Page 155 of Rough Around the Hedges

George plucked the envelope out of my hands and opened the unsealed flap, pulling out the contracts inside. He scanned them over while we all watched a series of expressions cross his weathered face. “Bloody hell. That’s a long’un. No wonder your mate there thinks you’re a lovesick puppy.”

“You just proposed in the middle of a meeting with a four-year-old’s plastic ring, so nobody wants to hear that from you,” Isa said, taking it from him.

I had no idea what I’d missed here tonight. Did I even want to know?

She scanned the page he’d been reading. “One hundred and fifty years? Holy shit.”

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair again. “Yes. Stewardship of the land, plus a neighbouring two acres for expansion, is granted to the Hanbury Allotment Committee forthe next one hundred and fifty years. Rent rates are frozen for the next five years and will then go up once every two years in line with inflation. Water charges will be separate, unlike before, and copies of the bills will be provided to every plot holder. The rate you pay will be averaged and based on a full or half plot.”

“One hundred and fifty years,” Isa whispered, tugging on George’s sleeve. “Holy shit.”

“You just said that,” George pointed out.

“I know, but holy shit, George!”

“There’s only one break clause,” I continued. “Only the committee can activate it and only after a majority vote of seventy percent or more from the plot holders, not just the committee members. This won’t happen again. I’ve ensured the safety of the land for as long as I possibly can.”

All four of them looked at me.

“What?” I asked, returning their gazes one by one.

“You’re actually in love with her, aren’t you?” Isa asked softly, followed by Susan’s nod of agreement. “Like, for real in love with her.”

I swallowed. “Please. Tell me where she is so I can show her this.”

She sighed, giving the contract to Shaun and motioning for him to tuck it back in the envelope, something that made him roll his eyes.

But he did it anyway.

Yeah. I wasn’t the only fool in love here.

“I really don’t know where she is,” she said, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Even if I did, it wouldn’t matter. There’s no way she’ll talk to anyone right now. She almost lost it in here thanks to these two lovebirds.” She nodded in George and Susan’s direction. “The best thing to do tonight is to respect herneed for space. Let her lick her wounds and clear her head, then tomorrow…”

She glanced at Shaun, and something unsaid passed between them, and he nodded.

“Tomorrow, we’ll help you.” She all but choked the words out, glaring at me. “Not because I want to, but because I hate this for Rose. I’ve been telling her to talk to you the entire time, so if I didn’t make her do it now, what kind of friend would I be?”

“Wait.” George said. “He’s in love with Rose? Have they been seeing each other?”

Susan took his arm, patting his hand lovingly. “I’ll explain it to you later.”

“It’s complicated,” I said, taking the contract back from Shaun. “Thank you, Isa. Even if she doesn’t care for me… Well, at the very least, she needs this.” I waved the envelope.

“Nobody ever tells me anything,” George grumbled.

Isa snorted. “If she didn’t care for you, she wouldn’t have driven off at the sight of your car. She just can’t face you right now. In fact, her problem is that she cares too damn much.” She pulled the keys to Ramona out of her pocket again and looked at me sternly. “Let’s go get a drink somewhere and figure this out. Because,Your Grace, if you fuck this up and hurt her more, I will make Rose’s interference in your life look like child’s play.”

With that, she turned around, storming off the way she came.

I swallowed. “She’s… She’s not joking, is she?”

Shaun shook his head. “They’ve probably got a notebook from high school buried somewhere in their bedrooms. I’d be afraid if I were you.”

I was afraid.

Of so much more than he knew.

“If you’re going to get a drink, we’re coming,” George grumbled. “It’s been a right night, and we need to celebrate our engagement. Come on, Susan.”

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