Page 62 of Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

‘Yes, and more. I’ll bring the photos down with me. Some lovely memories there.’

‘Oh, that’s nice, I love a trip down memory lane.’

Rachel had yet to break the news to her mum that she and Maisy would be moving in with Tom, away from Primrose. Deep down she knew her mum would respect any decision that she made, but it still wasn’t something she was desperate to discuss, though she knew she’d have to. She braced herself and hugged the precious photos to her chest, before making her way back down the ladder.

Ten minutes later, with the nostalgic photos spread out before them on the kitchen table, and a mug of coffee and squares of flapjack to hand, Rachel took a slow breath.

‘Mum, there’s something I need to tell you.’

‘Yes, pet?’ Jill looked up, her eyes filled with warmth.

Rachel took a second; she hoped her mum wouldn’t be too disappointed.

‘Tom and I have decided … well, me and Maisy are going to move in and live there after the wedding … with Tom.’ There, she’d ripped off the Band-Aid.

Jill nodded, looking down at her hands. ‘Yes, of course that makes sense, love. Whatever you decide. And you’ll be over here every day just the same, I know that.’ If she was feeling disappointed, she was doing her best to hide it, bless her.

‘We’ll only be around the corner,’ Rachel said, her voice quaking. She hated to think of her mum feeling lonely.

Jill reached out and took her daughter’s hand. ‘I know. I know.’

‘We’ll not be able to keep Maisy away either,’ Rachel managed a smile. ‘And I have to come back for my Sunday roast and your sticky toffee pudding. Or … maybe I can cook you and granny a roast dinner over there and have you all round – that’d be good too.’

‘Yes, and Maisy can have sleepovers here whenever she wants to. We’ll all be seeing plenty of each other, there’s no doubt of that,’ Jill said with a sniff.

‘Absolutely. And hey Mum, maybe this will give you and Daniel a chance to have a bit more time together, more space.’ She paused with a gulp. ‘He’s not so bad, you know. He really cares about you; he might just be a keeper.’

Jill squeezed her daughter’s hand. ‘Thank you, love, that means a lot.’

They smiled at each other, both floating on memories of the past, and looking forward to the future.

Phew, Rachel was relieved to have that off her chest. And her mum was right, she’d be back here all the time. It was her home; it was too special to leave behind for good.

Breaking the news to Maisy later that afternoon, however, didn’t go quite as smoothly.

Walking up the farm track together after the school minibus drop-off, Rachel started to explain. ‘Maisy, you know when Mummy and Tom get married …’

‘Yes,’ she said excitedly, ‘that’s when I get to wear my pretty dress.’

‘Yep, so, well after that …’ Rachel wondered quite how to put this. ‘Well, married people, like Eve and Ben, they live together in the same house.’

Maisy nodded, seeming to take it in. So far so good.

‘Well, we’re going to live with Tom, in his house. So, after the wedding day, we’ll be staying there. You’ll have your own bedroom there and everything.’

Maisy slowed her steps, ‘But what about my room here … and what about Grandma? Is she coming too?’ Maisy was trying hard to process all this.

‘No, petal. Grandma will stay here at Primrose Farm.’

Maisy’s lip began to quiver. ‘But I want to stay here with Grandma.’ She stood rooted on the spot, her arms flapping wildly.

The sheep the other side of the fence bobbed their heads up at the noise, and a pair of sparrows darted out of the hedgerow.

‘Oh sweetie, you can still come and see Grandma every day. But you have to live with me and Tom. How can I look after you otherwise? Read you your bedtime story, tuck you in? And, you can choose a new duvet set for your new bedroom – we can have a look online tonight if you like … and Tom’s going to paint the walls whatever colour you want.’

Maisy stayed silent.

‘It’ll be good there,’ Rachel coaxed, ‘I promise.’