Page 28 of Daydreams at the Farm on Muddypuddle Lane
‘You mean,youlike koalas,’ Nikki pointed out. ‘I don’t think Aunty Dulcie will be keeping koalas.’
‘Uncle Jay could send her some.’
His mother said, ‘Koalas are native to Australia, not New Zealand.’
Dulcie sipped her coffee. ‘We’ve got the goats, and three of them have yet to give birth. But that will be soon, so I want to hold the spring event thingy in the next couple of weeks ideally, so the babies are still tiny.’
Otto grinned. ‘Spring event thingy? Catchy title.’
‘I’m not sure what else to call it,’ she said.
‘How about Spring on the Farm, or you could hold it at the Easter weekend and call it an Easter Fayre?’ Maisie suggested.
‘I like that idea! Good thinking, Maisie. Now, how about if we—’ Dulcie began, but was interrupted by her phone ringing. ‘It’s Mum,’ she said, accepting the call. ‘Hi, Mum. Hang on, let me put you on speakerphone. Just so you know, Maisie,Otto, Nikki, Sammy and Walter are here, so no swearing.’
‘Hi, Mum,’ Maisie and Nikki chorused in unison, as the others said hello.
‘What are you all doing at Dulcie’s at this time on a Saturday morning?’ Beth wanted to know.
Dulcie said, ‘They’re helping me plan the Easter Fayre.’
‘What Easter Fayre?’
‘The one I intend holding to try to bring in some revenue.’
‘I thought that’s what the goats were for? And who was that man you were draped over, Maisie? Was that the chap who Dulcie got to do all the work?’
‘His name is Adam,’ Maisie said.
‘He looks a bit of a sort,’ Beth replied. ‘Is he the one you’ve been seeing?’
‘Yes, he is.’ Maisie shook her head in irritation, catching an I-told-you-so look from Nikki.
‘You can do better than him,’ Beth continued. ‘But then, I doubt he’ll last long. Your boyfriends never do.’ It was said with an equal measure of satisfaction and disapproval. ‘I don’t know why you can’t find yourself a nice chap like Otto. Or Giovanni.’
Nikki rolled her eyes as she muttered, ‘It’s nice of her to include Gio.’
Maisie smirked at her eldest sister and Nikki stuck out her tongue, making Maisie blink in surprise.
Dulcie frowned at them and held up a hand. ‘Mum, is there anything in particular you want? I don’t like to be rude, but Otto has to go to work in a minute and I want to get on with the meeting while he’s still here.’
There was a telling silence, followed by, ‘I know when I’m not wanted, so I’ll say goodbye. Clearly Walter’s opinion is more important than mine.’
‘Don’t be silly, Mum. Your opinion is equally valid. I know, why don’t you stay on the line? It’ll be as if you are actually here.’
‘But I’m not, am I? I’m here on my own. Maisie, when are you coming home?’
Dulcie tutted, ‘Mum, can we get on, please? Do you want to stay on the phone or not?’
‘I suppose I’ll have to, if I want to be part of the family.’
Maisie wrinkled her nose as her sisters pulled equally irritated faces.
‘Okay, then,’ Dulcie said, not rising to the bait.
Maisie admired her sister’s self-control; their mother was the guilt-trip queen. Thankfully, nothing more was mentioned about Adam, or Maisie’s possible return to Birmingham and the family home, and the ad hoc meeting went ahead without further ado.
And with the date now set for the fayre and lots of ideas, Maisie couldn’t wait to get stuck in. This spring was shaping up to be the best one ever.
