Page 25 of A Year at Appleyard Farm
Sam wiggled his own bare toes. ‘Yeah, mine too. I wasn’t expecting to have a long conversation when I answered the door. Where have you been anyway?’
‘Where do you think?’ he said, waving the green sprig in the air. ‘It’s Mistletoe Day; that stuff doesn’t get picked all by itself.’
‘You’ve been out harvesting in this weather? Amos, that’s downright dangerous!’
‘Well, I wasn’t sure you softies would like being turned out of your nice warm beds to come and help. Besides which, I’ve got nine lives me, and as you can see, I’m perfectly fine. Tradition dictates that the mistletoe is freshly picked for her special day; it’s not my place to argue with that. It’s all in the barn anyway, plus a little extra surprise.’ He winked. ‘So when we’ve had some breakfast, you can give me a hand to bring it in.’
‘Ah,’ said Sam slowly. ‘I think the agenda for today might have changed a little. I’m assuming you heard some of the conversation with Stephen?’
Amos nodded. ‘I did, but that doesn’t necessarily change anything. I’m not surprised of course.’
‘But it changes everything. Freya will have lost the sale on the house. I know she didn’t want to sell it to Stephen, but she did want to sell it.’
‘Admittedly, but I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you,’ he replied, giving Sam a direct stare. ‘I had rather thought that she was selling it to both of you as it happens, but it would appear not. That’s the only bit I’ve not quite understood as yet, perhaps you could fill me in.’
‘Over a bacon sandwich?’
‘That will do nicely.’
* * *
Freya sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, trying to come to terms with quite how late it was, but also the events of the day before, which she was even more unsure how to come to terms with. She hadn’t said a word to Sam about the wedding dress, and he hadn’t asked her either, just held her close, telling her everything was going to be okay. For quite some time, it felt like it might be, but now in that annoying morning after the night before kind of way, she wasn’t so sure. How could it be?
By rights, she should probably be feeling awful. It was a long time since she’d drunk alcohol like that, and mixed with strong painkillers, it was a heady cocktail she had consumed. She was surprised to find, however, that she felt remarkably fine, and even – spurred on by the delicious smell of bacon – ready for an enormous breakfast.
She pulled on her furry slippers and went to see which way the land was lying.
‘Aye aye, the boss is up, Sam, more rashers required in the pan,’ said Amos, as she walked into the room. ‘Good morning, Freya, Merry Mistletoe!’
‘Merry Mistletoe, Amos,’ she returned. ‘I’d forgotten what day it was.’ She paused for a moment, head on one side. ‘It seems a bit daft I know…with everything that’s happening, but I wondered if we might bring the mistletoe in today anyway, like we would usually do…just for old times’ sake.’
‘Already taken care of. Sam and I were just going to have some breakfast, and then we’re ready to go. It’s all in the barn waiting.’ He eyed Sam. ‘It might still be a bit wet, mind, it’s been snowing pretty heavy again this morning.’
She crossed to the window to have a better look, pulling her dressing gown around her a little more tightly. ‘Hey, look at that lot. Typical isn’t it, the one year there isn’t a white Christmas forecast, and it catches us all out.’
Sam cleared his throat. ‘Actually, it might not be a bad idea to bring the mistletoe in this year. We might need her help.’
Freya turned to look at him, and tried out a small smile. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, I’ve just had a rather difficult conversation with Stephen. Perhaps you’d better come and sit down.’ He waited until she was seated before pouring her some tea, relinquishing his bacon cooking duties to Amos.
‘I probably don’t need to bore you with the details as such, I know you’re well aware of the things that Stephen gets up to, but I have to admit that his latest escapade is breath-taking even by his standards. I think you should probably give your solicitor a ring, Freya, just to check, but unless Stephen’s bank has had a radical change of heart, they aren’t going to lend him the money he needs to buy Appleyard.’
She stared at him blankly.
‘You’re going to lose the sale on the house, Freya,’ he added, just in case there was any doubt.
‘Yes, I got that,’ she replied, feeling her face pale. ‘What intrigues me, though, is your use of the possessive pronoun.’
‘I’m sorry?’
‘Heneeds to buy Appleyard,’ she reiterated, ‘that’s what you said. ThingsStephengets up to,Stephen’sbank. Where is the ‘we’ in that statement, only I thought I was selling the house to both of you?’
Amos moved the frying pan off the heat. ‘We were just about to have that conversation, Freya,’ he said. ‘You’re lucky you missed Stephen, he was extremely unpleasant. A very foolish, irresponsible young man, and rather manipulative too, I think.’
Freya ignored his intervention. ‘So what did he come around for then, Sam? I doubt it was to break the news to me gently. And coming over here in all this snow? Stephen never puts himself out for anyone, so he must have been pretty keen to see someone, and I can only surmise that must have been you.’
‘Stephen came around to ask for my help basically, to bail him out of his latest scrape by lending him money so that the sale could continue on this place. I refused.’ He swallowed.
