A Taste of Home by Heidi Swain (the beginning after the end read novel TXT) 📕

the band out of my hair and ran my fingers through it, leaving it loose in the warm evening air.

‘And here’s my hard-working granddaughter,’ Grandad proudly said.

‘Crikey Fliss,’ said Bec. ‘You must be all in. You’ve gone great guns today.’

‘Well,’ I said, taking one of the plates Louise was handing around. ‘It needed doing and as the weather’s so good and there’s already a bit of colour showing, I thought I’d best get on with it.’

‘She was born to this life,’ Grandad said, to my mind standing that little bit taller. ‘Even if she was late getting here.’

‘Through no fault of her own,’ Louise mildly added.

‘Oh, I know that,’ Grandad responded, but with no rancour as he sat down.

‘And thanks to her years in Italy,’ Bec grinned, ‘she’s got some awesome culinary skills and I for one am very grateful for that. Have you heard anything from your Italian family since you’ve been here, Fliss?’

‘Not as far as I know,’ I told her. ‘I sent them an email from the library a few days ago, but because my phone doesn’t pick up a consistent signal here, I don’t know if they’ve emailed back.’

It had been playing on my mind a bit and I hoped the Rossi trio weren’t feeling abandoned. I had no intention of disappearing out of their lives for good, but it had been a busy few days. They’d understand that, wouldn’t they? The internet in Puglia could be temperamental at times too, so I hoped they were factoring that into their thoughts about my prolonged radio silence.

‘I’ll try and check again next time I’m in town,’ I added.

Eliot opened his mouth to say something, but Bec got in first. I was trying my best not to look at him. He needed a shave I noticed, and wore a day’s worth of stubble a little too well.

‘And I hear you can get there yourself now,’ she nudged, taking a swig of cider. ‘The services of the Banana-mobile are no longer required. By the way,’ she added, addressing her brother and holding up the bottle for him to see, ‘you’re driving back tonight.’

‘Fine by me,’ he muttered.

Grandad caught my eye and winked and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing out loud. I’d completely forgotten our resolve to keep a dry house. It felt good to have an inside joke.

‘Oh,’ said Grandad, once he’d recovered, ‘and talking of your phone signal, Fliss.’

‘I was just about to mention that, Bill,’ said Eliot, giving Bec a look.

‘What about it?’ I asked, popping another delicious chip into my mouth.

‘We’re getting broadband,’ Grandad announced. ‘Here at the farm.’

‘Oh really?’ I spluttered, swallowing the chip before I’d properly finished chewing it.

That was music to my ears. It would make keeping in touch with the rest of the world so much easier. I’d be able to video call the Rossis from the comfort of the farm kitchen and introduce Grandad to Nonna like I’d thought about before. I’d also be able to keep the fledgling Instagram account updated without any fuss too.

‘Yes,’ Grandad continued. ‘Eliot said it’ll be easy enough because we already have a landline and it won’t cost much either.’

‘What made you change your mind?’ I asked, reaching for my cider. ‘I thought you were happy to manage without it as you’d never had it.’

As thrilled as I was about getting connected for my own more selfish reasons, I couldn’t really see Grandad as an enthusiastic silver surfer type.

‘It was my nagging,’ Eliot piped up, this time managing to speak without getting cut off. ‘I thought you might appreciate it Fliss and I’m going to set Bill up with his own laptop, so he can use it to order his prescriptions and make appointments and perhaps even do the farm banking. You could even get your shopping delivered straight to the farm, Bill.’

Grandad looked mightily impressed, but I wasn’t quite so enamoured. What Eliot was suggesting, would make my role as the helpful granddaughter all but redundant. I hoped he wasn’t still thinking I was going to leg it and was therefore setting up the internet to give Grandad a backup, because he really didn’t need one.

‘But I’ve got the Land Rover now,’ I pointed out, trying not to sound peevish. ‘So, I can do all those things. I want to do them. And Grandad will be driving himself about again soon, too.’

‘All true,’ said Eliot, ‘but this will keep Bill more independent, even though he is going be driving again, which is no bad thing.’

I couldn’t argue with that, I supposed. It would be good for Grandad to be able to properly sail his own ship again. He hadn’t said as much, but I knew he’d found it hard relying on the help of others for so long. That said, I didn’t think that included help from me.

‘And like you said at Skylark, Fliss,’ Eliot further added, ‘you’ve got big ideas for this place and you’re going to be busy. I reckon Fenview Farm has a bright and exciting future now you’re here to steer it in a new direction, but that’s going to take up a lot of time. Getting Bill online will free you up a bit and give you more hours to focus on the business.’

Stupid as it was, I felt a bit emotional as I listened to him say that. Not only was he confirming his belief that I was staying put, he was also letting me know that I was up to the job too and that his suggestion to get us online had nothing to do with sidestepping me. Tears pricked my eyes and I tried to blink them away. I don’t think I’d even held him in fonder affection than I did in that moment.

There was no hint in any of what he said that I had given him hope of taking our relationship further when I spoke so passionately at Skylark Farm and I can’t deny there was a pang