Christie Barlow - Foxglove Farm

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First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2019

Copyright Christie Barlow 2019

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Cover design HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2019

Christie Barlow asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authors imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Source ISBN: 9780008319724

Ebook Edition June 2019 ISBN: 9780008319717

Version: 2019-06-10

Table of Contents

For the four most awesome people in the world,

My gang, Emily, Jack, Ruby and Tilly.

I love you more xx

Isla felt the tension bubbling away in the room the second she walked into the kitchen. She hovered by the table and watched her husband Drew slamming every drawer and cupboard door.

Have you lost something? she asked cautiously, wondering what the hell had gotten into him.

Drew spun round and held her gaze. His face was mottled crimson, the tendons in his neck bulging. Isla knew that look. Drew was spoiling for a fight, but she had no clue to why. It wasnt very often he reached boiling point but when he did there was little time to duck and take cover.

Its always down to me, isnt it?

Trying her best to keep composed against the sudden onslaught after all, she wasnt a mind reader Isla kept her voice calm, Whats always down to you?

Drew ran his hand through his hair numerous times in quick succession, a trait he had when he was agitated.

Everything! He threw his arms up into the air. There was an irritation to his anger, a sort of impetuousness.

His words packed a powerful punch. Everything? she repeated.

Yes, everything. Whos up milking the cows at ridiculous oclock?

Isla narrowed her eyes; this conversation had come out of the blue and wasnt one she was expecting at all. She didnt understand the point Drew was trying to make, and for a second she thought about reacting with a flippant comment about the fact that he chose to be a farmer. But instead she replied with a calm voice, hoping not to fuel whatever was burning inside him: And whos been up three times in the night feeding our son while I let you sleep? Im shattered too, Drew, as well you know.

Thats not in dispute, but then you go back to sleep whenever you can while I single-handedly keep the farm afloat.

The last time I checked, it was a joint effort. Drew was beginning to agitate Isla now. How dare he?

Youve got it easy, Isla.

Isla absorbed what he was saying, feeling shocked to the core. Are you serious? The anger was now rising up inside her. How dare he accuse her of having it easy? Isla couldnt remember the last time shed had a decent nights sleep.

You swan around without a care in the world, breakfast at the teashop, lunch at the pub Im not here to bankroll your social life.

My social life? Islas voice rose an octave.

While Im working every hour, youre frittering it away before its even reached the bank.

So now Im not allowed to see my friends? she protested.

Thats not what Im saying.

Goodness knows what youre trying to say.

They held each others gaze and Drew exhaled.

I mean it Isla, Im sick to the back teeth of bringing in the cash. If you carry on spending it faster than I am making it, then we might have to think about you getting a job.

His words had an air of finality to them but there was no way on earth she was prepared to just go back to work yet, especially with the baby being so young. And theyd talked about her staying at home while the kids were little. Hed never mentioned this before What had gotten into Drew?

If you want to talk about whats really going on here, without attacking me the second I walk into the room, Im all ears. Islas voice was firm.

Drew stared at her, then yanked his coat from the back of the chair with anger before flouncing out of the door with a slam.

Damn you, Drew Allaway, she bellowed after him, close to tears.

Perplexed, Isla stood in the window and watched Drew stamp across the yard. Of course, she knew the pair of them could squabble from time to time, just like any other married couple, but recently things seemed different between them. This argument seemed different. Drew seemed more distant, his sleep restless. Isla knew having a new baby in the house had changed the dynamics of their normal routine completely, and she knew Drew wasnt a huge fan of the baby stage he preferred when he could chase them up the stairs, give piggybacks and hold a conversation with them. Maybe, he just felt he wasnt getting enough attention from her? But then, neither was she and surely that was what family life was all about?

Who does the cooking, the cleaning, the washing takes Finn to school etc. etc.? she mumbled under her breath, picking up her phone from the table and texting Felicity.

Ask Rona to throw me in a Full Scottish. Ill be over in ten minutes.

Almost immediately her phone pinged, You got it! Reserved your favourite table too.

Isla knew she could always rely on Felicity. She was her best friend and Isla would be able to vent her frustration about this mornings argument without it going any further, even though her partner Fergus was Drews right-hand man on the farm.

She was maddened by Drews behaviour, even more so after shed woken up feeling quite chirpy. Baby Angus had only woken once in the night for a feed, leaving her feeling refreshed, even though she longed for the time when hed sleep straight through. Isla knew she would have to tackle Drews mood again later and wasnt looking forward to that. As soon as she picked up Finn from school, the hours were hectic until bedtime. Every night was the same routine: preparing the tea, bathing Finn and Angus, followed by making the sandwiches for the following day, putting the children to bed the list was endless.

The more she thought about it, the more Isla became even madder with Drew. Who did he think looked after the day-to-day running of the farmhouse? Did he think the food miraculously appeared on the table in front of him the second he stepped through the door after a hard days work on the farm?

Get a job get a job, she puffed to herself, reaching for the money pot on the shelf and tugging off the lid. She stared inside, shook it, then turned it upside down in bewilderment, but nothing fell out, it was completely empty.

Thats strange, she muttered, knowing thats where Drew kept the cash. At the beginning of the week there had been over a hundred pounds stuffed inside.

Hearing Angus cry from his cot, she hurried upstairs and found the baby lying on his back kicking his legs. She reached inside and nestled him into her shoulder. You are all that matters, Isla said softly. You and Finn us our family. We need to get to the bottom of whats up with your daddy and put it right. Isla kissed his head lightly.