around me and I scooted closer to him on the bench. ‘I’d love it if one day, you felt like you belonged with me,’ he added in a softer tone.
‘You would want that?’ I asked him, smiling at the thought.
‘I wasn’t sure about trusting someone so soon after what happened with Sarah,’ Blake said. ‘But you are nothing like her. I just would want to make sure you really are happy with me?’
I understood why he was asking me that. I had spent years with someone that I didn’t have deep feelings for. ‘I would only be with you if that was the case.’
‘And you forgive me for leaving you for a week?’
‘We both had things to sort out,’ I told him.
‘I want us to work out,’ Blake said then.
‘Oh, yeah?’ I leaned in to kiss him. ‘You going to make a wish on the stars?’ I teased, thinking back to our night looking up at them together.
‘What makes you think I didn’t that first night we laid on the grass together?’ His hazel eyes sparkled as we looked at one another.
‘You can’t have wanted that so early on,’ I said, shaking my head, but I couldn’t help swooning a little bit inside at the idea he might have done.
‘I told you, I wanted you as soon as I saw you in that white dress. What if it gave me ideas?’ He winked and I giggled.
I knew he was joking around but I knew if I wore a wedding dress again, I’d want to be 100 per cent certain.
And if it was Blake waiting for me at the altar, I had a funny feeling that I would be.
I leaned in again and this time, we shared a kiss that deepened, our tongues caressing each other’s as we held on to one another tightly. I let out a small moan and Blake pulled away to drop kisses behind my ear, on my neck and moving my T-shirt to kiss my collarbone. He pulled away suddenly.
‘Daisy, I need you closer.’ Blake got up and lifted me so I was sitting on the end of the table.
I wrapped my legs around his waist as he leaned down to kiss me again, tilting my chin up towards him.
He glanced at the farmhouse before looking at me with a pained expression.
‘I want to take your top off but we’re not alone out here like we were before. ’