‘Unless… you’ve reasons to stay that don’t include stirring up the past.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Reckon you’ve fallen for my nephew.’
As someone who was entirely unused to sharing my feelings, confessing them to Richard seemed no less bizarre than the rest of this situation.
‘I think I might have.’
‘Think?’ He glanced up, sharply.
‘Know.’
‘But can you fall for this place? His family? Our way of doing things?’ He went back to deftly dipping the needle in and out. ‘Pip loves the farm as much as the rest of us. You might persuade him to give it up, if you don’t want to stay. But don’t try unless you’re sure you’re worth it.’
Of course I wasn’t sure about that. But it really wasn’t relevant. Because, secret bully aside, I adored it here. The island,the farm, the Hawkins family. It had been love at first sight. Or, more accurately, at first breath of sweet, salty air.
I had no business, a trustworthy tenant for my house and nothing else to miss.
I wasn’t about to try persuading Pip about anything, but I couldn’t help hoping he’d be happy if I didn’t catch tomorrow’s flight.
‘We both know how badly it can turn out.’
‘What can?’ I asked as Richard tied off the thread and flipped the dress back right-side out.
‘Mainlander and islander.’ He looked at me. ‘Your mother and my brother.’
I let out a slow breath.
‘How did you know it was me?’
‘I told you, I got eyes.’
‘She wasn’t even my mother. My mum was her cousin.’
‘Close enough. Couldn’t be a coincidence, strawberry-hair, green-eyed girl turning up here. Talking about her mother. I shared a house with Nellie for a long time. Same mannerisms, way of speaking.’
‘And you drove her away again.’ My throat constricted at the memory of the letters.
‘Not me. I’d nothing against her. She tried hard, no complaining. Was a decent match for Gabe. It was our parents made it impossible, forced her out. All that nonsense about an heir, like she was another heifer to be bred. Backfired on them when Gabe went too, though.’
‘You think Gabe shouldn’t have left the island? And neither should Pip?’
He shrugged. ‘Didn’t say that. I just said know what you’re asking. Your mother learned that, when it came down to it, Gabe had to put the farm first.’
I accepted the dress from him, running my fingers along the mended seam. It wasn’t perfect, but about as close as hand-sewing could get.
‘Do you think I could handle it here?’
Richard chuffed. I think it was his version of laughing. ‘Don’t matter what I think.’
‘Then it doesn’t matter how you answer.’
‘You cleaned the crap off the barn, no grumbling.’
I nodded.
‘Yes, I reckon you could be an islander. More importantly, will the rest of them allow you to be?’
