Page 69 of Christmas at Hollybush Farm
‘We’d need to find a supplier,’ she says.
‘We have all the room you’d need to grow stuff here,’ Dad joins in. ‘The kitchen garden is full to bursting,’ he says, clearly loving the company. ‘My father used to grow plenty for us. I have more than I need in the shed.’
‘Your father and my father,’ says Myfanwy, ‘would swap vegetables. Like a barter system.’
‘More like an arguing system.’ Dad laughs and so does she.
‘Silly old fool!’ They smile at each other warmly, which makes me feel warm too. Outside the snow is falling steadily, and I wish Llew was here with us, instead of on his way out of town for good.
‘If only we could have found a way to make the lorry more permanent,’ I say.
‘If only we could’ve found somewhere to park it, make it a regular feature,’ says Mae.
‘It’s a week until Christmas Eve,’ says Evie, thoughtfully.
I sigh, thinking about Llew and the cattle market. It’s not too late. They haven’t sold the lease yet. ‘What if …’
‘Yes?’
‘What if we could raise the money to buy the lease for the cattle market? Secure it for a year.’
They’re staring at me.
‘A full-time food-truck market, where we rent space to other providers. We make different things. People can eat what they want. Sit at tables together.’
‘We’d need separate food trucks!’ Mae laughs, making me laugh too.
‘We would. But imagine, we get more food trucks to help make it profitable and a permanent feature in the town.’
‘But how?’ Mae asks.
‘Llew suggested it.’
‘Llew?’ they all say.
‘Is he here?’ Mae wonders.
‘He brought the wine. He’s decided to leave his company.’ Dad looks concerned. ‘It’s okay, the offer still stands, Dad. He brought the signed documents. We have until the end of the year to decide.’
‘Shame he didn’t come in. Nice fellow,’ says Dad. ‘I like him.’
I can’t help but think that I totally agree. I take a deep breath. Looks like the one good thing, right under my nose, was the one I let get away. I wish with all my heart I’d said what I wanted to say. But I can still feel him here, supporting the idea of the food market, telling me to go for it. Telling me how I’d inspired him go for something he believes in. All thetime I’m considering the food-truck market, a little bit of him is still here, I think, taking some comfort from that. ‘He said he thought we should try to make a go of it.’
‘What? The cattle market?’ says Mae.
I nod.
‘But how would we get that kind of money?’
‘Well, I did have one idea. I’ve seen it done before when people want to raise money for the community.’ All eyes are on me. ‘What about a GoFundMe page?’
‘A what?’ asks Dad.
‘A GoFundMe page online. We ask people to contribute, like a collection, and give them something in return.’
‘Like what?’ asks Mae.
‘I’m not sure … free pies, or something.’
