Page 114 of A Year at Appleyard Farm
Natalie broke off her signing, looking rather puzzled. She exchanged a look with Laura and gave a slight shrug as if in apology. Clearly, Stephen had stopped speaking for some reason and, as Laura leaned forward to see what the problem was, Stephen turned to look squarely at her.
‘You’re going to kill me,’ he said with a grin.
Laura, whose heart was suddenly beating very fast, was still trying to process the rush of emotions that Stephen’s words had already created when he continued to speak.
‘Because I’m about to tell everyone here that I love you…’
Laura looked up in astonishment to see Natalie signingOh My God…
Stephen began again. ‘Laura has a huge soul, is kind and incredibly brave, but sadly, and for reasons best known to themselves, certain people have tried to break her spirit over the years, and she has been on her own for far too long. She has taught me a great deal, about myself, however, about what makes me happy, and what it is to share the life of another. I find myself being nice, and considerate, compassionate even, and believe me these are things that never came easily before. I think of her before myself, in fact I think of her all the time, and it’s only now that I realise what it means to love someone else…So, as I say my closing words, in celebration of the love that Freya and Sam share, and with hope that it continues undiminished, you can be sure that I mean what I say, because, to both my surprise and yours, I finally get what this thing called love is all about. To Freya and Sam.’
Laura imagined that the noise in the room at this point must be deafening. She could see glasses being raised, mouths open in surprise, repeating Stephen’s toast, whooping and calling, and hands crashing together, clapping feverishly. What would it be like if she could hear it all? It was hard enough trying to think inside a ball of silence, her brain frantically attempting to recall Stephen’s words in case she’d got them wrong, but the look on his face seemed to suggest she had not. She looked over at Natalie, who was nodding and smiling from ear to ear, then back again to Stephen who wore a curious expression, almost as if he was waiting for a punch to land, but then as her mouth began to curve upwards, following the trajectory her heart was also taking, she saw his expression begin to mirror her own. The last thing she saw as he bent to kiss her was Freya, grinning like a loon over his shoulder.
60
Stephen looked down at the piece of paper he was still clutching and dropped it on the table. It was the speech he had so carefully written and rehearsed and then completely ignored. He still wasn’t sure what had made him do it, except that as he began to speak about Freya and Sam, he had suddenly realised how very simple things were when you loved someone, how very ‘right’ things could feel, and for a split second, had been utterly terrified that this might change. Without really thinking about where they were, telling Laura that he loved her had suddenly been the most important thing in the world.
Freya and Merry had immediately whisked Laura away, and they were now standing in a huddle, broad grins on their faces, hands flapping in their excitement. The memory of his first kiss with Laura still tingled on his lips, and if the shy but meaningful glances she kept giving him were anything to go by, he wouldn’t have to wait too long for another.
Beside him, Sam refilled his glass.
‘Get that down you,’ he said, giving Stephen’s arm a nudge. He took a swallow from his own glass. ‘What an absolutely bloody amazingly stupendous day,’ he added.
Stephen who, bizarrely, was now finding words difficult could only grin in reply, but he took a large glug of champagne anyway.
‘Who would have thought it?’ mused Sam. ‘My brother finally becoming an adult, after all these years.’
‘Don’t be so cruel,’ he said in reply. ‘I’m still in a state of shock myself.’ But he smiled at his brother, recognising the truth in his words.
‘Actually, mate,’ said Sam. ‘I’m proud of you. Proud of what you’ve done too. I see now that you had an ulterior motive, but all this business with Drummond can’t have been easy. Laura would never have had the courage to come forward as a witness to the hit and run if it wasn’t for you, and now it actually looks as if that scumbag low-life is going to get his comeuppance. Have you heard any more?’
Stephen shook his head. ‘Only what the police told me this morning; that they’ve impounded Giles’ car pending an examination. They were very interested to hear of the incident with the fireworks the other night, and I have to say it’s not looking good for Drummond.’ He took another sip of his champagne, his eyes now firmly on Laura. ‘I know none of this is over yet. It could rumble on for months; we might both have to give evidence, but all Laura ever wanted was for people to take her seriously, because of what’s right, not because of some stupid grudge against the Drummond family…although God knows she’d have cause enough for that after the way they’ve treated her.’
‘They’re a powerful family; it’s not easy standing up to bullies like that.’
‘No…and I hope in time the villagers come to see the truth of it too. Francis has employed a good many of them over the years, but I think now, more and more folk might start asking questions, and come forward in support of Laura and her allegations over David’s death.’
Sam nodded grimly. ‘I’m sure they will,’ he replied. ‘Which is of course the very thing Francis was seeking to avoid. Anyway, let’s not think about that now. The DJ is giving me the eye, I think it might be time for me and my wife to have our first dance.’
‘Sounds good that, me and my wife,’ replied Stephen, grinning at his brother.
‘It sure does!’ Sam winked.
* * *
‘But I can’t dance!’ protested Laura, laughing. ‘Trust me, it’s not a pretty sight.’
‘Well, I don’t believe that for one minute. Anyway, this is different.’
Laura studied Stephen’s face. ‘It’s a disco, people will be dancing. How can it possibly be different?’
He took hold of her hand. ‘Come on, I’ll show you.’
Before she had a chance to protest any further, Laura found herself propelled through an archway into a smaller marquee which was sitting just behind the first. The space was dim apart from shimmering rays of silver light which flitted around the room courtesy of a series of disco balls which hung from the tented ceiling. Inside, just as she suspected, people were dancing. She slowed her movement, feeling the tug against Stephen’s hand as she ground to a halt. He turned to look at her, his face lit by an excited grin.
‘It’ll be fine. Come on, I promise you.’
‘I can’t, Stephen, I’ll make a complete prat of myself.’
