Next they strolled back along the front of the yard, passing the garden area behind Greenacres, where Bruce had set up the barbecue, then along to the winery building and the barn that was used to store machinery, barrels and bottles. The large stone winery had been extended and updated over the years and now housed some high-tech equipment, very different from the machinery Holly’s grandpa had started out with. Attached to the main building was another, smaller building, where the wine was stored.
‘This is a fantastic place, Holly,’ Sam said as they walked. ‘What’s in the barn at the far side of the yard?’
‘That one isn’t used for much at all,’ Holly said. ‘It’s been more of a storage facility over the years than anything else. That’s why I was thinking that we could clear it out and use it for events.’
‘Ooh, yes! What sort of events were you thinking?’ Nicole asked as she gazed across the yard at the second barn.
Holly took a deep breath, suddenly a bit nervous about sharing her ideas in case the women thought she was being too ambitious.
‘Tell them, Holly,’ Rich said at her side, his hand resting gently on her elbow.
‘I thought we could have tours of the vineyard followed by wine-tasting.’
‘That’s a great idea.’ Nicole smiled.
‘And we could also hold events such as wedding receptions and barn dances.’
‘Barn dances?’ Nicole raised an eyebrow. ‘Tourists love things like that. In fact, I bet some of the locals would too.’
Holly looked at Rich, and he smiled. He’d told her that Nicole knew her job, and that she would make some helpful suggestions, but it seemed that Holly’s own ideas were good enough.
‘What’s along that side road?’ Sam asked, pointing at the old track overgrown with weeds and shrubbery.
‘That leads to two stone cottages. They were here when my grandpa bought the land and he initially leased them to employees, but in more recent years they’ve been empty and neglected.’
‘Can we have a look?’ Sam asked.
Holly nodded, then led the way across the yard and along the narrow road.
‘Watch out for the stinging nettles!’ she called.
It was dark and quiet along the track because of the way the trees arched overhead like a leafy canopy. On either side the pale blue heads of thousands of bluebells released their sweet, heady fragrance into the air. Beneath the scent lay the richer aromas of earth and vegetation. It was the beautiful smell of Greenacres.
They reached the end of the road and Rich opened the gate that led into an open field with the two stone cottages at the far end. Holly’s heart sank – the buildings really did look very sorry for themselves, with broken window panes and missing roof tiles – but Sam gasped and hurried through the long grass towards them.
‘These are amazing!’ She clapped her hands.
‘I was hoping you’d think so,’ Holly said.
Her grandpa had seen the cottages as more of a burden than anything else, annoyed that they’d require maintenance and effort if he wanted to do anything with them. He preferred to focus on the vineyard itself and the big old house. Holly had never given it much thought before, assuming that he had known what was right for the business, but now she saw it through fresh eyes. If he hadn’t been so stubborn and set in his ways, they could have done so much more here. It must also have been tough for her father, who had clearly seen the potential for diversification but had been unable to take it forward because Grandpa had ruled with an iron fist and wouldn’t allow him to make any changes.
Her dad could easily have left the vineyard and taken Holly with him, but he had stayed and bitten his tongue. She knew that he’d done it for her, so that she would inherit the place. At least her granny trusted him to do the right thing. Since Grandpa had passed, Granny had assigned sole management of the vineyard to her son-in-law, and Holly knew it was a lot to deal with. She wanted to help him as much as she could.
‘They’re beautiful, Holly. There’s so much potential here.’
‘My dad and I think we could renovate them and use them as holiday rentals.’ Holly gazed at the cottages.
‘You’d need an architect and some builders’ quotes to find out what’s possible and to get the best prices, but you certainly could rent them out. For a lot of money in peak season.’ Nicole ran her hand over the stone facade of the nearer building, then tried the door. It was locked.
‘Grandpa kept them locked even though they’re in such a state,’ Holly explained. ‘I can run back and get the keys if you want to go inside.’
‘No, it’s fine. I can see though the window.’ Nicole peered through the glass. ‘It’s a bit weathered in there, where the elements have clearly got in, but with some work, it could be lovely. And these views!’ She turned and gestured towards the land that spread out before the cottages – fields to the right and vines to the left, then beyond that the dark expanse of the sea.
‘Holly also thought that we could do something off-peak,’ Rich said, his face etched with pride as he winked at her. ‘She had a great idea about offering romantic couples’ getaways in late autumn and winter, and possibly writers’ retreats for those needing somewhere to hide away while they race towards a deadline or plod through edits.’
‘Wonderful ideas! Your accountant will be pleased with them.’ Sam smiled. ‘Are you still with Mr… what did you say his name was again, Rich?’
‘Mr Seymour,’ Holly replied. ‘Grandpa wouldn’t dream of having anyone else doing the accounts, but Dad and I agree that we have to be forward-thinking. We were going to speak to Rich about it this evening actually… We’d like your firm to take over the accounts for Greenacres. With Rich being our contact, of course.’
She glanced at him, suddenly shy about making the request, but when he met her eyes, he was grinning broadly.
‘I’d be honoured,’ he said.
‘We’d love to take on your accounts,’ Sam added.
‘But Dad needs to speak to Mr Seymour first, to make it all official. We think he carried on doing the accounts out of loyalty to Grandpa, and Dad reckons he’ll be glad to let them go.’
‘That all sounds fabulous.’ Sam clapped her hands together. ‘Rich, you’ll be a junior partner too before long if you keep finding us more clients like this!’
Excitement fizzed inside Holly. Nicole and Sam thought she had some great ideas and agreed that there was much that could be done here. It would take hard work and money, but Holly knew enough about business to understand that investment was often required to see a profit, and she felt sure that they could find a way to make this work. After seeing the two women’s enthusiasm first-hand, she also felt ready to show them the website.
As they walked back to the big house, she listened as Sam and Nicole gave their professional suggestions about how to start the whole process, including obtaining the relevant permissions from the council, and Rich explained what he’d found out about the financial investment required to make the changes. The numbers made her stomach roll, and goose bumps covered her arms, but Rich squeezed her shoulder more than once to reassure her.
There were things to discuss with Rich and her father, and now that she knew more about it, they would have to speak to Granny too. Holly hoped that the old lady wouldn’t be averse to making some changes, but she had a gut feeling that she wouldn’t mind at all.
She also had a feeling that Rich would be there every step of the way, supporting, advising and helping as much as he could. And that thought warmed her heart.
When they reached the house, Holly went inside to get the laptop. She stood in the kitchen for a moment, gazing out of the window at the vineyard. She had nursed a secret doubt for a long time, a doubt that she had much to offer the world. She’d run the vineyard shop after deciding not to go to university, and although she’d done a good job of it, making a pleasing profit, she’d wondered if she had anything else to contribute. Now, though, even though she was sad that Greenacres had reac
hed a point of instability, she also felt invigorated. She had a good business head on her shoulders, and she possessed a certain creative flair, as well as enthusiasm and a solid work ethic. Along with her dad and Rich, she would strive to make Greenacres great again, and she was excited about what that meant for them all.
Chapter 14
Four weeks had passed, and spring had given way to summer. So much had changed already. Although Holly had found out that planning permission often took up to eight weeks, and sometimes longer depending on what was required, Rich’s father had been able to pull a few strings at the council. The plans for the use of the second barn and the stone cottages had been processed, and things were moving quickly. Bruce had been surprised at the amount of money required up front, but he admitted to Holly that it wouldn’t be a problem as he’d been saving for years. He also had some money put away that he’d inherited from his parents in Australia – grandparents Holly had never met because they’d died before she was born – and that he’d had been keeping for a rainy day. He told Holly that he’d be happy to invest in the vineyard because essentially it was an investment for her and for Luke.
So the ball was well and truly rolling. There were builders at the cottages and in the second barn, and the work was due to be completed by late July, when they’d be ready to hold a grand opening. The thought made Holly’s stomach flip. Her dad had been keen to project-manage everything, and Nicole, whom they’d employed to oversee the PR, had turned out to be extremely efficient and competent. As she had told Holly and Bruce, they had great wine, beautiful views and the right attitude; all they needed was the right advertising and for their reputation to grow. She’d already arranged for a few taster weekends at the cottages for a variety of bloggers and journalists, who would, of course, be given the full Greenacres vineyard tour experience.
Holly’s website had won everyone’s approval and it was now live, with teasers about the cottages and the events that could be held at the barn already attracting attention. They’d even secured some bookings for the cottages in August and September, as well as some enquiries about renting them over the winter months. It had been agreed that Holly would run the shop and website, answer emails and take bookings, while her dad would continue to see to the running of the vineyard and the winery. Rich would do the vineyard’s accounts, now that Mr Seymour had been thanked for his long service and gently retired, and Nicole would head up the PR. Holly was excited about her new role and about taking Greenacres forward, and although it was a lot to juggle alongside caring for Luke, it was work that she could do while being there for him. She knew that as he grew and started toddling, it would be harder to manage, but there was a lovely nursery in Penhallow Sands and Lucinda had already offered her childcare services. Holly knew that she would manage, just as other working mothers did, but she also knew how lucky she was to have a family around her supporting her.
Every day after work, Rich came to visit Luke and to help however he could. He’d been a source of support in more ways than one, and Holly had to try hard not to allow herself to get too close to him. But it was so difficult. He really had changed and was demonstrating it in every way possible, by being a wonderful father and a good friend.
This evening, he was babysitting while Holly went out with Fran. For an actual night out. She’d changed three times already, feeling uncomfortable in the fitted summery dresses she’d tried on, still convinced that even though she’d given birth almost five months ago, her belly was still too soft and rounded. She’d settled instead on a pair of stretchy indigo skinny jeans with hidden tummy support, and a sleeveless white tunic top that fell to mid thigh. With a pair of low wedges, she felt comfortable but smart enough to hit the town.
When she went downstairs just after seven, Rich was in the lounge with Glenda. The TV flickered with some chat show, but the volume was down and Rich and her granny were both talking to Luke.
Her son was lying on his play mat in front of the sofa where Granny sat, with Rich at his side. Rich’s long denim-clad legs were stretched out in front of him and he was tickling Luke’s tummy, causing the baby to chuckle with glee.
‘Evening.’ Holly stood in the doorway, feeling like an awkward teenager and wishing she was spending the evening at home.
Rich looked up and his mouth formed a perfect O.
‘Wow, Holly! You look fabulous.’
She bit her lip. ‘Seriously? It’s only jeans and a tunic.’
‘Your hair and make-up are divine, darling.’ Granny nodded in approval. ‘And you have such a lovely figure. Isn’t that right, Rich?’ She nudged him and he smiled.
‘Perfect.’ His cheeks flushed but he kept his eyes on Holly.
Holly went over to Luke and knelt next to him to give him a kiss.
‘Be good for Daddy and Granny, won’t you?’ She looked up. ‘Where’s Dad? Don’t tell me he’s still working?’
‘He’s out at the cottages, I think. Speaking to one of the carpenters.’
Holly smiled. Her dad was spending a lot of time out there, ensuring that everything was done properly. He was so enthusiastic about the developments, and it was wonderful to see.
‘I’d better go and say goodbye before I leave.’
‘I’ll tell him you’ve gone,’ Rich said. ‘No need for you to traipse all the way out there.’
‘Okay, you’re probably right. I’d struggle in these wedges, even though the road has been evened out now.’
She stood up.
‘I’ll grab my bag and jacket and wait outside for Fran.’
‘Cup of tea, Glenda?’ Rich asked.
‘I’d love one.’
‘Coming right up.’
He followed Holly out into the hallway, then went through to the kitchen, while Holly chose a lightweight blazer from the cupboard under the stairs and fetched her bag from where she’d hooked it over the banister. He was leaning against the worktop when she walked into the kitchen.
‘You do look amazing, Hols. Be careful tonight, won’t you?’
‘I’ll be fine. I’m thirty-one now, and a mother. There’ll be no dancing on tables or around poles or anything.’
‘Gosh, I should hope not.’ Rich shook his head. ‘Sorry… it’s none of my business really, but I do… I do worry about you.’
The concern in his warm brown eyes made her heart flutter.
‘I’ll be sensible, and I’ll be with Fran anyway. You know she doesn’t take any nonsense.’
‘Good old Fran, eh?’
‘She’ll probably spend the evening trying to persuade me to adopt that puppy.’ Holly smiled as she thought about the grey lurcher with his rough coat and waggy tail. She’d been to Fran’s a few times over recent weeks and was getting rather fond of him. But adopting him would be a big step, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for it. She had so much going on at the moment; surely a puppy would complicate everything further? Even if his training had progressed wonderfully under Fran’s careful guidance. Even if his soulful brown eyes did make Holly want to take him home.
‘It would be good for Luke if you did adopt it. They’d probably be the best of friends.’
‘Perhaps…’ She opened her bag and checked that she had her purse – for the tenth time since she’d put it in there – then closed it again. ‘Thanks for doing this, Rich.’
‘Doing what?’
‘Looking after Luke.’
‘He’s my son. I want to be involved as much as I can be.’
‘I know, and I’m so glad that you do. I was worried…’
‘You thought I wouldn’t want him?’
‘No. Well… I didn’t know how you’d react, but you’re a great dad.’
‘I wish… I wonder, I mean… if I could be more to you too.’ His eyes widened, and Holly watched as he rubbed his hands over his face. ‘Sorry… I shouldn’t have said that. I’m trying to be patient, to…’
‘To what?’
He didn’t reply, so she moved closer and touched his arm.
‘Rich? What’s wrong?’
He lowered his hands and met her gaze.
‘I want to win your trust, Holly. I want to be someone you can rely on.’
She paused for a moment, then made a decision. Sliding her arms around his neck, she hugged him. He was tense at first, but as he relaxed and his strong arms enveloped her, warmth spread through her body and her skin tingled all over.
‘Holly,’ he murmured into her hair.
The emotion that had risen into her throat was so powerful that she couldn’t reply. Rich felt so good, and smelt so good. It was like coming home after a long holiday, and she held on tight, wanting the hug to go on and on.
Everything was going so well right now: Luke had his dad and Holly had Rich’s friendship. If they took things further, how would she cope if it all went wrong? She needed some form of commitment from Rich if things were ever going to develop between them. But just at this moment, she couldn’t explain that. Although she knew it was wrong on some level to allow her pride to enter into the situation, it did. After the way Rich had behaved last year, the last thing Holly wanted to do was beg him for a sign of his feelings. She wanted him to make that decision himself, to show her of his own volition that he cared. She didn’t want to be the one to tell him how he should do that; she wanted him to just know.
Silly? Perhaps.
Selfish? Perhaps.
Risky? Probably.
But if he didn’t care about her enough to show her, it wouldn’t work. Holly had been hurt so badly that she couldn’t take the chance of loving Rich again if he didn’t love her back: truly, madly, deeply. Even then, she didn’t know if she’d be able to take the risk.
A horn beeping from outside dragged her from her thoughts, and she gently slid out of his arms.
‘You have fun with Granny and Luke, and don’t forget her cup of tea, or she’ll never forgive you.’
‘You have fun too, Hols.’ His voice was husky, his eyes dark with something she recognized as desire.
The House at Greenacres Page 16