Grandad had told me about his fears that he was going to end up in a bungalow somewhere, but he’d never mentioned his vain attempt to put off the inevitable. What was his plan, to sell the farm off piece by piece as it got harder for him to manage until he was just left with the house? I was furious he hadn’t told me, but also sickened and sad to think that he had thought this was his only option.
‘Has Grandad signed anything?’ I choked. ‘Is there anything official to say he’s selling it to you?’
Anthony looked appalled.
‘Do you really think I would have been wasting time messing about with you and making up all this bullshit if there was?’
I could hardly believe it and yet as everything fell sickeningly into place, I knew it was true.
‘So, you don’t wish I looked at you in the same way I look at Eliot then?’ I peevishly said.
I felt such a fool and I could feel tears gathering, but I refused to let them fall. I didn’t care in the slightest that Anthony’s overtures to me had all been fake, but I did care that I had been so preoccupied with pretending my feelings for Eliot didn’t exist, that I hadn’t realised what Anthony was up to sooner.
‘You really have been trying to sabotage everything, haven’t you?’ I demanded, meeting his gaze. ‘You’ve been trying to mess it all up with a view to putting me off my plans in the hope that you’ll still get your hands on the barn.’
Now I’d said it aloud it was as plain as the nose on my face. What a fool I’d been. I thought I’d had the upper hand when actually, Anthony had all along.
‘I’ve got a buyer for that barn,’ he loudly said, drawing the attention of the people closest. ‘I’ve invested thousands in plans and fees already and I’m not giving it up. I refuse to be left out of pocket.’
‘Oh my god,’ I gasped, as further recognition dawned, ‘that’s why Grandad sold the watch! He wasn’t going to offer the money to me, he was going to use it to pay you off. You’re blackmailing him, aren’t you?’
Anthony smirked at my distress. He actually smirked. I’d never wanted to do someone a physical harm more.
‘And now I get the money and the watch,’ he said, turning smug again.
‘Take it off!’ I snarled.
‘What?’
‘You’re not having it!’ I shouted. ‘Take it off.’
‘You must be joking! It’s mine. I paid good money for it.’
‘Everything all right?’ asked Jim, stepping out from behind the bar and rushing over.
When I looked up, I realised our exchange had drawn quite a bit of attention. Another flash of lightning struck and another rumble of thunder roared as the customers eyed us curiously.
‘Take it off and give it to me,’ I said to Anthony, feeling even braver now I knew I had the attention of The Mermaid regulars, ‘before I tell everyone in this pub, and the police, that you’ve been blackmailing my Grandad.’
‘I haven’t blackmailed anyone,’ he snarled.
‘What’s going on?’ Jim demanded.
I looked Anthony straight in the eye, determined that he would see that I wasn’t going to back down and that I wasn’t going anywhere until I had Grandad’s watch back in my possession either.
‘Bill was going to give me the money that was rightfully mine,’ Anthony spat, finally noticing the interested onlookers as he grappled to undo the watch strap.
‘The police won’t see it that way,’ I told him. ‘Grandad has signed nothing and therefore you’re entitled to nothing. It would be your word against his. You’re the conman, Anthony Judd, not Eliot.’
‘Hey,’ said Jim, sounding gruff. ‘What have you been saying about our boy?’
‘Here then,’ said Anthony, tossing me the watch and standing up. ‘Take the fucking thing, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.’
‘Right,’ said Jim, lunging for Anthony’s arm. ‘I think we’ve heard enough out of you for one day.’
‘One day?!’ Anthony bellowed as Jim propelled him towards the street. ‘You won’t be seeing me in here again.’
‘Fine by me,’ said Jim, slamming the door behind him.
My hands were shaking as I zipped the watch into the pocket of my bag.
‘Are you all right, love?’ Evelyn asked, as everyone turned back to their own conversations. I’d have bet good money on knowing what they were discussing.
I nodded and stood up. My legs felt worryingly wobbly.
‘Looks like you need another brandy,’ commented Jim.
‘Better not,’ I shakily said. ‘I need to get back to the farm before this storm really hits.’
‘Bit late for that love,’ Jim chuckled.
But of course, I wasn’t talking about the weather.
Chapter 27
I had hoped, that on the drive back to the farm I would have the opportunity to think everything through, perhaps even run through what I was going to say to Grandad before I returned the watch to its rightful place, but the conditions didn’t allow for me to focus on anything other than driving.
Clearly, Grandad’s lifetime of living in the Fens ensured he knew a whole lot more about the local weather than I did. He had been right to worry about the harvest. If the rain carried on falling at the same rate there’d be no fruit left. It would be pulp before I had a chance to pick it.
My heart leapt into my mouth when I finally reached the farm gate and saw Eliot coming towards me on the Ducati. He was taking it very slowly, but with the conditions so treacherous coming out on two wheels was a ludicrous thing to do.
‘What the hell are you doing?’ I shouted as I climbed out of the Land Rover and he wheeled the bike into the washhouse next
