Page 50 of You Had Me At Pumpkin Patch
Rosie felt herself inwardly groan. Because sheknewthe answer. They didn’t have time for this project to grow slowly, or for money to trickle in. It had to take off like a rocket and bring in cash – and that could only mean one thing.
The idea bubbled in her mind, part inspired by her dates with Zain, mixed with things she’d pored over in novels, and life skills she’d gleaned along the way. Zain wasn’t going to like it, and it would be an extreme stretch of her own comfort zone. But the butterflies in her stomach told her she was onto something. And butterflies didn’t lie.
‘I’m onto it,’ said Rosie, sounding far more confident than she felt. She wouldn’t trouble her friend with the details yet, because it would need some fleshing out.
‘Always here if you need me.’ Vix’s eyeballs were smiling. And if eyeballs could wave pompoms... ‘Whatever you decide, you’ll smash it.’
Rosie wasn’t sure about thesmashing itpart, though she was about to give Zain the fright of his life, when she told him. She let out a sigh.
‘Want to talk about Zain?’ Vix asked.
Was it that obvious?
‘You know my advice is going to be much the same, right? Just face the music and talk.’
‘If only. I mean, sometimes he has heaps to say, and other times, barely a word. I sense there’s more to him than he’s letting on.’ She just hoped it didn’t involve horny hardware or toy dingoes stuffed with his ex-girlfriends’ knickers.
‘I think you like this guy,’ said Vix. ‘I meanreallylike him. Before, you’ve always measured men in terms of a boring tick list. Has his own flat. Not wanted by the police. Parents don’t hate him.’ Vix counted things off on her fingers. ‘But when you spoke about Zain earlier, your eyes went all melty, and you used words you usually reserve for your romantic heroes. If you think there’s more to him and you’re as keen as I think you are, keep talking. The answers will come. Between you, you’ll work things out.’
‘Do you reckon?’
‘Hell yes, my capable, kickass friend. And before you thank me, please know that the answers were already within you. You simply needed a nudge to help you find them.’
Now, Rosie just needed to nudge her nervous self back to the farm and hit Zain with her controversial new plan.
33
‘So we’ll need more boats,’ said Rosie, pointing her pencil at Zain, before adding it to her party to-do list. In truth, her insides were still reeling at the thought of her scary new launch party idea, but they needed somethingbig.And she did love a list.
‘Still no,’ said Zain, his face stony.
And she hadn’t even mentioned the jack-o’-lanterns.
He’d not long come back from his daily patrol of the fields and was taking off his boots outside his cabin. In fairness, she probably should have waited until he’d had lunch before accosting him with ideas about a launch event and auctioning tickets for candlelit meals on little boats on the lake. It wasn’t unreasonable to be a touchhangry.
Though maybe it was unreasonable to growl. Rosie huffed back at him.
‘Look, it’s only one night. After that, everything will be tranquil again. I promise.’ She’d known he wasn’t going to jump up and shoutyippeeabout the extra footfall across his once peaceful home, but it wasn’t as though she was planning party poppers or everybody dancing to ‘Agadoo’on his precious patches. It would be a serene celebration, with eating and gentle music and people appreciating nature, and they wouldn’t even encroach onto his fields other than for a hayride or two. She had explained all of that.
Zain sighed. ‘Where would we get more boats?’
‘There’s that guy at the boating lake. He doesn’t use his boats in the evenings, and we’re getting good at calling in favours.’ Zain hated asking for help, but they’d come to learn that needs must.
Zain didn’t reply, which was a whole lot better than a flat ‘no’. Rosie took heart and continued.
‘Once people have looked around the campsite and taken in the view of the pumpkins, I’m seeing picnic blankets around the lake, with guests eating. Maybe campfires to create atmosphere and warmth.’
‘Who’s going to cook all this stuff?’ Zain sat down on the step of his porch and looked out across the lake.
‘That’s a great question. Have you heard of Lukas Knight?’
Zain shrugged.
‘He runs a supper club above the café in the local village. His place has got a Michelin star now, and people pay a fortune to eat his food, even though his style is down to earth and rustic.’
‘So we need to ask for another favour?’
‘His girlfriend Gretel from the café is already a big fan of what we’re doing, and I bet he wouldn’t want an ugly cat factory springing up in his backyard. If we can get him on board it would give us a huge boost for ticket prices.’
