‘I’ve enjoyed it though, Dad.’
He put his arm around her shoulder. ‘I’m glad to hear that, but I wish I’d have known you had some interest in the place years ago. I’d never have considered selling if I’d thought I could step aside and let you take over.’ He groaned and rubbed his chin. ‘I’ve been so busy making plans for your mother and I that I’ve forgotten about your feelings and that’s thoughtless of me. Come here.’
She did as he asked, enjoying the familiarity of a bear hug from her dad.
‘I naturally expected you to be unhappy about the decision to sell this place. I’ve seen for myself all the hard work and dedicationyou’ve given this place over the past few months and I appreciate everything. As does your mother. You’ve done a great job. But we must consider our future, and unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, we need to fund it somehow.’
‘But selling, Dad. It seems extreme.’
He sighed. ‘I know. If I’m perfectly honest with you, now I’ve been back for a few hours and spent time with the animals and walking around the fields and by the stream, I’ve been reminded why I love this place so much.’ He hesitated and after clearing his throat continued, ‘I have to admit I’m struggling to picture someone else living here. The thought that everything here could be changed is difficult to accept.’
Could Zac be right? She hoped so with every fibre of her being.
Hope coursed through Lettie. ‘Maybe.’
His mobile rang and he picked up the phone from the side table next to him. ‘Zac.’
Lettie waited while her father spoke to her brother briefly before his eyes moved left as he gave her a knowing look. ‘Yes, she said. So you’ve both been discussing options? I’ll chat to you later.’ He ended the call. ‘Zac mentioned those ideas of yours.’
Aware that she couldn’t put off sharing the suggestions she had discussed with Brodie earlier, Lettie nodded.
‘Do you want to tell me about them?’ He gave her an encouraging smile.
Lettie began to explain her thoughts and noticed that her father seemed more enthusiastic the longer they spoke.
‘I’m not so sure about the music festival idea,’ he said eventually.
‘Why not?’ she asked, curious.
‘Think of the outlay paying for bands, and whatever else there is. Security. Clearing up afterwards. I’ve seen news reports aboutthe mess people leave at some of these music festival sites and don’t want that for this place. And what about the animals?’
‘True, I wouldn’t want them distressed.’ Lettie thought hard, desperate to come up with a lucrative suggestion. ‘I know, how about farm-stay experiences. Like people staying at an Airbnb, but on the farm where their food is prepared for them, and they can help with the animals if they want to.’
Her mother interrupted their discussion as she entered the room with a determined expression on her face. ‘Gareth, I’ve been thinking.’
Lettie knew that tone. It was the one her mother used when she wouldn’t accept any argument. ‘What is it, Mum?’
‘I’ve been for a walk down to the stream and it got me thinking.’
Gareth raised his hand. ‘Let me guess. You’ve decided you’re not ready to sell this place yet?’
‘How did you know?’
Lettie enjoyed the look of surprise on her mother’s face. ‘Because Dad was pretty much saying something similar.’ She laughed, hoping she was right.
‘What shall we do then?’ Lindy sat on the arm of her sofa next to her husband.
‘I suppose we have just returned from a long trip away, so maybe while we’re planning our next one we can give ourselves some breathing space. I’ll go and see Leonard tomorrow and chat to him about things going forward. I can’t imagine he’ll be too upset to discover you’re still interested in continuing at the farm. I think he’ll understand me changing my mind about selling it to him.’
‘You’re keeping the land now?’
‘Of course. If you’re willing to keep going here then I’d only regret it if I didn’t let you continue.’ He raised a finger. ‘At least for the time being. To be honest, if we did decide to eventually sell this place it would sell easier with land. More opportunities for a buyer.’
He had a point. ‘But you’re still intending to sell?’
She saw her parents look at each other before he turned back to her. ‘I think we shouldn’t be too hasty. Maybe we’ll give it a year. It’s going to be a while before we plan our next trip anyway and, in that time, maybe we can put one of yours and Zac’s ideas into action – and Zac mentioned Brodie has ideas too that might be useful. We can see how it goes.’
It wasn’t one hundred per cent the answer Lettie was hoping for, but it was far more positive than she had expected only the night before. ‘I’ll find a way to make this place work so that your retirement can be financed,’ she said determined to succeed.
