‘It was.’ She corrected herself. ‘It is. He’s my father. I’ve taken over the place while he goes away for a few months with my mum.’
‘I see. I haven’t seen you around here before. Have you been away?’
She wasn’t used to sharing so much information with a stranger, but Jersey was a small place and there were fewer farmers than there used to be when she was growing up, so decided there was no harm in being friendly.
‘That’s right. So where do you work then? Are you new here?’
‘I was born here but my parents moved to France when I was fourteen. My uncle needed someone to help him out for a while when I returned and was looking for something different to do for a bit. He offered me a job.’
‘Which farm would that be for?’ she wondered.
His mouth drew back into a smile. ‘Tell you what, why don’t you agree to join me tonight for a few drinks and I can tell you all about it. We should be friends if we’re both in the same line of work, don’t you think?’
She wasn’t sure.
He must have sensed her hesitation. ‘We can go anywhere you choose but I’ve discovered that the local pub in the village has a good atmosphere and the lager is pretty tasty. Shall we meet there at seven?’
Lettie was surprised someone in farming would suggest meeting that early. There was no way she would be finished by that time. ‘Um,’ Lettie said, taken aback. ‘I could make it for nine, maybe.’ It wasn’t as if she had anything else to do that evening, even if she was drained from the physical work she did each day. Recalling her parents were flying to Heathrow the following morning and then to Barcelona for the first leg of their cruise, she reconsidered. ‘I’ll probably only have time for one drink though. I need to start work earlier than usual in the morning so I can be ready to drive my parents to the airport as soon as I’ve finished with the goats and chickens.’
‘No problem at all.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Would you like me to pick you up or would you rather I meet you there?’
He really did seem rather nice, Lettie thought, amused. ‘I’ll meet you there, just in case I’m a little late. Now, if you’re sure you don’t need me to help you with anything, I’d better be off.’
‘You know a lot about tractor engines then?’
She was tempted to fib, but didn’t put it past him to ask her to fix something just to test her skills. ‘No, nothing.’
Joe laughed. ‘I like your style, Lettie Torel, and look forward to finding out more about you later.’
She gave him a wave and drove off. She was looking forward to getting to know him too, she decided.
19
BRODIE
‘You made it,’ his father said greeting Brodie in the driveway. ‘Your mother will be happy. She’s cooked enough for ten.’
‘Who’s she invited?’ he asked hoping it was just family.
‘Just you, your sister and a friend of hers.’
Brodie recognised the look of amusement on his father’s face. ‘Please tell me she hasn’t been invited because Mum wants to introduce her to me?’
His father slipped an arm around Brodie’s shoulders. He was the same height as him at six feet one and his years working as a dentist had given him a calming way with anxious people. It was something Brodie appreciated.
‘Sorry, son. I’m afraid you taking on the lease for the veterinary practice hasn’t reassured your mother enough that you’re intending to stay on the island for the foreseeable future. I don’t think she has any intention of giving up on trying to find a partner for you until she believes you have no plans to pack up any time soon.’
Brodie stifled a groan. His mother had always found it difficult when he lived away from the island despite his sister never going.Poor Maddie, how did it all make her feel to have their mother behave in this way?
He had no sooner entered the hallway than his mother appeared from the kitchen and enveloped him in a hug. ‘You came!’
Biting back a retort he hugged her back. ‘Of course I did. Your meals are always the tastiest and I was looking forward to spending time with you all.’
‘I’m not sure I believe you.’ She kissed his cheek, then took hold of his wrist. ‘But that’s OK, I know you mean well.’ She began leading him through to the large kitchen–dining area. ‘Maddie is here already. Oh, and she’s brought a friend with her.’
Brodie fixed a smile onto his face. Even if his father hadn’t tipped him off he would have known his mother was up to something by the higher pitch to her voice. Anyway it wasn’t the poor girl’s fault; she had probably been set up. They entered the room and a pretty girl of about his age with a short, black bob stood by the sliding doors, a glass of wine in her hand. ‘This is Cathy.’
‘Hi,’ Cathy said raising her glass slightly to him and giving a friendly nod.
