‘Oh, never mind. I’m sure he’ll come back,’ said Elliott, not looking convinced by his own words.
Darla’s phone rang. It was the house-sitting agency. ‘I’d better get this,’ she said to Elliott before answering the call.
Darla listened as the person on the other end made her already crappy day much worse. She thanked them – for what, she wasn’t sure – and ended the call.
‘Everything all right?’ asked Elliott, filling the waiting mugs now the kettle had boiled.
‘No,’ said Darla. ‘I can’t believe it. I’m being evicted. I knew this wasn’t forever but now someone is buying the place so they were telling me I’m not needed anymore, but they don’t know exactly when my last day here will be. I’m going to be homeless again,’ said Darla with a sob.
Elliott was quick to wrap her in a hug. ‘It’s okay. Everything is going to be fine because—’
‘No, it’s not! I love it here. I even love the goats and the chickens. Except for The Captain,’ she said as more tears dripped off her chin. ‘He’s still a vicious little bugger.’
‘Here,’ said Elliott, handing her a clean tissue.
She dried her eyes to see he was smiling. That wasn’t really the reaction she was expecting. Mutual dismay felt more appropriate. ‘This is serious you know. I’ll have to leave. I won’t be just up the road anymore.’
‘Slow down,’ said Elliott. ‘I was waiting to tell you something.’
‘Tell me what?’
‘I’m not going to be a farmer anymore.’ He looked very pleased when he said it. ‘It’s because of you and what you said about me having to do what makes me happy. I’m going to go back to being a civil engineer. I start in a few weeks.’
‘Right. Congratulations,’ said Darla, feeling that she probably didn’t sound as enthusiastic for his news as she should have, but it was hard when her world was imploding.
‘I’m keeping the farm. Lee is going to be a tenant farmer so I can dabble if I want to, but it won’t be my full-time job.’
‘Great.’ Darla tried hard to find a smile.
‘Oh, and I’ve missed the really important bit. I’m buying The Brambles.’
It took a moment for what he said to register. ‘It’s you who’s kicking me out?’
‘Or you could stay...’
Darla was very confused. ‘You want me to house-sit for you?’
‘No, I want you to move in with me.’ He wobbled his head. ‘I guess technically I’d be moving in with you but you get what I mean. Sorry I didn’t tell you before; it’s taken a while to work all the finances out and then it all happened quite fast and I hadn’t factored on word getting through to you so quickly.’
Darla blew her nose. ‘Then I’m not homeless. And you want us to live together?’
‘Beautifully summarised. Assuming you want to do that too?’ He suddenly looked unsure, which was odd because right at that moment Darla had never been more certain of anything in her life. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
They were interrupted by mewing outside and the sound of paws on the back door. They sprung apart. ‘Winston!’ they both said together as they leapt to their feet. They dashed for the back door. Darla got there first but she was surprised by what she saw as she opened it.
Winston was there but he wasn’t alone. There was also a very pretty pale ginger striped cat and four kittens. Two with the same pretty pale ginger colouring as the new feline and two mini versions of Winston. Darla started to cry all over again.
Chapter Forty
It was a couple of days after the party and Ros was feeling apprehensive. The paella was almost ready but her guests hadn’t arrived. When the entry buzzer sounded she was relieved and let them in. First to arrive was her dad and Gazza. As she hugged Barry, Gazza did his now usual lap of the apartment in search of Cameron. Ros put some water down for him and offered him a chew stick she’d bought specially. Gazza grabbed the treat and trotted off to eat it under the table. The buzzer went again and she let in her second guest. Darla tentatively put her head around the door before coming inside.
‘Darla, hello. I didn’t know you’d been summoned too,’ said Barry.
‘Hi, Barry.’ Darla gave him a hug.
Ros waited until they parted and both looked at her expectantly. ‘I asked you here because I thought it best to explain that—’
‘Is this a farewell dinner?’ asked Darla, putting her hands on her hips.
