Page 78 of You Had Me At Pumpkin Patch
‘I sent them a message on Instagram,’ said Agnes, looking pleased with herself. ‘I’ve been following that sister of yours, and her livestream whatchamacallits.#LetTheTruthSetYouFree!’ She clapped her hands.
So that’s what the computer in Agnes’s kitchen was all about.
‘I’m more of a#PumpkinFarmKissfan myself,’ said Luna. ‘And we just got front-row seats to the live-action show.’ She gave a celebratory, arm-wavy dance, in the carefree way Rosie had come to love her for. Ellen too, judging by the way she bounced over and sprang a kiss on Luna’s cheek.
‘Honestly, it’s so great to see you all.’ Rosie hadn’t realised just how much she’d missed them, until she’d seen them careering across the grass. ‘But what are you doing here?’
‘Making sure you don’t escape again.’ Luna shrugged as though it was perfectly obvious.
‘You’re free to make your own choices, love,’ Bonnie clarified.
‘But if you’re staying, Bonnie’s brought the fizz,’ said Mags.
‘I’ve got the glasses.’ Agnes clonked the box down so firmly, Rosie prayed they were shatterproof. ‘And I didn’t lug them all this way for nothing.’
Rosie looked at Zain, who was smiling at her friends’ antics in a way that told her he did quite like people. The possibility that they could continue to grow these friendships, with Zain too, made her heart swell. Although maybe she should check that.
‘What are your thoughts about me coming back?’ Rosie asked Zain. ‘I mean, you were here first, and maybe you don’t want me living here again so soon, or perhaps we should talk about this in private...’
Zain stepped in and put a playful finger to her lips. ‘As much as I love your voice, I’m not letting you talk yourself into leaving. Of course I want you back here. I want nothing more than to see you striding around the place, leaving wildflowers in the toilet hut and decorating the meadows with leaf-shaped bunting, like trees don’t have enough foliage.’ He grinned. ‘Towels folded into the shape of winter squash, pumpkin-spiced everything, your quirky family of friends.’ He gave them a wink. ‘I’d be made up if you’d stay.’
‘Even if I was running writing retreats too?’
‘Knew you’d be hot for the idea.’ He winked at her. ‘I’m your resident muse.’
Bonnie cheered and popped open her bottle, most of it spraying everywhere.
‘Talking of writing retreats,’ said Ellen, stepping forward with her wheelbarrow, which Rosie now saw was filled with old-fashioned typewriters. They’d been carefully cushioned with dustsheets, and the sight of them filled Rosie with joy. ‘Can you make use of these?’
‘Yes!’ said Rosie, crouching down to touch them. ‘They’re beautiful.’
‘Looks like I’ll need to heft some logs over and start making writing desks,’ said Zain.
Rosie was loving the sound of this already. ‘Now I’ll need to round up more guests.’
‘I’ve made a waiting list,’ said Agnes, who clearly never took no for an answer. ‘I knew you’d see sense. Frogs only jump forwards.’ She gave her frog-eyed boots a nod. ‘Not backwards. And you, Rosie F, belong perfectly here.’
She would raise her glass to that.
For the next couple of hours, they sat around chatting, Rosie fetching picnic blankets, Zain bringing pumpkin bread and whatever he could find in his fridge. Bonnie emptied out her basket, which always harboured a selection of treats.
Ellen had brought a copy of the local paper, which had run a story about the Cyber Purrz directors having a fall-out. There was word of the robot cat company dissolving. Rosie didn’t want to wish bad luck on The Three Tuxedos, but she kind of hoped it was true.
Mags shared that she was going to help Agnes with her new, improved animal sanctuary. In the meantime, Agnes was going ahead with the best quote for the building work and no doubt had a hard hat so she could keep the builders in check. And both Agnes and Mags had been reading up on llamas.
Bonnie had been on her wine and dine date with Theodore, who’d been the highest bidder at the pumpkin farm’s opening party auction, to Bonnie’s delight. They’d had the best time and were planning to meet again, this time without Luna spying on them from the next table in case Theo was an axe-wielding outlaw.
‘We should keep ourselves busy too, Luna,’ said Ellen. ‘Maybe we could start a family.’
Luna’s eyes bulged. ‘Erm...’
‘A fur baby, I mean.’ Ellen leaned over and gave Mags’s kitten Orangeade a fuss. ‘Obviously. Ever fancied a rescue cat?’
Luna exhaled a slow breath. ‘I’m more of a dog person. But yeah, I’m up for a pet. As long as you don’t want one of those robotic things.’
They all pulled faces at that.
Rosie could already tell she was going to relish watching her new friends taking charge of their next chapters and being a part of hers too.
