Page 46 of Christmas at Hollybush Farm
‘They told me to think about it, but said if I did anymore social media, they’d take that as my decision and sack me.’
‘Well, maybe it’s for the best. Made the decision for me.’
‘What decision?’
‘I was wondering if we had a future, if you and I were the real deal, the dream team. It’s why I wanted to wait until we got to Seattle to propose, but thought I should do the right thing and speak to your dad. Seems it’s a good thing we both know who we really are before it goes too far.’
‘And if my standing up for what I believe in and finding out what matters to me made you feel that, it’s the right choice. Goodbye, Matthew.’ My heart had already let me know we were over.
‘Right, well, if that’s your decision …’
‘It’s what I need to do.’
‘I hope you don’t regret it.’
‘Bye, Matthew. Happy Christmas.’
‘And you, Jem. I hope it’s what you want.’
I switch off the phone and look at the people in the café. Right now, I’ve never been surer of anything. I’ve made the right choice. I’m not going back. I just don’t know how to go forward. But I haven’t felt like this in a long time. The sheep, the farm, the people who are working to make it all happen … it seems I’d forgotten about them from inside my hotels. Now I’m outside, looking in. It may be cold and wet butat least I can feel something, even if it’s just the wind and rain on my face.
‘Looks like I’m here for longer than I first thought,’ I say, tapping the phone in my palm.
I turn to Dad, sitting by the fire, worry etched on his face.
‘Dad …’ I crouch next to him. ‘I know you wanted me to go back, and I wanted to make you proud, but I want to be here.’
His eyes fill with tears. ‘The only thing I’ve ever wanted is for you to find what makes you happy. I didn’t want you to feel trapped here, like your mum did. But if here is where you want to be, I couldn’t be happier or prouder.’
‘It is. It’s where I want to be.’ With that I put my arms around his neck and we hug, very hard.
‘It’ll be tough,’ he says.
‘I know. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be fun too,’ I say, pulling away. Jess jumps up and licks my face and we laugh, but it’s okay to laugh when things feel tough.
21
There’s a knock at the back door and we all stare at it. There’s no time to dwell on the life I’ve left behind or the one I was going to. I’m not back in the office, overseeing the managers, their Christmas budgets and occupancy rates. I’m not packing to go to Seattle and check out the apartments I could choose from. I’m here, holed up in a café, watching my social-media following rise by the minute and hoping to keep the new owners of this place at bay.
‘I’ll go,’ I say, standing up.
‘I’ll come with you,’ says Owen, close behind me.
I put my ear to the door. ‘Hello?’
There’s another knock.
‘Who’s there?’ I ask.
‘We’ve come for Mae’s jacket potatoes!’
I glance at Owen, then turn back to the door.
‘What’s the password?’ asks Owen.
’Twenty-four days until Christmas.’
Owen and I look at each other, wide-eyed. Then, slowly, I open the back door just a tiny gap and stare at the faces outside. I shut the door. ‘There’s a queue,’ I say excitedly to the group in the café.
