Page 96 of A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft

‘I think there’s something snagged on Moby’s lead.’

Poppy picked Moby up to take a look and, as her fingers touched the engagement ring hooked onto his collar, I got down on bended knee and asked her to marry me. The simple approach had been perfect for us.

Poppy

The preview opening of Bumblebee Farm Shop was a wonderful evening. I’d helped Zara create my Honey Bee Hugs display but nothing beat going into the farm shop and seeing people around the stand reading the leaflets, smelling and trying the samples, and adding the products to their baskets – especially people I didn’t know.

‘I’m so proud of you,’ Joel said, squeezing my hand as we watched a couple of customers add the full range to their baskets.

I’d cut back on my clients to the point where I only needed to devote a maximum of two days a week to being an accountant, dividing the rest of my days between the bees and Martha and I couldn’t wait to fulfil my dream of leaving accountancy behind completely.

We’d been invited back to the farmhouse for a barbeque after the shop closed, but there was somewhere I wanted to visit first. Amber took Imogen and Martha with her while Joel and I rode one of the quad bikes up to the apiary in what we’d called Top Bee in keeping with Barney’s field names. Before taking delivery of my new hives, I’d scattered Mum’s and Dad’s ashes across Top Bee so that my parents would always be with me and the bees. I wanted to share the news of my successful Honey Bee Hugs launch with them.

Joel sat on Mum’s bench – which had avoided fire and smoke damage with being at the entrance to the original Honey Bee Croft – and I wandered towards the hives, standing a safedistance away and watching the bees flying in and out for several minutes.

‘The farm shop opened this evening,’ I said. ‘Lots of people were buying my products. It was amazing to see. I re-designed my logo. There’s a queen and a worker bee on it now and guess what I’ve called them? Joy and Stanley. We’re going to get stationery and textiles made with them on. Bet you never thought you’d be immortalised as a couple of honey bees!’

They’d never have imagined it, but they’d have absolutely loved it.

‘That’s it for now. I’ll speak to you again soon.’

I blew a kiss into the air and stood there for a couple more minutes before returning to Joel.

‘Good chat?’ he asked.

‘Always.’

I cuddled up to him on the bench, feeling so relaxed. I’d come here on the morning of our wedding last September and sat on the bench on my own, my hands clasped across my expanding stomach, and I’d felt their presence so strongly, wholeheartedly supporting the man I’d found for my happy ever after.

I’d hesitated over who to ask to give me away on our wedding day but had decided on Phil. The ex-husband might be an unusual choice but he was the one who’d given me the confidence to go for it with Joel, pushing me each time I wobbled. I had so many new friends I could have asked to be my bridesmaid but I decided to just have Imogen. Beautiful and attentive, she couldn’t have been a more ideal choice.

Pinned to the underside of the lace panels on my wedding dress were Mum’s embroidered quote and Dad’s robin, so I could have them both with me in spirit.

We’d returned to Bumblebee Barn after the ceremony for a hog roast and barbeque in a marquee. Our guest list had been nothing like the size of Amber and Barney’s but thesmall wedding had been absolutely perfect because we were surrounded by all the important people in our lives – my new tribe.

I FaceTimed Sharon and Ian every couple of weeks and we’d visited each other. Bertie and Cheryl’s baby boy was thriving and Phil and Reina were expecting their second baby – another girl – in August. Wilf and Benji were both doing well. They’d been to our wedding and had visited last month to meet Martha, during which time an immediate friendship had formed between Benji and Moby who followed each other everywhere.

‘I suppose we’d better head back and see what the girls are up to,’ I said to Joel. ‘But I’m glad we came and shared it with Mum and Dad.’

He took my hand and we slowly walked towards the quad bike.

‘So, Poppy Grainger,’ Joel said, ‘have you done anything lately that’s scared you?’

I laughed, remembering that the last time he’d posed that question, I’d whipped out my positive pregnancy test.

‘Other than going into labour?’ I teased. ‘Actually, no. Because with you by my side, nothing does anymore. What about you?’

‘Same answer.’

Reaching the quad bike, we fastened our helmets and Joel got on. I took one last look towards Top Bee and imagined Mum and Dad sitting on the bench. No, they’d be dancing by the bench. They were in this place, in my heart and one day I’d be able to tell their granddaughter all about the journalist and the nurse who’d given up their dreams of travelling the world to focus on a new dream of being exceptional parents to a lost and lonely young woman, her baby daughter and, in time, twenty hives of bees. And hopefully I’d be telling that same story toMartha’s brother too. After all, Joel and I had been doing some manifesting and the universe hadn’t let us down so far.

As we set off down the farm, I gazed across the fields at the beautiful white farmhouse in the distance and smiled contentedly. I’d never forget that day over a year ago when Joel and I sat in the lounge and fantasised about a future that seemed unattainable. Now we had it all and so much more – our dream businesses, each other, our perfect little family and our forever home at Honey Bee Croft.

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