Chapter 10
10
Finn decided to go up and see Ray and Dorrie midway through the following week.
‘If you’re sure you don’t mind?’ he said, checking in with Jade just before he left. ‘I could phone them instead.’
‘No, you should go and see them. You haven’t been for ages. I’ve got plenty of help. Some of the schools have already broken up, but there will be even more soon. I’ll have an influx of animal-mad kids to worry about then.’
‘Yes, that’s true. Maybe I should wait a fortnight and take Ben. Although it might be tricky persuading him he’d rather see his grandad than stay here with the animals.’
‘You can take him next time. There’ll be plenty of time in the holidays.’
‘OK. Good plan.’ Finn picked up the small holdall he’d put by the front door. He always travelled light. ‘I’ll only stay a couple of days and I’ll phone you as soon as I arrive. So you’re not worrying.’ He kissed her and Jade smiled.
‘Am I that transparent?’
‘Only to me.’
She did worry about him, Jade thought as his taillights drew out of the main gate. She bent to stroke Mickey, who knew something was going on and had been watching the proceedings with anxious eyes.
‘It’s OK, boy. He’s coming back.’ Jade knew she was reassuring herself just as much as she was reassuring her dog.
The downside to love – if there was one – was that it made you worry about people. When it had just been her and the animals it had been easier. Since she and Finn had been a couple, her love had grown deeper and deeper. She loved everything about him. The way he insisted on bringing her a cup of tea every morning in bed, the way he snored gently when he was dropping off to sleep, but shut up instantly if she touched his shoulder. The way they shared their innermost thoughts. The way he read her every expression easily, even though she still had trouble seeing what was going on behind those inscrutable grey eyes. Finn was much harder to read than she was.
She loved the way he always had her back. She would have trusted him with her life. She had never felt like that about another human being. And it was wonderful. She knew she was going to miss him. Even if he was only away for a few days.
Luckily, she didn’t have time to miss him for long because she didn’t get the quiet morning she’d expected. A couple of young volunteers arrived in reception to see Mr Spock. He’d become quite a draw because of his talkative nature. Jade smiled at them as they chattered away to him and pretended not to hear when they encouraged him to say ‘I love bums’, which was his latest favourite phrase.
The couple who Finn had home checked in Salisbury arrived to collect the Jack Russell cross they’d reserved and it was heartwarming seeing them go off with her, tail wagging madly.
Jade’s next visitor was a worried-looking teenager with a ponytail and the sides of his head shaved. Dawn brought him into reception.
‘This is Zack. He’s asking if we can rehome a flock of geese. I said we don’t have the space. But he insisted he speak to you.’
‘We’re really desperate.’ Zack stepped forward nervously. ‘Or I wouldn’t ask. We’ve had some of them since they were tiny chicks. They’re very tame. They’re not attack geese. Nothing like that.’
‘Why are you giving them up?’ Jade gave him her coolest gaze. ‘Did you not realise how long they’d live? Birds are a major commitment.’
‘They’re not mine. They’re from my school’s farm. The farm has to close because the school’s lost the funding for it. Cutbacks.’ He spread his arms and gave a helpless shrug. ‘They’ve got homes for some. Me and my sister have got a couple, but that’s the most we can have in our back garden. We live on an estate, see, and Mum says the neighbours won’t like it. And Dad’s muttering because one of them already ate his favourite goldfish.’
‘How many are there? Geese, I mean, not goldfish?’
‘Eight left,’ Dawn supplied helpfully. ‘You’ve got nowhere for those, though, Jade. Unless they go in with the hens, but we’re pretty full on that front and geese need to be near water.’
‘Well, yes, that’s true, but…’ Jade hesitated, thinking of the field she planned to buy. There was plenty of room for geese there. But she hadn’t told Dawn about that yet in case she jinxed it.
‘Leave me your details, Zack. I’ll get back to you if there’s any chance. But Dawn’s right. We don’t have much space.’
Zack put his palms together as if in prayer and took a few steps backwards, bowing his head as he went. ‘Thank you. Even if you could just take a couple it would be amazing.’
As he exited reception, Dawn glanced at her. ‘You’re going to say yes to a couple, aren’t you?’
‘I didn’t say it was definite.’ Jade bit her lip. ‘I said I’d think about it.’
‘Fair comment.’ Dawn looked as though she was about to say something else but thought better of it. It was probably some warning about taking on too much. Jade knew Dawn had her best interests at heart. She was kind, sensible and protective – the kind of mother Jade would have chosen, if you could choose your mother.
She barely had time to pause for breath when a smartly dressed, clean-shaven man came in. At first, Jade didn’t recognise him because she’d only ever seen him in old outdoor clothes and he was so out of context.
Then it hit her. ‘Farmer John! Gosh, you scrub up well. I mean… I hope that didn’t sound too rude. I hardly recognised you for a moment.’
‘No. I’ve just been at my solicitors. Er – look, Jade. I’m afraid this isn’t good news so I’ll get straight to the point. I’ve got a buyer for the farm. It’s a property developer, but they’re not happy about me selling that field off to you. I’m really sorry, but I’m going to have to renege on our deal.’
Jade felt a coldness slide down her back. ‘But why? What difference does it make to them? There’s plenty more land for their houses.’
‘Something to do with access requirements.’
‘But there’s plenty of room for access too. You said there was.’
‘I thought there was – but they say not.’ He shrugged and looked embarrassed. ‘I’ve argued till I’m blue in the face, but they’re not having any of it. And they’ve made me a good offer, Jade.’
‘I see.’ Her brain whirred madly. ‘What if I up my offer? Would that make a difference?’
‘I’m afraid not. They said they’ll buy all of the farm – or none of it. And they won’t budge. I really am sorry.’ He was turning away. He was clearly anxious to go. She called after him before he reached the door.
‘Which developer is it? Maybe I could speak to them. Appeal to their better nature.’
He made a sound somewhere between a grunt and a snort. ‘You could try. It’s Rural Developments. I’ve been talking to one of the negotiators.’ He felt around in the top pocket of his shirt and found a business card. He came back to hand it to her. ‘Here’s his number.’
‘Thanks,’ she said quietly. ‘I’ll give him a call.’
‘Good luck.’ His face reddened but he sounded like he genuinely meant it.
Jade had to suppress a yell of frustration as she watched him hurry across the yard towards the exit gates. Bloody developers. Who did they think they were, bulldozering in and trampling over deals that had already been made? So much for a gentlemen’s agreement. She wondered how much they’d offered Farmer John to make him backtrack so unequivocally. Or maybe, as he’d said, it wasn’t about the money – but more about the fact they were being so dogmatic about it. ‘It’s our way or the highway.’
Well, there had to be some wiggle room there surely. Especially if she told them she had an animal sanctuary right next door to them. Jade paced restlessly around the small reception, disturbing Mickey who was in his basket, watching her through half-closed eyelids. He wasn’t used to seeing his mistress agitated.
‘What do you think, boy?’ she asked him. ‘Shall I try appealing to their better nature?’
Mickey wagged his tail uncertainly and shifted in his basket, revealing what looked like one of Finn’s black socks under his tail.
Jade hooked it out. Oops! Finn was always complaining that he could never find a complete pair of socks. No wonder when Mickey was such a terrible thief. He seemed to prefer Finn’s socks to Jade’s too. They were probably smellier.
‘Maybe they’re like you, Mickey, and don’t have a better nature,’ she said, stroking the dog’s head. Not that she blamed Mickey for being a thief. He’d been brought up in a house where his owners didn’t believe in toys for dogs apparently, so he’d always had to find his own entertainment.
‘Or if that doesn’t work, I could point out that the more space there is between us and the houses the better. That way the residents won’t be able to hear dogs barking and cockerels crowing – never mind the geese honking.’ Jade knew she’d already decided that two of the geese could go in with the hens, even if she didn’t take all of them. She could ask Finn to dig out a pond. Geese were great protectors. It would stop her worrying about foxes so much.
Mickey went back to sleep. Jade sat back in the office chair and twirled around.
Surely the more space there was between them, the better it would be for the residents of the houses they planned to build.
Maybe the developers wouldn’t care about that. She wanted to tell Finn that he’d been right about the access after all – maybe he’d have some ideas. But she guessed he’d still be driving as he hadn’t messaged to say he’d arrived yet.
She glanced back at the name on the card Farmer John had given her, Declan Stone. Stone was an apt name for someone who worked in property development. She wondered what he was like. Young? Old? An ambitious go-getter or just used to getting his own way? From what Farmer John had said, he was stubborn. Or maybe that was his employers. She went back to the big appointments diary that was on her desk. There were no home checks this afternoon. No scheduled visits – at least none she’d remembered to put in the diary – and Dawn probably wouldn’t mind dealing with unscheduled ones if she asked her.
Maybe it would be better to call round and see Mr Stone. It was easier to brush someone off on the phone, but if they were standing in front of you it was far harder. And Jade could be very persuasive.
Having decided there was no time like the present, Jade went to find Dawn.
‘I need a massive favour.’
‘Does it involve geese?’ The older woman winked.
‘Nope. It’s just to keep an eye on Mickey and reception for a couple of hours if you don’t mind? I need to go and see someone, but I shouldn’t be that long.’
‘Of course I will.’
‘Thank you.’ Jade squeezed her hand. ‘I don’t know what I’d do without you. I wish I could pay you more.’
‘You pay me quite enough. Besides, you know I don’t do this for the money.’
Jade thanked her and hurried into the cottage. Having decided to go, she wasn’t sure what to wear. What did you wear to go and see a dogmatic unreasonable dictatorial property developer who was issuing ultimatums? Maybe he wasn’t any of those things.
Yes, he was, or he wouldn’t have shoved her aside so easily when Farmer John had told them she existed. And he’d definitely issued an ultimatum. Our way or the highway.
She cursed them under her breath. Nevertheless, it was probably unwise to go in all guns blazing. Much as she’d have liked to. She might get further with a softly softly approach. With this in mind, she picked her outfit carefully.
A three-quarter sleeve, high-necked navy-blue jersey dress that said feminine, upmarket, professional . Court shoes with kitten heels. A leather satchel bag that was big enough for her to take along some of the sanctuary paperwork. She’d packed a couple of adoption packs of her cutest animals. She wanted to make it clear she was a reasonable, level-headed businesswoman who provided a valuable service to the community, not an eccentric animal lover who collected other people’s cast-offs – even if she did veer more towards the latter on occasions. It was the same outfit she wore when she was on a mission to get sponsorship from local businesses. It had always served her well.
A touch of make-up completed the look, and Jade left her long hair down but tidy. Then she studied her reflection in the mirror and smiled. Farmer John wasn’t the only one who scrubbed up well.
Five minutes later, she was in her Land Rover heading towards Rural Developments. Their headquarters was in Salisbury and Declan Stone would be there for the afternoon. She’d called his office earlier and checked with the person who’d answered the phone.
‘Watch out, Mr Stone,’ she said under her breath as she drew into the company’s car park twenty-five minutes later. ‘I’m coming for you.’