Page 37 of The Perfect Blend
John turned his eyes on me. “I told you to steer clear of this one, you don’t know what a scumbag he is.”
“That's enough,” said Zach, loudly and firmly, in a voice that carried. I winced. He put gentle but firm hands on my shoulders and moved me to the side. I went easily rather than struggle and cause even more of a scene. I could see the local newspaper headline now - ‘BRAWL AT CHRISTMAS MARKET CASTS LOCAL PROJECT INTO DOUBT'. I glanced at the crowd, spotting a lady whose eyes were locked on the scene like a bloodhound while she simultaneously unsuccessfully tried to shield her curious children from it. The byline would doubtless beLocal woman claims children were traumatised by witnessing the violence. Before my mind could spiral any further into catastrophe, Zach was taking control of the situation.
“Isn’t it enough you hound me here and call me names over whatever claim you think you have to the farm? You have to slander me behind my back too? What lies have you been spewing, John?” Despite the fact that this was not the time or the place, a part of me was keen to hear this conversation and I was listening with rapt attention.
“Lies, lies?” John was really working up a temper now. His face was almost purple. The back of my brain wondered if I should be prepared to administer first aid if he worked himself up to a heart attack.
“Yes, lies, John! This farm was never yours, it was left to me!”
“Jim wasn’t right in’t head - it’s mine by right! It never should’ve left the family!”
“Iamfamily,UncleJohn.” A small gasp came from the woman who looked like she was enjoying a soap opera, and my mind raced as I did the family tree equations to try and figure out who this was. Zach’s volume had risen to match the man opposite, and he took a deep breath and calmed himself. John, on the other hand, seemed to get even more worked up, face fit to burst from rage.
“You-”
“That’s quite enough, John Spencer!” Sheila Jones had appeared out of the crowd, and she had a face like thunder. John whirled around, slightly unsteady on his feet. It all clicked for me. John Spencer, reclusive brother of Zach’s Uncle Jim. I’d seen his children out and about but had only heard rumour about him, not seeing him in person since I was a child and his wife was still alive. He was known for being a cantankerous old farmer, loath to let go of any land even if he himself was doing nothing with it.
The man in question was spluttering. “Sheila!” He cried. “This cretin-”
“Thisyoung manwas left this farm well and proper! And is doing more with it than you ever would! How much land do you hoard and leave to rot, John?” Oh, now this was becoming very juicy. Another village heavyweight had entered the fray and was airing dirty laundry that was usually only muttered about. “Why if you got your grubby hands on this place, it would no doubt go to rack and ruin!” Sheila continued, voice projecting for all to hear, finger wagging to punctuate her words. “Do you think if your Ethel were alive she would stand to see you here causing a ruckus like this? Do you? You know full well she never approved of this ridiculous grudge you’ve held against your brother. All because Jim took in poor Jane’s daughter and you found out he was planning on leaving the farm to her descendants, not yours.”
John’s mouth flapped like a fish. He looked so affronted and flabbergasted that, despite it all, I felt a twinge of sympathy for the man. Sheila and Ethel had been best friends, and she’d just used the big trump card of his wife against him.
Sheila moved forward and spoke in lower tones. “That’s enough. You might not like that this young man talks posh, or that he has the farm, but he is aSpencer,John. He’s one of the few family you have left. Don’t let this feud with your dead brother go on any longer. Come on now, come with me, we’ll get a hot toddy.”
John shook his head and stormed away through the crowd. Sheila sighed before turning and smiling sympathetically at us. “He’ll come around, don’t you worry. Just as stubborn as a mule, that’s all.” She turned back and followed the wake left by John, moving through the crowd with ease.
The people all around us continued to stare and mutter to each other. I couldn't blame them, I’d be doing the same if I weren’t so close to the focus of the gossip. But I wouldn’t let this ruin the market.
“Alright folks!” I called out. “Thanks for your patience! As we near Christmas we all know some families get closer and others get right into those good old family arguments. Apologies for any disruption, I hope you all enjoy the rest of your evening!”
Zach stepped forward and raised his voice to follow mine. “There's still an hour left of the market, so after that intermission, please do enjoy it! I’ll be here if you have any questions.”
Zoe, true friend that she was, started up enthusiastic clapping, Lucy quickly joined in and soon a small applause took up. The market continued as if nothing had happened, perhaps with a little more electric buzz in the air. Who didn’t enjoy a good bit of drama if they weren’t at the centre of it?
I shared a look with Zach. “Was it him who came to the farm that night?” I asked.
Zach nodded, and looked a little tired. “I’m relieved it's come to a head to be honest. He’s been coming round for weeks, and to know he’s been bothering you as well. I’m sorry, I tried to keep you away from it, I know how long and drawn out these things can be. I didn’t want you to feel obliged to get involved.”
I softened a little inside. “I’m sorry though, that you’ve been alone in all this. He’s got a reputation for being a stubborn grouch, you know. Everyone knows how things stand now, or they will once the gossip does the rounds. So maybe you won’t have to worry about this that much anymore.”
He smiled softly at me. “You’re right, of course.”
I smiled right back, “Of course I am.”
∞∞∞
The market overran and I couldn’t have been happier. People were having a great time and vendors were selling out. We spoke to people as they left and operated as a team, working PR and car park management simultaneously. We worked seamlessly together, it seemed like no time at all till the car park was cleared and everyone had been waved off. The air had a crisp chill to it and halfway through the cars leaving, fat flakes of snow had started drifting down from the sky. The perfect final flourish to our Christmas market at Bluebell Ridge Farm.
By the end, the snow was starting to come down in flurries, swirling all around us. It was beautiful. I never felt more like a child at heart than when it snowed. Looking up to the sky, I closed my eyes and just laughed. Could there be anything more freeing than twirling wildly in circles as the snow lands on your face, settling into your eyelashes?
Then I opened my eyes, and took in the view before me. Standing in front of me, with his face tilted towards the sky, was the most gorgeous man I had ever laid eyes on, smiling like he didn’t have a care in the world. My heart stuttered. If he’d looked at me then, I think my heart would have stopped completely and I’d be gone.
So, I did what any normal human being would do when faced with their feelings, I pushed him whilst his eyes were still closed, sending him stumbling as I laughed.
“What the hell?” he spluttered.
“Um”. Oops, what do I say,‘I am not mature enough to think about how you make me feel or what that means right now, so I deflected by doing something weird’. Yeah, right. “You had your eyes closed and it was just too tempting an opportunity to pass up,” I said instead.
