‘What’s up?’ I asked. ‘What state?’
‘Nothing,’ Bec dreamily said. ‘I’m fine.’
She did look a bit wistful. Definitely vaguer than usual.
‘She’s just got off the phone from Marco,’ said Louise, rolling her eyes. ‘Again.’
It had taken me a little while to get over the part Louise had played in selling Grandad’s watch, but because Grandad hadn’t realised he wasn’t legally bound to the deal with Anthony, he’d unwittingly led Louise to believe that he really had no choice, so I could understand why she’d gone along with it. I still wished she’d said something to me, but the ear bashing she’d got from Eliot stopped me from holding a grudge.
‘So,’ I said to Bec. ‘Have you booked your flight yet?’
I’d thought she and Marco would be a good match, but the depth of their attachment had taken us all by surprise. My departure from Puglia, and the job vacancy I’d left behind, had really made Marco grow up fast and he was as genuinely taken with Bec as she was besotted with him.
‘I have,’ she sighed. ‘This time next week I’ll be painting in Puglia.’
‘More like getting passionate in Puglia,’ Grandad put in as he joined us and we all laughed.
‘As long as there’s no life drawing, sis,’ Eliot teased.
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ I winked at Bec. ‘Marco would make a wonderful subject.’
‘Hey,’ Eliot pouted. ‘That’s enough of that.’
‘Don’t worry, big brother,’ Bec batted straight back at him. ‘Fliss only has eyes for you.’
‘I should think so too,’ he said, holding my hand and kissing the back of it.
‘Were the Cherry Tree team looking forward to tonight?’ Grandad asked him.
‘Everyone’s looking forward to tonight,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘How many people have you invited, Bill?’
‘The whole town, I reckon,’ Grandad chuckled. ‘The list just seems to keep growing!’
‘It’s going to be great promo for the supper club,’ I said. ‘I just hope I’ve made enough of everything.’ I looked nervously at the table and worktops which were groaning under the weight of all the fruity treats and desserts.
‘There’s going to be more than enough,’ Eliot reassured me.
‘We’d best get the car unloaded,’ said Bec, taking Louise with her.
‘And I’m going to quickly check my emails,’ said Grandad. ‘Marta was going to write today.’
Alone again, Eliot kissed me softly on the lips and I felt goose bumps prickle my skin, in spite of the still hot temperature. I responded by gently dipping my tongue into his mouth which made us both even warmer, and I wondered how we’d managed to keep our feelings for each other under wraps for so long.
By early evening, the finishing touches were complete and the barn was totally transformed. All that was left for me to do was fuss over the food and then get myself ready to welcome our guests.
‘You’re looking very dapper,’ I said to Grandad who I noticed was wearing a new shirt. ‘And is that…’
‘Yes,’ he said, pulling his sleeve further back, ‘it is. I thought it deserved a decent airing considering everything it’s been through these last few weeks.’
‘It suits you,’ I told him.
The Rolex watch sat well on his wrist and it was wonderful to see him wearing it.
‘And you’re looking very pretty too,’ he smiled. ‘That dress was quite a find.’
Yet again, Bella had come up trumps, this time with a simple fifties inspired sundress. The denim blue cotton chambray had a strawberry motif stamped on it and I had been so thrilled to find it, that I had invited her and Princess along to the party. I wasn’t sure how the cat was going to react to having her space invaded by a posh pooch, but we’d soon find out.
‘Thank you,’ I said, giving Grandad a twirl. ‘I’m really pleased with it and I think you’ll like the lady who sold it to me. She’s very much looking forward to meeting you.’
‘In that case,’ said Grandad, ‘we better get down to the barn so we’re ready to welcome everyone, hadn’t we?’
It was thankfully much cooler than it had been during the day and we weren’t waiting many minutes before the first guests arrived, although they weren’t guests at all.
‘You look divine,’ said Eliot, slipping his hand into mine as Bec and Louise admired Grandad’s new shirt. ‘That colour really suits you.’
He kissed me lightly on the collarbone, making my tummy tingle.
‘Thank you,’ I swallowed. ‘And I have to say, it’s a pleasure to see your legs again.’
‘Well,’ he said, with a cheeky smile, ‘it was really too warm for leathers tonight.’
With more cars arriving there was no time to get hot and flustered by thoughts of Eliot’s legs encased in his bike leathers. I kissed him quickly and went to greet everyone while he turned on the twinkling fairy lights and Bec and Louise poured the drinks.
As well as Bella and the Cherry Tree and Skylark Farm contingent, there were also many of Grandad’s farming neighbours, the owner of Brambles, another couple who ran a glamping site and a whole gang from the local grand country house, which was called Wynthorpe Hall. I had thought I’d been doing well getting to know everyone during the last few weeks, but apparently my small circle of new friends was about to be rapidly expanded.
With the party in full swing, I slipped unseen back to the house and uncovered the precious cherry and almond tart I had kept out of sight. I was determined that this particular sweet treat was going to be just for me. Well, the first slice had my name on it anyway.
The tart looked perfect and the smell of it sent my heart straight back to Nonna’s kitchen, but how was it going to taste? With a not quite steady hand, I cut myself a generous slice and carried it down to the orchard, along with Mum’s letter.
I sat under a tree, not all that dissimilar to the one in Puglia and took my first bite of the tart.
