Page 79 of Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm

‘What?’ asked Flora.

‘Nothing,’ said Katy quickly. ‘That’s, er, marvellous. Well, it really is good news all round tonight, isn’t it, girls?’

But their smiles didn’t quite meet their eyes and Flora was left wondering whether she had made some kind of mistake in telling them.

Or was the real mistake her agreeing to go out with Tyler again?

47

Saturday night arrived and Nico announced at dinner that he was meeting the guys for a game or two of poker afterwards.

‘Sounds marvellous,’ said Grams. ‘Make sure you win.’

‘I will,’ he told her, with a wink.

Flora stood up from the kitchen table. ‘Well, I’d better get ready too. I’m, er, going out tonight.’

Grams looked surprised. ‘Is it time for another girls’ night already?’ she asked.

Flora seemed a bit nervous, he thought, shuffling from foot to foot. ‘Actually, I’m meeting someone,’ she finally said.

‘Business?’ he asked. But in the pit of his stomach, he knew the answer before she even replied.

‘Actually, it’s a friend,’ she told him. ‘A local farmer.’

‘What’s her name?’ he said, still hoping for the best.

‘It’s a man actually,’ she replied. ‘Tyler.’

Grams gave a start. ‘Tyler Smith?’ she asked, flicking a glance at Nico before looking back at her granddaughter.

Flora nodded. ‘Yes. I’ve known him for years,’ she told Nico. Her words were coming out in a rush and he could barely keep up as she was speaking so quickly. ‘Anyway, we’re meeting at the Black Swan.’

‘Sounds good,’ he said, trying to inject some positivity into his voice. ‘What time are you heading out?’

‘In about an hour,’ she told him. ‘So I’d better get going.’

He nodded. ‘Of course. Have a great time.’

He watched her leave, her long legs striding out as she headed away from him. Her ponytail swinging from side to side.

She had a date! He couldn’t believe it. Didn’t want to believe it.

But of course she did. Flora was attractive, personable and single. Why wouldn’t other men be interested in her?

He sighed. He had backed right off after Flora’s drunken come-on. He was a gentleman and hadn’t wanted to embarrass her. So he had stopped with the witty remarks and teasing, thinking that it had been the right thing to do. Even though they had had this amazing connection when they had danced together the other week. Even when the best times of each day for him was when they shared the evenings together and watched the sunsets. Despite all of that, he was still determined not to turn into his father.

He felt Grams give his shoulder a squeeze before walking out of the kitchen. Then he decided that perhaps it was for the best that he kept busy that evening.

Nico had been invited to a boys’ night in by Ryan. It was up in the apartment above the station as, according to Ethan, everyone was broke. Despite that, plans had been made to play poker.

‘For only pennies, right?’ asked Ryan, looking concerned as the cards were dealt. ‘I’m not exactly rolling in money at the moment.’

‘Who is?’ said Joe, with a shrug. ‘Although, hopefully we’ll have even more visitors to the lavender fields than last year and make a profit to see us through the winter.’

‘Isn’t Harriet’s lavender spa doing well?’ asked Ryan.

Joe nodded. ‘Oh yeah, it’s just the constant worry about money, you know?’