Chapter 42
Two days to go
Lettie leant back in her father’s chair at his untidy desk in the small room that passed for his study, unable to believe that they would be home so soon. Although she felt as if she had been working at the farm for far longer than three months, now their arrival was imminent she couldn’t shift her nerves at the thought of her father’s reaction to all she had done.
She checked through the spreadsheet she had spent days putting together detailing her ideas, the names of people who had agreed to become involved or help in some way, her stock, perceived times it would take her to grow or harvest a crop, and finally how much she expected to earn from the business each month.
She arched her back and yawned. It was almost seven thirty in the evening and it had been a long day. A long few weeks, she mused, spent either working on this plan or working on the farm. She hadn’t even had time to take Spud to meet Brodie and Derek for their evening walks on the beach, but reasoned that Spud spent most of the day out with her on the farm following her around so didn’t need to be exercised with a walk, even though they both enjoyed meeting up with the others on the sandy beach.
The plan needed to be perfect but she had been looking at it for so long now, checking and rechecking the figures and the order of each different idea that it was all becoming a bit of a blur and she had no idea how to improve it further. Would it be enough to persuade her father should he still had misgivings about her taking over Hollyhock Farm?
Her mobile pinged, bringing her fretting to an end. She picked up her phone and looked at the screen, cheered up when she saw it was a text from Brodie.
Fancy supper at mine?
Her stomach rumbled in reply. She did. Her brother had popped in earlier but had left to meet friends in town for a meal and a few drinks. She needed reassurance from Brodie and the thought of not having to cook for herself was appealing.
Yes, please. What time do you want me and where?
I have food for you and Spud, so I’ll hope to see you at eight-ish.x
She noticed the kiss and immediately her mood leapt.
Great. See you soon.X
She saved her work and closed the laptop. Then, remembering the time, left the study and ran upstairs to take a quick shower and change into a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt. As she washed her hair, she pictured her shower with Brodie several weeks before. A warm glow spread through her. He really was gorgeous. She began humming and, not wanting to delay getting to see him again, quickly rinsed her hair and washed her body. After towel-drying her hair she decided to leave the curls to dry naturally.
She parked outside Brodie’s cottage, anticipation of what the evening might bring bubbling inside her. Seeing the curtains move back and Brodie’s handsome face briefly at the living room window, Lettie felt a warm glow sweep through her.
He was outside in seconds. ‘Well, hello there, you two?’ He opened her car door. ‘It’s good to see you again.’ He stepped forward, waiting for her and Spud to get out. ‘I’ve missed you.’
Spud nuzzled his leg. ‘Both of us?’ Lettie asked.
‘Yes, both of you.’ Brodie leant forward and kissed Lettie on the lips. ‘But you most of all.’
‘I’ve missed you too,’ she admitted. ‘It’s been odd not seeing you when I’ve got so used to spending at least some time with you every day, but I’ve needed to focus on the farm in readiness for Dad’s return.’
‘It’s fine, I understand how busy things can get. The bookings have been increasing by the week at the practice.’ He frowned. ‘If it carries on this way I’m going to have to consider advertising for another vet to help me out.’
They walked back into the cottage, following Spud when he pushed past them to find Derek.
‘How’s your spreadsheet coming along?’ he asked when they reached the living room.
‘I’m getting there slowly. I’d like you to have a look at it sometime tomorrow if you wouldn’t mind. Just to be certain I’ve included everything we discussed and I haven’t forgotten any of Zac’s suggestions.’
‘I’d be happy to look at it,’ he said taking her in his arms. ‘If you email it to me we can go through it tonight.’
She shook her head slowly. ‘No. I’d rather make the most of enjoying the meal you’ve prepared for me.’
‘You don’t know what it is yet.’
‘I’ll wait for you to surprise me.’ She stood at the kitchen door while he put on an oven glove and checked how the food was coming along. ‘I hope we won’t have to wait too long to eat, I’m ravenous.’
‘Good. There’s a lot here. I think I got a bit carried away.’ He indicated a small fold-up table leaning against the living room wall and two fold-up chairs. ‘We can either sit there, or have it on trays on our laps.’
‘Trays are fine.’
‘I’ve opened a bottle of wine, too. So if you want to pour us a glass each and take a seat on the sofa, I’ll bring your food through shortly.’
She did as he asked and as soon as she was sitting on the worn but comfortable sofa Lettie took a drink of her wine. ‘This is delicious.’
‘Thanks. I grabbed the nicest one I could find at the supermarket and hoped for the best.’
She realised the room looked a little different. The old faded, discoloured wallpaper had been stripped from the walls and several holes and small hairline cracks had been filled. ‘Your sister’s begun your redecoration work, I see.’
‘She has.’ He pulled a face and she suspected Maddie was trying Brodie’s patience. ‘Make the most of this furniture because someone is coming to collect it in the morning and take away the carpet from throughout the cottage.’
He carried through two trays, handing one to her before sitting next to her and resting the other on his knee. ‘Bon appétit.’
She raised her glass and saw there were two piles of boxes against one wall. ‘Thank you for this. I imagine it’s the last thing you needed to do when you should probably be packing stuff away.’
‘I’ve been putting stuff into boxes for days now. Most of it isn’t mine but was left here by Old Man Winter. I did ask him what he wanted me to do with it and he said he didn’t care one way or another.’
Lettie suspected that the reply hadn’t been helpful to Brodie. ‘What will you do with it all then?’
He ate a mouthful of his food and thought as he chewed and swallowed. ‘Well, Tina has offered to hold a small market in the parish hall next Saturday and most of it is going to hopefully be sold there. Anything that doesn’t go will be donated to an animal charity and whatever I make will also be donated to the same cause.’
‘Sounds perfect.’ And generous she thought but didn’t add.
‘My sister wanted everything gone by now but I don’t have anywhere to store it.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘I think she forgets that I also work full-time and am on call most evenings too.’
Lettie was beginning to think that having a laid-back brother like Zac was probably lucky. She couldn’t imagine having to cope with a bossy, insistent sister who constantly thought she knew better. She took a mouthful of what she now realised was a chicken stew. ‘This is delicious by the way. Thank you. I had no idea you were such an excellent cook.’
‘It’s one of the two dishes I feel confident enough to make for guests.’
‘Tell you what, why don’t you bring the boxes and any furniture you’re getting rid of to the farm. I can keep them in the smaller barn until the market is held.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘I’m glad to be able to help.’ She was happy to have come up with a helpful solution for him. ‘I have loads of space and I’m sure Dad won’t mind it being stored there when he gets back. It’s not as if the decorating will take too long, is it?’
Brodie shook his head. ‘No, and as I said I’ll be donating anything that doesn’t sell at the market.’
‘How are you coping with your sister working on the cottage? Did you like her ideas?’
Brodie frowned briefly. ‘I’m grateful to her for doing it, I suppose, because I might have simply become used to the place as it is and not bothered.’ There was a glint of amusement in his eyes. ‘I am concerned that this is going to be very different to anything I might have chosen though, and Maddie can be determined when she sets her mind to something.’
Lettie studied his face and had a thought. ‘I have a feeling you can be pretty determined yourself when you want to be.’
He threw his head back and laughed. ‘You know, you’re not wrong there. It’s probably why Maddie and I fell out so much when we were growing up.’
‘And, if you don’t like what she’s doing, tell her. As soon as you see something isn’t to your taste. She’ll probably not like it but it’s far less frustrating to find something out at the beginning rather than when you’ve completed the job.’
His amusement vanished and he turned to look at her. ‘Are you still talking about Maddie, or how you feel about the farm and your cousin coming home soon?’
She realised he was right to question her. ‘I was meaning your sister, but I think you’re right about the farm. I’m anxious about what I’ll do when Damon returns and I’m not sure if I’ll be able to cope with living at Hollyhock Farm when someone else is running the place. It think it’ll probably hurt too much seeing that happening. And, what will I do work wise?’
Brodie’s expression changed slightly and for a second Lettie thought she saw a spark of hope but wasn’t sure why. ‘Is it because you don’t want to leave the island?’
It was, but she realised for the first time that more than anything she didn’t want to leave Brodie. ‘Yes,’ she admitted. She moved her hand to his and waited for him to take it. ‘More than anything, I like what we have going on here and I’m not ready for it to end.’
He lowered his knife and fork and moved his table away from him, turning to her fully. ‘I’m happy to hear you say that, Lettie, because I’m also liking what we have between us. I’d hate for you to leave Jersey and return to the mainland.’
Her heart fluttered and she placed the fork she was still holding in her left hand onto her plate and pushed her table back from her to give her space to turn her body towards him, unsure what to say.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
Lettie melted into his kiss and couldn’t bear to think that this attraction between them would ever end. ‘I can’t help wondering what I’ll do if I don’t end up running the farm? I’ve lived away from home for too long to want to live with my parents again, and I don’t have a job I can go to, or any savings,’ she added with embarrassment. ‘I really am very disorganised and unprepared,’ she added quietly.
She calmed slightly as Brodie looked deep into her eyes, eager to hear what he had to say when he opened his mouth to speak.
There was a loud banging on the front door, making Lettie jump. Derek instantly woke, Spud barked and both raced to the front door nearly knocking over her table, which was only saved from tipping over by Brodie’s quick reaction catching and steadying it.
‘That sounds urgent,’ she said resenting the interruption.
‘It does.’ He stood. ‘I won’t be long.’
Spud came back to her side and she stroked his furry back as she waited for Brodie to deal with whoever was at his door. Hearing hissed voices, then footsteps, Lettie stared at the doorway waiting to see who it was, when Brodie led his sister into the room, his teeth gritted.
‘Sorry, Lettie. The urgency was my sister, Maddie.’
‘Hello, Lettie.’ Maddie peered around Brodie’s shoulder and grinned.
‘Hello.’
Maddie looked at the tables and half-eaten food before grimacing and turning her attention back to Lettie. ‘I hope I haven’t interrupted anything.’
‘Never mind that.’ Brodie scowled. ‘I’m trying to work out why choosing between two paint colours needs to be done right now.’ He held up two tins Lettie hadn’t noticed him carrying before looking over his shoulder at his amused sister. ‘Why this couldn’t have waited until the morning I’ve no idea.’
Lettie knew from experience how annoying a sibling could be and also how they knew which buttons to press to cause the biggest reaction. Clearly these two had their spats and she hoped she wasn’t about to become involved in one of them.
Maddie groaned noisily. ‘Oh, do stop whining, Brodie, for pity’s sake,’ she said walking over to Lettie before indicating their plates of half-eaten food. ‘That looks tasty.’
‘It is. Brodie’s a great cook.’
‘He is?’ Maddie seemed baffled. ‘When did you take any interest in cooking?’
Lettie realised she had said the wrong thing and wondered if there was a right thing to say that might not set these siblings off against each other.
Brodie held the two paint tins towards his sister. ‘If I choose one of these colours will you leave us in peace?’
‘Aren’t you going to offer me a drink?’
‘You’re driving.’
Lettie could tell by the muscle working in his jaw that he was annoyed.
‘I meant a tea, or coffee. Surely you must have those in your cupboards.’ Maddie sighed. ‘I can tell you’re trying to get rid of me, little brother, but I’ve taken time out to see you and you could at least be hospitable. You’re not the only person I’m trying to help with their home you know.’
Lettie saw Brodie’s embarrassment at his sister’s argument and didn’t think she should be there while the two siblings were squabbling. The earlier romantic mood broken, she thought it might be a good idea to go home and try to get some much-needed sleep. She was anxious about her parents’ return and decided it wouldn’t hurt to go over her spreadsheet one more time, just in case she had forgotten something. She moved her table away from her and rose to her feet.
‘Maybe I should leave you both in peace.’
Brodie turned to her anguish on his sweet face. ‘Please don’t go yet.’
She couldn’t miss his disappointment but had made up her mind. ‘I’ll catch up with you tomorrow sometime,’ she said and kissed him on the cheek. Then she turned to Maddie. ‘It was nice meeting you.’
‘Please don’t go on my account,’ Maddie said. ‘I didn’t mean to interrupt your evening. Look, I’m only going to be a couple of minutes, then I’ll leave you both in peace.’
‘I don’t mind.’ She did really but thought it the right thing to do.
‘I do.’ Brodie’s voice was firm. ‘Please. Stay.’ His voice softened. ‘We haven’t finished our meal yet and you wouldn’t want all my cheffing efforts to go to waste now would you?’
Lettie saw surprise in his sister’s face and relented. ‘No, I wouldn’t want that to happen. Fine, I’ll stay then.’