Tegan’s attention went to the sound of her daughter crying from the room she’d put her down in upstairs. And life as they knew it began to carry on around them.
Once they’d all had a quick sandwich for lunch and the kids were sorted again – Jaimie happy enough watching some cartoons in the lounge, none of which Morgan recognised from their childhood, and Lily happily playing with some building blocks in the corner of Elaina’s bedroom upstairs with Tegan and Morgan – they returned to the task of trawling through their mother’s things.
Morgan felt a flicker of admiration for her sister as she looked over at her niece grinning at a building block as though it had just told her a joke. Tegan had always known what she wanted out of life. When they were little girls, Tegan had told Morgan that she wanted to be married. She’d said by the time she was twenty but back then, that had seemed a lifetime away. Instead, she’d done it at the far more sensible age of twenty-seven. Tegan had always said she wanted a family too, although back then, she’d wanted six children: three girls, three boys. She’d settled at two, at least so far.
‘Do you think you’ll be able to have any more time away from the farm soon?’ Morgan asked. ‘Not just to help here; it would be good to see you. And I’ll get up there again as soon as the house is all sorted.’
‘I’m sure I can arrange something. The kids love seeing you, me too.’
Morgan opened up their mother’s wardrobe and blew out from between her lips at the task that awaited them. ‘I suppose I should start organising some valuations.’ She pulled a face as she looked across at her sister. ‘I told Ronan I had a couple of agents lined up.’
Tegan grimaced. ‘But you haven’t?’
She shook her head. ‘I lied. Only a small lie and only because he’s getting a little bit impatient.’
‘You never said.’
‘I didn’t want you to think badly of him. I can’t blame him. I mean, this was our plan: to go up to Scotland, he’s doing what we agreed, and me…’
‘You’re dragging your heels.’
Morgan didn’t admit it, but her silence spoke volumes.
‘You know there’s another option, don’t you?’ When Morgan looked confused, she added, ‘If you decide not to leave.’
‘I never said—’
‘I know you didn’t,’ Tegan stopped her, ‘but as the bossy older sister, I’m here to say that just because you made a plan, doesn’t mean to say that plan can’t be altered. Circumstances change, people change.’
‘We agreed we’d sell. And I bet you could use the money.’
‘We’ve managed so far without it,’ Tegan shrugged. ‘All I’m saying is let’s sort the house out, get those valuations, but don’t feel obligated to sell up.’
‘Are you suggesting I stay here?’
Tegan met her gaze. ‘Would that really be the worst idea in the world?’
‘I’m sure Ronan would think so.’
Tegan didn’t say anything for a while. ‘Look, I like Ronan,’ she shared after a pause. ‘He’s a lovely guy, responsible, has a good steady job, thinks a lot of you.’
‘Come on, there’s a bigbutyou’re going to follow that speech with.’
Tegan shrugged. ‘All I’m saying is that things change. And I’m not saying it to play devil’s advocate; I’m saying it because I’ve seen, or rather heard in your voice, a change since you came home to Little Woodville.’ She pulled Lily onto her lap when her daughter got bored. Still with a building block between her fingers, the little girl sat contentedly resting her head against her mother’s chest. ‘At first, it was all about Mum when we talked. Then, as time went on, it became about Belle, the Bookshop Café, the pub and who you’d had a drink with, an anecdote from village life, the things you don’t really talk about if you’re just visiting.’
Tegan was right. Village life had crept up on her and embraced her. She hadn’t asked for it; she hadn’t expected it.
‘Just think carefully about it, Morgan, no rush.’ As if to remind her that it was a big decision, Marley trotted into the room and leapt up onto the bed beside her. ‘He’ll miss you.’
‘I’ll miss him too.’ Morgan stroked him head to toe, smiling as he emitted his familiar purr. He didn’t know what was coming, leaving the cottage and living his life on a farm. She hoped he’d adapt easily; she wasn’t sure he was up for a big change. He’d been Elaina’s cat since he was a kitten, never lived anywhere but Forget-Me-Not Cottage. Little Woodville was his stomping ground.
Morgan took a deep breath. ‘I wonder how much of my hesitation and feeling at home here is to do with grief, holding on to a last part of our lives in this cottage.’ She looked around at the walls like they could hear her comments.
‘Maybe.’ Tegan rested her chin on her daughter’s head, inhaling the scent from her hair. ‘But whatever the reason, it doesn’t change the fact you’re entitled to a little thinking time. That, and the indisputable fact that we still have a lot to do.’
‘The way the cottage is at the moment would scare off any potential buyers anyway, estate agents too.’
‘Then let’s do the best we can with my little obstacle here,’ smiled Tegan.
