‘I’ll take over farming it.’ Yes, she decided, that’s what she would do.
No one spoke. Even Zac didn’t make a smart comment for once. She looked from one to the other of her family, hurt by their stunned expressions. ‘It’s not that silly a suggestion.’
Her father stared at her as if she had just announced she had sprouted wings. Closing his mouth, he thought for a moment before speaking. ‘Lettie, when was the last time you did anything other than help muck out? And even then, you had to be asked to do it, rather than noticing for yourself that the work needed doing.’
She tried to think. It had been a long time. Last summer, in fact, and she hadn’t been thrilled to help clean out the mucky barn, especially during a heatwave. ‘That’s true. But I’ve grown up here surrounded by these animals, by these views, knowing the fields, stream and trees are here whenever I want to enjoy them, and I can’t bear the thought of them going.’
Her father rested his large hand over hers. ‘I know this has comeas a big shock, but your mother and I have reached the conclusion that this is the only sensible way forward.’
‘It’s a generous offer, Lettie,’ her mother said, her hand resting on her heart. ‘And we love you for making it, but we could never let you give up all you’ve worked for to leave your wonderful life in London.’
Zac gave her a confused look. ‘What are you on about, Letts?’ He leant back in his chair and looked at their parents. ‘I can’t understand why you didn’t tell us you were considering doing this.’ Zac sighed. ‘Or, more importantly, that you’d been ill. We might have been able to help in some way.’
Lettie looked at the remainder of her fried egg congealing slowly on her plate next to the uneaten rasher of bacon. Her appetite had vanished and she wished she had thought to finish her food before pushing her parents to share what was going on.
‘But what about my suggestion?’ Lettie reminded them.
‘We wouldn’t hear of it,’ her mother said, frowning. ‘Your father doesn’t want either of you to feel shackled to this place,’ she explained. ‘Isn’t that right, Gareth?’
‘It is. You both know Uncle Leonard and I inherited our two farms from our father and his brother, and although we’ve both loved our lives here, I have to admit that at times I felt restricted by feeling obliged to carrying on the family farm. I never wanted either of you to feel that way. Which is why I decided…’ He reached out and took Lindy’s hand in his. ‘We decided after many very long discussions that your uncle should be given first refusal to buy the land and take on the stock and animals.’
Lettie loved her uncle and thought about his twin sons, Adam and Damon. ‘But surely he’ll only be in the same position as you at some point?’
Her mother frowned. ‘Why do you say that?’
‘Because Adam works in finance and Damon has been awaytravelling for the best part of two years. Neither of them have shown much interest in farming either, have they?’
Their father shook his head. ‘That’s for Uncle Len to work out, not me. Anyway he mentioned something about Damon coming back to the island in the next few months, so maybe he’s planning on joining his father on their farm.’
Or taking overtheirparents’ farm, she mused with irritation.
Now their parents had explained the situation, Lettie understood their reasoning far better, not that it lessened her frustration that they clearly hadn’t taken her offer seriously.
Her mother rose and, after checking everyone had finished eating, began clearing the plates.
‘It’s OK, Mum,’ Lettie said. ‘Zac and I can do this. You and Dad go and relax. Leave this to us.’
She busied herself clearing the table as her parents left the room. As soon as they’d closed the door behind them, Lettie, irritated to have been dismissed, turned on the taps and squirted washing-up liquid into the large Belfast sink. Were her parents right to ignore her suggestion? Did she really want to take over the running of the farm? She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to focus on her true feelings. Her heart said that yes, she did want to, very much. Practically though, she had grown up seeing her father and uncle working long, exhausting hours. Did she want that for herself?
She thought about the meeting at work where her boss had explained that the business was struggling financially and that she was going to have to let a couple of staff members go, one of them being Lettie. She had been devastated initially, wishing they had given Scott the push instead, but apparently, he was needed more than her as he worked in accounts and she was only working on the fashion side of things. It hadn’t seemed fair.
Now though, if her parents did agree to her coming home andrunning the place for them, then she wouldn’t have to worry about facing him any more or decide whether she really wanted another job in fashion. And at least if she gave it a go on the farm then she would be helping her parents out and might even manage to save her family home. Did she have it in her to run it successfully? She decided she was willing to find out.
2
LETTIE
As Lettie pushed her hands into the warm soapy water it occurred to her that she didn’t have the luxury of time. ‘Right,’ she said turning and leaning against the worktop as she addressed her brother. ‘Dad and Mum clearly aren’t willing to listen to me, so I need you to speak to Uncle Leonard and persuade him to have a chat with Dad about me taking over the running of the farm.’
Zac looked perplexed by her suggestion, though she couldn’t understand why. ‘What good do you think that’ll do?’ Zac asked scraping the remnants off the plates before lowering them into the sink.
‘Dad listens to his brother, and Uncle Leonard might listen to you if you suggest the idea to him. It would be awkward for him if I was to ask him direct. You need to try to get him to persuade Dad that he’s making a mistake, and if that doesn’t work, then try to get him to agree to give me a chance to run Hollyhock Farm and delay his purchase of it. I just need time.’
‘He’s hardly likely to do that though,’ her brother said throwing a clean tea towel at her. ‘I’ll wash; you can dry.’
Why was no one taking her suggestion seriously? She caughtthe tea towel and decided now wasn’t the time to argue with him, not when she wanted him to do something for her. It was like old times when they quibbled about who did what every evening after dinner.
‘Are you ready for our parents to sell this land?’ She folded her arms and waited for him to answer.
