Page 63 of A Year at Appleyard Farm
‘Oh, I haven’t seen you in such a long time,’ she cried. ‘Much too long!’
‘It has been,’ agreed Freya. ‘We mustn’t ever let it get so long again. I don’t even know how it happened.’
Willow stood back to get a better look at her friend, with her gleaming chestnut curls and wide green eyes. She wore an air of contentedness that brought a glow to her cheeks and a softness to her face. ‘Life is good then,’ she surmised.
‘Oh, life is very good,’ gushed Freya in reply. ‘Very good indeed. Hard work, mind…’
‘But since when has that ever stopped you?’
‘I know…but it’s different now somehow, you know?’
Willow giggled. ‘Oh, I do know, Freya Sherbourne. It’s coming off you in waves. Love. That’s what it is, pure and simple.’
Freya blushed. ‘Is it that obvious?’ She grinned. She stood back to let a customer pass by. ‘And what about you? You look great too, and busy by the look of things.’
‘Oh, always,’ she replied. ‘And about to get busier if I have my way.’
‘Which knowing you, you will.’ Freya laughed. ‘So, come on then, tell me what you’re up to. I know you’ve got something up your sleeve, you sounded really mysterious on the phone.’
‘Well, that rather depends on whether what I’ve heard is true…’ Willow trailed off, feeling a little guilty that she hadn’t seen her friend for a couple of months and now here she was about to spring a proposition on her.
She was just about to continue when Jude appeared, carrying half a dozen more punnets full to the brim with strawberries. He took off his hat, and came over to kiss Freya.
‘You look well,’ he commented, catching Willow’s eye. He stood back for a moment, looking between the two women. ‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ he directed at Freya, ‘I don’t think you two have met, have you? Can I introduce my wife, the slave driver?’
‘Oh, ha bloody ha,’ muttered Willow.
Freya giggled. ‘Get on with you, Jude, you love it, you know you do…you might want to watch the staff, though, Willow, this chap seems to have eaten half your stock.’
It was true, Jude’s shirt had a very obvious dribble of strawberry juice down the front.
Jude pulled a face. ‘I’m a walking advertisement for the deliciousness of the crop, that’s all.’ He looked back at Freya. ‘I don’t even get paid…’
‘My heart bleeds for you,’ said Freya, miming playing the strings of a violin.
‘Actually Jude, now that you’re here, would you mind watching the shop for a minute? I just want to have a chat with Freya, you know, lovey dovey girly stuff, and I thought we could pop back to the house for half an hour or so…I’ll bring some drinks out afterwards.’
Jude’s smile was warm. ‘Of course it’s okay. Go on, I’ll take over here.’ He kissed Freya’s cheek again. ‘If I don’t get to see you later, say hi to Sam for me. Tell him to give me a ring, it’s about time we had a pint together.’
Freya nodded as Willow took her arm. She waited for a few moments until they were well clear of the shop before speaking again.
‘What on earth was all thatwanting to talk about lovey dovey stuffback there? That’s not the impression you gave me on the phone.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘What are you up to?’
They’d reached the garden gate now, and Freya paused while Willow fiddled with the catch. ‘Only that I know it’s a subject pretty much guaranteed to have the menfolk backing away in droves. I want to show you something, but strictly on the QT for now.’
‘Okay…’ said Freya slowly, following Willow up the path.
Once inside, Willow led the way back into the kitchen.
‘Look, let’s grab a drink and I’ll explain.’ She reached into the fridge and took out a glass jug decorated with daisies.
‘Is elderflower okay?’ she asked.
Freya nodded enthusiastically, looking rather pleased.
Once they each had a glass, Willow beckoned Freya back down the hallway, leading her into the room she had been musing in earlier. It was warm inside – a bit tired and musty, as though it had been shut up for too long. Apart from a sink, a long pine trestle table which held her grandmother’s notebook, two chairs and a series of shelves running the length of one wall, it was completely empty.
Freya’s eyebrows were raised. ‘That’s quite a transformation,’ she said. ‘When I last saw this room, it was full to the brim with coats, boots and toys. When did you do all this?’
