Chapter 24
As she drove back to the farm Lettie recalled how wonderful it had been to be in Brodie’s arms and finally kiss him again. Thinking about it now made her go all tingly inside. She sighed. She was sure she wasn’t imagining things but his demeanour seemed to have changed in between Brodie carrying their plates to the kitchen and returning to the living room.
She hoped she was imagining things and pushed her concerns aside as being caused by her tiredness. Lettie couldn’t help wondering how different things might have been if Brodie had texted her back and they had struck up a relationship all those years before. She sensed that having Brodie as a boyfriend would be completely different to being with someone controlling like her ex – Scott. She remembered only too well how difficult her last relationship had been. He was only her second real boyfriend and it still surprised her how someone as initially thoughtful and seemingly kind as Scott could end up making her feel uncomfortable and causing her to have to secretly plan to move out of the flat they shared.
Growing up with her quiet, hard-working father who although strict was gentle, and her noisy, slightly annoyingly chaotic brother, it had never occurred to her that she would end up being in a relationship with someone underhanded like Scott.
She thought of Nessa, her flatmate in London, and felt guilty for moving out especially after she had gone with Lettie to help her pack her things and moved her from Scott’s flat where she had only been living for a few weeks. If it wasn’t for Nessa and her boyfriend, where would she be now? Lettie shuddered, slamming on the brakes in fright when something flew at her windscreen.
It was only a barn owl, she realised. She drew up the lane and saw her uncle wave at her as his car turned onto the road, grateful to him for looking after the place while she was out for most of the morning. As she made her way down the long driveway to the farm Lettie was still spooked by the thought of Scott and the shock of the owl flying towards her so unexpectedly. Suddenly being alone in the large farmhouse wasn’t such a welcome one. Spending time with Brodie in his cosy little cottage made her yearn for something similar. Somewhere she knew there were only a few doors and windows that needed checking.
The lights pinged on around the yard as she approached, making her feel a bit safer. At least her father had ensured there was little chance of someone, or something, creeping up on the house without bright lights flashing on and scaring them half witless.
She stepped out of the car and locked it, reminding herself that she might be alone at the farmhouse but she had Spud with her and he was a pretty good guard dog. She was also in Jersey and doubted that even Scott would chance coming here. He had only visited once with her and her father had taken an instant dislike to him, as had Zac. She wished she had listened to them now when they and her mother had tried to warn her.
‘That’s all in the past now,’ she said unlocking the front door and going into the house. She switched on the hall lights and locked the door behind her. She really had scared herself, she thought, irritated that her ex still had such an effect on her even a year after they had parted. Someone, probably Nessa had told her he had found a new girlfriend very soon after they had split, so hopefully he had long forgotten about her anyway. The thought relaxed her slightly.
She thought about making a drink of something hot but seeing that it was now almost eleven, decided to take a shower and go straight to bed.
Joe had said he would come to the farm to shear the alpacas as soon as his shift was over the following day. He was so kind and also, she mused, different to Brodie in so many ways, yet both were attractive and keen to be helpful, which she appreciated.
An hour later as she lay in her bed staring at the ceiling, a familiar anxiety about the farm filled her stomach and throat, and she wondered if maybe she should give up trying to get any sleep and get up instead.
Lettie must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew the cockerel was crowing and she was sitting bolt upright in bed. It took her a moment to figure out where she was and that she was alone in the house. She hoped her parents would enjoy their time on the ship and that the cruise would turn out to be everything they hoped.
She rubbed her eyes lightly and kicked off her duvet.
Showered, dressed and having fed Spud, she carried her second cup of tea and a half-eaten piece of toast to the hall. Lettie pushed her feet into her boots and went outside to start work, wondering what the day might bring and hoping it was going to be a good one.
Having fed the animals and checked that the final potatoes were being harvested and packed ready to be driven to the harbour, she decided to pack up the eggs she had collected that morning. Lettie thought about Brodie and their kissing the previous evening. She had too much responsibility to contend with over the next two months while her father was away to be able to give much time to anything other than her duties to the farm and animals.
Lettie had a neat stack of moulded wood pulp filler trays, filled with the fresh organic eggs, when she heard Spud barking. Her thoughts interrupted, she then heard tyres pulling into the yard and turned to go and find out who had arrived. Her elbow knocked the corner of the stack and, shrieking in shock, Lettie lurched forward to try and catch the trays before they fell to the cement floor of the barn.
‘Noooo!’ They slipped through her fingers and she watched in horror as the eggs smashed, splattering their yolky goodness over the floor. Lettie clenched her teeth.
‘What’s wrong?’
Hearing Joe’s voice, Lettie looked at him in despair. ‘I’ve just knocked all these eggs onto the floor. Argh, I’m such an idiot. Now I’ll have to clean up this mess and call the village shop to let them know I won’t have their full order today.’
He walked over to join her and sighed. ‘I suppose my arrival interrupted you, didn’t it?’
She nodded. ‘I’m not sure why though. It’s not as if I wasn’t expecting you.’ She groaned. She already had too many jobs to try and get through without needing additional things to do taking up her time. She rubbed her eyes. ‘I’m going to have to clean this up straight away.’
‘Are those to be packed too?’ he asked indicating the baskets of eggs to the side of her.
‘Yes.’
‘I can help with this before shearing the alpacas. Why don’t I clean up this mess and you carry on packing those.’
She was tempted to agree but didn’t think it right to let a visitor do the mucky job. ‘No, it’s fine. I’ll clean up. I made the mess after all, not you.’
Joe grimaced. ‘But I was the one who surprised you, causing this mess. No, you tell me where to find the stuff to sort this lot out then I’ll get on with it while you pack the rest of those eggs. Then maybe you can take ten minutes’ break and sit with me outside.’
Not having the energy to argue, Lettie agreed. Having told him where to find the bucket, water, soap and other items he needed, she turned back to finish her packing while he cleared up for her.
Twenty minutes later they were sitting on the low wall in the warmth of the sunny yard, drinking cups of tea. Lettie leant back against the side of the barn behind the wall and closed her eyes. ‘I needed this.’
‘I’m sorry I interrupted your morning, and so messily too.’
She smiled. ‘It’s fine. You cleaned everything up and anyway it’s good to see you again.’
‘I’m glad you think so.’
She looked at the bag on the side she realised he must have brought in with him. ‘Are those the shears?’
‘They are. I thought that once I’ve shorn the alpacas I can help you here with some of your jobs.’
Lettie was touched by his thoughtfulness. ‘That’s so kind of you. The alpacas are in the smaller barn. I put them in the stalls in there earlier to keep them quiet. I’ll take you to them now.’
He picked up his bag and walked with her. ‘Having worked for my uncle on his farm I’m aware how much work there is. I have a few spare hours and would love to muck in and help you with anything I can.’
Touched by his thoughtfulness Lettie’s right hand flew to her chest. ‘Oh, Joe, that’s so sweet of you.’
He gave her a beatific smile. ‘We’ll my granny Sybil always said I was an angel.’
Lettie laughed. ‘I’m not so sure I’d go that far.’ She finished her tea and stood up. ‘I’d better get on with things. As it is I’m going to be working until quite late this evening.’
‘Tell me what you’re planning to do next and I’ll come and help you with it.’
They were back in the yard after he had finished shearing the animals and he had helped Lettie lead them to the nearest paddock, when she took his hand in hers and leant forward to kiss his cheek, just as a car pulled up and stopped in the yard. Brodie got out of his old Land Rover and Lettie saw him look her way, then glance down at her hand in Joe’s. She immediately dropped Joe’s hand and stepped forward. ‘Brodie? What are you doing here?’
‘I, um… Hi, Joe.’ He looked from Joe to her and seemed very awkward. ‘That is, I was checking to see if you had everything in hand. I mean, here on the farm.’
She realised Brodie was taken aback to see her with Joe and knew he was reading more into the situation than he should. ‘Would you like to join us? Have a cup of tea?’
Brodie shook his head, still holding onto his car door. ‘No. Thanks. Unless you need me to help you with anything,’ he added as an afterthought.
‘No. But thanks all the same. Joe’s here for the alpacas but has stayed on to help me. He’s worked on a farm in the past so knows what’s needed. Oh, and I’ve got the workers Dad took on before he left harvesting the last of the Jersey Royals, so at least they’re taken care of.’
‘No worries, mate,’ Joe said. ‘We’ll be fine.’
Lettie saw Brodie studying Joe’s face, unsure what he was trying to work out.
‘Fine. If you’re all OK here then I’ll leave you to it. Do call me if you need anything though won’t you?’
‘I will do. Thanks.’ Lettie gave him a wave and watched him drive away. ‘Well, that was a little odd.’
‘You think so?’
Surprised by his question she looked at him. ‘Why? Don’t you?’
‘No, Lettie. I don’t think it was odd at all.’ He handed her his mug. ‘Shall we get on with the next job then?’
‘Yes,’ she said setting both mugs onto the wall. ‘We better had.’