Holly blew on her hot chocolate, giving herself time to let the news sink in. After her mum died, she’d thought she wanted Greenacres, imagined herself living there and working there and her children doing the same. But last year everything had changed in more ways than one. It had always been Rich she’d pictured at her side, ever since they were teenagers, though for a long time it had just been as friends. They’d both had other relationships, though none of them lasted; then, when Holly was twenty-eight and Rich thirty-one, they’d attended a mutual friend’s wedding. A dance and plenty of champagne had led to another dance, then a kiss, and it was as though Holly had been struck by a thunderbolt. All those things she’d never felt before in her relationships but had read about and longed for were right there in front of her. She had fallen madly in love with her best friend.
As time had passed, she had yearned for something more serious; had wanted to know that Rich felt the same way she did, but she’d sensed there was something holding him back from fully committing. She’d hoped that as they were friends as well as lovers, he’d soon realize how good things were between them, and she tried to put her concerns from her mind.
But things were bound to change, and everything had come to a head when Plum Tree Cottage had been put up for sale. Holly had set her heart on buying it. It had been, perhaps subconsciously, a way of finding out if Rich wanted the same things as her now that they were three years into their relationship.
The cottage was halfway between Greenacres and Penhallow Sands. It was set on two acres of land, within walking distance of both the vineyard and the coastal path. Holly had loved it from childhood. The owner had been an elderly lady who kept very much to herself. It had been rumoured that she fell in love with a soldier who was killed in the Second World War, and that when he died, she moved out of the village and settled in Plum Tree Cottage alone, hiding herself away from society. It was a sad story but one that Holly could understand. She had run from her own life, but been just as isolated in the middle of a big city as the old lady had been in her isolated cottage.
The place had a quiet charm and Holly had often imagined herself living there, popping back to the vineyard whenever she wanted to. She’d known that one day she’d move back into the house at Greenacres to take over there, but that had been something in the future, a long time away, when her own children would be fully grown and she’d return home to care for her ageing father.
But buying Plum Tree Cottage wasn’t meant to be; life had got in the way, and her plans had fallen through.
Holly sipped her drink, savouring the sweetness of the marshmallows with the rich milky chocolate, and the warmth of the blanket around her shoulders.
‘We used to come out here like this all the time. Do you remember?’ Bruce gazed up at the darkening sky, where the stars were starting to show, faint pinpricks of silver against the vast navy blue.
‘I do. I can remember sitting out here with Mum when I was younger.’
‘Your mum loved to sit outside in the evening to look at the stars.’
‘Do you think she’s out there somewhere?’ Holly wrapped her hands around her mug.
‘Maybe. I know your grandparents have always been religious, but for me, it’s more about the impact someone leaves behind.’
‘Mum had a church funeral, though, and you married in the church, didn’t you?’
He turned to her and smiled. ‘Do you think Grandpa would have had it any other way?’
She shook her head.
‘I was happy to go with the flow. As long as I got to marry your mum – and later to see her buried in the spot where she wanted to rest – I didn’t mind. Why upset her parents when they wanted to do what they thought was best for her?’
‘You’re so easy-going, Dad.’
He laughed. ‘Must be the Aussie in me.’
‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you get angry.’
‘It happens, Hols, I’m only human. But my anger always fades quickly too. I don’t see the point in negative emotions. I’d much prefer to try to fix a situation than to waste time and energy moping about it.’
Warmth bloomed in Holly’s chest. Her dad was such a good man. He’d always been the voice of sense and reason, but Grandpa had been so loud that sometimes Dad’s common sense was drowned out. He never fought to be heard, though; just picked up the pieces and moved on.
‘Are you happy here, Dad?’
He drained his mug, then set it on the bench next to him.
‘I have been very happy here.’
‘Did you ever want to return to Australia?’
‘Sometimes. But your mum wouldn’t have left the vineyard, and then, after she’d gone, I couldn’t have taken you away from your grandparents. So I stayed. Besides which, I love Greenacres and Penhallow Sands. It’s my home and has been for years.’
‘Tell me about your ideas, Dad.’
‘My ideas?’
‘For the vineyard. The ones Grandpa didn’t want to consider.’
‘They’re just ideas at the moment. I haven’t spoken to anyone else about them.’
‘That’s fine. I want to hear them.’ She reached out and took his hand. ‘It’s time you were heard.’
And as the sky turned indigo and the stars glowed, they talked and laughed, sharing ideas, memories, hope and dreams, and Holly’s life in Exeter seemed even further away than before. She didn’t know what the future held, but she did know that she wanted to see her family happy, and that she hated the thought that they could lose Greenacres; that one day she might have to leave and would never be able to return. So she made a pact with herself: she would do whatever she could to make sure that didn’t happen. She didn’t know exactly how yet, but she knew they’d find a way.
Chapter 6
Rich was trying to concentrate on what a client was telling him, but his mind kept drifting to the text he’d received from Holly. She did want to meet with him today. He’d known it would happen sooner or later, but he’d thought it would take her a while to settle back in and to grieve for her grandpa. He’d also thought she might not want to see him, that she might try to delay it, as he couldn’t imagine that he was her favourite person – father of her child or not.
There were cafés and pubs in Penhallow Sands, but the chances of being left alone to talk for any length of time were slim, as people who hadn’t seen Holly for some time would want to pass on their condolences and catch up with her. He could suggest heading into Newquay, but again, they might not get any privacy, and that was something he thought their conversation would require. There was only one place he could think of for what he imagined was going to prove to be an emotional meeting.
As soon as his client had gone, he replied to Holly’s text, asking her to meet him at 5.30 that afternoon at the old spot. Holly would know where he meant. He’d be able to get there by then as long as he clocked off straight after his final meeting of the day.
Since the funeral on Monday, the atmosphere at his parents’ cottage had been strained. His mother was trying her best not to pester him about Holly and the baby, but it was obvious that she was struggling with it. She wanted to know if Holly would stay in Penhallow Sands, if she would be able to spend time with her grandchild. Rich too wanted to know the answers to those questions, and yet he was terrified of finding out either way. He knew now that Luke was his, but he and Holly had always used contraception and it had never failed them before, so he was confused about how it had happened. If Luke had been conceived despite contraception and Holly’s condition – which she’d been told in her teens could affect her fertility – then he was meant to be. Against the odds, he had arrived – a beautiful, healthy baby boy.
Then there was the other matter to consider. Rich had always believed he never wanted children. After what had happened to Dean, he’d sworn never to open himself up to hurt like that again, never to put himself through what his parents had endured. Why would anyone take that risk? And it had all been his fault – Dean�
�s death, their parents’ suffering; all because of Rich’s stupidity and weakness.
His heart was racing and his palms were clammy; he knew what was happening. He had to get control of this before it consumed him. His life had moved on to a better place; he would not let the old anxieties resume their hold on him.
He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing – in for four, out for four. He felt the air rushing into his lungs, then he pushed it back out, emptying his chest until he needed to fill it again. He opened his mind to the scenery from Ibiza, imagined the sounds of the waves lapping at the shore and the sensation as he walked into the water and felt its warm, soothing embrace.
Tension gone, he drifted…
‘Rich?’
He opened his eyes to find Sam standing in the doorway.
‘You okay?’
He nodded, blinking away his meditation.
‘Just overthinking things, so I needed to mentally check out for five minutes.’
Sam smiled. ‘Did it work?’
‘Like a charm.’
‘Good. You want to grab an early lunch then have a walk along the beach? Get some fresh air?’
‘Wonderful idea.’
Lunch and a walk would be just what he needed before an afternoon of work. Sam really was a good friend.
* * *
Holly pulled into the large car park of the Seaview Diner and cut the engine. It had been a while since she’d driven her grandpa’s Range Rover, but when her granny had announced over breakfast that morning that she needed to go into town, Bruce’s eyes had widened. Although Glenda still had her driving licence, she rarely drove, and Bruce was concerned for more than one reason about her being on the roads. Holly had picked up on his concern and suggested that she take her granny and Luke into town – she needed more nappies and baby formula anyway – then they could go for lunch if Granny felt up to it.
They had gone into the centre of Newquay to do their shopping and Granny had pushed Luke’s pram, smiling proudly as they walked along the high street. Whenever they bumped into someone they knew – which happened a lot – they stopped, and Granny told them all about her precious new great-grandson. Holly could see how much it helped her to focus on Luke, and how whenever someone mentioned Grandpa, she quickly moved the conversation back to the baby. She was glad that Luke had given Granny something to focus on other than her grief, and today she seemed brighter than she had done since Holly had returned home.
Holly climbed out of the vehicle and got Luke’s pram from the boot, then placed his car seat on top and locked it into place. It would be nice to have lunch at the diner. She hadn’t been there in over a year and it had always been one of her favourite locations to eat out in Newquay. They’d often celebrated family occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries there, enjoying the beautiful view over Fistral Beach and sometimes burning off their meal by taking a walk along the sand afterwards.
They crossed the car park and entered the diner, and were led to a table in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the beach. When they sat down, Granny clapped her hands.
‘How delightful! I do love this place.’
‘Me too.’
‘Haven’t been here in ages. The last time was… Gosh, it must have been Grandpa’s birthday last year.’
Holly’s heart plummeted at the memory. She’d pushed it from her mind in her desire to return here; her yearning to recapture some happy memories. Grandpa’s birthday last year had marked a turning point in her life. She had tried not to let it affect her enjoyment of the evening, but it had been hard, especially as the man she loved had been absent. Earlier in the day, Rich had failed to turn up at the solicitor’s office to sign the papers for Plum Tree Cottage, forcing her to go looking for him, but even after seeing how much he’d upset her, he’d still failed to show for her grandpa’s birthday meal. She’d known then for certain that he didn’t love her in the same way she loved him. And her heart had broken.
She looked into the pram next to the table, keen to forget her pain. Luke was waking up, so she lifted him out and held him close. To think that from so much sadness, a beautiful baby had emerged – an innocent child who had no idea what had happened before his arrival – was incredible. There was no denying that for Holly, at least, Luke had been conceived in love, but his birth had been overshadowed by her sadness that Rich was not there. At the time, still deep in her pain and anger that he had treated her so badly, she’d thought it might well be a good thing that he didn’t know about Luke. Seeing him since then, she wondered if she’d been right.
‘Shall we start with a cocktail?’ Granny asked, a twinkle in her eyes as she ran her finger with its swollen knuckles down the menu. She’d never had any pain from her arthritic lumps and swore it was down to how active she was, especially with crocheting, as it kept her fingers nimble in spite of the swelling.
‘You have one, but I’m can’t – I’m driving.’
‘Oh dear, I forgot that. I do love the names of some of these.’ Granny’s eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘Shall I have a Slow Comfortable Screw, a Slippery Nipple or Sex on the Beach?’ She started chuckling, her thin shoulders shaking.
‘Have whatever you want, Granny.’
‘I do wish you could join me.’
‘Drink mine for me.’
‘Order two?’ Granny’s pale-brown eyebrows rose up her lined forehead.
‘Why not?’
When the waitress came to their table, Holly ordered a lime and soda with plenty of ice, and Granny took great delight in asking the young woman for a Screaming Orgasm and a Horny Southerner. Holly felt like covering Luke’s ears with her hands.
‘We should do this every week now you’re home,’ Granny said as she sipped the first of her brightly coloured drinks.
‘That would be lovely.’
Holly gazed out of the window at the golden sand of the beach, and beyond that at the white crests of the waves as they crashed against the shore. When she would leave remained to be decided, but the thought wasn’t particularly appealing, especially since her conversation with her dad last night, when he’d shared his concerns about the vineyard. It could really make a difference if she stayed and helped him. Trying to turn things around would involve a lot of hard work, and it would be too much for him on his own. Besides which, it was her responsibility too. In the past, Grandpa had kept them in the dark about the vineyard’s finances, preferring to shoulder the ups and downs himself, but Holly knew now that her dad had been aware that things weren’t right. If only Grandpa had shared the information with them, they might have been able to start putting things right before now.
But her dad had seemed convinced of one thing: it wasn’t too late to turn things around.
‘Granny, I need to explain why I left,’ Holly said. ‘I’d hate that you might think I was being selfish running off like that.’
Granny drained her cocktail.
‘I don’t think you’re selfish, sweetheart. I know you had a lot going on. We were a bit shocked, but that week before you left, it was obvious that you weren’t yourself at all.’
‘Was it? I’m sorry.’
‘It wasn’t your fault, Holly.’ Granny sniffed. ‘Your grandpa disapproved of Rich, you know.’
‘I knew he had some reservations about him, and that was why it was even more difficult to talk to you both about what had happened. I thought that if I went away for a bit and took some time out, then I could come back feeling stronger and carry on with my life. But when I found out I was pregnant, I couldn’t face coming home and dealing with Grandpa’s disappointment.’
‘He always thought you were too good for the baker’s boy.’
‘The baker’s boy?’ Holly’s tone betrayed her shock at the epithet.
‘I know. Such a cliché looking down on people like that. But it wasn’t because he was the baker’s boy so much as because he always seemed so… restless.’
‘Restless?’
‘Your
grandpa didn’t think the lad would ever commit to you. He liked him, thought he would turn out okay, that he had a certain strength of character, but he didn’t think he was going to settle down with you. It was clear how much you loved him, but we were concerned that he didn’t feel the same. Grandpa said he should have proposed to you long before you started discussing moving in together.’
Holly smiled. She could imagine her grandpa saying exactly that.
‘I think I was always in love with Rich.’
‘Even before your mum passed away?’
‘Yes. In an immature way back then, of course. I just didn’t realize it for a long time.’
‘I remember him coming to the house for tea, but oh gosh… you were so young.’
‘Too young for love, I know, but there was always something between us. Rich was special, because he was my best friend too.’
‘Some of those others you dated over the years…’ Granny cackled. ‘They weren’t brave enough to return and face Grandpa for a second time.’
‘No.’ Holly’s grandpa had scared the life out of some of her boyfriends, intimidating them with questioning the marines would have been proud of resisting, and none of them had been keen to return to the vineyard. But Rich had seemed to be unfazed by Grandpa, to respect the old man’s strength of character and tendency to speak his mind without adopting the tact that most people would.
‘That little man will be just as strong a character. He has your grandpa’s resilience, and, I suspect, some of Rich’s too.’
Holly needed to speak to Rich. Waiting until later might be necessary, but the sooner it was done, the better. Rich had a right to know everything.
The House at Greenacres Page 7