I gasped. ‘Oh Dan, I love it. I love it!’
‘Phew.’ He led me in to take a closer look. ‘I hoped you would.’
The solid-wood worktops had been replaced with gleaming ivory granite. A new double stainless-steel sink and fancy chrome taps sparkled under the window. And the big corner cupboard at the end of the row which we’d never really used had gone and in its place was a professional-looking gas cooker.
‘How did you …? When did all this …?’ I gazed around in amazement.
‘Mum’s actually speechless,’ Poppy giggled, holding up her phone to video me. ‘Never seen that before.’
‘Joe helped,’ said Dan nonchalantly.
My eyes widened to the size of saucers. ‘Joe’s been here?’
Dan nodded. ‘I emailed him when I got out of hospital and asked if he’d ring me. We, er, we had a good chat. Sorted out a few things.’
‘The mysterious Joe.’ Poppy raised her eyebrows comically and folded her arms. ‘Who I still haven’t met.’
‘You will, love,’ said Dan, ruffling her hair. ‘Joe and I have got to make up for lost time; he’s going to be around a lot more in future.’
‘I’m proud of you.’ I gazed at my husband and swallowed a lump in my throat. ‘That’s the best news I’ve had all day.’
‘Better than this?’ Poppy skipped to a large grey American fridge-freezer at the far side of the kitchen.
‘Gosh, I hadn’t even spotted that.’ I looked back at Dan in amazement.
‘Watch!’ She pressed a glass to a plastic chute and ice cubes rattled out.
‘Very posh!’ I agreed.
I floated around my kitchen, touching the work surfaces, trying the taps, pulling open the oven doors, and then returned to Dan.
I threaded my arms around his neck and fixed my eyes on him, my heart bursting with love. ‘I’m overwhelmed. And I can’t believe how much you’ve achieved in just a few days.’
‘As soon as you said you were moving to Mum’s for a bit, I got cracking. Joe came over and went through the report that that guy from the council sent you. And together we came up with this. Ian knew a chippy who could take that cupboard out, so—’
‘What’s a chippy?’ Poppy asked.
‘A joiner,’ I told her. ‘And that explains what Oscar said. He mentioned chippies and I thought he meant clippers.’
‘He confessed to that slip-up.’ Dan grinned. ‘He was worried he’d given the game away.’
I laughed and skimmed the top of my hair with my hand. ‘Nope. That clue went straight over my head.’
‘The granite was a bargain because there’s a fault in it, although no one but a genius would spot it. And Joe used his contacts in the catering trade to get good prices on the rest,’ said Dan proudly.
‘But still, it must have cost a fortune?’ I looked worriedly at him, conscious that I’d just committed over a thousand pounds to fund his trip to Borneo.
‘All taken care of.’ He gave me a wonky smile. ‘See out the window?’
I did as I was told but couldn’t see anything amiss. ‘What am I looking for?’
‘What colour are the sheep?’
‘White and br—’ I stopped mid-sentence and searched the fields and hills. ‘No brown ones. Where’s the Soay flock? Have you moved them?’
‘I’ve sold them.’ Dan held up a hand as I began to protest. ‘To a couple who’ve started a rare-breeds farm up in the Highlands. They were delighted to have so many lambs and fertile ewes to add to their flock and our tups will be able to breed with their own ewes later on this year.’
I seemed to be doing a lot of gasping. ‘Sold? But—’
‘There’s more to life than sheep, Mum,’ said Poppy, sounding at least twice her age.
Dan wrapped an arm around my waist. ‘Poppy and I decided it together. Your pie business has inspired me to challenge myself. And who knows, maybe I’ll get some new ideas on how to do that over the next few months.’
‘I’m sure you will. I’m, well, I’m stunned!’ I kissed Dan again and took a deep breath. ‘Right, I’d better get cracking. Let’s test the new kitchen out; Bart and Anna will be here for lunch soon.’
Poppy sighed dreamily. ‘I hope it’s pie. I’ve missed your pies. Matilda’s mum and dad only eat salad.’ She pulled a face of disgust.
‘It is pie,’ I laughed. ‘Of course.’
Two hours later the Crofts were here and lunch was ready.
Bart was sitting with his leg propped up on a chair and was telling Poppy that everyone wanted to sign his plaster cast, even Ella James from the year above. A fact which made both of them lower their voices reverently. We adults were less at ease. Dan, after greeting Anna with the world’s briefest kiss, was giving her a wide berth as if desperate to prove to me that she held no appeal for him in the least. Anna, who usually pitched in to help straight away, was hovering around not knowing what to do with herself, and when we spoke, our small talk was stiff and false. Finally, I directed her to the bottom oven of the Aga to get the plates out and she leapt at the chance to do something useful.
I untied my apron while Poppy ferried dishes of lightly steamed summer vegetables to the table. They’d been picked from my garden this morning: tender mangetout, baby courgettes and al dente French beans. Naomi’s farm shop had supplied the tiny new potatoes which I’d roasted in sea salt, Lake District rapeseed oil and garlic, and my silver-medal-winning lamb pie which I’d reprised for today’s menu took centre stage, golden and crisp and bulging with succulent chunks of salt marsh lamb from the local butcher.
‘Looks delicious, Hetty,’ said Anna softly, taking a seat by Bart.
‘Thank you,’ I said, choosing the chair at the opposite end of our long table.
Dan popped the lid of a beer for himself and eased the cork out of a bottle of wine. He poured some into a glass for Anna and me and I gulped at mine nervously.
Dan went to the fridge to add ice cubes to a glass of coke for Bart and when he sat down the three of us exchanged looks between us and I nodded.
‘I’ll start,’ I said.
‘Good, I’m starving,’ said Bart with a grin. ‘Hospital food has made me appreciate how good home-cooked food is. Even yours, Mum.’
Anna prodded him in the ribs. ‘Cheeky.’
‘Actually,’ I cleared my throat, ‘I meant I’ll start the conversation we need to have.’
The kids both sank down in their chairs.
‘If this is about me asking Poppy out on a date—’ Bart began.
Dan choked on his beer. ‘What?’
‘Chill, Dad.’ Poppy rolled her eyes. ‘I’m thirteen.’
‘It’s not,’ Anna put in. She tucked her blonde hair behind her ears and wriggled in her chair.
I took a deep breath. ‘All I want to say is that whatever happens, you two, Bart and Poppy, mean the world to us. We love you and that will never change.’
Dan nodded. ‘And any questions, at any time, we’re here for you. All three of us.’
Bart and Poppy looked at each other, horrified.
‘Well, this is weird,’ said Bart.
‘Freaky,’ Poppy agreed solemnly.
‘Bart, it’s time to tell you about your father.’ Anna’s voice came out strangled and strange and Bart stared at her uncertainly.
‘Bartholomew the extremely handsome Australian backpacker?’ he said, attempting to lift the tension.
Anna swallowed and shook her head. ‘That isn’t his name. I named you for your father, not after him.’
Poppy looked at me and Dan anxiously. ‘Should we leave?’ she whispered.
Dan gave her a reassuring smile. ‘No, love. You need to hear this too.’
‘Okay,’ she replied doubtfully. ‘If you say so.’
Bart scratched the edge of his jaw and a bolt of recognition struck me. It was exactly the same gesture that Dan made when he was anxious. ‘Mum, sorry, you’ve lost me.’
She held his gaze, her blue eyes fixed on his. ‘I
chose Bartholomew because it means “son of a farmer”.’
His eyes widened. ‘I’m the son of a farmer?’
‘Not just any farmer.’ Dan’s voice cracked as he looked at Bart.
Bart stared back, his jaw falling as the penny dropped. ‘Oh my God.’
‘Dad?’ Poppy gasped. ‘Are you …?’ She looked at Anna and then at Dan. They both nodded.
‘It’s true, Popsicle,’ I said softly, catching her eye.
‘Poor Mum!’ Her voice came out as a squeak. She skirted the table and pressed her body against mine in the tightest hug. My body trembled with love for my thoughtful girl.
‘It’s okay; it happened while your dad and I were on a break,’ I said. ‘All of us were free agents at the time.’
That was the tiny white lie that we’d all agreed on so that everyone could retain their dignity.
Bart’s expression was still frozen in shock.
‘Are you all right, darling?’ Anna asked in a husky voice.
He lowered his chin to his chest, his eyes brimming with tears. ‘Why didn’t you tell me? Any of you?’
Dan got up from his seat.
‘I didn’t know myself until recently,’ he said. He squatted down at Bart’s chair and looked into his eyes. ‘So finding out that you’re my son has shocked me too, but I couldn’t be happier. You’re a great lad. Your mum’s done a superb job with you.’
‘Oh Dan, thank you for that,’ Anna whispered hoarsely. He patted her shoulder.
‘I don’t get it?’ Bart looked at her. ‘Why keep it a secret?’
‘Adults get things wrong sometimes.’ She brushed tears from her cheek. ‘But at the time I thought I was doing the right thing. I was only nineteen myself. I came back to England and moved back in with my grandmother. I couldn’t tell her the truth because she’d have confronted Dan about it. And I didn’t want Hetty or Dan to know because I couldn’t risk losing the only people I loved.’
Bart nodded silently.
‘And Poppy,’ Dan looked at her. ‘How do you feel about all this?’
Her brow furrowed as she took her place back at the table. ‘So. Let me get this straight. The first boy to ask me out on a date was, in fact, my brother?’
‘Shit!’ Bart clapped his hands over his face.
Anna and I locked eyes. I held my breath; it had only been a matter of time before this would come up.
‘Well, bro, that’s me and you in therapy for the next thirty years,’ Poppy muttered drily.
The half-siblings looked at each other and burst out laughing and after regarding each other cautiously for a moment, we three adults joined in too.
It seemed a good point to serve lunch, so with Anna’s help we dished up. The kids asked question after question about our teenage years and what we’d all been like and the three of us were so relieved that it had gone so smoothly that we were only too happy to answer them. There’d be harder conversations later, I was sure, particularly between Anna and Bart, but the sense of weight having been lifted off my shoulders was immense. I was proud of both Poppy and Bart for the way they’d handled such a revelation.
‘Has anyone else got any secrets they want to share?’ Dan said, helping himself to potatoes.
‘Yes,’ I blurted out. ‘I don’t like eating Sunnybank lamb.’
‘What?’ said Dan and Poppy together, aghast.
‘Why is that?’ Anna frowned. ‘I always wondered.’
‘You knew?’ Dan blinked at her.
She nodded. ‘Hetty and I don’t have any secrets.’ She caught my raised eyebrow and heat rose to her cheeks. ‘At least not any more,’ she added.
I bit my lip. ‘One day when Poppy was tiny, we sent a lamb to slaughter for a big family dinner and its mother cried for two days. She escaped from the field and stood in the yard where she’d last seen her baby, bleating. I kept thinking how I’d feel if I’d lost my child and I couldn’t bear it,’ I admitted. ‘So I never cook Sunnybank lamb.’
‘What do you do with it, then?’ Dan asked, agog.
‘She gives it to me,’ said Anna. ‘Bart and I have no problem eating it.’
‘Sorry,’ I muttered guiltily, ‘but I’m glad I got that off my chest.’
Dan harrumphed. ‘At least it’s stayed in the family.’
Anna and I shared a smile.
‘I’ve got a confession too.’ Bart’s ears had gone red. ‘I don’t think I’m cut out to be a farmer, Dan. I don’t want to come back to work after my ankle has healed. I hope you don’t mind?’
It was as I thought: the main attraction at Sunnybank Farm had been Poppy. Thank goodness that had been nipped in the bud before anything had happened that they would have regretted.
A tiny flash of disappointment crossed Dan’s face and then he smiled. ‘No problem. You gave it a go, that’s the important thing. Any ideas what you might fancy doing?’
Bart nodded shyly. ‘Sally says I can go and help out at the surgery. Cleaning up and stuff. I think I might like that.’
‘A vet in the family?’ Dan beamed at him and then at me. ‘Amazing. Well done you.’
Anna pressed a kiss to her son’s cheek. ‘You’ll make a wonderful vet.’
‘Hello, still here.’ Poppy put her hand up. ‘For the record, Dad, I’m not thinking of becoming a farmer. I am one. Always will be. So there.’
‘I’m very glad to hear it.’ Dan grinned and raised his bottle. ‘I’m proud of you, kids. Very proud. Cheers.’
‘So how do you feel about being related to me, Bart?’ Poppy asked through a mouthful of pie. ‘Honoured, I’m guessing.’
‘I’m okay with it,’ he hesitated. ‘Although there are some parts I don’t want to think about too much.’
Anna frowned. ‘What’s that, darling?’
‘I think he means the tupping part, Anna,’ Poppy put in matter-of-factly.
‘Tupping?’ Anna looked at her.
Poppy looked at her kindly. ‘The birds and the bees stuff. It’s when we put the tups in with the ewes when they come into season—’
Dan coughed to try to hide a laugh and I kicked him under the table.
‘Thank you,’ I said swiftly, ‘I think Bart said he didn’t want to think about certain things.’
Poppy wrinkled her nose. ‘Actually, me neither.’
‘Dan, tell me about your trip to Borneo,’ Anna said diplomatically, helping herself to more vegetables.
‘I fly next week,’ he said, looking only too pleased to change the subject. ‘I’ll be joining a group of volunteers at an orangutan sanctuary. We’ll be helping with the rehabilitation of a group of animals that are almost ready to be introduced back into the wild.’
Bart and Poppy asked lots of questions and Anna and I took the opportunity to clear the table and have a moment to ourselves.
‘Are we okay?’ she whispered.
‘Yeah.’ I held my arms out and she came in for a hug. And I meant it. It was going to take me a while to get back to the level of trust we’d had before, but we were the same people deep down, I knew we’d get there.
‘Poppy’s a lucky girl to have you as a role model.’
I smiled. ‘You’re not so bad yourself.’
‘Really?’ She peered at me. ‘Do you really mean that?’
‘You’re my dearest friend, Anna, one wet night in Wales can’t erase the friendship you’ve given me.’
Together we carried dessert to the table: fresh strawberries and cream.
Dan was still impressing the kids with his planned adventure.
‘But I’ll be back in time for tupping,’ he assured them.
Bart went pale.
‘Don’t worry, bro,’ Poppy laughed.’ This time he’s talking about the flock.’ She faltered for a second. ‘I hope.’
‘Something to tell the grandkids, I suppose,’ Dan muttered red-faced.
‘I’m not having kids,’ said Bart and Poppy in unison. The two of them giggled again and their pleasure at discovering their similar
ities was a joy to watch.
I smiled at my husband and he reached for my hand. And because it felt right to me, I reached for Anna’s hand and squeezed it. She looked at me and swallowed and a tiny single tear trickled down her cheek.
‘I love you, Hetty Spaghetti,’ she whispered.
‘I love you, Anna Bananna.’
Family, I mused, glancing around the table. A crazy mixed-up sort of family. But I loved them all the more for it.
A month later …
The mayor raised our big scissors (last used to free a lamb’s head from some netting) to the ribbon and hacked away at it unsuccessfully. His wife tutted and took them out of his hands but she didn’t have much luck either. I waved discreetly, trying to attract Poppy’s attention to fetch some others but she and Bart were too busy filming on their phones to notice. The mayor took the scissors back and tried again.
Joe started laughing and Anna elbowed him in the ribs to shush. They were getting on remarkably well and I wasn’t going to tempt fate, but I had high hopes that we’d be seeing Joe a lot more in Carsdale over the next few months. Joe and Dan had seen each other a couple of times before he’d left for Borneo and the two of them seemed to have picked up where they left off. I wondered now, looking at them, why Joe hadn’t just plucked up the courage to tell Anna how he’d felt about her when we were kids, but perhaps it simply wasn’t meant to be at the time. And Joe, I thought, watching the way he leaned towards her, would be perfect for Anna. She giggled at something he said and then went slightly pink when she caught me looking at her. Yes, definitely a bit of a spark there …
My mum fished a pair of nail scissors out of her clutch bag, or ‘purse’ as she liked to call it since she’d gone all American on me, and stepped in to intervene. The mayor snipped his way across the ribbon and finally he was through it.
It was lovely to have my mum here. Even if she did come with plenty of opinions. She thought I was a saint to simply absorb Bart as my stepson as I’d tried to do. But to me it was the right thing to do and everyone benefited from it.
‘I declare Hetty’s Farmhouse Bakery well and truly open.’ The mayor stood up straight and beamed, holding the tiny scissors aloft while the photographer from the local paper took a picture of me, him and his wife on our kitchen doorstep.
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