Page 81 of Christmas at Hollybush Farm
‘Yup! He’s called Stewart … Stewart Little. Loved that film!’ says Llew.
‘And how did you bring it here?’
‘In my car!’
‘In your car? The clean and tidy one?’
‘Not any more,’ he says. ‘Mud and pine needles all over it, but it smells nice.’
‘Well, I think that little tree’s adorable,’ says Myfanwy. ‘You going to put him up?’
‘Yes! Will you help?’ I ask.
‘I will, but then I should leave you to your Christmas Day.’
‘Absolutely not!’ Dad and I say at the same time.
‘You’re not going back to an empty house. We’re all here together and that’s how it should be,’ he says firmly.
‘Absolutely!’ I say.
She looks at Dad. ‘I don’t want to be in the way. This was your mum’s home, Jem. I don’t want to step on any toes.’
‘No toes to be stepped on, Myfanwy. Mum made her decision to leave a long time ago. I wish it hadn’t taken me so long to remember this is where I belong. We can all choose where we want to be and who we want to be with. Leaving has shown me how much I want to be here. And how happy I am seeing Dad so happy. If it’s my blessing you want, Myfanwy, you have it.’
‘I want you here, Myfanwy, because I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself as much as I have, spending time with you of late,’ says Dad. ‘And if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to keep doing that. Last night wasn’t just a one-off for me.’
My cheeks burn as I blush.
At first she says nothing, then breaks into a smile.
‘Oh, you silly old fool! Someone’s got to keep an eye on you. And, no, it wasn’t a one-off for me either.’
I give a little cough and try not to let my imagination go there. I’m just glad that they’re happy.
‘Besides, I’m not sure I can remember how to cook a roast dinner. Might need some help.’
‘We’ll all help. We’ll be fine!’ She gives Dad a special smile.
‘Oh, I got you this, love,’ says Dad, handing me a little box. ‘For Christmas.’
‘How? You haven’t been out,’ I say, looking down at the box he’s handed me.
‘I was going to give it to you last night, when it looked like the food-truck market was going to take off.’
I’m intrigued. The box is an old egg box he’s cut and Sellotaped together. Inside, there is a key.
‘It’s a key for the front door of this place. The farm’s yours, Jem love, but only if you want it.’
‘I …’ I don’t know what to say.
‘You’ve got way more ideas than me on what to do with it. But I’ll understand if you don’t want it now.’
‘You’re giving me the farm?’
‘Like I say, I want you to make the decisions for what you think is best for the farm. Your farm. It’s your time. You have ideas aplenty. Not just for this farm, but others too, trying to think of new waysto earn a living. Look at Myfanwy’s order book. It’s bursting!’
Myfanwy agrees, sitting beside Dad and taking his hand.
