Page 11 of Daydreams at the Farm on Muddypuddle Lane
Maisie began to feel guilty at leaving their mum on her own in the house, untilDulcie added, ‘I dunno why, because you were hardly ever in.’
‘I was!’
‘Only at mealtimes and to change your clothes.’
Maisie propped the shovel against the bare stone wall and put her hands on her hips. ‘I know you and Nikki think I treat Mum like a skivvy and the house like a hotel, butyoutry living with her. She wasn’t as bad when you were at home and Nikki was just around the corner, but since you left and both of you moved to Picklewick, she’s been a nightmare.’
‘She’s worried about you,’
‘Well, she needn’t be. I’m fine.’
‘Are you?’
Maisie softened. ‘I’m okay,’ she said. ‘But I need some time away to think about what I want to do with my life.’
‘Have you come up with anything?’
‘Not really, although I do like working with animals.’
Dulcie smiled. ‘I can see that.’
‘Maybe I could train to be a veterinary nurse or a dog groomer.’
‘Two rather different professions. But at least you’re narrowing it down.’
‘How about if I work in a kennels? Or a cattery? A wildlife sanctuary?’
‘I’m sure there are plenty of jobs in those areas if you look.’
‘In the centre of Birmingham?’
‘Probably not.’
‘Are there any around here?’
‘I’m not sure.’ Dulcie sounded hesitant, and Maisie assumed it was because if she did manage to get a job locally, Dulcie would never be rid of her.
‘I could open one of my own,’ Maisie said.
‘Awildlife sanctuary?’ Her sister’s face was incredulous. ‘You don’t know the first thing about wildlife.’
‘I could learn,’ Maisie retorted. ‘Okay then, what about a boarding kennel?’
‘Have you ever looked after a dog? Taken one for a walk?’
Maisie knew she was trying to run before she could walk, but wasn’t that where ambition began? People had a dream,then moved heaven and earth to make it come true, and although the dream might be big, the start was small. In order for her to start her career journey, Maisie had to know the final destination.
‘Anyway,’ Dulcie was saying, ‘you need loads of money to set up something like a boarding kennel. You’ve got to have a property, for a start. You can hardly start one in Mum’s garden – it’s only big enough for a couple of planters and a patio table. Besides, the neighbours would complain.’
‘I knowthat,I’m not stupid.’ Maisie gave an exasperated sigh. She wished her family would stop treating her like a kid. ‘I would need somewhere like the old farmhouse on the mountain. You know the one, where Jay and Eliza met.’ Shepaused, thinking furiously. ‘Doesn’t that belong to the farm?’
‘Yes, but not for much longer, so you can get that idea out of your head. I’m selling it.’
‘Why? It’s lovely.’
‘It’s derelict.’
‘It’s romantic.’ So what if it lacked a roof and had a tree growing in the middle? It would take a bit of work to restore it, but it would look lovely when it was done.
