Page 112 of Summer At Willow Tree Farm

‘You wanker.’ The low words ground out, followed by the crunch of skin hitting bone.

Dan screamed and grasped his face, his body folding in on itself as he wheeled back and collapsed onto the grass.

‘Dad!’ Josh shouted.

‘Art!’ Dee yelled.

Toto danced from foot to foot, looking rapt.

‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ Dan shouted at Art, staggering to his feet and testing his jaw.

Art stepped into his personal space, the sight of his bunched fist held rigidly at his side, the knuckles bleeding, finally snapped Ellie out of her trance.

Oh crap, they are going to kill each other and ruin Maddy’s dream wedding.

People were rushing across the grass to see the show. Rob and Mike grabbed hold of Art and dragged him back, to stop him landing another punch, while Dan propped his fists in front of him impersonating Gentleman Jim.

Diving into the fray, Ellie slapped a palm to Dan’s chest before he could take a swing.

‘Don’t you dare, you’ve done enough damage already,’ she shouted.

‘Me?’ he shrieked, clearly mortally offended, but he dropped his fists. ‘What about Farmer Goddamn Giles?’

His lip was cut and starting to bleed, but, unlike Art’s torn knuckles, the sight didn’t move her in the slightest. Dan had finally met someone he couldn’t charm or trick or cajole – a man who had seen through his immature posturing, just like she had. It served him right.

‘I expect an apology or I’m going to goddamn sue,’ Dan added, swiping at the blood with a knuckle. ‘What your boyfriend just did to me is assault.’

‘Is Art your boyfriend, Mom?’ Josh said, his gaze darting between her and Dan.

‘I can explain,’ she said to Josh. ‘We can talk about this later, sweetheart.’ Because no way was she having this conversation with her son and Art’s daughter in front of the whole congregation. She cursed Dan again. ‘But first we have a wedding to do.’ She tucked a finger under Josh’s chin. ‘You need to run into the house and get into your suit, I left it on your bed.’

Josh’s face was a picture of confusion as he swivelled his head between her and Dan. ‘But what about…?’

‘Come on, Josh, I’ll race you,’ Toto said, grabbing Josh’s arm.

Ellie wanted to kiss the little girl as the two of them sprinted off across the farmyard, Toto kicking off her pumps and hiking up her dress to streak ahead of Josh.

‘What do you see in Farmer Giles anyway?’ Dan said, disgruntled now as he continued to nurse his jaw. ‘The guy’s a jerk.’

Not as much of a jerk as you are, Dan.

‘That’s none of your business,’ she said. ‘It stopped being your business three months ago. And when you get that through your head we’ll all be better off.’ She slapped her hands on her hips, the events of the last few minutes finally giving her the courage she needed. This probably wasn’t the time or the place, but she didn’t want to wait.

‘I don’t want to come back to the US. I want to stay here in Wiltshire.’

Dee let out a little sob of breath and Dan frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘I love it here and I believe our son does too. Our marriage is over. And I want to have the chance to build a new life here with Josh.’ A new life she’d already starting building.

‘But he’s my kid, too? What about what I want?’ Dan said, sounding petulant.

‘And he’ll always be your kid. And he loves you.’ Even when you behave like a dick. ‘But however much you love Josh, you have never wanted the responsibility of being a full-time dad. If you did you wouldn’t have always left the important stuff to me. Like telling him about the divorce. And you would have known how important this wedding was to him. You would have got him back here on time, instead of ignoring his feelings and letting him get so anxious.

You would have put his needs above your own and you never have.’

She took a deep breath, not sure how Dan would react to her next request.

‘I’m asking you to do that now. Come back tomorrow and let’s talk to him together and then we can see what he wants to do, because that’s what really matters.’