Page 98

She glares at him for a moment, then back at the farmhouse. Finally she throws up a hand, her glossy fake nails reflecting the light.

‘Oh, I’ve had enough of this. I didn’t like this place anyway,’ she says. Then she attempts a softer tone: ‘Let’s buy the other one, with the stables and the quad bike field. I’ll even let you—’

‘Scarlett,’ he cuts in. ‘You don’t need to let me do anything. I’m not coming with you. I’m sorry, but we’re over.’

Scarlett turns puce and lets out a stream of expletives.

‘You’ll beep beep regret this, you beep beep idiot! I’ve given you everything you could want. Best teeth you’ll ever have! Don’t come crawling back!’

At last she shoves the car into gear and whips it round, tyres spinning in the layer of snow that’s settled. She runs over another sign and then powers off towards the drive in a plume of soft snow.

Mogs is left standing in the farmyard. He stays frozen for a moment and then starts running full tilt after the car, waving his mini Steadicam above his head like Braveheart going into battle, shouting, ‘That’s it! I quit!’

As the car slows, he shouts, ‘Or I’ll be sacked when I put this little bit of footage out on TikTok!’

He turns back to Luke with a grin as Scarlett reverses. ‘Good luck, Luke! Good for you, mate! I hope you find what you’re looking for!’ With a final wave, he jumps into the back of the car, and it takes off as he’s shutting the door. He gives Luke a thumbs-up through the rear window.

The following morning is Christmas Eve. Last night was subdued; after all the excitement we all retired to bed early, exhausted. We may have saved the farm, but I still have to work out how I’m going to afford to stay on here and do all the work that needs doing.

Will and Tegan are watching a repeat of the Hairy Bikers on television, and I’m wondering what on earth we’re going to make to eat. I have lunch booked for tomorrow in the pub. But other than that, there’s very little in, and everything is in boxes.

Luke is in the barn. Horse has been out on his bike and is now back in the forest, ‘tidying things up’, as he put it. Lara has gone to the office.

Despite the high I felt yesterday, when Scarlett left and I felt like I’d rescued Christmas Tree Farm from the brink of destruction, my heart is twisting as I wait to hear how Lara’s meeting is going. I check my phone every few minutes. She said she’d come straight back afterwards.

While we wait, Will and I spend time out in the yard, where I listen in on him talking to the animals. He tells the ducks that this is their forever home; Gloria, too. And he brings Delilah outside to brush her down, hoping that maybe she might get to stay too ‘now that Gwen is going to stay’. He doesn’t say anything about the new family that Lara has discussed with him.

Finally, after what seems like hours, I see the headlights of Lara’s car coming back up the drive in a light dusting of snow.

The dogs bark and hurry out to greet her.

She has bags with her that she holds up to stop getting damaged, but still gives Will a hug as he puts down the grooming brushes and hugs her back. And if you didn’t know the circumstances, you’d think this was a young boy welcoming his favourite auntie home for Christmas. I smile. I just hope that what she’s got to tell me isn’t too awful.

‘Will, here, there’s a treat for Dinky and Tegan in there,’ she says, handing Will one of the bags as we stand in the warm kitchen. ‘Take it to them outside?’ He eyes the other bags thoughtfully.

‘And would you put Delilah in the barn, please, Will?’ I say. He looks back at the bags.

‘No peeking,’ Lara laughs, ‘not until I’m officially off duty.’ She sets the bags on the messy kitchen dresser as Will goes back outside. ‘I picked up a few things,’ she tells me once he’s out of earshot. ‘I didn’t think you’d have had time to go Christmas shopping.’

My hand flies to my mouth.

‘I didn’t. I mean, I haven’t. I haven’t got anything!’ And then, ‘Thank you. But tell me, how was it? How was your meeting? What about the couple who you talked to about Will? Was their social worker there?’

Lara pulls off her coat and scarf. ‘Oh, Gwen . . .’ She puts her arms round me and hugs me. ‘It’s so like you to be thinking of others all the time. This is what makes you such a great carer for Will.’

‘Are they going to go ahead with meeting him?’ I say, on the brink of tears.

‘Actually,’ Lara takes a deep breath, ‘no.’ This pulls me up short.

‘No?’ I frown.

‘No.’ She shakes her head, pulling out a chair. ‘Come on, sit down.’

I feel affronted on Will’s behalf. ‘But why wouldn’t they?’

She smiles, but I don’t.

‘They said they thought Will sounded wonderful . . .’