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Tom raked his hand through his hair and shifted his feet. ‘She’s pregnant.’
Holly felt her shoulders droop. Her lip trembled. ‘Leave.’ She swallowed. ‘Just go and don’t think of coming back here again. Ever.’ She turned, nearly banging into Mitch.
Mitch steadied her with one hand and guided her behind him. ‘Do as she says.’ It sounded to Holly as if he must have his teeth clenched, as he spoke with a deep growl. Mitch took one pace towards Tom.
Tom opened his car door wider and got in, shouting out of the open window ‘I’ll call you, Holly.’ Then drove off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.
Val reached Holly with Trixy at her side. ‘Who the hell does he think he is? Jumped up excuse of a toe-rag.’
Trixy yapped and Mitch took the lead from Val.
Holly hated the thought of leaving her land, or renting a room in the village. She wanted to be on site, to keep an eye on it, to protect it. She turned to Mitch. ‘Yes please, I’d like to borrow your old caravan. If you don’t mind.’
‘Of course you can and I’m not lending it to you – you can have it.’ His eyes stared deep into hers. ‘As I said, it would have cost us to get rid of it. I’ll bring it over later.’ He pointed at where Tom’s car had disappeared. ‘Although you might not want to live alone with your ex sniffing around.’
‘I’ve lived here alone before and I’m not going to be bullied by anyone.’
Val laughed. ‘That’s the Loveland spirit.’
Holly felt more determined than ever to rebuild the nursery into an arts hub. ‘If Tom thinks I’m going to give up and bail out – he’s got another think coming.’
Mitch frowned. ‘Are you okay for somewhere to stay tonight?’
‘Yes, yes. I’ll stay with my friend, Jaz.’
He stuck out his hand. ‘It’s a deal then.’ Taking his hand, she felt the familiar roughness of his skin against hers which again sent shivers over her body.That’s all I need, fancying a married man,she thought. Mitch smiled fleetingly and whisked up a yapping Trixy and strode in the direction of the farm with a nod of his head.
Holly joined Joe, Val, Julie and Anne who had returned from seeing to the animals. Hugging Val, the warmth of her embrace reminded her of her mum and she felt her chest shudder even though she kept the tears from her eyes.
‘Tom’s got someone pregnant.’
‘I heard that bit. Is it that young girl I seen him with in Wells?’
Holly nodded.
‘I’m sorry, lass. I can’t believe how he’s turned out,’ Joe said.
Holly cried softly as Julie stroked her back from behind.
They turned at the sound of a car. The red Audi swung in and Jaz got out.
Jaz pulled off her sunglasses and stared at the scene. Her jaw dropped and she turned towards Holly open-mouthed, but no words came out.
