I had walked away from the prospect of a half-life.
Now I wanted to find a life I would love.
* * *
After dinner, Willow declared we needed to go out for a drink. It had been a long day and we’d tucked in to a hearty dinner made by Uncle Adam and once we were all cleared up, Willow suggested heading to the local pub.
‘I could do with a glass of wine,’ I admitted. I ached in muscles I’d forgotten all about and a relaxing drink sounded great.
‘I’m in,’ Dylan said. ‘Coming?’ he asked Blake.
Blake had been quiet during dinner but any open hostility had passed, thank goodness, since we’d bumped into each other outside late last night.
Blake looked at me. ‘I do fancy a beer, if that would be okay?’
I was sure we would never be friends after our shaky start but I wasn’t against being in a pub with him so I shrugged. ‘Sure.’
Blake merely nodded.
I turned back to Willow. ‘Should we change?’ I asked, looking down at what I’d been wearing all day.
‘No way. We’ll sit outside; the evening is still so nice. Everyone in Birchbrook will be dressed like us,’ Willow said. ‘Come on, let’s walk over before a chore comes up that I forgot about.’
I was surprised she didn’t think we should change but it was a relief to not have to make a big effort like I was used to doing. If I’d been going out with Henry for drinks at his club, I would have needed to be wearing a dress with my hair all done and make-up polished, and we’d have planned it at least a week in advance. This felt spontaneous and casual, and far more relaxed. Even with Blake involved.
The four of us walked to the Birchbrook Arms. It was a picturesque walk from the farm slightly downhill towards the pretty High Street of Willow’s small countryside town. Even the local pub was quaint and cosy with wooden beams across the ceiling and a thatched roof outside.
Willow and I headed into the beer garden while Dylan and Blake bought a round of drinks. Outside were picnic-style benches on grass and each table had a LED lantern ready for when the sun finally dipped in the sky. It was busy and lively thanks to the lovely evening. Beyond the pub, I could see rolling hills and the sun beaming down on them. It was a lovely view and again, I felt some more of the tension roll off my shoulders.
‘At least we’re old enough to drink now,’ Willow said as we sat down at a free table.
‘I can only imagine the mischief we would have got into if we had been able to when we were younger. Do you remember when we took a Victoria sponge your mum had made out into the fields and ate the whole thing? She had been saving it for when the vicar came round.’
Willow shook her head. ‘My mum rarely got angry but she was furious with us. We had to walk to Birchwood Café and beg Pat, short for Patricia, to bake one to serve instead.’
‘Your mum made such good cake,’ I remembered aloud. ‘God, I wish mine was around right now. I thought about her so much when I woke up on my wedding day, wishing she was there. I never would have got into such a mess if she had been.’
I knew, though, part of the reason I had almost walked down the aisle to Henry was because I had lost her. I thought marrying someone I didn’t love would save me from pain. And maybe it might have done. But I knew it also meant I’d lost joy from my life. I was already having more fun this evening than I’d had for a long time.
‘I think that all the time,’ Willow said softly. ‘But mistakes are part of the journey, right? Like, in autumn, I stuck my head in the sand about our farm being in trouble but if it hadn’t been such a desperate time, I might not have come up with the pumpkin-patch idea.’ She glanced behind me and smiled. ‘Or met Dylan.’
I couldn’t help but hope that my mistake might turn out just as good.
Dylan and Blake returned then with our drinks.
‘Let’s have a toast!’ Willow cried as she passed me a glass of wine then picked up a glass for herself.
Dylan and Blake sat down at the table – Dylan beside Willow and Blake next to me – with their pints of beer.
‘To old friends, to family, and to the best summer yet on Birch Tree Farm!’ Willow’s good mood was infectious and despite ourselves, Blake and I smiled and joined in with the cheers, clinking our drinks with Willow and Dylan. I took a long sip of wine; it was cold and refreshing and felt so good after our busy day.
‘How long have you been friends?’ I asked Dylan and Blake. If I was going to stay on the farm for a few more days, I knew I needed to help us try to put our awkward first meeting behind us.
‘We went to the same school,’ Dylan said. ‘And hung out in the holidays. I guess we lost a bit of touch when we both went away to university…’
‘Then I moved to the city a year ago,’ Blake picked up. ‘We met up a few times before Dylan moved to Birchbrook. He was the first person I thought of when I wanted to get away from the city and… everything,’ he said, mumbling the final word. Perhaps he had been about to mention his ex again.
‘I’m glad you did,’ Dylan told him.
