Foxglove Farm

Chapter 3

Finally releasing her granddaughter from her tight grip, Martha swooped straight into the pram and planted a noisy, sloppy kiss on to Angus’s head. His warm body wriggled in her arms as she inhaled his baby smell.

‘Isn’t he just the best? Angus … what a good Scottish name. Me and you are going to be the best of friends.’

Isla felt perplexed. Angus was now three months old and there had been no interest from Martha for all that time, and suddenly they were going to be the best of friends? And never mind Finn, who was six years old and hadn’t seen his great-gran in the last twelve months! And now she was acting like the doting granny. Of course, Isla had thought about trying to contact her when Angus was born, but she hadn’t a clue where to begin. Martha wasn’t one for staying in one place for a long time. From experience Isla knew her granny was of a flighty nature and goodness knows where she was or what was ever going on in her life. But one thing she knew for sure was that eventually she’d turn up again.

‘I can’t take my eyes off him,’ Martha was still gazing adoringly at Angus.

‘Gran … are you serious … are you back for good?’ Isla had to ask, as the realisation of her words had well and truly sunken in after the initial shock.

Martha jerked her head towards Rona, ‘You’d think my granddaughter wasn’t happy to see me.’

‘It’s not that,’ Isla added quickly, but the look on her face said it all. ‘A bit more notice wouldn’t go amiss. Have you booked into the B&B? Julia never mentioned it.’

Martha threw back her head and laughed. ‘The B&B? Why would I want to stay there when I can stay with my beautiful granddaughter?’

The words hit Isla like a high-speed train. She wasn’t sure if she could muster up enough energy to wait on another house guest, and what was Drew going to say? Not that he had anything against Martha, but his mood was a little unpredictable lately.

‘I’ll have to make up the spare room.’

‘I can help with that,’ said Martha, gently rocking Angus in her arms before safely placing him back inside the pram.

‘And where’s Walter? Will he be joining you?’ asked Isla, suddenly panicking that there were going to be two unexpected house guests.

Martha shook her head. ‘Walter … He’s long gone … I’ve seen the last of him. One minute he was contentedly reading the Daily Mail like he did every morning with his cup of tea, and next he was on a train to Brighton, with that floozy Jennifer from the corner shop, and that was that.’

‘What do you mean, that was that?’

‘They ran off together … and I took myself off on holiday with Fred with the cash he’d forgotten to take from the kitchen drawer.’

‘Fred … who’s Fred?’

‘No-one important … After Fred, I hooked up with Greg for a while, but he was old before his time and then …’

‘I think I get the picture,’ cut in Isla in amazement.

‘It doesn’t matter how old you get, Isla … love isn’t guaranteed to run smoothly and that’s why I’m here …’

After this morning Isla knew that only too well. ‘To mend your broken heart?’

‘Far from it … I’m back because I miss my family … it’s been too long … and I can’t keep gallivanting all over the world … it’s time I settled back down, and where else is home?’

Isla’s eyes widened and she swallowed hard. It was tough enough looking after two small children, never mind a whirlwind of a granny who had more energy than all of them put together.

‘I knew you’d be happy and welcome me back with open arms. Just think of me as a babysitter on tap, isn’t that every new mum’s dream? … You won’t even know I’m here.’

Isla had her doubts and swung a glance towards Felicity, who gave her a forced sympathetic smile.

‘I’ve brought a few bits and pieces with me … they are in the car.’

Everyone took a swift glance towards the Union Jack-roofed mini parked outside. It was bursting at the seams with Martha’s belongings and it looked like her whole life was packed into the small car.

‘Gran, that looks more than a few bits and pieces.’ Isla felt herself physically slump. She’d already had quite a morning of it, and after the row with Drew she felt this was yet more pressure. Life was hard enough with two young children, a husband and a farm to run, and now there was another person thrown into the mix.

‘And I can’t wait to see Drew and Finn,’ said Martha, quickly swerving the conversation.

‘They will be pleased to see you, too,’ said Isla, stumbling over her words while taking a gurgling Angus back out of the pram. She gave him a cuddle while she mixed the milk powder with water in his baby bottle and fastened his bib around his neck.

‘He is just adorable,’ Martha gave her granddaughter such a huge smile and Isla felt a little guilty for not sounding more welcoming, but things were tough at the moment and the argument with Drew was still fresh in her mind.

‘Would you like one of these,’ asked Martha, rustling in her pocket, whipping out a Werther’s Original and waving it in front of Angus.

‘Gran! He can’t eat one of those … what are you thinking?’

Martha chuckled, ‘Relax! I was joking. As if I’d offer a tiny baby such a thing.’

Isla exhaled with relief.

‘I think strong coffee is needed all round,’ suggested Felicity. ‘And you’ve not finished your breakfast,’ she added, looking at Isla.

In the last few minutes Isla had completely lost her appetite. This wasn’t the start to her day she’d anticipated, but as there was no such thing as a time machine, she would have to get through the best she could.

‘You need to keep up your strength,’ Martha’s bony fingers wrapped around Isla’s arm, ‘there’s no meat on those bones, and what’s with the hair?’

Isla’s hair was scraped back into a simple, easy-to-manage ponytail and she hadn’t applied any make-up for weeks. Isla knew that since Angus was born she’d let herself go a little but she didn’t need anyone reminding her of it, especially in public. But what was the point of having a full face of make-up and immaculate hair? Who was she trying to impress? As Isla thought about what her grandmother had just said, a slight niggle loomed inside her. Might this be the real cause of Drew’s anger? Maybe he didn’t find her attractive anymore. But immediately she knew she was being ridiculous; Drew had seen her at her worst and it wasn’t as though he was dolled up to the nines every day in his dung-stained overalls.

‘Any more compliments you fancy dishing out, Gran?’

Martha ignored her sarcastic tone.

‘It’s a good job I arrived back when I did.’

Isla wasn’t one hundred percent convinced.

Chapter 4

Polly Cook huffed and puffed her way up Love Heart Lane towards the teashop, welcoming the light breeze sweeping through her hair. There hadn’t been many hills to climb in London, and the only exercise she ever got there had been walking down the stairs to the cellar to change a barrel in the Chatty Banker, the pub she’d managed up until a week ago before she’d descended on Felicity. Or the 193 steps at Covent Garden tube station.

Everyone looked up as Polly pushed open the door to the teashop.

‘That walk looks like it’s done you the world of good,’ said Felicity, knowing that Polly had tossed and turned all night.

‘It did, it’s so peaceful down by the river,’ she said, slipping off her coat and draping it around the back of the chair.

‘And who is this?’ asked Martha, narrowing her eyes. ‘I’ve not seen you around these parts before.’

Polly met the gaze of the elderly woman, but before anyone could answer, a loud squelchy noise erupted from inside the pram.

‘Eww … I can smell that from here,’ said Felicity, looking into the pram and wrinkling her nose.

‘Polly Cook, meet my gran, Martha Gray, who didn’t make that squelchy noise, by the way.’

Polly grinned, ‘Please to meet you.’

Martha gave her a smile and a nod of the head. ‘Bad timing! I think this little fellow could do with a nappy change.’

Polly quickly took a step back, ‘I’m not used to such little people.’

‘Give him to me, I’ll do it,’ said Martha, stretching out her arms, much to Polly and Felicity’s relief.

Isla looked alarmed, ‘Gran, do you know how to change a nappy?’

‘It’s like riding a bike.’

Isla narrowed her eyes, ‘I can’t ever remember you actually riding a bike.’

‘Fair point, neither can I,’ grinned Martha, immediately retracting her hands.

‘Give the wee fellow here,’ offered Rona.

‘I can do it,’ said Isla.

‘You take advantage of my offer,’ insisted Rona, slinging the nappy bag over her shoulder and holding Angus at arm’s length before disappearing towards the bathroom.

‘And tell me more about you, Polly. What brings you to Heartcross?’ asked Martha, turning her attentions back to Polly.

‘Polly’s my friend from London, she’s staying with us for a while,’ Felicity replied.

‘I’m at a loose end, a very loose end. I’ve been made redundant and lost my home at the same time. I lived above the pub I managed, but it was sold to a new owner and they moved their family in and didn’t need extra staff. That’s why I’m here, a change of scenery, a break from the rat-race of the city, and I’m loving this beautiful village.’

‘This is the best village, I’ve travelled in my time but always come home and …’ Martha turned back towards Isla, ‘I can’t wait to get settled in the farmhouse. Am I in my normal room?’ she asked. ‘You know, the gorgeous English rose room with the triangular floral bunting draped across of the wall. I do love good bunting … and the view … the view from that room is spectacular. Earth to Isla … are you listening, you’re in a world of your own.’

Isla’s thoughts were tumbling over each other in her mind. A wave of worry ricocheted through her body at the very thought of going home with her gran in tow. The room was jam-packed full with baby paraphernalia. Anything and everything was stuffed in that room while the nursery was being decorated, which had been an on-going project for the last six months. Where were they going to put everything that her gran had packed into her car? She could visualise the disgruntled look on Drew’s face if things needed to be piled up in their bedroom for a while, but hopefully his day had turned around and whatever bee he’d had in his bonnet had well and truly flown away. She didn’t feel like getting stung by another argument today.

Rona came back into the room juggling a clean Angus, before passing him to Martha, who made a series of sniffing sounds towards him.

‘Yes, he smells acceptable again,’ joked Martha, cradling him in her arms.

‘So, what’s changed in this old village since I was last here?’ asked Martha, now rocking a droopy-eyed Angus in his pram.

‘Apart from being cut off from civilisation for a while when the bridge collapsed, everything else is just the same old, same old,’ chipped in Rona, who was polishing the glass cabinets for the umpteenth time so far this morning.

‘Ooo, I saw your video on Facebook,’ trilled Martha.

‘You’re on Facebook?’ Rona exclaimed, who struggled with any type of technology.

‘Of course! You have to move with the times. It’s all about social media these days, but I’m still getting to grips with Tinder … I keep swiping the wrong way and having numerous undesirables match with me … I mean, they must know they are punching above their weight.’

‘Gran … you are never on Tinder?’ Isla couldn’t hide her disbelief.

Both Felicity and Polly stifled their laughter, not knowing whether Martha was being serious.

‘Tinder … what’s Tinder?’ asked Rona, trying to keep up with the conversation.

‘A dating app,’ chorused the girls.

‘You’re on a dating app?’ Rona’s expression was now one of dismay.

‘How else am I going to meet someone at my age? You should give it a go, Rona.’

‘Me?’ Rona’s eyes widened and she brought her hand up to her chest in horror. ‘I can’t think of anything worse,’ she said, looking appalled.

‘Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.’ Martha raised her eyebrows and gave Rona a knowing look.

‘I’m perfectly happy on my own and that’s the way it’s staying.’

‘Not for you then, Mum?’ teased Felicity.

Rona made a series of huffing and tutting sounds, ‘It most certainly is not.’

‘What about you? Have you ever tried dating on line?’ Felicity turned towards Polly, who shook her head.

‘But it would be nice to be rescued by someone … in fact anyone,’ she answered, all dreamy-eyed. She was still single after eighteen months.

‘And what about your love life?’ asked Martha, looking at Felicity. ‘Who’s the lucky man?’

‘Fergus.’

Martha let out a low whistle, ‘That’s a turn-up for the books after everything that happened, and you running off like that all those years ago.’

Isla gave her Gran an impromptu shake of her head, knowing a random switch of conversation was very much needed.

‘We’ve sorted everything out,’ said Felicity, with a slight feeling of agitation rising inside.

‘Didn’t his wife die?’ Martha wasn’t for letting go of the conversation.

‘They weren’t married. Lorna passed away, leaving Fergus to bring up their daughter Esme.’

‘Right … come on now …’ said Rona, fidgeting from one foot to the other while looking out of the window, ‘those ramblers will be on their way from the B&B, ready for their packed lunches, and you lot are under my feet.’

‘Are you kicking us out?’ asked Martha in disbelief.

‘I am, unless you want to order anything else?’

‘Well, I’ve been kicked out of some places in my time, but never a teashop!’

‘First time for everything, Gran.’

‘And are we still on for tomorrow night?’ asked Felicity, looking between Isla and Polly. ‘Girly night?’

‘Absolutely,’ they both chorused in unison.

Rona moved towards Martha and kissed her on her cheek, ‘It is good to have you back.’

‘And I’ll see you tomorrow night too,’ Martha snagged Felicity’s eye as she walked towards the door. ‘Girly night.’

Knowing Felicity would just want it to be the girls, Rona thankfully came to the rescue: ‘How about you join me at the pub tomorrow night? I’ll ask Aggie and Meredith will be behind the bar. We can catch up properly.’

‘Good plan, and I’ll show you how to use that app.’ Martha winked at Rona who let out a chuckle.

‘Behave,’ she said, waving Martha and Isla on their way. ‘I’ve no intention of joining the minefield that is social media. I’m quite happy with the way things are …’

‘We’ll see,’ Martha shouted over her shoulder with a wicked twinkle in her eye as the door closed behind them.

‘She’s a character and a half,’ added Polly, with a grin.

‘There is no doubt that one has lived life to the full and is still doing so, by the sounds of it,’ answered Rona. ‘Isla has definitely got her hands full there.’

‘Maybe you should have a think about that dating app. I can always sit here and set you up a profile over a couple of mugs of tea,’ teased Polly, as Rona playfully rolled her eyes.

Felicity was still chuckling. ‘Martha is right though, Mum, maybe you should put yourself out there, you have so much to offer and deserve to be happy.’

Shaking her head in despair, Rona coaxed her daughter towards the sink. ‘Don’t be daft, my life is perfect just the way it is, unlike Isla’s, by the state she was in when she arrived today.’ Rona gave Felicity an inquisitive stare, but Felicity brushed it off, not wanting to break her friend’s trust.

‘New babies, change of routine, tiredness, I’m crying just thinking about it.’

‘It’s an exhausting time for any woman, and you feel like you don’t know if you are coming or going, you’re someone’s mother, wife, daughter, sister, grandmother … you lose all perspective of who you are. Everyone wants a piece of you. I can remember screaming and crying What about me? Thank God for your grandmother’s support, that’s all I can say. Just be there for Isla. She’ll be in need of a good friend. It’s really not that easy.’

Her mum’s words rang in Flick’s ears. Maybe Isla was feeling the pressure a little? She didn’t have any hands-on support; with Drew running the farm, looking after the children was left solely down to her. Felicity didn’t elaborate on the conversation with Isla, but she was worried about her friend. Isla wasn’t a moaner, she worked hard and saw the good in everyone and every situation and didn’t like any sort of confrontation. Felicity knew she would have felt disloyal talking to her about the argument with Drew, which meant it must have really bothered her.

Hopefully a night with the girls tomorrow would pep her up a bit, but Felicity knew she was going to keep a closer eye on her.

Chapter 5

Through the kitchen window, Isla could see Drew and Fergus loitering in the yard in front of the stable block. Fergus was tapping on his phone with a goofy grin on his face. Isla felt an aww moment, followed by a tiny pang of jealously. Still in the first flourish of love, Felicity and Fergus texted each other at every opportunity. Isla missed that closeness with Drew. Those butterflies-dancing-in-the-pit-of-your-stomach-type moments seemed to have disappeared recently for them. Maybe once you had kids that’s what happened, life just became life that didn’t knock your socks off you anymore.

Isla scrutinised Drew’s stony face. He didn’t look like his mood had improved as he shovelled the muck into the wheelbarrow. Any second now he’d be taking a tea break and she was surprised he hadn’t already popped his head around the door to ask who the Mini belonged to.

Martha had taken a stroll to the corner shop to catch up with Hamish, while Isla did her very best to make up the spare room as best she could. It felt like Martha had brought everything except the kitchen sink, and after the umpteenth trip to the car the Mini was finally empty, much to Isla’s relief.

She switched on the kettle and placed two mugs on the table. Already she was feeling apprehensive about telling Drew that Martha was here to stay … indefinitely.

The door swung open. ‘No Fergus with you?’ Isla asked, noticing him walking off towards the driveway.

‘No, he’s nipped to the teashop to see Flick. She’s all he ever talks about just lately, Flick this, Flick that,’ he said, slinging his phone on to the table and pulling out a chair.

‘I think it’s lovely that they are so in love, don’t you?’

Drew looked up and rolled his eyes, ‘Not if you have to listen to him going on about it twenty-four/seven.’

Isla felt saddened by Drew’s reaction. In the past her friends had been jealous of Drew’s romantic ways, snatching every moment he could with her, texting her from the fields at every opportunity, leaving presents and flowers on the doorstep. He made her feel like she was the only girl in the world. Isla poured him a mug of tea then began to unload the dishwasher, whilst wondering how and why things had changed so quickly between them.

‘Where’s Angus?’ asked Drew. ‘And no biscuits?’

Isla sighed and slid the biscuit barrel over in his direction. ‘Angus is taking a nap and I see your mood hasn’t improved much.’ She turned her back on him and carried on putting the clean dishes away.

‘What do you expect? A morning at market with hardly any produce sold.’

‘What do you mean, hardly any produce sold?’

‘Exactly what I said, and I noticed you did your usual trick of disappearing to the teashop to spend money, no doubt on a cooked breakfast.’ His tone was accusing. ‘When we have more eggs on the farm than we can actually sell, oh and thinking about it, you’re paying to eat our own eggs, as we supply the teashop. It’s ludicrous!’

Isla began to feel her hackles rise again. After the argument he’d instigated this morning she’d needed to let off steam to her friend. He worked alongside his best mate day in and day out, and unless she left the house she had no-one to speak to.

‘You know what Drew, I woke up in a good mood this morning until you decided to throw your toys out of the cot about … Actually, I have no idea what the argument was about.’

Unlike Isla, she was now spoiling for a fight, she could feel the hot flush rising up her neck and stood there, rooted to the spot with one hand on her hip.

Drew was staring straight at her before he snapped his ginger biscuit in half with dramatic effect and dunked it into his tea.

‘I’m just sick to the back teeth of being the cash cow. I think it’s time you thought about getting a job.’

There was that word again … job. Isla just didn’t understand where all this animosity was coming from.

‘A cash cow?’ Isla was astonished by his choice of words. ‘So, let’s just throw this out there, if I go to work who do you think is going to take Finn to school … look after Angus, wash, iron, cook, run the house? Are you going to do all that? Or are we going to use the money from this job I’m meant to be getting to pay someone else to do the job I’m already doing at home?’ She flung her arms up in the air, prompting Drew to answer, but before he had a chance she continued, ‘And where’s all the money gone from the jar? The emergency money?’

‘Having breakfast at Bonnie’s teashop is not an emergency.’ His voice was firm. ‘I’ve hidden it.’

If Isla had been a cartoon character, she would have had steam bursting from her ears with rage, ‘You’ve done what?’ she shouted angrily. Drew had well and truly overstepped the mark now.

‘If you need any cash for an emergency, just ask.’

Isla shook her head in total disbelief. ‘Are you for real, what do you think this is, the 1950s? This is ridiculous. What the hell has gotten into you?’ Isla’s eyes threatened tears, frustration building inside her. She didn’t really have the faintest clue why they were arguing like this. It was so out of character for Drew. ‘You put that money back in the jar. You couldn’t do the job you do if it wasn’t for me supporting you, looking after the house and our children. I thought this was a partnership … obviously I’m very much mistaken.’ Isla was at boiling point. ‘I don’t get it Drew, why are you hell bent on sending me back to work all of a sudden?’ Trembling with rage inside, Isla wanted to shake him.

Drew cowardly cast his eyes downwards, he knew he was pushing Isla to the limit, but he couldn’t help himself. ‘And whose is that awful-looking Union Jack Mini parked outside? I thought you had company.’

Isla swallowed, she’d been dreading this moment with the mood Drew was in, but maybe she was worrying too much. Drew had always seemed to like Martha. Maybe, just maybe her arrival would be a blessing in disguise.

Feeling apprehensive, she said, ‘This is going to make your day … you’ll never guess who’s back in town?’ Isla painted a smile on her face and crossed her fingers behind her back.

‘Huh,’ came Drew’s reply.

‘Gran … Gran’s back in Heartcross! Walked into the teashop … no-one could believe it, but she had no clue Bonnie had passed away. Isn’t that sad?’

‘No clue about her new great-grandson either,’ Drew huffed.

Isla didn’t rise to his comment. ‘She looks so well … single again. I’ve cleared some of the stuff from her room, just piled it up in our bedroom for now.’

Drew bristled, ‘What do you mean, cleared her room?’

Seeing the black thunderous look on Drew’s face, Isla tried with all her might to sound positive. ‘Gran is staying with us here … obviously,’ she said.

‘Another mouth to feed?’

‘Considering she looks like a size six, I’m sure she hasn’t got the largest of appetites, and you know what …’ Isla took a breath. ‘If it bothers you that much and we’ve got more eggs than we can sell, we’ll just feed her on eggs. Scrambled, boiled, poached …’

Drew stood up, ‘I’m going back to work.’

‘I’ll just wash your cup then, shall I? Or shall I leave it for the maid? You know what Drew, just don’t bother coming in later unless you’re in a better mood.’

He growled as he slammed the door behind him and Isla stood there bewildered, shaking her head in disbelief as she watched him once more stomp across the yard. It worried Isla, she’d never seen Drew like this before and was unsure what to do or say to him. Things were bad between them. In all the years they’d been together she could barely remember them ever having a cross word. Of course, they’d had the normal disagreements any married couple had but they’d never ever gone to bed on an argument. And this felt different, was on a different scale altogether and somehow things seemed to be escalating fast. For whatever reason, it felt like Drew couldn’t stand to be anywhere near her, but one thing Isla knew for certain was if he carried on talking to her in this manner, he was in for a rude awakening.