‘Your nanna and I have been walking round the farm this morning pulling together a list of things that need doing,’ I told Maddie.
‘Sounds riveting.’
I chose to ignore her sarcastic tone. ‘We’ll be finishing it this afternoon. You’re welcome to join us. It’ll be a good opportunity for you to explore.’
Maddie looked up from her phone. ‘Traipse around after you while you write a list or continue unpacking in my new prison? With such tempting options available, how can I possibly choose?’
‘Maddie!’ Mam cried. ‘What’s got into you?’
‘Isn’t it obvious? I don’t want to be here.’
‘I’m sorry you feel that way,’ Mam said, her voice calm. ‘I’m personally delighted to be here with you and your mam. I’ve missed you both so much and I’m really excited about three generations of women from my family running a business together.’
‘I’m not part of the business.’
‘You might not have a financial stake in it, but there’s so much that you could contribute to our new adventure.’
‘Not you too! It’snotan adventure. Adventures are for kids and I’m not a kid.’
I hated Maddie speaking to me with such a lack of respect and I chose my battles, but speaking to Mam like this was completely unacceptable and I refused to stand for it.
‘Then stop behaving like one,’ I snapped. ‘Stop scrolling on your phone at mealtimes and start engaging with the conversations. Stop saying I’ve ruined your life and start embracing the positive new start. And stop it with the attitude because it’s not attractive and it doesn’t get you anywhere.’
I paused to see if she’d respond but she merely glowered at me.
‘You know what, Maddie? The offer to join us this afternoon is off. I suggest you spend the time giving Clemmie and the guinea pigs some attention and, while you’re doing that, you can think about how much better your new life here would be if you stopped fighting it and me and Nanna.’
She pushed back her chair with a sickening scrape across the quarry tiles and stormed out of the kitchen.
‘That went well,’ I murmured.
Mam reached across the table and took my hand in hers. ‘You’re a wonderful mam and you’ve raised an incredible daughter. She’s just lost her way recently but she’ll be back. Mark my words.’
I sighed heavily. ‘Gosh, I hope so, Mam. I’m so weary of it all.’
‘Ready to head out again?’
The morning had been bright but it had clouded over and, stepping outside, I felt the dip in temperature. Mam already had a cardigan on but I dashed back inside and ran upstairs to get mine. As I passed Maddie’s room, I knocked on her door but didn’t open it.
‘We’re heading back out now and taking the dogs. If you go out, can you make sure Clemmie doesn’t escape?’
There was no response so I knocked again.
‘What?’ she shouted.
‘I was just checking you’d heard me.’
‘Yes! Orders heard and understood.’
I couldn’t get a break with her so I pulled my cardigan across my chest and ran back down the stairs.
* * *
Mam and I had finished working our way around the main part of the farm by four o’clock and headed into the café. The drinks fridges were depleted but there were still a range of options, all well within their best-by dates, so Mam and I selected a fizzy drink each and wandered into the kitchen.
There were a couple of metal chairs in one corner so Mam parked herself on one and opened her lemonade while I leaned against one of the food preparation areas and gazed around the impressive kitchen.
‘I think Anna had delusions of grandeur in here,’ I said. ‘Michelin-starred restaurant standard for a farm café. No wonder she never helped on the farm. She had her own piece of paradise right here.’
