Page 81 of River
This time, I got out of the car as soon as I’d parked it.
The farm looked centuries old with a beautiful thatched roof and gritted windows.
A sign outside said “Fleur’s Farm,” and another gave directions for bus and overflow car parking further down the road.
To hide how my hands were shaking, I walked with one hand in my pocket and the other clutching my handbag to my side. There was a smell of hay and animals hanging in the air, reminding me of my last visit to a zoo.
Immediately, my eyes focused in on a woman who was crossing the courtyard. She had her back to me but turned before I could say a word.
It was her!
I recognized Fleur Linden from her picture.
“Hello.” Fleur stood still, watching me as I approached her.
“Hi. My name is River, I’m looking for Noah Parker.”
Fleur was my height and had long wavy hair that was pulled back by a rolled-up scarf she was using as a hairband. Her eyes followed me as I stopped in front of her.
“Are you okay?” Her face was soft when she reached out a hand to touch my shoulders.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I said and straightened up.
“I’m sensing distress from you. Did something happen on your way here?”
“Thank you for your concern, but I assure you that I’m fine.” I hated how easy it was for her to read me, but despite the eye drops I’d used, my eyes were probably still a bit red and puffy from all my crying.
“You’ll find Noah with the puppies.” She let go of my shoulder and nodded to the barn before leading the way. Once she opened the door, she pointed down to the right.
“Thank you.” I’d already spotted Noah standing with three others, who all turned to see who had entered. The barn was an open room with a few support columns and stalls with walls the height of my waist.
There was surprise on Noah’s face when he first saw me, but he didn’t light up as I’d hoped. Instead, he frowned and moved to meet me halfway between the door and the stall he’d been in.
Behind me, I heard the door close, and looking over my shoulder, I saw that Fleur was gone.
“So, this is where you work now?” I said with a lightness that I didn’t feel.
“What are you doing here?” Noah asked and positioned himself so that his body was a shield between his colleagues and me.
He’s embarrassed that I’m here.
“You said you’d forgive me if I apologized face to face.”
Noah had a hard expression. “No, I said thatmaybeI’d forgive you.”
“Oh.” My gaze fell to his left elbow, which stood out from his body with the way his hands were planted against his sides.
“I read about the farm when I looked for the address,” I said in a desperate attempt to save face and not show how difficult this was for me. “It’s not exactly a typical farm, is it?”
“No, we don’t produce animals for slaughter if that’s what you mean. Why are you here, River?”
I’d already told him, so either he wasn’t listening, or my presence was confusing to him.
“I love animals. Maybe I came to work here like you and the others.” I leaned to the side to see the three others, who were close enough to hear us.
Noah scoffed. “I have a hard time seeing a society girl like you working on a farm.”
“I’m a hard worker,” I defended myself. “Fleur isn’t bigger than me; if she can do it, I can too.”
