Chapter 50
Nine days after the A level results came out, Maddie turned eighteen. It fell on a Saturday and, despite being offered a day off, Maddie had chosen to work but was going to finish a couple of hours early to get ready for a barbeque for family and friends tonight.
Laurie wasn’t coming but Maddie would be spending a week in Finland next month ahead of starting her Open University course in October.
He’d clearly taken in what I’d said about a lot of making up to do with her and was in regular contact now.
They weren’t as close as Maddie and me, but they never had been.
Our marriage hadn’t been the only thing to suffer from all that time working abroad.
He also kept in touch with me, albeit via WhatsApp, and I’d been delighted to learn that he’d taken my advice around therapy.
He’d found the first few sessions incredibly difficult because opening up about his feelings was so alien to him, but he’d heard my voice in his head telling him to stick with it and he was starting to feel a real difference now.
I was glad for him. I didn’t want to be close friends with him anymore but he was the father of my daughter and I wished him well.
Maddie was expecting driving lessons for her birthday from Mam, Laurie and me but we’d also all clubbed in together and bought her a small preloved car which had been hiding under a tarpaulin in one of the barns for the past week.
‘No birthday girl yet?’ Caleb asked, joining Mam, Jude, Ned and me in the kitchen and planting a gentle kiss on my lips before adding a card and gift bag to the pile on the table.
‘You’ve timed it perfectly. I can hear her moving around upstairs. Is the car outside?’
He handed me the car key. ‘All ready.’
Everything was going incredibly well with Caleb. He was such a key part of my life now that it was hard to imagine a time when he hadn’t been in it, which was strange considering he’d been a complete stranger a little over two months ago.
‘Looking good in here,’ he said, smiling at the birthday banners and balloons spread around the kitchen alongside large printed photos of Maddie from previous birthdays.
‘Why’s the kitchen door clos—’ Maddie called as she pushed it open and jumped as we popped confetti cannons and sang a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday to You’.
Maddie shook confetti from her hair and worked her way round us all with hugs. Even though it was early, we popped open a bottle of prosecco and all had half a glass to toast to Maddie officially becoming an adult.
She opened her cards and gifts, thanking us all profusely.
She’d dropped some exceptionally unsubtle hints about various pieces of jewellery she liked so Jude and Ned had bought her a necklace and matching earrings and Caleb had chosen a bracelet.
I handed her a gift bag containing a pair of L plates, The Highway Code, a book containing theory test questions and printed confirmation of a batch of ten driving lessons, the first one being on Monday.
‘There’s something else outside,’ I said, heading towards the door.
The large red gift bow that Caleb had attached to the windscreen wipers looked amazing.
‘That’s never for me!’ Maddie cried, turning to me, eyes wide.
‘It is. It’s from your dad, Nanna and me. Happy birthday, sweetheart.’
‘Oh, my God! My own car! I can’t believe it!’
I opened the driver’s door for her and handed her the key. Maddie clambered in, placed her hands on the wheel and pretended to drive before running her fingers over the dashboard.
‘I love it!’ she cried, hugging me and Mam when she got out.
Mam handed her a gift bag containing a metal guinea pig keyring and a soft toy guinea pig for inside the car.
‘I can’t believe you’ve bought me a car,’ Maddie said when we returned inside.
‘We figured you might find it useful with us living miles from civilisation,’ I said, teasing her with her comment from moving day.
‘Well, it is!’ she said.
My stomach lurched as that sounded like the angry version of Maddie I thought we’d said goodbye to.
She burst out laughing. ‘Your face, Mum! Miles from the city and so much better for it. You know how much I hate shopping. Country girl through and through.’
I hugged her tightly, laughing with her. ‘Happy birthday, Maddie.’
* * *
We’d set up several barbeques in the empty barns opposite the side of the farmhouse.
Caleb and Ned had taken responsibility for cooking and the air was filled with tantalising aromas thanks to the various marinades Mam had made.
Several tables were laid out in the barn with salads, crudités, dips, quiches and a variety of finger food.
The guests had been steadily arriving since 7 p.m. and I smiled at the sight of Hunter hugging Maddie and handing over a gift bag.
Even though Lindon hadn’t asked her out on a date yet, Maddie had decided to be honest with Hunter right from the start and had admitted that she liked Lindon.
He’d responded positively, saying he hoped it would work out and reiterating that he was glad they’d agreed to stay friends.
Willow and Lindon arrived with their parents, who were now friends of mine. Willow gave Maddie a gift bag containing a scented candle and a friendship bracelet. I’d loved watching their friendship blossom across the summer and seeing them go horse riding and cycling together.
‘This is from me,’ Lindon said, looking a little nervous as he handed Maddie a large package.
‘You didn’t need to get me anything,’ Maddie said. ‘That’s so kind of you.’
‘You might not like it.’
She unwrapped the paper, removed a framed picture and gasped. ‘Lindon! I love it! You drew this?’
‘Yeah.’
She turned the picture round so the rest of us could see.
Lindon had drawn Maddie beside Scout – who she now rode regularly – holding his reins.
Bubble was on her shoulder, Squeak was draped across her arm and Ginger and Pickle were on the saddle while the farm guinea pigs were gathered round her feet, chomping on pieces of fruit and vegetables.
‘I can’t believe how much detail you’ve captured,’ she said, as she studied the picture once more. ‘You’ve got every individual guinea pig in there with all the correct markings and colours.’
‘I wanted to draw you something meaningful,’ he said.
Maddie handed me the picture and flung her arms round Lindon, thanking him. He looked surprised at first but then he wrapped his arms round her and kissed her on the cheek.
They pulled apart, pink spots on their cheeks. I’d be stunned if Maddie’s party ended without Lindon asking her on a date.
‘Is something going on between Maddie and Lindon?’ Caleb asked, topping up my glass of wine later that evening.
The pair of them were deep in conversation near Maddie’s guinea pigs and seemingly finding every opportunity for some physical contact.
‘Maddie’s interested and I’m pretty sure Lindon is too. Young love. It’s very sweet to see.’
I yawned and immediately apologised. It was only 10 p.m. but, with the early starts I had each morning, I preferred to be in bed by now.
‘Long day?’ Caleb asked.
‘And lots of people for a lot of hours. I’m glad we’ve done this for Maddie, but I’m totally peopled out.’
‘Why don’t we slip away for a bit? We could take our drinks into my back garden for a moment’s peace.’
I didn’t need asking twice.
‘Better?’ he asked as we stepped into the back garden at Peartree Cottage. I could still hear the beat of the music but the chatter had ceased.
‘Much better. And I love your garden at night.’
Tiny lights that I’d never have noticed during the day ran alongside the pathways and glowed within the water features, making the garden look like a magical grotto.
Soft music began playing.
‘I recognise this song,’ I said, smiling at him.
‘Care to dance?’
He put his arms around me and we moved slowly round the garden.
A fortnight ago, we’d shuffled round the dance floor at Adam and Shelley’s wedding to the same song.
Caleb had seemed a little nervous and I’d wondered whether he’d been building up to saying I love you but had bottled it.
I didn’t mind. I felt the love emanating from him every day and I knew he’d say those words when he was ready.
There was no rush. I wasn’t going anywhere and I’d wait for as long as he needed.
The track ended and another slow song began, but Caleb loosened his hold and took my hands in his as he stepped back.
‘There’s something I’ve been wanting to say for a while and I wanted to find the perfect moment to say it.
I nearly said it at Adam and Shelley’s wedding but I thought it’s not right to say it on someone else’s special day but now it’s Maddie’s special day and I still don’t know if it’s right but I have to say it… ’
He smiled at me so tenderly as he lightly brushed my cheeks with his thumbs before kissing me softly.
‘When you first wittered on about country singers, something sparked inside me that I tried to ignore. When I saw you squirming around on the ground trying to take a selfie with a buttercup, it glowed brighter and when I saw you cradling Clemmie like a newborn baby, it became impossible to ignore. So it’s time to say how I’ve felt for a long time.
I love you, Grace. You’ve made me happier than I ever imagined I could be.
Thank you for choosing Hazelwick Farm and for choosing me. ’
‘That’s so beautiful,’ I said, blinking back the tears.
‘And I love you too. The buttercup selfie was a low point for me but I’m so glad it did it for you.
I think I knew for sure when I first saw your garden and who it honoured.
You weren’t afraid to talk about the people you loved and the hurt you’d experienced.
I knew I wanted to be part of your world so thank you for letting me in. ’
He kissed me slowly and tenderly. It might have been Maddie’s eighteenth birthday, but I felt like I’d received the best gift ever.