2
Rhett
It didn’t matter how long Rhett stared at her computer monitor, her business accounts didn’t change. A pain behind her eyes was setting in, making her feel tired physically as well as mentally. She was running out of time and had no idea what to do.
Lucky Riding Stables had been in Rhett’s family long before she was born, and seeing how her sister wasn’t remotely interested in the place, it all fell to her.
With the last staff member let go, her savings stolen by her ex, and hardly any riding lessons during the winter, her business was as low as it could go.
Rhett was never a lonely person. She wasn’t one for people at all. But now she felt very much alone. The horses would have to be sold, and the upkeep of the old dreary house she lived in was too much to manage. Maybe she could make it to the end of summer, maybe not.
She glanced at the photograph on the shelf behind her in the dull brown office that used to be her father’s man cave. Everything around her screamed Roland Smithson, and she took a moment to wonder why she’d never decorated since his death. The picture even held the old sign above the stable doors: Smithson Stables. She changed the name in honour of her favourite horse, but that was all she did.
Nothing inside Rhett’s home had changed, except she now lived there alone, with the exception of Smokey, her grey cat. Willow had been staying since Benton’s funeral, but Rhett knew her daughter preferred to live at the main house over on Silver Wish Farm whenever she was home from uni. Now that Willow had finished altogether, Rhett did wonder which bedroom would become the chosen forever room. Willow had one at her dad’s as well, and they were all used over the years, but it was obvious to all that Willow’s heart was the garden centre. She didn’t do a botany course for nothing. From knee-high to a grasshopper she was in the fields with her grandad, planting and seeding, making scarecrows and building polytunnels.
Visitors to Rhett’s home were few. She didn’t have a best friend, and her relationship with her little sister wasn’t exactly close. Benton was the only one who popped by every day just to say hello. She missed him so much, but she kept quiet about it, believing nobody would understand her grief for a man who wasn’t her father. Not even her father-in-law. Although in her mind and heart, Benton Silver was exactly that.
Rhett raised her head to the ceiling, stretching out the tension in her neck and shoulders. It was all getting too much lately. The thought of losing the stables was bad enough, but losing them just after losing Benton was unbearable. It had been two weeks since his memorial service over at Silver Wish Farm, and she hadn’t been back there since. Nor had she seen Heath.
Twenty-one years later, and my life is still as crappy as ever. How can one person make so many bad decisions?
She shook her head at herself and shut down the files tormenting her on the screen. There was nothing she could do. She’d gone over all options more than once, but nothing seemed doable. There was no way the bank would give a failing business a loan, she was sure, and her sister only had money to rebuild her beloved café. Not in a million years would she ask her daughter if she had anything stashed away, and she’d rather die than ask Heath for help.
He hates me anyway.
‘Can’t blame him,’ she mumbled.
‘Can’t blame who?’ asked Willow, walking in.
Rhett jumped slightly. ‘Oh, no one.’ It took all of a split second to see her daughter was contemplating something. ‘What’s up with you?’
‘I have a dilemma.’
‘Hit me.’
Willow flopped into the dark leather wingback chair on the other side of the mahogany desk where Rhett sat avoiding life. ‘I don’t know what to do about my trip.’
‘You’re going to have to elaborate.’
‘Well, Gran needs me now.’
‘Ah!’
Willow pursed her lips into a sorrowful smile and started to pick at one of the brushed-metal studs on the armchair. ‘See.’
‘Look, Willow, my advice, stick to your original plan. Your grandad would want that.’
‘But Gran’s on her own now.’
‘No, she’s not. She’s got three sons around her, your Aunt Viv, and none of the staff at the garden centre have left.’
Willow crossed her legs and leaned forward. ‘But I’m supposed to leave tomorrow, and I won’t be back till August. That’s a long time for Gran to cope with everything. She has to take on Grandad’s workload too now.’ She tapped her chest and sighed deeply. ‘I was supposed to start helping Grandad with that.’
‘And when was Benton expecting you to start?’ Rhett already knew the answer but wanted to remind her daughter.
‘The beginning of September was the official date. We had everything planned.’ She sniffed and rolled back her tears. ‘It’s not fair, Mum. Why Grandad? He was so lovely. He didn’t deserve to die.’
‘I know, love. But don’t you see, this is why we have to take every opportunity we get, because we don’t know where our story ends. You go on your trip with your mates and don’t look back.’ Rhett blew out a laugh. ‘Wish I were coming with you.’
Willow beamed a smile similar to Heath’s. ‘My friends wouldn’t mind if you tagged along. I’m sure we can squeeze you in a suitcase.’
‘Ooh, don’t tempt me.’
‘Seriously though, Mum. I don’t think this is the right time for me to leave.’
‘Your grandad would be upset if he knew you cancelled because he died. He was excited about your trip. He and your gran set up a map on the wall in his office and have pinned all your stops. Did you know that?’
Willow nodded as she stood to approach the window. ‘Yeah, Gran showed me.’
‘Go and enjoy your life, Willow. This will all be here waiting for you when you return.’
Rhett watched her daughter fiddle with the thick dark drapes squashed behind rows of dusty books. It was a quick reminder they needed to come down. She looked around, knowing the whole lot was fit for a skip.
‘Dad’s not too good.’
I know.
‘He’ll be all right, love. Your dad’s made of strong stuff. You know that. Have you spoken to him about you staying?’
She shook her head and sat back down. ‘No. He’ll just tell me to go, same as you.’
‘And so will your gran. Fran won’t be happy if you give up your trip.’
Willow gritted her teeth, releasing a low groan. ‘See. What a dilemma. How can you all expect me to happily trot off into the sunset with my mates just after my grandad has died?’
‘Because that’s what he would want you to do, love. Do it for Benton. Go live your best life for him. Make him smile from wherever he is now.’
‘When you say it like that, I—’
‘Go, Willow. It’s okay.’ Rhett nodded and waited for a nod in return. It took a minute but it came, and she could see her daughter relax. ‘Good. Now, have you got everything packed yet?’
‘I was packing when all this hit me. I was just sorting a book for the plane, then, bam! Grandad popped up.’ Her chestnut eyes filled with water again.
‘He’ll always pop up, love. One day the memories will warm you, make you smile, and help you during the tough times. Funny how it works.’
‘I feel grateful for him.’
‘So do I.’
Willow stood, flapping a hand. ‘I should let you get on with your work.’
That was the last thing Rhett needed. ‘It’s okay. Come on, I’ll help you pack.’ She followed Willow outside into the large dark-green hallway where tall panels of thick wood lined the walls, creating a sauna once summer kicked in. ‘Have you made a list?’
‘Yes, Mum. I know what to do. You taught me.’
Rhett smiled to herself as they walked up the wide stairway, which creaked on every threadbare step. ‘So, what book did you decide on?’
‘Oh, I’m taking the three I just bought, but the one for the first flight is about a city woman who goes to work on a farm for free bed and breakfast. She’s running away from her life, so it seems like a good idea until she has to actually do farm work, and, of course, she meets the handsome farmer and falls in love.’ Willow practically bounced into her bedroom, leaving Rhett standing on the landing outside.
I don’t know about handsome farmer, but the rest could work. Could I do that? Find someone to help with riding lessons so I don’t have to shut down? But who would want to work here for only bed and breakfast? I guess I just need someone who wants to run away from their life for a few months. I’ll advertise as soon as Willow’s gone. Worth a shot.