Page 69 of Summer at Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Twenty minutes later, with coffee cups drained, and no more than wedding plans and breezy everyday conversation between them, Rachel was getting up to go when Ben arrived home.

‘Hiya, Rach.’ He appeared on the back step in his garage overalls with a smile.

‘Hi Ben, you okay? Good day at work?’ Rachel asked.

‘Yeah, fine. I’ll just go take a shower, get out of these oily clothes.’ He dipped his head back through the door again, just as Amelia called out ‘Daddy!’ from their makeshift play-tent.

‘Hey, sweetheart, I’ll come and see you in a minute. I’m all sweaty just now,’ he shouted back.

‘O-kay.’

Rachel noted that Ben and Eve merely said the briefest of ‘hellos’ to each other; there was a definite coolness between them.

Over their years of friendship, she and Eve had shared all their ups and downs, their crushes, hurts, their hopes and dreams. Whatever it was, Eve wasn’t yet ready to open up. But, whenever she did, Rachel would be there for her.

36

They lay in bed, Tom caressing her naked shoulder with gentle fingertips. Soon, they’d be able to do this every night, every morning … bliss.

Rachel was very much in need of some Tom tonic, and this was just the thing. She’d been unsettled seeing the distance between Eve and Ben, and then back at home, opening her laptop to do some admin for the farm, she’d found a new flurry of negative comments on their social media pages. Once Maisy was tucked up in bed, Rachel had rushed over to the farm next door and, this time, Tom had been more than happy to oblige.

‘So, I’ve finally chosen someone special to walk me down the aisle …’ Rachel spoke softly, happily. She loved this pillow-talk time.

‘Oh, and who might that be?’

‘Granny Ruth, I think she’ll be just perfect.’

‘Ah yes, I bet she’ll love doing it too. Might be a bit emotional for you both, mind.’

‘Yeah, it will. But whoever walks me down there, I know that moment will be hard as well as happy, knowing that it should be Dad there with me.’

‘Hey, but remember I’ll be there ready and waiting at the altar to make you both smile.’ From the sound of his voice, she knew he was grinning even without looking up.

The excitement was building for the wedding. They shared a slow kiss which sent butterflies spinning through Rachel’s stomach. It still seemed almost too good to be true.

‘So, big day on Wednesday,’ Rachel spoke cautiously, not wanting the magic between them to vanish, but knowing they had to face what lay ahead in the days before the wedding.

‘Yeah …’

Rachel felt a sense of foreboding about the court case, along with the belief that it was something they could ultimately get past, a hurdle they would face and surmount together.

‘At least we’ll know.’ Tom’s face was close to hers, his breath warm on her cheek.

‘Yeah.’

‘And … if I have to sell some bloody land and that’s the end of it, then so be it.’

‘Whatever happens, Tom, we can make things work for us, with the two farms, we can join forces. We’ll do whatever it takes.’

‘I know. We will. I love you, Rachel.’ The words were heartfelt.

‘I love you, too.’

There was a pause, while they lay in each other’s arms, thinking, breathing, feeling that closeness. She nestled there, savouring the feel of his body next to hers, the warm-toast and aftershave smell of his skin.

‘I need to get back soon, sorry. Better be back home for Maisy, for the morning routine.’ It was already nearly one a.m. She often felt like a farmyard Cinderella, dashing back home on a quad instead of a carriage. She’d already missed the midnight hour.

‘Yeah, I know.’