Pretty Beach Petals: A Flower Farm by the Sea by Babbington Polly

Author:Babbington, Polly
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

A bit later, opening the garage door, light layered down from the skylight landing on Chloe’s dad’s old car. Chloe had to stop herself from blubbing as her eyes rested on it. Right there in front of her, the vision in her head had come to life. The old car, which had been sitting on its own for years and years hidden under a dusty cover, now proudly showed off pale pink and white stripes.

Amelie stood beside her and followed her gaze.

‘Chloe! It’s so pretty! Can we go for a ride in it? I love it!’

‘Maybe later. I’m going to pick up Annie from the station while your dad takes you two horse riding.’

Amelie nodded and stroked the boot of the car. ‘Grandpa would love this.’

‘Yes, I said I’d send him some pictures, and he’s going to have a look the next time he’s over.’

Chloe watched as Amelie made her way around the car, the curls at the bottom of her hair messy and falling onto her t-shirt, her expression more serious than Chloe had ever seen it.

‘I love it here at your house, Chloe.’

Chloe blinked in surprise. ‘Oh, do you? Why’s that?’

Amelie cupped her palms over her eyes and peered through the front window into the car. ‘I don’t know. It’s just, hmm, different to my house.’

‘What do you mean?’

Amelie looked over towards the workshop side of the garage. ‘Sort of cosy. And there are so many rooms and bits and pieces and the garden… I love the garden. The flowers and trees and hedges at the back.’

Chloe had noticed Amelie before in the garden. Unlike Ivy, who played on the swing and sat under the trees with her things, Amelie had pottered around in the greenhouse, gone up and down the rows of flowers with Chloe, and listened with huge serious eyes when Chloe had shown her seeds in the sunflowers. She’d brought her wellies from her house and left them neatly by the scullery door.

‘I know what you mean. I used to feel that way when I was your age, when I was out in the garden. It’s lovely out there. The air is just something you can’t put your finger on. I think that’s what it is.’

‘Did you live here when you were a girl?’

‘Not really, no. But I spent quite a bit of time here. I loved those times.’

Amelie frowned. ‘Where did you live?’

‘With my mum, but I liked being here with my dad more.’

‘A bit like me then. I live with Dad mostly.’

‘Yes, yes, similar,’ Chloe added, thinking that it couldn't have been more different. Amelie was surrounded by love with doting grandparents, aunties and uncles, and an amazing dad.

‘You didn't have any family?’

‘No, not really,’

‘Ivy told me that.’

‘Yes.’

‘Never mind, then. Even though you’re not wanting to go on holiday, you’ve got us now.’

Chloe felt like someone had just punched her in the stomach. It seemed as if the universe was trying to tell her something. Maybe it was a message she should take on board.

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