Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
W arren waited at the front door of the farmhouse. They rarely used it, mainly opting for the back entrance to the house, through the business side, via the kitchen. But he wanted to be the one to greet Nina in private. He’d invited her to the Monday meal. It wasn’t a long walk from The Eversley Arms, but it was a tricky one, either along a road with no footpath or across the field. With Nina being pregnant and not knowing the land as well as himself, Holly and Mitch, she was driving over.
As soon as he saw her white car, he stopped leaning on the door frame and greeted her at her car.
“You look good in black,” she said to him as she got out.
“Oh, thanks.” She’d caught him off guard. There seemed to be two different Ninas – the one who was shy and reserved, and also a flirtatious one. He liked them both. He knew she liked him but guessed the sensible side in her was wary of letting go and allowing him into her life. He felt that every time he looked into her eyes, they were telling him she liked him, even if she didn’t say so herself.
He took her hand. “Come on. You’re not going to be disappointed. I’ve made a Caribbean stew, one of Jane’s recipes.” He’d not only taken the morning off, he’d ended up taking the whole day off to include a trip out for ingredients.
“I thought you loved these meals because it was the one day a week you didn’t cook.”
“We’re having a week off from darts practice and I’m trying to impress someone this evening.”
“Oh yeah? Who’s that?” She gave him another one of her flirtatious looks.
“Hmmm.” He looked into her eyes and had to look away as he had an overwhelming urge to kiss her.
“Here she is,” Jaz said. “We can dish up now.”
Warren sat Nina between himself and Jaz. At the end were Val and Len with the five children. Belle was absorbed in her phone, the twins were colouring at the table and the boys were chatting. Holly and Mitch were serving up and Millie and Harry were at the other end. Greg was down at the sheds waiting for the vet as they had a sick cow.
“Belle, get off the phone,” Jaz said. “Look, Holly’s handing you a plate.”
“What is it?” Belle said, turning her nose up.
“It’s a Caribbean stew, my mother’s recipe,” Warren said, realising it might not be something Belle would like.
“You can have sausages with the girls if you don’t like it,” Holly said. “Warren did extra just in case anyone wasn’t keen.”
“I love curry, it smells like curry,” Noah said.
“I won’t take it personally if you don’t like it,” Warren added.
Belle smiled at him. “It’s okay, it smells really nice.”
They had an enjoyable meal. Warren loved the mildly spiced and fruity stew which he’d served with brown rice. And with Nina sitting next to him, he considered this the best family meal they’d had since he’d been at the farm.
“Belle, not at the table,” Jaz said to her sister who had finished her food and was now back on her phone.
“You’re not my mum!” Belle stood up and stormed out of the room.
Jaz sighed and looked to Holly. “Enjoy the girls now, you’ve got that to come, times two!”
“I can’t wait!” Mitch said.
Warren watched Belle storm out. “I’ll check she’s okay.”
He passed through the working kitchen where Trixy looked up from her bed.
Outside, he found Belle sitting on a tree stump tapping away at her phone.
“Hey,” he said.
She put the phone to her chest. “All right?”
“Yes, how about you?” he asked.
“Just the usual. Jaz. She’s always on my back. She’s my sister but thinks she’s my mum, moaning at me the whole time. I don’t see why I have to come up here and sit with the kids and get treated the same. I’m sixteen not six.”
Warren could see she was genuinely fed up and didn’t want to alienate her. “It’s hard for adults, there’s pressure on us to set a good example.”
“You should try being me.” Her bottom lip trembled. She angrily brushed a tear from her cheek, clearly embarrassed.
“Hey, it doesn’t matter. You’re allowed to be upset.”
“It does matter.” She stood up and stormed off.
“Hey, don’t go,” he called after her.
“Tell Jaz I’m going home.”
Warren paused as he watched Belle stomp towards the field. At least she wasn’t going along the road. He returned to the house.
“Belle’s left,” he said as he reached the dining table. “She said she’s going home. She probably needs some space.”
“That girl has enough space,” Jaz said. “She spends all her time on her own in her room, on her phone.” She began to rise from her chair. “I’ll have to go after her.”
“Finish your dessert first,” Holly said. “Call her in a while and check she got back okay.”
“You had your moments yourself when you were that age,” Val added. “A bit of space can do wonders.”
After they’d eaten a dessert of tropical fruit salad, Nina helped Warren clear the plates away after Jaz had left to check on Belle. “You look concerned.”
“I sense something’s up with Belle. I wanted to go after her, but it would have been awkward and I’m not sure she’s going to open up to me.” Warren left the pile of bowls which Millie and Harry loaded in the dishwasher.
“I was supposed to have a word with her myself a few weeks back,” Nina said as they returned to the table. “But I forgot. Jaz said she was worried about her.”
“I think you’ve enough going on,” he said. “Are you going to hang back here after the others have left?” he asked.
“If you like,” she said with a smile that sent his heart racing.
“I do like.” His mind was becoming clouded with memories of their near kiss. All he could think about was holding her close.
They drank coffee at the table as Val and Len finished off a noisy boardgame which all four children were playing, and Mitch and Holly told them about a film they had seen.
“Come on girls, it’s nearly bedtime,” Holly said.
“But I like it here,” Poppy said.
“Can we stay five more minutes?” Daisy added.
Nina smiled as Holly struggled to get the girls to put their shoes on.
“I won for the first time,” Len said.
“Well done Uncle Len,” Mikey said giving him a hug.
Jaz entered the room, scowling. “She’s not there.”
“When she said home, she might have meant Eversley Burrows, love,” Val said. “Have you called your mum?”
“Yes. Look let’s be quick and I’ll drop you back, then go to the Burrows to look for her. She may have stopped at a friend’s house on the way.”
Warren considered offering his help as he felt guilty that Belle had left and he had not stopped her. “If you can’t find her, give me a call.”
“Thanks, Warren.”
The house was now quiet. Millie and Harry went to their rooms, leaving Warren and Nina alone. Away from the long dining table, they could sit much closer on the sofa.
“Shall we put a film on?” he asked, whilst longing to pull her close for the kiss he desperately wanted.
“I’d love that. Have you any snacks?”
“Sure.” He went to the kitchen cupboards and found some popcorn and brought it back to the sofa, with a six pack of cans of sparkling orange. He picked up the remote control and switched the television on. Once they’d found a film they both fancied, he looked down at her. The tension between them was electric and he knew he would not concentrate on a film. He wanted to lay it out, the way he felt.
“Nina…I…”
He was interrupted by his mobile ringing. Typical, he thought. It was Holly calling.
“Warren. You couldn’t help could you? Jaz can’t find Belle and she’s going mad. Mitch is out too looking, but I’ve got the girls.”
“Of course I can. I’ll retrace her steps by foot, through the field.” He ended the call and then puffed out, feeling a little guilty that he resented having to go out. “Belle hasn’t turned up. Holly’s asked me to go looking for her.”
“Don’t worry, I’m sure she’s fine.” Nina sat up as if preparing to leave.
“Would you wait here?” he asked. “Hopefully I won’t be long. I’m sure she’ll turn up and we can still watch that film. I’ll be as quick as I can.” He was desperate to keep her there.
She smiled at him. “Okay. I’m looking forward to it.”
He hesitated. Her expression was telling him she wanted to be close to him as well. Should I kiss her now? he thought, then decided against it. He knew that as soon as he held her in his arms, he wouldn’t be able to tear himself away.