Page 95 of Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm

‘If it’s true love, then it shouldn’t be,’ she told him.

He gave a start, but she merely gave him a sad smile and walked away.

It was true, of course. It was love.

And, he had to admit, he was in love with Cranfield too. It had become like a second home to him. Everything had been so uncertain and now it was stable. The farm had healed him.

There was just one part missing. He had backed off for Flora’s sake at the cost of his own heart. And it ached to hold her just one more time.

But he couldn’t be like his father and steal another man’s girlfriend. It wasn’t his style and he certainly wasn’t his father. But the pain he felt was worse than anything Nico had ever known.

58

Everyone was merry and having a good time, thought Flora with a smile. Extremely merry in Libby’s case. She was laughing and dancing in the middle of the lavender field, her laughter drifting across to where Flora was standing.

She watched as Libby danced with Harriet, then Joe and finally Nico.

Flora shivered suddenly, despite the warmth of the night. Libby flirted with everyone, of course. It didn’t matter. And why should it? She had professed long and hard that Nico absolutely wasn’t her type. That he was only a good friend and business partner. That was all.

Why would she mind if he and Libby got together? And in that moment, she knew. She knew she minded more than anything.

But he wasn’t flirting with her any more. And she missed it. The banter. The back and forth. She wanted Nico to flirt with her again, to make her feel wanted and special. To look at her with those dark eyes with something akin to desire.

She was still watching them when Grams wandered over to her.

‘Well, that’s summer done and dusted,’ she said.

Flora smiled at her. ‘We’ve had worse,’ she replied.

‘We certainly have.’ Grams sank down on her chair and Flora sat down next to her. ‘Far worse. Especially the last few years. They were the hardest.’

Flora nodded. ‘But it feels like there’s a future for the farm now,’ she said. ‘If we can have another successful summer next year with the campsite, then we’ll have enough for a steady income.’

Grams turned to look at her granddaughter. ‘I wasn’t talking about the farm,’ she said, with a sad smile. ‘I was talking about your grandad.’

Flora blinked. ‘Of course. I miss him too. Although not as much as you do, I’m sure.’

‘He’d have liked the changes we’ve made these past few months,’ said Grams.

Flora was surprised. ‘Really? I thought he loved the steady rhythm of the seasons and the same crops each year.’

‘Oh no,’ said Grams, shaking her head. ‘He only did that to keep our heads above water so we could keep the farm. Before that, he was ever so impetuous.’

‘Grandad?’ Flora blinked rapidly. ‘Are we talking about the same man?’

Grams laughed. ‘You know, we were all young once. I bumped into him one day in Aldwych. Literally, as it happens. I was rushing out of a shop on my lunch hour and he was heading in. He stepped on my foot and apologised. Then I found myself looking up into the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.’

Flora smiled to herself, remembering those same eyes twinkling down at her from an early age.

‘He asked me to lunch!’ Grams laughed once more. ‘I’d seen him at school, of course, but we were so young then. Now we were in our late teens, but within five minutes I was sitting down opposite him in the café on the corner and he had persuaded me to have a large slice of cake, even though I was supposed to be watching my figure.’

‘Maybe he thought your figure was just right,’ said Flora, nudging her grandmother with her shoulder.

Grams smiled. ‘He always liked my curves, that’s for sure. Anyway, we talked and talked and I was late back to work. Do you know, I had a date that night? A young man in the solicitors where I worked. Nice lad but ever so dull. I ended up pretending to be sick and went out with your grandad instead! My mother was scandalised, but I didn’t care. He had something, a special air about him. I couldn’t keep away. Next thing I knew, I was jacking in my job at the solicitors and joining him on the farm to help with the strawberry picking that summer.’ She turned to look at Flora. ‘And I never left.’

Flora was amazed. ‘I never knew that,’ she said.

Grams nodded. ‘The young man I’d been stepping out with was a kind soul and he would have given me a steady, secure life. It was certainly the sensible option to choose. And yet, your grandad made me laugh. Made me feel alive. I loved him so very dearly. I could have chosen another path, but I wanted – no, Ineededyour grandfather. He was my soulmate.’ She gave a little shrug of her shoulders. ‘When you know, you know.’