I sprinted over to the car and, sure enough, there was Maddie sitting cross-legged on the ground at the back of the car, her eyes closed, her face raised towards the sun. Seeing her there, I felt weak with relief.
‘She’s there,’ I said. ‘Thank you. I can’t believe I didn’t think about the car.’
‘It’s hard to think straight when you’re in a panic.’
‘Sorry for calling you at work.’
‘It’s no bother and you caught me on my break anyway.’
We said goodbye and I took the last few steps towards the car, casting a shadow over Maddie. She opened her eyes and looked up at me defiantly.
‘You’ve had me running all over Berwick looking for you,’ I said.
‘Why?’
‘Because I didn’t know where you’d gone.’
She stood up and wandered round to the passenger side.
‘Why didn’t you answer my calls?’ I asked.
‘My phone’s dead.’ She tried the door handle even though I hadn’t clicked the button to unlock it.
‘Why isn’t it charged?’
‘Because it isn’t.’
Inwardly sighing, I unlocked the car.
‘I ordered the paints you wanted,’ I said as I clambered in beside her.
She was silent but, as I reversed out of the space, I caught a ‘thank you’. It was muttered but it was there and I’d take that.
* * *
Later that morning, the builders were hard at work, Mam was taking an equipment inventory in the café and I was pulling up weeds in the farmyard when a small car pulled in. A young lad –probably in his early twenties – with a mop of strawberry-blond hair got out.
‘I’m looking for Grace,’ he said.
I smiled at him. ‘You’ve found her. Can I help?’
‘I’m Lindon, Willow’s brother. Sorry for just turning up but she said you need a new logo and time’s tight. I’ve got a big project starting on Monday but I can squeeze you in now if you like.’
This morning I’d mentioned to Willow that we were going for a full re-brand and had hoped to have a new logo by now but the designer we’d lined up had let us down so we were back to the drawing board. She’d shared that her brother was a graphic designer and illustrator and showed me some of the impressive designs he’d worked on so I’d asked if there was any chance he could help us.
‘That would be amazing if you could,’ I said. ‘What do you need from me?’
‘Any ideas you’ve had or, if you’re not sure, colours you love and hate, the sort of feel you’d like to convey and whether you’re keeping the name as it is.’
‘We’re going for Hazelwick Farm Animal Encounters.’
‘Good idea,’ Lindon said. ‘It gives a better sense of what’s here than just the farm name.’
‘Do you want to come inside for a drink?’ I asked.
‘I don’t have long. Would it be okay to wander round the farm with you? I can take some photos and talk at the same time.’
I nipped into the café to check whether Mam wanted to join us but, as we’d already agreed on the branding, she decided to continue with the inventory.
