‘I’m not sure what you mean.’
Lettie’s eyes narrowed and she seemed uncertain about something. ‘Well, are you glad we met when we were younger, at the school disco?’
‘School disco?’
He studied her face as something in his memory stirred. Then it dawned on him where he remembered her from and his mouth dropped open. ‘That was you?’ He was confused. ‘But it can’t be. I only ever recall kissing someone called…’ He searched his memory for the name. It was something unusual. ‘Violet! That’s right, her name was Violet.’ He winced. ‘Sorry, I know it sounds bad but I don’t remember us kissing back then.’
Lettie threw her head back and laughed, confusing him. ‘That was me though.’
He didn’t understand. ‘It can’t have been. I told you her name was…’
‘Violet. Yes, you said. And,’ she said blushing, ‘that’s actually my name.’
What?Brodie frowned. ‘Sorry, you’ve lost me.’
‘Vi-oh-let? Lettie?’
‘Ah, I see.’ He realised his mouth was hanging open so closed it. He recalled only too well how much he’d fancied Violet Torel and agonised over his missed opportunity for years. ‘That was you? But you must wonder why I never called you when I said I would.’
A cloud passed over her face. ‘Something like that.’ She stared at him thoughtfully. ‘Do you remember why that was?’
He sensed she had been disappointed, although couldn’t help being glad he had made an impression on her, albeit the wrong one. ‘What a young fool I must have been. I owe you a date.’
She laughed. ‘Yes, you do.’
He took her hand in his. ‘I’m so sorry, Lettie. I wanted to call you, I really did.’
‘And you didn’t because…?’
He thought back to that tall, athletic boy he had been and the crippling shyness he had taken years to finally overcome. ‘I was going to, but I was too shy. I know it probably sounds ridiculous, but I hadn’t had a girlfriend before and I liked you so much. The thought of taking you out and disappointing you terrified me.’
She didn’t look convinced. ‘So you just did nothing?’
He shrugged. ‘I know. Pathetic, isn’t it. To think I had the opportunity to get to know you years ago and didn’t do anything about it.All I can say in my defence is that I was an awkward teenager with zero confidence.’
Her expression softened.
‘Me too, so I’ll forgive you.’
They stared at each, one hand holding their mug handles while holding each other’s hand with the other. This girl was special. She was everything he had ever wanted in a partner: kind, intelligent, very pretty in a fresh-faced way that he loved. He adored that she enjoyed the company of her animals just as he did. He also admired her for having the guts to leave her old life behind to take on a farm with little experience.
He leant forward, wanting to try and make it up to her for letting her down all those years before. ‘Lettie, I?—’
A deafening crack of lightning made them both jump out of their seats, spilling their drinks as they leapt to their feet.
‘Ouch.’ Lettie winced shaking hot coffee from the back of her hand.
‘Here.’ He took her wrist and pulled her to the sink, holding her hand under the cold tap and turning on the water as they both then stood and stared outside.
‘Do you think it hit something nearby?’
It certainly sounded like it, Brodie thought. He heard the tremble in her voice. ‘I’m not sure. Lightning strikes hit the highest point. Are there any trees behind the house that might have been hit?’
‘Many.’ Lettie gasped. ‘There’s the metal weathervane on top of the bell tower over the large barn. It was used back in the day by my grandad calling farmworkers in from the field. Mum used it to call Zac, me and our cousins Adam and Damon in from playing in the woods when we should be in for supper.’
Bell tower? He hadn’t noticed it. ‘That’s probably it.’ He was anxious that the lightning strike might have caused some damageand didn’t want Lettie to be the one to find it. The noise had been so loud the house had shaken.
‘You stay here with the dogs while I go and check everything from the outside.’
