by Emma Davies
As a result of the article in Country Living, Merry now had more customers than she knew what to do with, but she was taking it all in her stride and looking forward to being able to make all the dreams she had for their shop come true a little quicker. And of course more customers for Merry, meant more people to buy Willowberries’ ice creams and cordials; not that it looked as though they were going to need many more customers just at the moment, because plans for their cookery courses and working holidays were coming along nicely too…
Henry and Delilah had to be peeled apart from one another at regular intervals as they forged ahead with plans for their new life together, and Freya and Sam had plans too, having finally decided to set a date for their wedding – after the harvest had been safely gathered in of course. The honeymoon would have to wait a while, but they would be pressing the first of their fruit together as man and wife and that was the most important thing. It all had the most wonderful symmetry about it, thought Willow.
Even Peter, who was lying flat on his back staring up at the evening sky would be a part of everything. Her idea to ask him to play a greater role in the development of Willowberries had not been hers alone. Jude had also spotted his potential and, with a bit of frank discussion, Peter had been delighted with the offer Jude had made him. It had taken a while to organise, but by switching his course, he could finish his degree part-time, commuting the now much shorter distance to uni on the days he needed to attend and, on the others, honing his business skills. So far he was shaping up to be a very fine apprentice indeed.
Willow waved a nonchalant hand as a bee passed a little too close to her drink for comfort.
Merry giggled. ‘See, it’s so good, even the bees want it back,’ she said, raising her own glass as if in a toast. ‘May the bees always pollinate your flowers, Willow,’ she added.
‘I might have to start giving them a bit as a thank you present,’ she replied. ‘Especially if we do decide to start making honey and ginger ice cream. Got to keep ’em sweet,’ she said, laughing at her own joke. She looked at Merry’s happy face for a moment, knowing that she was just as contented.
Beside her, Jude cleared his throat, topping up her glass.
‘I think it’s time for a toast,’ he said, raising his voice above the general hubbub. ‘What do you all say?’
Sam pulled Freya from where she was lounging against him into a more upright position. ‘I think that’s a fine idea,’ he agreed. ‘Come on Freya, what shall we drink to?’
‘Only one thing we can drink to, I reckon,’ she giggled. ‘To all of us, to the future!’ she cried.
‘To the future!’ they chorused.
Willow looked at her husband over the rim of her glass. His skin was golden from days spent outside, his lithe body relaxed, and his beautiful face so often turned towards her that she found herself blushing. Far from causing a rift between them the events of the last few months had brought them closer together than ever. To have him by her side day by day was more than she could ever have wished for.
Jude took a sip of his drink as he watched his two daughters playing a little distance away. He took Willow’s hand as he looked out across the fields and watched the sun sink lower in the sky, feeling nothing but relief at the knowledge that he had been saved.
Jude Middleton was a very lucky man. He may have been afraid of being poor once upon a time, and he may have been afraid of not being loved, but for the first time in his life, Jude Middleton was no longer afraid, of anything.
Discover the complete Tales from Appleyard series . . .
If you enjoyed the Tales from Appleyard series,
you’ll love Emma’s latest novel,
Lizzie wants nothing more than to start over and put the past behind her. So when she is offered the chance to live and work at Rowan Hill, a beautiful country estate and bustling community of artists, it feels like a dream come true.
But soon after her arrival a series of accidents and misunderstandings begins to threaten the happiness and livelihoods of everyone at Rowan Hill. And when suspicion quickly falls on Lizzie, she discovers that the past is not so easily forgotten . . .
Turn Towards the Sun is a heart-warming story of friendship, loss and love – where the stakes are high but so are the rewards. If Lizzie can only find a way to stay true to herself, she might have a chance at something she has always wanted: a place to call home.
Available now in paperback and ebook.
