The House at Greenacres

by The House at Greenacres (retail) (epub)

  The clock in the hallway chimed 6.30. It was still so early. The light in the house was grey, and it was really cold. She wrapped her fluffy dressing gown tighter around her and pushed open the kitchen door, then jumped when she saw that she wasn’t alone.

  ‘Granny?’ She gently touched the older woman’s shoulder.

  ‘Hello, love.’

  ‘Everything all right?’

  ‘Yes.’ Her granny turned around in her seat. ‘I’m okay, dear. I woke up about half an hour ago and couldn’t drop off again. I felt… cold.’ She wrapped her hands around her mug, and Holly watched as steam rose into the air.

  ‘I need a coffee too. I didn’t sleep very well.’

  ‘I was thinking about going to church today.’

  ‘Oh… right.’

  ‘I know I don’t go every Sunday, but I thought I could attend the morning service, then go and see your grandpa.’

  Holly carried her coffee to the table and sat down. She gazed out of the window at the morning. The clouds looked like cotton candy as the rising sun caressed them, teasing them with the prospect of a new day.

  ‘Shall I come with you?’

  Granny smiled briefly. ‘You could do, dear, although I know it’s not really your thing.’

  ‘Yes, but I would like to say hello to Grandpa too.’

  ‘Okay then. Shall we take Luke?’

  ‘If Dad’s busy, we might have to.’

  ‘What about Rich? Can’t he have him?’

  Holly’s cheeks filled with heat.

  ‘I… I don’t know.’

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘Don’t try to pull the wool over my eyes, Holly. I know there’s something. Come on… tell your old granny.’

  Holly sipped her coffee and winced as the hot liquid burnt her lips and tongue.

  ‘Yesterday, Rich took me somewhere. Dad knew about it, but in all fairness he did try to prepare me without actually telling me exactly what was going on. It was meant to be a good thing – it was a good thing – and yet I couldn’t accept it.’

  ‘Accept what?’

  ‘You don’t know?’

  Granny shook her head.

  ‘Well, you know the cottage Rich and I were going to buy…’

  ‘Plum Tree Cottage?’

  ‘Yes. Rich bought it and renovated it and made it into a home. It’s exactly how I imagined it would be. It’s been painted and repaired and there are roses around the door and in the garden, and there’s a nursery and a summer house and… it’s just perfect.’

  ‘He did this for you?’

  ‘Yes. And for Luke.’

  Granny nodded. ‘Sounds like a grand gesture.’

  ‘It was. It is.’

  ‘But the problem is?’

  Holly exhaled slowly and tried to tame her chaotic thoughts into some sort of order.

  ‘The problem is that it’s not only about me any more, is it? There’s Luke to consider too, and as much as I wish I could believe that Rich has changed and that he’s certain we’re what he wants… I’m too afraid to take the chance.’

  Granny pressed her lips together and nodded. ‘It’s difficult, Holly, I grant you that.’

  ‘It really is.’

  ‘How do you feel about Rich now? I mean, after spending more time together and seeing him with Luke, and how good he’s been with… well, with me and your dad?’

  ‘Confused. He’s a good man, I know that. I don’t think he’d do anything to deliberately hurt our child or me, but last year was awful, Granny. I thought I’d never be able to carry on, then I found out I was expecting and I had to keep going. I’m stronger now… stronger than ever before, and I know that’s because of Luke. I have to go on and make a good life for him and for me. I’m a mum and Luke is my priority.’

  ‘You are, but you’re also a woman – a human being with needs, hopes and desires. You can’t bury yourself in motherhood and forget who you are or what you want.’

  ‘I buried myself in loving Rich for years.’

  ‘Exactly. You are so much more than an addition to someone else. You are you, Holly Dryden – strong, kind, capable, loving, intelligent, brave… I could go on all day.’

  ‘You’re biased, Granny.’ Holly couldn’t help smiling.

  ‘Yes, my darling, I am but I also see the truth. At my age there are no blinkers on these eyes. You can be a darned good mum to Luke, but you need to be you too. What does Holly want for herself?’

  ‘I can’t think that way. I have to put Luke first.’

  ‘You’re not listening to me. Luke will be happy if his mum is happy. If you’re sad and unfulfilled, he’ll sense it and respond accordingly. What do you want from life? Think about it.’

  Holly picked at a cuticle, crossed and uncrossed her legs and finished her coffee. What did she want?

  ‘I always just wanted to be happy.’

  ‘What does happy mean to you?’

  ‘Well… I thought it was being with Rich, loving and being loved in return.’

  ‘And now?’

  ‘I know that being with him could make me happy, but not if it’s how it used to be. He didn’t love me as much as I wanted and deserved to be loved.’

  ‘Why not?’

  Holly rubbed her eyes. That was the question, wasn’t it? Rich had given her a form of explanation and plenty of apologies, but when it came down to it, why had he held back, and could he really overcome that now?

  ‘I think it was because of what happened when he was younger.’

  ‘With his brother?’

  ‘Yes. In fact I know it was, but if he couldn’t deal with that then… how can I be sure he can do so now?’

  Granny reached out and took Holly’s hand. Her fingers were gnarled with age, her skin darkened with brown patches, the veins running like snakes beneath the surface. But her grip was strong and reassuring. Granny had lived, she had made sacrifices for her family, she had loved and lost.

  ‘Holly, we can never be one hundred per cent certain that someone won’t hurt us, or leave us, or… die on us. I’ve lost my husband, but I also lost my child. It was an unimaginable pain losing your mother and one that no parent should ever have to face. Rich’s parents went through it too, and their son was much younger than my daughter was. Rich’s life would have been different because of what his family went through. Your life was different because of what you went through. Your loss was enormous… your pain unfathomable. But we go on, because we have to. My husband was old, and he had lived a good life, but even so, I miss him and it feels that he was taken too soon. I suspect that everyone feels that way. This life is far too brief. For some, it is even shorter.

  ‘There are many ways to be fulfilled and you need to consider them all. Like what you want to do career-wise – whether that means running this place or something completely different – where you want to live, what your hopes and dreams are for the future. But you don’t have to be in total control; in fact, you can’t control everything. It’s just not possible.’

  ‘I know. You’re right, Granny.’

  ‘Trying to control everything will only lead to unhappiness. If you love Rich and want to give him a chance, then do it. If you let fear hold you back, if you let past mistakes and errors of judgement deter you from allowing love in, then you might well regret that even more than taking a chance. The first option leaves no opportunities to find out, but the second allows you the chance to discover something that might be far more wonderful than you ever imagined. If you believe that Rich is ready now to be the partner you want and need, and the father that Luke deserves, then the rest is up to you.’

  Holly raised her granny’s hand and kissed it, then got up and walked to the door. She opened it and stepped out into the morning, taking deep breaths of the cool air. The scents of the countryside were strong, the sweet freshness of grass and the deep richness of the fertile earth. Summer was taking hold of the land, awakening colour and life, and with it came the pro
mise of a good harvest.

  She padded over to the fence that separated the small family garden from the rest of the vineyard. There was a cobweb between two of the fence panels, and on it, dewdrops sparkled like diamonds. There was such a wealth of joy to be found here, so many things to appreciate. The tiny spider that had spun the web didn’t know what was going to happen to its work when it was finished. It was designed to catch food, a beautiful, flawless design, and yet a careless human hand could tear it to shreds in an instant. Such was life, but the spider kept on spinning. Granny was right. No one knew what was around the corner; no one knew what could happen tomorrow, let alone next week. But if you didn’t take a chance on love, on living the life you yearned for, then it would be no life at all.

  Holly wanted more than to simply exist, more than to spend her life wondering what if?

  She wanted the life she could have if she truly followed her heart.

  Chapter 19

  Holly looked around the barn and gasped in awe.

  ‘It’s perfect, Dad.’

  ‘Thanks to you.’ His smile lit up his face.

  ‘I can’t take all the credit. It was a combined effort from the builders and carpenters, some tips from Nicole and, of course, help from you and… and Rich. Seeing it like this… it’s magical.’

  She walked across the wooden floorboards, which had been polished to a high sheen, then turned around. Benches ran all the way around the sides of the barn, decked with white and gold ribbons. In front of the benches were rectangular oak tables, and tucked under them were chairs with elaborately carved backs, also featuring ribbons to match those on the benches.

  At the far end of the barn was a small platform where a band, DJ or entertainment could be set up, and if the licence came through, where weddings could be performed. At the moment, a local band was getting ready for this evening’s barn dance.

  Holly peered upwards at the ceiling and her mouth fell open. The beams were draped with thousands of fairy lights that twinkled like stars in the night sky. They also ran down the supporting vertical beams, where they had been entwined with fresh summer flowers that delicately fragranced the air.

  Her dad slid an arm around her shoulders. ‘How are you feeling, angel?’

  ‘I’m okay, Dad.’

  ‘Are you sure? I know it’s been a rough week.’

  Holly looked up at him and her heart filled with love. She’d told him what had happened when Rich took her to the cottage the previous week, and how she felt about everything. She’d told him she needed time to think and to decide what it was she really wanted, and during that time, as she’d walked the fields and among the vines, as she’d breathed in the country air and taken Luke down to the bay and sat with him on the sand, things had started to slot into place. Her granny had spoken a lot of sense, as had her dad, and Holly felt that she was in a better place now. She was stronger than ever and would be able to cope with whatever came her way.

  ‘Nothing’s easy, Dad, but I have much to be grateful for. I feel at peace now. It’s being home with my family and even seeing Rich regularly.’

  Things had been a bit strange with Rich since that day at the cottage. When he had come for Luke’s bedtime routine, their conversation had been stilted. Holly’s heart had thrummed against her ribcage every time he’d been close, but she’d tried not to get into any deep conversations, wanting to take the time to think without pressure. Rich had been kind and polite and a loving dad to Luke. As parents, they would have to have contact with each other – whatever happened between them – for Luke’s sake. Holly had hoped that Rich wasn’t hurting, that he was focused on his son and his job and not weighed down by what might have been.

  What still could be…

  She bit her lip hard. Not now. Not yet. There were things to do.

  ‘As long as you’re okay, Holly, then I’m happy.’

  She lifted her chin. She was learning how to run the vineyard now, not just the shop, and it only added to her devotion to the place. Her dad had shown her the books, and with Rich’s help, they’d worked out pricing for bulk buys and set up two newsletters – one for businesses purchasing from Greenacres and one for individuals buying for personal use. It fascinated her how they had seen a rise in sales already; Rich had said that a lot of it had to do with getting the message out there. These days, there was a lot of competition, so vineyards needed to be visible. Hopefully, tonight would also give the business a boost. Whatever happened in Holly’s personal life, the work at Greenacres had to go on.

  ‘Right… back to business. Let’s prove to all those lovely visitors to the website that Greenacres really does have a lot to offer. We can take plenty of photos tonight and post them on the website and the blog.’

  ‘Sounds perfect, Holly.’

  ‘The caterers will be here at five to set up the hog roast and the vegetarian options, and the waiting staff will be here at five thirty,’ she reminded him

  ‘The wine will be brought over shortly.’

  ‘Red and white?’

  ‘Of course, and some of our finest vintages.’

  ‘That’s what I like to hear.’

  ‘You know… there’s some of your grandpa in you with your business head, but also a lot of your mum.’

  ‘In what way?’

  ‘She loved the vineyard too and would have been delighted to try something new here. She’d be so excited about this.’

  ‘I wish she was here.’

  ‘Me too.’ His Adam’s apple bobbed and he blinked rapidly.

  ‘She’d be so proud of you, Dad.’

  ‘And of you, my angel. And so would Grandpa. For all his… stubbornness, he adored you.’

  Holly smiled. It would be very different if her mum and grandpa were here today. It would have been a battle to get Grandpa to even entertain the idea of change, but perhaps he’d have come round to it eventually. If her mum had lived, Grandpa might have been different, mellower. Grief often changed people and led them to become set in their ways as a form of coping with the pain and deep sense of loss.

  ‘Is Janine coming tonight?’ Holly asked.

  ‘Oh…’ Bruce cleared his throat. ‘Uh… I don’t know.’ His eyebrows did a strange dance that made Holly giggle.

  ‘Dad! Don’t be shy. She’s very welcome, and I know you’d like her to come.’

  ‘I didn’t like to invite her in case it was the wrong thing to do.’

  ‘Text her immediately.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, of course!’

  While Bruce sent a message to his lady friend, Holly crossed to the band and whispered something to the singer. The woman nodded, then spoke to her band mates.

  ‘All sorted?’ Holly asked her dad.

  ‘Yes. She replied immediately.’

  ‘See! She wanted to come.’

  ‘She did. I felt bad not asking her, as she’s done so much around here and at… at Plum Tree Cottage.’

  ‘She did some of the work for Rich?’

  He nodded. ‘She insisted. She overheard Rich telling me his plans and said she was happy to help.’

  ‘She sounds like a good person with a generous heart.’

  Her dad’s cheeks turned pink. ‘She is,’ he mumbled.

  ‘Okay, Dad, before everything really gets going and we have no more time to talk, there’s something I’d like to do.’

  Holly walked into the centre of the barn and gave a small bow, then held out her hands.

  ‘Holly?’ Bruce frowned. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘Come here.’

  His eyes widened, but he approached her, then the music began and she took his hands. As Bruce Springsteen’s ‘When You Need Me’ filled the barn, the two of them moved around the dance floor. Holly watched as a range of emotions flickered over her dad’s face. Her mum had liked Bruce Springsteen, said his name had something to do with it, and this song had been one that she’d often sung to her husband. She said it encapsulated the man that Bruce was a
s both husband and father: reliable, caring and devoted. As a teenager, Holly had thought they were foolish romantics, and cringed at her parents’ lovey-dovey behaviour, but as an adult, she could see it for what it was: true love.

  ‘You know, Dad, any man who comes into my life has a lot to live up to.’

  He shook his head. ‘Any man in your life needs to give you what you deserve, Hols.’

  ‘So we’re agreed that no man stands a chance then?’ She smiled and he laughed.

  ‘What are we like?’

  ‘Each other?’

  They giggled then and lost their rhythm, leading Bruce to step on Holly’s toes.

  ‘Ouch!’

  ‘Sorry!’

  He doubled over, and Holly joined him.

  ‘Everything’s going to be okay now, Holly,’ he said when he’d regained his composure.

  ‘I know.’ She nodded. ‘Life is what you make it, right?’

  ‘So let’s make it a good one.’ He held out his hand and she took it. ‘And we can start by getting in some dance practice ahead of tonight.’

  ‘Sounds like a good plan to me.’

  * * *

  ‘Doesn’t he look divine!’ Granny exclaimed as she clapped her hands together.

  Holly nodded. ‘I can’t believe how big he’s getting.’

  She had dressed Luke in jeans and a grey shirt that she’d found in an online baby boutique. He did look very smart, and very cute. He was currently gurgling away at the plush elephant rattle that Lucinda had bought for him, complete with teething ring.

  ‘You look pretty amazing too, Granny.’

  Granny fluttered the false eyelashes that she’d asked Holly to get for her, then gently patted her bobbed hair. She’d had it coloured and blow-dried that morning at the local salon, and the bright silver streaks the hairdresser had added made it seem thicker and fuller. The front was swept up from her face and held in place with a diamanté clip. With her warm-toned foundation, blusher and the excitement in her eyes, she looked twenty years younger. Her outfit of tailored navy trousers and matching silk blouse was smart and sophisticated.