‘Anything that puts that happy expression on your face gets my approval! Everything is almost ready to go now. We have to do something about the ponies…’ She frowned for a moment. ‘But other than that, you’ve done such a great job with the strawberry fields. I’ve asked Sabrina to let me know some teenagers that could do some weekend work for us. We’ll all pitch in. As long as Dad keeps to his word and just mans the tills, we can make it work, I’m sure. It’s only twice a week for a few hours.’ She smiled. ‘Daisy, I am really excited for you!’
‘Thank you. For everything.’ We gave each other a quick hug.
‘You’ll be amazing at this,’ Willow said when we drew back.
I smiled through the sadness of Blake leaving because this was something I really wanted to try. ‘I’ve shied away from finding something I love because of…’ I took a deep breath. ‘…losing my parents but I know they would want me to do something I am passionate about.’
‘I’m so proud!’ Willow said. ‘Maybe we’ll even get to keep you for more than the whole summer,’ she added, winking at me when she leaned back.
I let out a laugh. ‘We’ll see.’
Dylan came back in then. ‘Blake’s packing right now. He said he’ll come over when he’s ready to say goodbye. He says he has to see the app through. But I didn’t think his heart was in it.’
I had hoped I was in his heart but clearly, I was mistaken. I picked at my food, not really tasting anything. It would be so strange to be here without Blake. From turning up in my wedding dress to now, feeling so far away from that woman, he had been by my side and I had been by his. Blake helped me to see that I’d been hiding for years and that it was okay to be me and to follow my heart. That’s what I would go on to do without him, and I really hoped he’d do it without me too.
33
After dinner, Blake came into the farmhouse. I had no idea what he was thinking.
His eyes found me instantly. ‘I’m all packed and ready to go.’ He turned from me to Willow and Dylan. ‘But I had to come to say thank you for having me these two weeks. You’ve treated me like part of the family. When I needed it the most.’
‘I can’t believe you’re leaving us with the ponies,’ Willow said, attempting a joke when everyone looked sombre. She coughed when no one laughed. ‘Good luck, Blake,’ she added more seriously.
Blake looked at me again. ‘I’ll see you then, Daisy,’ he said finally, his voice quiet. I felt all eyes on us.
‘I hope it goes well,’ I said, forcing out a small smile. I did mean it. I wanted him to be happy. I just wasn’t sure he could be if we went back to his old life.
‘Yeah, me too, mate,’ Dylan added, getting up to shake his hand. ‘Let me help you with your things.’
‘I’ll come out too. Come on, Maple,’ Willow said, whistling for her dog.
‘I’m going to go for a walk,’ I said. I didn’t want to watch Blake leaving. Following them outside, I watched Dylan and Blake go into the cottage to collect his things. Willow and Maple stood by his car.
‘Will you be okay?’ Willow asked me then.
‘Yes.’ And I knew I would be. I would just carry around a pinch of regret for the rest of the summer. ‘I don’t want to watch him go, though,’ I added. ‘I’ll put the ponies in the barn for the night; I need to do something.’
I set off and Maple followed me as if she knew I needed her more than the others. I had to pass by the cottages and as I did so, Blake came out with one of his suitcases. Our eyes met but I carried on walking. I wanted to look forward now.
But it wasn’t easy when Blake had been such a big part of my new chapter here.
After a moment, I glanced back to see Blake open his boot and put in his case, Dylan joining him with his other bag. Willow was saying something to them. I hoped she wasn’t berating Blake for leaving but if she was, I did like that she wanted to stick up for me. I let out a sigh and headed for the strawberry fields to find the ponies. Maple ran on ahead, enjoying the run after her dinner.
It was crazy to think what a big impact Blake had had on my life. Maybe I could learn to be grateful for that, instead of sad that he wasn’t choosing me.
Maple started barking then.
‘What’s up, girl?’ I called as I saw the pony enclosure in front of us.
Maple growled, which was unlike her. She turned to look at me and barked again.
‘What’s going on?’ I sped up, confused what was up with her. Then as I approached, I realised what had got her all upset: the pony enclosure was empty.
‘What the fuck?’ I said, breaking into a jog then. I reached Maple and gave her a quick pat as I stared at the wide-open gate. ‘How…?’ I thought back to being in there earlier with Blake. Sarah had called and we had had a heated discussion about it before I walked out, Blake hurrying after me. ‘Oh, shit, Maple, he must have forgotten to lock the gate up after him,’ I said, looking around for the ponies. I walked around the enclosure. ‘Maple, can you see them?’ She ran ahead of me towards the strawberries and let out a loud bark.
I took off after her and once my eyes caught up, I swore again under my breath.
Blossom and Jasmine were right in the middle of the strawberries, eating the ripe fruit and trampling on the plants as they did so.
