AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sketch throws his head back and belly laughs. ‘Well, we’ll have to rectify that this afternoon. I’ll take you to see all the livestock later. There’s somewhere more important I want to go first.’
‘Okay,’ I smile. I plant both my feet back on the ground and sigh with relief to be steady again. ‘Where is this important place?’
Sketch grins as he looks towards the sky. ‘You’ll want to put that coat on quickly,’ he says. ‘It looks like rain.’
‘You’re not even going to give me a clue where we’re going, are you?’ I ask.
‘Nope.’
Sketch takes my shoes and tosses them onto the back seat of his car as I slip my arms into the black woollen coat. I pause and savour the rush of comfort as the thick wool banishes the wind from touching me. I’ve never felt so snug while still outdoors.
Sketch turns around and mirrors the huge toothy grin that sits comfortably across my face. ‘It’s a perfect fit,’ he says.
‘It’s so warm.’ I sway, wrapping my arms around myself and nestling my neck into the cosy collar.
‘Good. I’m glad you like it,’ Sketch says. ‘You should keep it.’
‘Oh, no. I couldn’t.’ I balk, suddenly embarrassed.
‘Of course, you can. I want you to.’
‘But it was your mother’s,’ I protest.
‘Yes. And now, it’s yours.’ Sadness gathers in the lines of Sketch’s forehead, and his usually sparkling eyes are suddenly murky and troubled.
‘Thank you,’ I say, running my hands down the front. ‘I’ll take very good care of it, I promise.’
‘I know,’ Sketch nods, as his eyes wash over me, drinking me in.
I stand statue-like and allow him all the time he needs. For a moment I’m just a little girl again, standing happily in front of her best friend who always smelt of freshly cut grass and chicken feed. When we were kids I didn’t have to tell Sketch my secrets. He already knew. Today I know his. Sketch is telling me he needs me as much as I need him.
‘C’mon,’ Sketch says, taking my hand and snapping us out of the daze we’ve both fallen into. ‘We should get going. It’s a bit of a walk.’
Sketch leads the way, and I follow. We plod through soggy grass and hop fences and ditches. I look back every so often and after a while, I can’t see the road or Sketch’s car any more.
‘Nearly there,’ Sketch says ‘Are you tired?’
‘Not at all,’ I say. ‘I like walking.’
‘I hope those wellies aren’t giving you trouble,’ he says.
‘These.’ I point to my feet. ‘They’re wonderful.’ I jump up and down and mucky earth squelches beneath me. ‘Just wonderful.’
I could walk for hours more if Sketch wanted to. I’m usually in such a hurry when I walk into town, trying to get there and back as quickly as possible, I never take the time to look around. I never notice the birds flying overhead, or how the leaves on the trees turn ruby and gold as they get ready to fall. Today, I’m noticing it all. It’s as if I’m admiring a beautiful painting, and the watercolours have sprung to life all around me. It’s magic, and I’m savouring every moment.
Sketch comes to a standstill as a field of giant apple trees stretches out in front of us.
‘We’re here,’ I say, knowingly.
‘We’re here,’ Sketch echoes.
The trees are so tall that I must tilt my head right back until I think I might topple backwards to see the leaves on the top. The huge branches span like strong arms laden with apples so bright and red, my mouth waters just thinking about how juicy they would taste.
My gaze hops from one tree to the next so excited to take it all in. ‘I never imagined it would be so… so…’
‘Big,’ Sketch says.
‘Beautiful,’ I smile. ‘I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.’
