‘I see,’ Brodie said, looking as if he understood Joe’s reason for being unhappy with her. ‘I’m sure once you get to know each other you’ll be fine.’
Lettie nodded, a look of determination on her face; she had obviously come to a decision. ‘You both have reasons for being here,’ she said calmly. ‘It’s Skye’s first time on the island, and you need time away from Faye and Roger, Joe. You also need this break from your job. Anyway, with the pair of you here I’ll feel happier leaving the farm in your capable hands, so I can sit out the rest of this pregnancy at the cottage with Brodie.’
Brodie put his arm around her shoulders and gave Lettie a kiss. Skye couldn’t miss the delight on his face. ‘Perfect.’ He looked at Skye and then Joe, smiling. ‘I’m sure the pair of you will figure out who should do what chore, won’t you?’
‘Of course we will,’ Skye said quickly before she had a chance to panic over having to share the farm with the grumpy firefighter.
Joe glanced at her before adding, ‘Don’t worry about a thing.’ Joe gave Skye a smile that made her stomach flip over until she remembered he was probably doing this for the benefit of his friends. ‘We’ll work something out between us.’
Lettie sighed. ‘That’s a relief. OK, so why don’t we begin with me showing you both up to your rooms? Then I’ll give Skye a tour of the farm and go through the animals’ needs with each of you.’
7
JOE
Joe followed Lettie and Skye up to the top floor of the farmhouse. Of all people to have to share the farm with, why did it have to be the annoying woman from the hotel? He still couldn’t believe she’d made so much fuss over a book. So much for having a peaceful four weeks away from work. Never mind that, he thought, he had already had a taste of how difficult this woman could be. Dividing up the workload between them was, he imagined, going to cause a few problems.
He heard Lettie chatting to them both as she led the way upstairs to the attic and decided to worry about Skye later. As they climbed the stairs to the second floor, he thought how he had been inside the house many times but never up to the bedrooms. Skye seemed pleasant enough, but unfortunately he knew better. Thankfully though Brodie seemed happy enough, as did Lettie, with how things had turned out, so there shouldn’t be any upset over them not discussing their plans about finding someone to move into the farm.
‘This is such a beautiful house,’ Skye said.
Joe puffed out his cheeks, wondering how he was going to find a way to get along with this woman. Ever since telling his mother about moving out for four weeks he had been looking forward to having time by himself to think and process his grief a bit. He couldn’t help feeling disappointed that things had already changed and he now had to navigate living with a stranger. He may as well have stayed back at the bungalow. He thought back to his mother’s last row with Roger – well, maybe not, but this wasn’t ideal.
‘It’s not much, I’m afraid,’ Lettie said as she waited for Joe and Skye to view the two attic bedrooms. ‘Choose whichever one you prefer.’ She smiled at Skye. ‘Melody and Patsy said they were very happy when they stayed up here and both said it was comfortable.’
Joe wanted to put her out of her misery as quickly as possible. ‘It’s perfect,’ he insisted. ‘You choose which room you want, Skye. Either one is fine by me.’
‘Me, too.’ She shrugged. ‘I suppose we should take the rooms we’re standing closest to?’
‘Good idea.’ Lettie stood on the landing, waiting for them to take their bags inside. ‘This is beautiful,’ he heard Skye say. ‘And the view is, well, it’s perfect.’
Joe walked over to his window and stared outside at the paddocks and fields beyond. There was the largest barn, with the smaller one next to it and several smaller outbuildings to his left, but straight ahead was even prettier from this viewpoint than it was from the ground. ‘It is incredible.’
‘And of course our priority is to look after the animals?’ he said, wondering what he and Skye would find to do the rest of the time.
‘That’s right.’ She took a hand in each of hers as Joe joined Skye and Lettie on the landing. ‘I believe things happen for a reason. I know it probably seems a little unnecessary having you both here at the same time, but you’ll no doubt find ways to fill the time.’ She gasped. ‘Maybe you could show Skye around the island a bit, Joe. Although you should also take the time to chill while you’re off work.’
Lettie already had enough to worry about and he had no intention of adding anything more. ‘We’ll be fine, won’t we, Skye?’
He noticed the look of surprise on Skye’s face. ‘Er, of course we will. Don’t worry about us two. I’m sure we’ll get along fine.’
‘And with both of us looking after the animals they’ll be spoilt for attention, so I’m sure they’ll be fine.’
The look of relief on Lettie’s face was unmistakable. ‘You two are amazing, fitting in like you have.’ Joe felt guilty that Lettie assumed he was doing this solely out of the kindness of his heart. How could he let her feel this grateful to him when he was only too happy to do this for her? ‘You’re doing me a favour too, if I’m honest. Mum is driving me nuts with her constant squabbling with Roger, and the thought of moving to this peaceful farm is almost too good to be true.’
‘I don’t think I’ve met your mum, have I?’
He shook his head, aware that if Lettie had done she would probably like Faye. Most people did and he often wished he and his mother didn’t clash. Then again, he mused, they got along far better than they had done when he was a teenager and she had taken him away from his friends and the island to move to France. He now realised she had done what she thought right. A fresh start away from his father had been what she needed. If only his father hadn’t blamed Joe for choosing to live with his mother despite being constantly away on business. It was all in the past now, thankfully.
‘I remember the first time we met.’ Lettie laughed, reminding him about when she stopped on the lane down the road from the farm, believing he needed help with his broken-down tractor. ‘I thought I was helping you that day.’ She looked at Skye. ‘I had no idea he knew his way around a tractor.’
Thinking he should explain a little further, Joe added, ‘My uncle has a farm and I help out when I’m free and he needs the extra staff. I enjoy it.’
‘I see.’ Skye smiled. ‘So you know your way around farmwork as well as tractors.’
He smiled. ‘I do. Not so much the animals though. My uncle grows produce, so you and I will probably know as little as each other.’
Lettie grinned. ‘Don’t forget I can still do the lighter jobs around the house and help with things like feeding the chickens; I just need to be careful not to do the heavier work. At least for the next few weeks.’
