Page 22 of Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow
‘You’re surprised,’ I said, not needing to pose it as a question. She had been sceptical like everyone else about the idea. ‘But it’s okay, I get not everyone can see my vision. I think it could be something really fun, though.’
‘Willow is so passionate about it; her imagination is really impressive,’ Dylan told them.
‘Speaking of my imagination,’ I said, trying not to smile too widely at his praise. I enjoyed it more than I should have done. ‘I’ve been thinking that I should name the pumpkin patch something so it’s memorable for people. I wondered about…’ I turned to Sabrina. ‘Pumpkin Hollow. What do you think?’
She grinned. ‘A nod to the Gilmore Girls? I love it! It feels cosy and autumnal and inviting.’
‘The Gilmore Girls?’ Dylan asked me, raising an eyebrow.
‘It’s one of my favourite TV shows to watch at this time of year. It’s so cosy and they have lots of autumn-themed episodes. And they drink even more coffee than we do,’ I told him with a chuckle. ‘I hope other fans might like I’ve named it that. Plus, I think I can create cute graphics and leaflets and a sign with it on, right?’
Sabrina smiled. ‘I think it’s inspired, Willow. What do you have to do next for the patch?’
‘I need to meet with suppliers,’ I said.
‘She is taking me away to find everything the pumpkin patch needs this weekend,’ Dylan added.
‘Oh, yeah?’
‘A couple of days away from the farm as all the suppliers are so far away. That will change soon once I’m selling pumpkins, though.’
Dylan glanced at me and smiled and after I returned it, I glanced across the table to see Sabrina and Bradley staring at us. Then they exchanged a look and I wished I knew what they were thinking.
18
‘Sabrina said to call if you need anything,’ I said to my dad as I stood in the doorway bright and early on Saturday morning. Yesterday’s rain had eased to a drizzle but it was windy out and the sky was grey. I hoped we were going to get all the rainy weather out of the way now so that October would be crisp and dry and encourage people to come to the farm. If I could get my autumnal world out of my head and into reality before then. The clock was ticking and it felt like this weekend was make or break as to whether it would work. I didn’t want to leave Dad, though. ‘Are you sure you’ll be okay?’ I hadn’t been away from the farm for any significant time since my university days, and the thought of him being alone was making me hesitate.
‘Willow, I’m a grown man, perfectly capable of being on my own,’ he said, shaking his head at me. He stood in the hall with Maple, who was giving me a sulky look as she had seen my overnight bag and had worked out I was leaving her. I’d given her extra cuddles and treats but she was still sad, which was making me hang in the doorway while Dylan sat waiting for me in my car, our things already loaded into the boot. ‘And you have to do this to save the farm, right?’
I nodded. ‘I know, but I just want you to be okay. Both of you,’ I added, giving Maple a worried look.
Dad reached down to stroke the top of her head. ‘She will be fine too. We’ll have a nice day together. I’ll take things easy, and will call for help if anything goes wrong. Which it won’t. You get out there and find what you need for your plans. Send me a picture of all the pumpkins you find,’ he added with a grin.
I was relieved he seemed more cheerful this morning. ‘Okay, I better get going. I said I’d be at the first place by 10 a.m. And we’ll probably need to stop for coffee on the way. Right then, keep in touch, yeah?’ I took a deep breath and with more promises from Dad that he would contact me lots, I waved and left the farmhouse with a heavy heart.
How could I ever leave this place permanently if it was this difficult to go away for the weekend?
I glanced back to see Dad in the doorway. He waved once more then closed the door and I climbed into my car, hoping that my big idea was going to help us keep the farm. I smoothed down my leggings and long jumper which I was wearing with my knee-high boots and Barbour jacket, a chunky scarf round my neck, my hair its usual bun, and gloves on to drive in. ‘Right, I think I have everything; are you okay to go?’ I asked as I put my seat belt on and took a deep breath.
‘I’m all set,’ Dylan said. He had on blue jeans, a flannel shirt, his Barbour and new boots, and a leather satchel with his beloved laptop in by his feet. I liked the country-casual look on him. ‘I would still prefer to drive, though.’
‘I told you, we’re going to farms and country businesses, and it’s been raining, there will be mud everywhere, and the roads might be slightly flooded; your car can’t handle the journey,’ I replied. ‘Haven’t you noticed no one around here owns the same car as you?’
I took off, trying not to look at the farm in the rear-view mirror in case it upset me further. I turned up the heating as the morning was chilly and put the radio on softly.
‘I love my car,’ he said. ‘I’ll never give it up, even if I do get stuck in the mud.’
‘That sounds pretty stubborn,’ I remarked as we drove out of the farm and onto the road.
‘Ha. Coming from you?’ He gave me a grin though so I just shook my head.
I knew I was stubborn but I also knew it meant I didn’t easily give up, so I was glad that it was one of my traits.
‘So, how did you become friends with Sabrina?’ he asked. ‘You seem… different.’
‘We are,’ I agreed. ‘We were sat next to each other first day at primary school and she was this doll-like little girl in a cute dress, whereas I wore dungarees and had short hair. I didn’t think we’d ever be friends. But at break, some kids were trying to upset me by saying I smelled like a cow,’ I said, rolling my eyes at the memory. ‘And Sabrina marched up to them, she was the smallest by far, and told them that our farm had a wolf and if they kept picking on me, we would set it on them.’ I chuckled. ‘God knows why they believed her but they did. I was left alone and we started hanging out.’
‘She’s feisty,’ he said with a smile.
