Chapter 25 #4
‘I’m not out of the woods yet,’ I concluded.
‘Not knowing why Laurie walked away is a struggle and so’s my relationship with Maddie.
You know in A Christmas Carol where the ghost of Jacob Marley has all these chains around him?
I feel a bit like that except Marley knows why the chains are there and I don’t. ’
‘That’s a lot to deal with all at once,’ Caleb said, his expression sympathetic. ‘Hazelwick Farm’s a great place to heal. With a bit of time, I’m sure you’ll find the key for the padlock on the Maddie-shaped chains.’
‘Mam thinks she just needs time too so…’ I held up crossed fingers on one hand.
‘As for your answers about your marriage, it doesn’t sound like your ex is being very fair on you. When a person ends a relationship unexpectedly, the least they can do is give a reason. Hopefully time will work for you too and lessen your need for answers.’
I held up crossed fingers on both hands this time.
‘Can I ask you a question about the farm?’ Caleb said. ‘Last week when you fainted, Willow was worried it’s because she’d told you the truth about this place but you said you hadn’t eaten…’
I nodded. ‘I didn’t want to upset her but it was about what she’d said. I had this massive panic that I’d jumped out the frying pan and into the fire and dragged my mam with me too by investing all our money into an absolute dud.’
‘Do you still think you’ve bought a dud?’
‘No, although I think making a success of what’s already here is going to be harder than we expected so it’s just as well we have other plans.
We’re seeing the lack of visitors as a positive thing – a chance to start with a blank page.
We’ve picked a new name – Hazelwick Farm Animal Encounters – and Willow’s brother has created some fresh branding.
’ I scrolled on my phone and showed Caleb the logo.
‘That’s a massive improvement. He’s done a great job.’ He passed my phone back. ‘And, for what it’s worth, I don’t think you’ve bought a dud either. Shelley had a cracking business running here and, even if you didn’t have the cows coming, I’m sure you’d have managed great things.’
Scampi jumped down from his lap and wandered over to the door, looking back at Caleb who stood up. ‘He needs a wee.’
I stood up too. ‘I should head back and see how Clemmie’s doing.’
‘Okay. It was good getting to know you better and I’m relieved we found your cat.’
‘Thanks again for that. You’re my hero.’
As I set off back to the farmhouse, I cringed at my final comment. You’re my hero! I sounded like a damsel in distress who’d just been rescued although, to be fair, I had been in distress and he had rescued my cat as I’d never have found her myself.
Mam was in the kitchen topping up the dogs’ water bowl.
‘Did you have a nice cuppa?’ she asked, her eyes twinkling.
‘I did, thank you. I definitely misjudged Caleb. You won’t believe what he did for me. He saw the blood and soaked my hoodie and… argh! I’ve only gone and left it there! Where’s my head? I’ll have to collect it tomorrow.’
‘How sweet is he for doing that?’
‘Very sweet. I doubt many people would think of it. Anyway, how’s Clemmie?’
‘She’s fine. Maddie’s been great with her. She was yawning her head off and I told her to get to bed but she didn’t want to after promising you she’d stay with Clemmie till you returned. It took some convincing but she’s only just gone up.’
‘How was she?’
‘Contrite.’
‘Good. I really hope this turns the tide.’
‘Me too, sunshine. I’m off up to my bed too so good night.’
I kissed her on the cheek and thanked her for her support then went into the lounge to check on Clemmie. She opened her eyes and mewed.
‘Are you coming up to sleep on my bed?’ I asked.
She scrambled to her feet, her movements constricted by the cone, and stretched her paws before I scooped her into my arms, planting a gentle kiss on her warm back.
As I settled down to sleep a little later with Clemmie draped over me and the dogs curled up beside me, I reflected on the drama of the evening and how kind Caleb had been to help me search, to clean up Clemmie and to soak my hoodie.
I hadn’t thought much of the Garstangs after Willow’s revelations but now I was disgusted with them for the stress they’d placed on their daughter, the way they’d dumped the horse care on Caleb – presumably without financial recompense – and how they’d abandoned Scampi.
What sort of people did something so cruel?
Now that I knew a bit more about Caleb, I felt as though we could be good friends.
He was clearly older than I’d thought too.
If he’d been thirty-five when Fergus died six years ago, that made him forty-one now; just five years younger than me.
That felt more comfortable. I tutted to myself.
Comfortable for what? That was all Mam’s fault for the mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
I was here to start over and fix my family – or unlock and throw off those chains using the analogy from earlier.
I was not here for romance. But Caleb’s smile was the last thing I saw before I drifted off to sleep.