by Heidi Swain
‘Let’s hope the doctor says the same about Grandad.’ I choked, my vision misting again. ‘I really wasn’t gone long you know, and it was an important trip. I wouldn’t have gone at all if I’d known something like this was going to happen.’
‘Of course, you wouldn’t,’ Eliot kindly said, which made me feel all the worse.
Given that I had previously snapped at him when he suggested that Grandad had taken on too much, he could have used what had happened to prove his point, but that wasn’t in Eliot’s nature. He was kindness personified, not that Anthony would have let me believe it.
‘No damage done,’ announced Doctor Clarke as she strode back into the kitchen and made both me and Eliot wilt with relief. ‘He’s had a bit of a knock, but he’ll be okay.’
‘Are you absolutely sure?’ I couldn’t stop myself from asking.
‘If I had even the slightest concern, I’d be whipping him straight back into hospital, whether he objected or not,’ she told me. We all knew he would refuse. ‘Thankfully, all he really needs is a warm bath, his own bed and some time to rest.’
‘We can provide all of that,’ said Eliot.
‘In abundance,’ I added.
‘Good,’ she said. ‘He’s just been filling me on a few things. What a tempestuous few months you and that man have lived through, Fliss. Here’s hoping for calmer times ahead.’
Right on cue, the sun broke through the clouds and the resident robin began to sing.
‘That would be most welcome,’ I told her.
She nodded and smiled. ‘I’ll see myself out,’ she said, briefly laying her hand on my arm as she passed by.
With the doctor’s words ringing in my ears, I knew the last thing Grandad needed was the stress of me telling him that I had discovered he’d sold the watch and why, and that I’d got it back again. That was one conversation that would have to wait.
One thing I did want to do however, was return the treasured timepiece to its rightful spot in the jewellery box. Grandad wouldn’t go looking for it because he wasn’t expecting it to be there and I would feel better knowing it was where it was supposed to be.
A little later, when I was certain Grandad was asleep, I left Eliot brushing down his drying leathers, then crept upstairs and into the bedroom.
‘What are you doing?’ came Grandad’s sleepy voice in response to the dresser drawer squealing like a stuck pig as I pulled it open.
In an instant, Eliot’s feet were on the stairs and my clandestine quest had flown out the window.
‘What’s wrong?’ he frowned. ‘I thought you were asleep, Bill. Are you in pain?’
‘No,’ Grandad said, pulling himself further up the bed. ‘The noise came from the dresser drawer, not me. What are you up to, Fliss?’
‘Nothing,’ I lied, as my neck and face flushed red. ‘I didn’t mean to disturb you. I’m sorry. Go back to sleep.’
He snuggled back down and I walked to the door to find Eliot blocking my way.
‘What were you doing?’ he whispered, looking down at me.
‘Let’s go downstairs,’ I whispered back, as Grandad turned over in the bed, ‘and I’ll tell you.’
I supposed there would be no harm in filling him in on what I’d discovered before I told Grandad, although I might have to censor some of the details, such as Anthony’s slanderous story about him. No good would come from repeating any of that.
‘Fliss,’ Grandad then gasped, halting me in my tracks. ‘Where did you get that?’
Putting my hand behind my back had kept the watch out of sight from Eliot but had given Grandad, who had turned over in the bed again, the perfect view.
‘Where did you get that watch?’ came his voice again as Eliot frowned in confusion.
With a deep breath and a heavy heart, I turned back into the room, sat on the bed and carefully laid the watch on the eiderdown.
‘That’s your watch isn’t it, Bill?’ Eliot frowned. ‘What are you doing with it, Fliss?’
I took a moment before answering. I might not have wanted to burden Grandad with what I’d found out so soon, but with the much-loved evidence now arranged on the eiderdown, I didn’t have much choice.
‘I got it from someone’s wrist,’ I said, answering Grandad’s question first, ‘and I was trying to put it back in the jewellery box,’ I added, addressing Eliot’s.
‘But who was wearing it?’ asked Eliot, sounding more confused than ever.
‘Do you want to explain it all, Grandad? Or shall I?’
He looked pale as he leant back against the pillows with a weary sigh and as frustrated as I was that he’d never told me what was going on between him and Anthony, my heart went out to him. It didn’t enter my head at that point that he didn’t know it was Anthony who had ended up with the watch.
‘As you’ve obviously worked it all out, you can,’ he said. ‘I haven’t got the energy.’
As succinctly as I could, I ran through what had occurred between Anthony and Grandad prior to my arrival at Fenview Farm, along with the details of what had developed since.
‘Was this why you initially objected to the supper club idea, Bill?’ said Eliot. ‘Because Judd had you over a barrel about the barn?’
‘Yes,’ he wearily said. ‘I thought I was too far in to back out and then Anthony mentioned money and I thought I could pay him off. I thought that if I could raise enough to cover what he’d spent on the fees and plans he kept on about, then you’d never need know what I’d done, Fliss. I didn’t want anything to ruin your arrival and settling in.’
‘I hate that you’ve been carrying it all and not said a word,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘You should have told me and we could have found a way out of it together. You know me well enough…’
My words trailed off as I realised, he didn’t really know me all that well at all. We’d only been aware of each other’s existence for a few weeks and in that time, he’d been grieving the loss of his daughter and I was adapting to life without my mum. Doctor Clarke had been right, we’d both had a tempestuous time recently so it was little wonder things hadn’t gone completely smoothly.
‘Well,’ I carried on, ‘there’s no real harm done. The watch is back where it belongs, Anthony’s not getting his hands on the barn and that horrible Mr Pagett won’t be bothering us again because he was only here at Anthony’s bidding.’
‘But I still haven’t paid him,’ Grandad said. ‘I still haven’t given Anthony his money.’
‘What money?’ I shrugged. ‘You don’t owe him anything. You’d signed nothing and it was his choice to push ahead, not that I really think he has shelled out as much as he’s tried to make out and besides, I’ve told him I’ll go to the police if he makes a fuss and report him for blackmail. Your agreement wasn’t legally binding, Grandad. There’s nothing you need to give him. Not even the time of day.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘One hundred per cent,’ I confirmed. ‘And our little showdown happened in the packed pub, so I don’t think he’ll be showing his face around town again for a while. Jim got the gist of it all, so Anthony’s reputation is going to be more than tarnished, even without getting the police involved. But at least I got the watch off him before Jim threw him out.’
It was only then I remembered that wasn’t the only thing The Mermaid landlord had overheard. Should I perhaps mention that Anthony had been bad-mouthing Eliot before he heard talk of it in town?
‘Hang on,’ Eliot then said. ‘Are you telling me that it was Anthony who was wearing the watch?’
‘Oh yes,’ I said, ‘that’s the best part. He spotted it in the jewellers in town and paid a fortune for it.’
‘So, now he’s out of pocket for getting ahead of himself over the barn sale and he hasn’t got the watch he paid thousands for?’
‘Yep,’ I grinned.
Given the mischief he’d caused, I didn’t think he deserved anything less.
‘Crikey,’ said Eliot, ‘he’s not having a very good da
y, is he?’
‘No,’ I said, reaching across the bed and handing Grandad the watch. ‘But we are and you’ve got a nice little nest egg out of his deception, Grandad.’
‘I can’t believe,’ he sighed, wrapping the watch around his wrist, ‘that out of all the men around here, you went out with him, Fliss.’
‘Me neither,’ tutted Eliot.
‘Well,’ I said, throwing caution to the wind, ‘had we not been trying to hide our feelings for one another, Eliot, then I might not have done.’
‘What’s this?’ Grandad asked.
Eliot looked at me and grinned.
‘I’ve been trying to hide it, Bill,’ he laughed. ‘But the truth is, I’m in love with your granddaughter.’
‘I see,’ chuckled Grandad. ‘And by the look on her face, I reckon she might be in love with you too, my boy!’
Chapter 28
Six weeks later
The weeks that followed were filled with halcyon days. There were no more storms – meteorological or otherwise – and the harvest was, according to Grandad’s farm records, set to be one of the best ever. There was a constant supply of strawberries, red and blackcurrants, gooseberries, raspberries and, most longed for of all, cherries.
The fabulous Fenview Farm crops kept the café, market stall and Jake well supplied, as well as the farm kitchen and, with life finally settled, we had gone all out planning a wonderful summer party to celebrate everything Mum’s final words had gifted us.
With my laptop set up on the kitchen worktop, I’d finally baked my first cherry and almond tart, using Fenview cherries of course, and with Nonna watching in the background and offering occasional words of advice and encouragement. We’d said ciao after it was safely in the oven and as the room filled with the delicious scent, I knew I’d carried out her instructions with aplomb.
My mouth watered for that first exquisite mouthful as I took it out of the oven, but I was going to resist tasting it until the timing was just right.
* * *
‘Everything all set?’ Eliot asked, as he wandered into the kitchen the day of the party and slid his hands around my waist.
‘I think so,’ I said, twisting around to face him. ‘I’ve pretty much made double of everything, just to be on the safe side.’
He kissed me deeply and for the longest time, making my temperature soar even higher than the stuffy kitchen had managed, and my pulse raced to match it.
I had eventually told him what Anthony had said about him and just as I knew he would, he shrugged it off. Had I been in his shoes, I would have wanted to bop Anthony on the nose, but that wasn’t Eliot’s style. Also, as I had predicted, no one had seen Anthony since our showdown in the pub and that was also fine by me. Life at Fenview Farm was all the sweeter without him popping up in it.
‘I’m not sure the man from the council would approve of these shenanigans in a food preparation area,’ I sighed, when we finally broke apart.
‘Just as well this is an invitation-only party then, isn’t it?’ Eliot beamed, pulling me back in for another lingering kiss.
‘Yes,’ I smiled back. ‘And he’s definitely not invited.’
Practically everyone else was though and that was why I’d spent so long in the kitchen throughout what had been the hottest week of the year.
‘Sorry to interrupt all your hard work in here,’ Grandad laughed, as he caught us mid kiss, ‘but I don’t suppose there’s any chance of a cup of tea?’
‘Of course, there is,’ I told him. ‘I’ll cover this last batch of muffins and then I’ll get the kettle on.’
I swatted Eliot away and sent him off to deliver the day’s harvest. He was using his belated summer holiday to help me and Bec – who was spending hours on FaceTime to Marco – on the farm, which was wonderful because it meant we got to spend every day together. Neither Bec nor Louise had been at all surprised when Eliot and I made our feelings official. Bec reckoned she’d long since worked out that Anthony was just a distraction, but she hadn’t deciphered what he’d been up to.
Eliot arrived back from delivering the fruit at the same time his sister arrived with Louise bringing yet more decorations for the barn. Rather than set up just a small corner of it again, Grandad had insisted that we filled the whole space.
It had been another cost-effective makeover but every bit as pretty as the last one and I was very much looking forward to welcoming more people to the farm to see it. Combined with the dishes I had spent so long preparing, the superb setting was hopefully going to guarantee yet another truly memorable evening.
‘I’m not sure you should be driving in that state, Bec,’ Eliot worriedly said as they walked into the kitchen.
‘What’s up?’ I asked. ‘What state?’
‘Nothing,’ Bec dreamily said. ‘I’m fine.’
She did look a bit wistful. Definitely vaguer than usual.
‘She’s just got off the phone from Marco,’ said Louise, rolling her eyes. ‘Again.’
It had taken me a little while to get over the part Louise had played in selling Grandad’s watch, but because Grandad hadn’t realised he wasn’t legally bound to the deal with Anthony, he’d unwittingly led Louise to believe that he really had no choice, so I could understand why she’d gone along with it. I still wished she’d said something to me, but the ear bashing she’d got from Eliot stopped me from holding a grudge.
‘So,’ I said to Bec. ‘Have you booked your flight yet?’
I’d thought she and Marco would be a good match, but the depth of their attachment had taken us all by surprise. My departure from Puglia, and the job vacancy I’d left behind, had really made Marco grow up fast and he was as genuinely taken with Bec as she was besotted with him.
‘I have,’ she sighed. ‘This time next week I’ll be painting in Puglia.’
‘More like getting passionate in Puglia,’ Grandad put in as he joined us and we all laughed.
‘As long as there’s no life drawing, sis,’ Eliot teased.
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ I winked at Bec. ‘Marco would make a wonderful subject.’
‘Hey,’ Eliot pouted. ‘That’s enough of that.’
‘Don’t worry, big brother,’ Bec batted straight back at him. ‘Fliss only has eyes for you.’
‘I should think so too,’ he said, holding my hand and kissing the back of it.
‘Were the Cherry Tree team looking forward to tonight?’ Grandad asked him.
‘Everyone’s looking forward to tonight,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘How many people have you invited, Bill?’
‘The whole town, I reckon,’ Grandad chuckled. ‘The list just seems to keep growing!’
‘It’s going to be great promo for the supper club,’ I said. ‘I just hope I’ve made enough of everything.’ I looked nervously at the table and worktops which were groaning under the weight of all the fruity treats and desserts.
‘There’s going to be more than enough,’ Eliot reassured me.
‘We’d best get the car unloaded,’ said Bec, taking Louise with her.
‘And I’m going to quickly check my emails,’ said Grandad. ‘Marta was going to write today.’
Alone again, Eliot kissed me softly on the lips and I felt goose bumps prickle my skin, in spite of the still hot temperature. I responded by gently dipping my tongue into his mouth which made us both even warmer, and I wondered how we’d managed to keep our feelings for each other under wraps for so long.
* * *
By early evening, the finishing touches were complete and the barn was totally transformed. All that was left for me to do was fuss over the food and then get myself ready to welcome our guests.
‘You’re looking very dapper,’ I said to Grandad who I noticed was wearing a new shirt. ‘And is that…’
‘Yes,’ he said, pulling his sleeve further back, ‘it is. I thought it deserved a decent airing considering everything it’s been through these last few weeks.’
‘It suits you,’ I told him.
The Rolex watch sat well on his wrist and it was wonderful to see him wearing it.
‘And you’re looking very pretty too,’ he smiled. ‘That dress was quite a find.’
Yet again, Bella had come up trumps, this time with a simple fifties inspired sundress. The denim blue cotton chambray had a strawberry motif stamped on it and I had been so thrilled to find it, that I had invited her and Princess along to the party. I wasn’t sure how the cat was going to react to having her space invaded by a posh pooch, but we’d soon find out.
‘Thank you,’ I said, giving Grandad a twirl. ‘I’m really pleased with it and I think you’ll like the lady who sold it to me. She’s very much looking forward to meeting you.’
‘In that case,’ said Grandad, ‘we better get down to the barn so we’re ready to welcome everyone, hadn’t we?’
It was thankfully much cooler than it had been during the day and we weren’t waiting many minutes before the first guests arrived, although they weren’t guests at all.
‘You look divine,’ said Eliot, slipping his hand into mine as Bec and Louise admired Grandad’s new shirt. ‘That colour really suits you.’
He kissed me lightly on the collarbone, making my tummy tingle.
‘Thank you,’ I swallowed. ‘And I have to say, it’s a pleasure to see your legs again.’
‘Well,’ he said, with a cheeky smile, ‘it was really too warm for leathers tonight.’
With more cars arriving there was no time to get hot and flustered by thoughts of Eliot’s legs encased in his bike leathers. I kissed him quickly and went to greet everyone while he turned on the twinkling fairy lights and Bec and Louise poured the drinks.
As well as Bella and the Cherry Tree and Skylark Farm contingent, there were also many of Grandad’s farming neighbours, the owner of Brambles, another couple who ran a glamping site and a whole gang from the local grand country house, which was called Wynthorpe Hall. I had thought I’d been doing well getting to know everyone during the last few weeks, but apparently my small circle of new friends was about to be rapidly expanded.
