After I finished my pecan pie, I walked back to Pumpkin Hollow when my phone started ringing. ‘Hello?’
‘Is this Willow Connor?’
‘Who’s this?’ I asked with caution as it could be someone saying we hadn’t paid a bill.
‘I’m Maddy from The Star Chronicle and I’ve seen lots of talk online about your new pumpkin patch and I’d love to do a feature…’
I stopped walking. This was a national newspaper and website. The reach would be huge compared to the local newspaper we had had come by when we opened.
‘Really?’ I asked, unable to play it cool, I was so shocked.
I could hear the smile in her voice. ‘Really. Do you have ten minutes to chat?’
‘Definitely,’ I replied.
44
My twenty-sixth birthday started out like most days on the farm, which I didn’t mind at all apart from my dad making us pancakes for breakfast after I had completed my farm chores in the darkness of the October morning. I walked Maple to feed the chickens and I thought about my mum, which I often did on my birthday. She had always woken me up early, even more excited than me for the day, and insisted we eat the cake she had baked for breakfast and open my presents in bed. My dad and I had tried to carry on that tradition a few times but it had felt hollow without her so we had tried to create new traditions instead.
I still missed her though as Maple barked excitedly at the chickens. I had thought Mum would have been around for many more milestones than she had been. It was a shame she couldn’t see the changes we were making on the farm. But also the change in me. I could feel it. I looked over as Dylan made his way to the farmhouse for breakfast and I knew he had been a part of that change.
‘Come on, Maple, the chickens have had their breakfast; it’s time for ours,’ I said, whistling for her. I had left my hair down today as I’d washed it and was letting it dry naturally and it blew across my face on the morning breeze. I pushed it back as Maple ran eagerly to my side and we walked into the warm house and through to the kitchen where the table was set up for breakfast. It had two cards and presents on it as well as a bunch of pretty orange and yellow roses: my favourites.
Dad was bringing over a large plate of pancakes while Dylan carried coffees and the maple syrup. I fed Maple and then joined them at the table.
‘Happy birthday, love,’ Dad said. ‘We thought we’d have a quick celebration before the day starts and then we can let our hair down tonight with Sabrina and everyone. Not that I have much to let down,’ he added, a twinkle in his eyes. It was nice to see. Sometimes, he could be melancholic on my birthday without Mum around so I was glad he was in a good mood. He handed me his card, which had a Border Collie on it, and his present.
I opened it up and smiled at the large, gold-framed photo of me and Maple in the pumpkin patch. He’d taken it the day we opened despite my protests as I wasn’t a big fan of having my picture taken. ‘That’s so sweet, Dad,’ I said. We never went crazy on birthdays, preferring thoughtful gifts over expensive ones and in later years, we were glad of that tradition as we certainly couldn’t justify pricey presents. ‘I’ll put it on my bedside table.’ We had a big hug and then as he dished up pancakes, Dylan handed me his card and present.
Dylan had chosen an autumn-themed card – it was covered in assorted leaves and said:
Have an unbe-LEAF-able birthday!
I giggled at the terrible pun and opened it up to read his message.
Willow, I hope you have a very happy birthday. Thank you for making me fall in love with October. Dylan.
My breath hitched a little bit. I glanced at him – he was watching my reaction. I smiled across at him and he dropped me a wink. I then opened up his present and unwrapped a small, velvet jewellery box.
‘I know what this cost you to part with, and I thought you deserved to have it back,’ he said as I lifted the box open and gasped.
‘What is it?’ Dad asked as he drizzled maple syrup over his pancakes.
Unable to speak, I tilted the box to show Dad the gold and diamond necklace inside. The gold and diamond necklace that my mum had passed down to me and I had sold to make the pumpkin patch and try to rescue the farm.
‘Oh my,’ Dad said, his eyes widening.
Mine misted as I looked over at Dylan. ‘You bought it back…’ I was so touched, I could barely get my words out.
Dylan nodded. ‘I could see how hard it was for you to sell it, how much you wished you hadn’t had to. You’ve done incredible things these past few weeks. I have been so inspired by your ideas, your determination and your hard work. I knew this should come back to you.’
I jumped up and went over to him. Despite my dad being there, I couldn’t stop myself from giving him a kiss on the lips. I reached out to touch his cheek as he looked up at me, startled by my kiss. ‘Thank you, Dylan. Will you put it on me?’
He stood up and I lifted up my hair. I felt his breath on the back of my neck as he gently draped the necklace around my neck and then fastened it. He quickly brushed his fingertips on my skin before I put my hair back down.
I looked at my dad, who was beaming. ‘What do you think?’
‘I always said you should wear it more,’ Dad replied, looking a little bit misty-eyed himself. ‘Dylan, Willow’s mother would be so happy that she has it back. Thank you, son.’