Page 92 of Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm

His eyes blazed as they looked at her. She couldn’t bear to see the pain in them and leaned forward to kiss him. To kiss away the hurt and betrayal from his heart. To comfort and heal him.

Their lips met and immediately she heard him groan and felt him pull her closer. They wrapped their arms around each other and kissed until she didn’t know where her body stopped and his started. They kissed each other until nothing mattered but the two of them.

Finally, after many minutes, they drew apart. He looked down at her with soft eyes, reaching out to stroke a stray lock of hair that had caught on her forehead.

‘Grazie,’ he murmured. ‘But we shouldn’t have done that.’

She was surprised and a little upset when he sat back, letting go of her. Suddenly she felt colder, despite the warmth of the afternoon sun.

‘I think that’s why I feel so at home here,’ he said, looking across the countryside. ‘It reminds me of Tuscany with the rolling hills and greenery everywhere.’

‘Are you homesick?’ she asked, suddenly feeling a dread in the pit of her stomach.

‘A little,’ he replied eventually. ‘But I guess there’s nothing left for me there now.’

‘So stay after the summer finishes,’ she told him.

Stay forever, she thought.

He was quiet whilst she held her breath, desperate for him to take her back in his arms and tell her that he never wanted to leave. That he wanted to stay. With her.

‘Thank you for the offer,’ he said, after a short pause. ‘Of course, I’ll stay until the end of the busy season to help out. Then I guess I have to work out where my future lies and leave you and Grams in peace.’

He stood up suddenly.

‘Well, I’d better check on the campsite,’ he said.

‘Right. I’ll go and see how Grams is getting on with the jam making class,’ said Flora, her bright tone belying the piercing heartache inside.

But Nico was already halfway around the corner and had disappeared before she had even finished the sentence.

Flora sank back down on the bench, unable to find the strength in that moment to act normally. They had kissed, truly kissed as if there was nothing else in the world but the two of them. And yet he was leaving anyway. He didn’t feel the same way, he didn’t feel as strongly about her as she felt about him.

It was the sensible thing for him to do, of course. Totally the right thing to do. There was nothing for him here come the autumn.

So why did her heart feel so awful? Why did she feel like the whole world had just fallen apart?

56

August went on with Flora feeling as if she were in a daze. From feeling everything all at once, she now felt nothing.

Nico was fine with her but there was no more flirting. No kissing. No heat. Just a dull nothing. And she missed him terribly.

She had tried to reconcile herself to the fact that this was the right decision. That their delicious kisses, although they left her wanting more, weren’t the right way forward for her.

So she had ignored the ache deep inside of her and gone out for a couple more dates with Tyler. They had been pleasant evenings, but she knew that he wasn’t right for her and that she had to end it, for his sake. She didn’t feel anything for him. Wasn’t sure she would ever feel again once Nico left the farm forever.

At least the campsite had been fully booked throughout the summer. And now they appeared to have gone full circle as Tyson’s family had returned for the end of summer break. Nico’s idea had been welcomed by all the needy families in the community who couldn’t afford to go away on holiday. It had been a good idea to give back to the community that had supported the farm for so many years.

Much like the wildflower meadows which were now giving much-needed nutrients and pollen to the insects and pollinators whom the heavy farming might have scared away. They were back in abundance now, even though the meadows would probably be more full of flowers the following summer, after their late sowing in the spring. But Flora had been overjoyed with the way that the soil had responded and come back to life. The meadows were a sea of tall green grasses dotted with brightly coloured wildflowers, from which the air was alive with the buzz and flutter of the bees and butterflies who had wandered over from the lavender fields to take on yet more nectar.

Everyone had been amazed at the transformation.

‘I can’t believe the difference from our soggy holiday in May,’ said Tyson’s mother, staring in wonder at the colourful fields in front of them.

‘It’s great, isn’t it?’ said Flora automatically.

But her eyes couldn’t help but stray to look at Nico as he bent over the motorcycle, tinkering with the engine with Tyson.