Page 105 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

‘These are so good,’ said Lily, wiping her lips of icing.

‘Elderflower and lemon,’ Lauren told her, holding out a plate for Megan to take. ‘There’s a strawberry one as well, if you want.’

Typically, Lauren tripped over something in the ground at the far end of the orchard and the cupcakes nearly ended up in the grass. But, luckily, Jack grabbed the plate and Lauren at the last minute.

The cupcakes helped everyone to keep going until the air began to cool and the schoolchildren were taken home for baths and bedtime.

Lily was amazed to see her mum appear later, armed with quiches, chicken drumsticks, salads, potatoes and rolls for dinner.

‘Whenever do you get the time?’ asked Rose, helping to set up a table nearby on which to lay out everything.

‘I batch cook,’ Celia told her. ‘It’s so easy.’

‘Sounds great,’ said Annie, sinking into a nearby chair. ‘You’ll have to give me a few tips.’

‘Of course,’ said Celia. ‘I can always give you a hand stocking up the freezer before the baby comes.’

‘Oh! That would be great!’ said Annie, looking relieved.

Gradually, the number of trees left to be picked of their fruit lessened. With their stomachs full after dinner, everyone carried on filling and refilling any and every container that they could find.

Under the darkening sky, the air began to cool rapidly. Especially after the spectacular red sunset that heralded the end of the day.

But the night held one more surprise. Into the cloudless dark sky, a huge moon rose, casting its ethereal glow over the peaceful countryside below.

‘I’ve never seen a moon like it,’ said Lily, staring up at the huge orb against the inky black canvas of the sky.

‘It’s a harvest moon,’ her mother told her. ‘They’re very special.’

‘That’s right,’ said Bert, who had been standing nearby. ‘It’s only at this time of year that you see a full moon this big and colourful.’

‘And you were right when you told me that farmers used to carry on their harvesting beneath the bright moonlight,’ Jack told him.

Lily realised that the moon was casting such a glow around them that they would be easily able to finish harvesting the final trees under its bright light.

At some point she heard laughter and recognised her mum’s voice. She looked over to see her parents giggling. She hadn’t seen them like that for a very long time.

‘It’s the harvest moon,’ said her grandad, who had also been watching nearby and looking pleased. ‘It’s about new beginnings.’

A fresh start, thought Lily. That’s what it felt as if they had all been given these past few days and weeks.

With only her own family and the Harris family left by now, they carried on working late into the evening.

After a couple of hours, and with huge ceremony, Lily reached out and picked the final apple from the very last tree to a huge roar of approval and a round of applause.

‘Thank you all so much,’ Lily told them.

‘Absolutely,’ said Jack, coming to stand next to her. ‘We would never have got it done without all of your help.’

‘You’re on your own with the apple press, though,’ called out Sam to much laughter.

Jack laughed along with everyone.

Rose produced a couple of bottles of champagne from somewhere and they all toasted the harvest and their hard work.

As the family began to wend their weary way home, Lily looked across at her parents. They were arm in arm, her mum resting her head on her dad’s shoulder. There was a look of contentment on Celia’s face, as if she had found peace at least.

Lily gave them both a hug before they, too, left to head home.