‘I’m so sorry,’ she said sincerely. ‘Do you have a garden you can plant flowers in? You seem to love them so much.’
Her simple question stunned me. Why hadn’t I made any use out of Henry’s family’s garden? I barely went into it, let alone planted anything or enjoyed the flowers there. But then again, they had a gardener and it didn’t have the same feeling as this garden did.
‘Daisy is making a lovely arch for the farm we’re staying at with Dylan,’ Blake said when he saw I wasn’t sure how to answer. He pulled his phone out, to my surprise, and showed his sister and dad a picture he’d taken of my flower arch, telling them all about Dylan and Willow as well as the plans Willow had for the trail and strawberry fields. He then showed them the pony enclosure he had built.
‘The arch is so pretty,’ Bronte said, smiling. She was looking at us with curiosity. ‘I’m glad you’ve reconnected with Dylan, Blake. You two used to be so close. You’re staying on the farm for a couple of weeks?’
‘Yeah, I just needed a change of scenery,’ Blake said. ‘I know I could have stayed here but…’ He trailed off and coughed uncomfortably. ‘I know you’re all so busy,’ he finished lamely.
‘I need to point out the elephant in the room,’ Bronte said then. ‘You’re here with Daisy, which is lovely, so does that mean you’re not with Sarah any more?’ I didn’t miss the hope in her voice and I knew Blake must have heard it too.
‘Well,’ Blake began, ‘kind of, I don’t know, it’s complicated. We did break up but we have the business and everything,’ he mumbled awkwardly.
‘But…’ Bronte looked between me and Blake, confused.
‘We’re just friends,’ I added quickly, earning a raised eyebrow from him. I tried not to think about our kisses, which was pretty damn difficult.
‘You don’t need to explain, son,’ his dad said hurriedly, shooting a warning glance at Bronte. I could guess his thoughts; he didn’t want her to make Blake not want to visit again. ‘Leave him alone, Bronte. Let’s talk about something else.’
‘Okay, okay,’ she said. ‘I promise I’ll be on my best behaviour, okay, big brother?’ She smiled with mischief.
Blake relaxed into a smile too. ‘Are you ever on your best behaviour, little sister?’
‘They are always like this,’ their father said to me with a chuckle. He looked relieved Blake was taking it with good humour.
I smiled back. ‘I’m an only child so it’s nice to see siblings banter. Although I guess Willow, who is my cousin, used to feel like my sister. It’s nice to be staying with her for the summer. And helping out. Making the arch was fun.’ I looked out at the garden again, enjoying the view.
‘Tuck in, guys,’ Bronte instructed. ‘So, do you live on the farm with your cousin?’ She was trying hard not to be too curious but I could tell she longed to know what was going on between us.
‘She’s just here staying in Birchbrook for a break too,’ Blake said quietly, giving his sister a warning look.
‘Right,’ Bronte said, but I wondered how long it would be until she found out everything. She passed me a bowl of salad and I added some to my plate along with spicy chicken wings, a jacket potato and coleslaw. There was also quiche, crusty bread and a bowl of cold vegetable rice. Bronte definitely took after my Uncle Adam when it came to providing lots of fresh and tasty food for guests.
‘It’s okay,’ I assured her. ‘I wanted to stay with family as things are complicated with my fiancé,’ I said, thinking she might have clocked my engagement ring.
‘A lot of complicated relationships on this farm,’ Bronte observed lightly. ‘Well, I hope you work it out, guys.’
‘If Sarah and Henry let us,’ I said without thinking.
‘You’ve met Sarah?’ Bronte pounced on my words.
‘She’s in Birchbrook too,’ Blake admitted while I shot him an apologetic look. ‘And so is Daisy’s fiancé. One big happy family,’ he added with bitterness.
‘Okay, sorry, but you can’t just tell us that. What’s going on?’ Bronte said. ‘I know you’ve stayed away because I told you it was a mistake to move in with Sarah and set up this dating app with her. All your calls home this past year have been small talk but you’re here in our home now. Without Sarah. With another woman.’ Bronte smiled at me. ‘Who seems very nice.’ She looked back at Blake. ‘What’s going on, big brother?’
‘Blake will tell us when he’s ready,’ his dad interjected. ‘Daisy, why don’t you tell us more about Birch Tree Farm?’ Bill asked. ‘It sounds so idyllic.’
I glanced at Blake, who was staring down at his plate, and his sister, who was glowering at her father. To keep the peace, I did as Bill asked and launched into a speech about Willow and her dad, about how I’d grown up visiting the farm, and then how I hadn’t been back for a few years. How Willow had created the pumpkin patch to save them from having to sell the farm. And how much I was enjoying helping them out for the summer. It was actually a relief not to be talking or thinking about Henry or Sarah, or even what had happened between me and Blake for a while. ‘They’ve just got two Shetland ponies that Blake is helping them with. They’re going to offer pony rides.’
Bronte turned to Blake then. ‘I thought you’d given up horses,’ she said shortly.
‘The black horse is Blake’s,’ Bill said quietly to me. I looked over. The horse’s coat shone in the sunshine.
‘Midnight,’ Blake said, also turning to look. ‘I’ve had her for eight years. The other three belong to my sister and her husband for the riding school. Midnight stayed here when I left for the city.’ He looked at Bronte. ‘I’d like to see her.’
‘Go ahead,’ she said. ‘She’s missed you.’
‘We all have,’ their dad quickly added.
