Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
“ T hese are the best eggs I’ve ever had,” Harry said, eating them scrambled on buttered toast. “You’re such a great cook.”
Millie nodded. “I’m glad you were brought up in a café.”
Warren laughed. “Best thing that ever happened to me.”
“How long is it until Nick and Jane get married?” Millie asked.
“A week today. I’m best man so have a speech written and I need to practise it on you guys.”
“What time are we going up to Lovelands?” Harry asked. It was the first West Country Farmers’ Market any of them had attended. In the summer months, Holly and Mitch ran a market at Lovelands every other Saturday and they were all helping out.
“As soon as we’ve finished breakfast. We have to load up both vans, then transport it over,” Warren said.
“We’ve got quite a bit of stuff left over from the boxes this week which we can take,” Harry said. Booth Farms Ltd ran a veg box scheme, filling the boxes with vegetables and additional goods from local farmers and stores. They had a delivery service for Somerset and neighbouring counties. Most of the staff were causal workers coming in for two days, but Millie and Harry monitored it with the help of Mitch’s mum who did the accounts and managed orders remotely from one of the Booth Farms in Essex.
“I’m looking forward to it, the market sounds great,” Millie said.
“With the three of us I’m sure there’ll be slow moments where we can check out the other stalls,” Warren said. He wanted to stock up on some items for the following week’s meals.
Millie and Harry cleared away the breakfast things and filled the dishwasher, and Warren went to his room to fetch his hoodie in case the weather turned.
Outside, Holly had already arrived and they loaded all the produce onto both vans. He looked up at the nursery as a stream of vendors arrived. They were soon driving the goods over to the nursery. There were many chiller vans there and regular vans with traders filling up the sales sheds which were permanently on the site. Holly milled around making sure everyone was happy.
They set up and the first customers began to drip in. But the drip soon turned to a wave. It appeared that people had come from far and wide. The three of them were working flat out, only leaving the stall for short breaks.
“I think we’ll be getting rid of everything,” Millie said.
“I wondered why we were bringing so much. I’ll get the next box,” Harry said.
Around lunch time, things slowed as people congregated around the food trucks. They were all local catering businesses. As the delicious smells drifted over, Warren’s stomach rumbled.
“Hi there.”
Warren looked up and his heartbeat appeared to stop. It was her, Nina. He hadn’t seen her for so long. “Hey, you’re looking great,” he said before he could stop himself.
She looked down at her middle. “I’m starting to grow.”
Warren turned to Millie and Harry. “Hey guys, I’m going to take my break.” He washed his hands then removed his apron and left the shed. “Let me get you something, the smell of that food is driving me crazy, I’ve not eaten since breakfast.”
“Oh, sure, yes.” Nina smiled at him. “I’m starving too.”
They walked around the stalls. He bought a burger and Nina ordered a chicken skewer on rice with Greek salad. They were lucky to find a table which was in the process of being vacated by a family and sat down.
“Is the kebab good?” Warren asked.
“Yes. I haven’t eaten meat for over five years, but I’ve introduced it back into my diet, just for the pregnancy. I’ve been a bit off-colour and Ma said it was easier to get the iron that way. And anyway, I’ve so much to think about, it was just simpler to go along with her.” She chewed on her food then swallowed. “Ma is loving that I can eat the full range of her dishes.” She paused as she smiled, looking around. “It’s good being here, I feel like I’m living again.”
He’d heard she’d split up with her fiancé – and had felt guilty at the feeling he’d had, fantasying that she would fall in love with him. Since then, he’d blocked it out, telling himself off as if he’d been pleased that Nina’s life was falling apart. Everyone had been so worried about her. Nina had been the topic of discussion at all of the weekly family meals since. Holly had been receiving updates from Nina’s parents and had let them know how she had been progressing. At times he’d wanted to contact Nina himself, but it didn’t seem appropriate. And he didn’t have her number, anyway.
“You’ve had a bad few months,” Warren said.
Nina laughed. “I take it you know what’s been going on?”
He nodded as he chewed on his burger then wiped some mustard which escaped with his paper napkin. “How are you?” Warren asked. “In yourself.” He didn’t add that he knew her fiancé had called time on their relationship. He’d abandoned her.
“I’m fine, it’s just all a lot to take in. I had to let the shop go. But I need to find something else. I’ve got my head around it now. Although it’s a bit claustrophobic at times, living with my parents.”
“Are you going to continue working when you have the baby?” he said then looked around in case someone overheard,
She laughed. “It’s not a secret any more. I asked Holly and Jaz to tell everyone and anyway, it shows.” She continued: “Ethan wanted my parents to look after the child while we lived in Qatar and that I should come back every now and again to visit the baby. Even if I was agreeable, it would unfair on my parents. Although, my mother probably would have jumped at the chance, I know Dad wouldn’t be pleased and it wouldn’t be right for me either.” Nina looked to her side. “Oh, my mother’s coming this way.”
“I wanted to pick your brain, actually. I need to gain support from the council for my silvopasture and the educational events I want to run there. But I’ve no idea how to go about it or the procedures.”
Nina smiled. “Of course. I can go through it with you and there are easier routes.”
Warren looked up as the beautiful Indian woman reached their table, dressed in a colourful long-sleeved dress with matching trousers. She didn’t look old enough to be Nina’s mother. Her eyes were exactly the same. He just stopped himself from saying she looked more like an older sister. He knew that would have sounded crass, even if it was true.
“This is my mother, Sumitra,” Nina said. “And Ma, this is Warren, he’s a student at Booth Farm. And we were just talking about him gaining interest and support from the council.”
Sumitra nodded at him. “I see.” She turned back to her daughter. “You worked too hard for years, you deserve a rest instead of getting roped into other people’s business. Remember, one step at a time.”
“Oh, yes, I’m er…sorry,” Warren stuttered, not wanting to upset her mother and realising Nina was supposed to be taking things easy.
“When was the last time you took a holiday?” Sumitra asked Nina.
“I went on the cruise last year!”
“Everyone went on that cruise.”
Nina laughed then turned to Warren. “It was Jaz and Julian’s wedding.”
Sumitra picked up her bags. “We need to go now before the sausages turn. I’ll just pop and say hello to Holly because I haven’t seen her yet, then I’ll meet you at the car.” Sumitra turned away.
“I love her to bits but I’m thirty-seven and she still likes to boss me around.”
Warren noticed that Nina often mentioned her age. As if she thought he’d forgotten. “Jane bosses me about too.”
“When’s the wedding?”
“In one week.”
Nina wiped her mouth with the napkin and placed it in the empty box. “That was perfect. I’ll be huge by the time I have this baby.”
“Do you want to leave discussing the council? I feel bad now after what your mum said.”
“Don’t take any notice of that, I’d love the distraction.”
“Shall I meet you tomorrow, at The Eversley? I’ve been going there for a roast every Sunday.”
Her mouth opened and she hesitated, and he immediately regretted asking, but she then smiled. “Yes. That would be nice.”
“Shall I book a slot?” The Eversley always liked to know how many customers they were expecting as much of the food was prepared ahead in the bistro’s kitchen.
“Yes, one o’clock.”
“Great.” He felt a surge in his chest as Nina walked away, and an overwhelming sense of excitement. He looked around then noticed the stall and checked the time on his phone. Oh. He’d taken a much longer break than the snatched fifteen minutes the other pair had taken. He hurried back.
“You look happy,” Millie said. “Did you win the raffle or something?”
“No,” he said.
Millie and Harry exchanged a look which Warren pretended not to notice. He knew that every time he met Nina he wanted to spend more time with her. But also he was under no illusion – she was a classy woman. He needed to put thoughts of Nina out of his mind. She had a lot on her plate, but that would not stop him being friends with her.