‘I did know that, yes. She told me how kind you’d been to her, taking her all over the farm in one of those fancy motorbikes with four wheels?’
‘A quad bike?’ said Antony.
‘That’s it. She loved that, she did, seeing her farm for the last time. Not that she knew it was the last time, of course.’
‘I was worried about her seeing what we’d done to the house,’ said Fran. ‘She had told me she didn’t mind but people can feel differently when they actually see it.’
‘She didn’t have time to fuss about her house,’ said Mrs Brown. ‘She spent all her energy on the farm. That’s what she cared about. And that’s why she left it to you, and not Roy. She trusted you and my Tig to look after it for the future.’
When Fran and Antony left a little while later, laden with ice-cream containers full of sandwiches, sausage rolls and slices of cake, Fran said, ‘It’s a lot of responsibility, isn’t it? The farm, I mean. When I came here I was to look after it for a year and make it profitable. I haven’t been here more than five minutes really, but even if my hard cheese turns outtobe amazing, can cheese on its own keep a farm going these days?’
Antony shifted the bags of food he was carrying so he could take her arm. ‘Don’t worry. It’s been a very long and emotional day. You have the farm and you have me – both with Amy’s blessing. Let’s go home. To our home!’
Fran smiled up at him, awash with love and relief. ‘Such simple words that mean so much.’
ChapterTwenty-Six
Issi came up the next morning for coffee and found Fran outside, staring at the view in the sunshine.
‘It is amazingly beautiful, isn’t it?’ said Fran. While she was truly appreciating the perfection of the morning, gazing out over the valleys, a trail of mist adding an extra layer of beauty and mystery, she was missing Antony terribly. He had left her early and although she was used to him having to go away she wished this morning he could have stayed a bit longer.
‘It is beautiful. And now it’s all yours!’ said Issi.
Fran laughed. ‘Well, not quite all. But at least it won’t be covered in houses now.’
‘I wonder if it would have got planning permission? I mean, if Amy managed to stop it being ploughed up in the war, surely it’s too steep for houses?’
Fran shrugged. ‘I’m sure we could find out if we had a mind to but maybe it’s better not to know?’
Possiblysensing Fran’s melancholy, Issi tried to brighten the mood. ‘Did Roy come back for his things last night?’
Fran shrugged. ‘I don’t think so, but it’s possible.’ She blushed a little.
‘You mean you and Antony were having a special cuddle?’
This coy expression made Fran smile and she pushed her friend quite hard.
Issi pushed Fran back. ‘Come on, let’s make coffee and check on Roy’s room. Oh, and I brought the post up. There’s masses.’
As they walked through the house to the kitchen, Fran said, ‘I expect you and Tig were celebrating, too?’
‘Planning, more.’ Issi paused. ‘He asked me to marry him.’
‘Oh, Is! That’s amazing, congratulations!’
‘Well, when I say he asked me to marry him, what he actually said was: “I suppose we’d better make it official between us, if you’re up for it.”’
Fran laughed. It was such a Tig way of putting it. ‘And did you say you were up for it?’
Issi shrugged. ‘Eventually. I made him say it a bit more clearly first though. We haven’t told anyone yet. He’s going to tell Mary at lunchtime. I’ll give my mother a call in a minute. She’s going to be so thrilled. The prospect of grandchildren at last.’
‘Oh, planning a family already?’
Issiblushed. ‘Maybe. I mean, eventually, yes, but not this instant. I’d like to get my PhD first. Now, I’ll put the kettle on. Have you had breakfast?’
‘I had a bit of toast with Antony but that was hours ago.’ Fran leafed through the pile of post, most of which seemed to be letters of condolence.
‘I’ll make some more toast then. I could do with a second breakfast.’
