Chapter 48

Ava

The sun was still low in the sky, barely even cresting the horizon as I wandered along the path. It was still early morning, but I couldn’t sleep; I couldn’t stop thinking about… well, everything.

I had decided to go on a walk to get some fresh air and clear my head, without any real destination in mind. Although, it seemed as though my feet had decided to carry me to a familiar place after all: Leonard’s farm.

Somewhere up ahead, I could hear the faint lowing of cattle. Once I saw his orchard come into view, followed by the mossy roof of his little cottage, I decided to stop in; I knew he would already be awake, after all, and perhaps a brief visit might be just the distraction I needed.

When I emerged onto the path, I could see the cluster of weathered barns and outbuildings that made up Leonard’s property A few of his cattle grazed lazily in the fenced pasture to my right, but it was the sounds of distress coming from the largest barn that immediately caught my attention.

Without a second thought, I broke into a jog across the grassy field, following the frantic lowing and snorting emanating from the open barn doors. As I drew closer, I could make out Leonard’s gruff voice carrying over the commotion.

“There, there, girl… easy does it…”

I skidded to a halt in the wide barn doorway, my eyes quickly finding the source of the noise. There was Leonard, brow furrowed in concentration as he hovered near the rear end of a very large, very distressed dairy cow.

From my vantage point, it was clear that the poor creature was in labor—her sides heaving with exertion as she strained and bellowed. Leonard, his sleeves rolled up to the elbow, looked to be attempting to assist the calf’s delivery.

“Leonard?” I called out. “Do you need help?”

Startled, Leonard jerked his head up. His hair, usually neatly combed back, was a bit sweaty and flopping down over his forehead in a roguishly handsome way. “Ava,” he breathed. “What are you doing here?”

“I was just walking, and I heard noise,” I said, striding up to him. “Are you having trouble?”

He nodded. “The calf’s turned. I could use some extra hands, if you don’t mind getting dirty.”

“Of course,” I said without hesitation, quickly shrugging off my cardigan as I hurried to join him beside the cow.

Leonard gave me a quick rundown of the situation as I rolled up my sleeves. It seemed the calf was turned the wrong way, making for an exceptionally difficult delivery. Under his guidance, I helped shift and reposition the calf, my smaller hands able to reach and maneuver where Leonard’s could not.

It was slow, arduous work—made all the more unpleasant by the frightened bellows and thrashing of the cow. More than once, I found myself ducking a wildly flailing hoof or tail as we struggled to manipulate the calf into the proper birthing position.

Just when it seemed my arms would give out from the strain of it all, I felt a sudden shift, followed by a warm gush of fluids. The calf’s head had finally emerged.

“That’s it!” Leonard called out triumphantly. “Just a few more good pushes now…”

Redoubling our efforts, we managed to help guide the rest of the calf’s body safely into the world. I collapsed back onto my haunches with an explosive sigh, cradling the wet, wriggling newborn in my arms and rubbing its body with straw to increase circulation, as per Leonard’s instructions.

“Goddess,” Leonard said with an amazed huff as he watched the calf begin struggling to her feet. “You’re a natural, Ava.”

I took his offered hand and stood, dusting myself off. My clothes were effectively soaked in various fluids, but it was worth it to see a little life come into the world.

“I really can’t thank you enough,” Leonard said as we watched the calf and mother begin nuzzling each other. “Bluebell is my best dairy cow, and frankly, my oldest friend.” He paused, clapping the cow’s neck, and the cow pushed her head over to give his arm a good, wet lick, causing us both to laugh.

“It was nothing, really,” I said, waving my hand. “The least I could do.”

Leonard chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t be so modest. Can I offer you some breakfast, maybe? I was planning on heading into town… I’ve been craving an omelet from the cafe.”

At the mention of the local cafe, I couldn’t stop my mouth from watering; and after working for hours to deliver a calf, with the sun now high in the sky, I was starving. After a moment of hesitation, I finally nodded, gesturing to my wrecked clothes.

“As long as I can stop at home and change, the cafe sounds perfect.”

…

The raspberry danish tasted beautifully sweet as I took another bite, followed by a sip of my frothy cappuccino. I leaned back in my chair, chewing slowly and savoring the perfection on my tongue.

“Thank you for this, Leonard,” I said once I had swallowed. “I haven’t been out to eat in a while.”

Leonard simply nodded and speared another piece of his vegetable omelet with his fork. “Neither have I. But I suppose we both deserve it, after this morning. You showing up like that was a miracle.”

“Truth be told, I didn’t even mean to show up at your place when I went on my walk,” I laughed. “It just sort of… happened.”

Leonard chuckled. “Well, maybe it was a little gift from our Goddess.”

“Maybe.”

We lapsed into a comfortable silence as we ate, letting the warm breeze and idle chatter of the cafe’s other patrons wash over us. Eventually, however, Leonard seemed to pick up on the pensive undercurrent still lingering in my expression.

“You know…” he began, adopting a more serious tone as he set down his fork and reached for his coffee. “I couldn’t help but notice that you still seem a bit far away. If you don’t mind me prying.”

I froze, my fingers tightening around my coffee cup. “I…”

“I’m sorry,” Leonard cut in. “I keep getting my nose into business that’s not my own.”

I blinked rapidly, shaking my head. “No, don’t apologize,” I said with a sigh. “You’re right. I have felt far away since…”

“Since that party the other night?”

I nodded. There was no point in trying to deny it any longer; I hadn’t stopped thinking about Chris and Lily together, about how I had told Chris to go ahead and date her. Part of me hated myself for telling him that. But what was I supposed to do? I couldn’t be with him. It wasn’t… right.

“Chris and Lily would make an excellent match,” I said. “And truthfully, I’m happy for them. I wish them all the best.”

“But you want to be with Chris yourself,” Leonard finished for me, his keen gaze cutting straight through to the heart of the matter.

My cheeks burned, torn between wanting to vehemently deny his assertion and the aching knowledge that he was absolutely right. After several long moments, I could only nod silently.

To my surprise, Leonard simply reached across the table to give my hand a gentle squeeze. “You know, there is a way to have what you want.”

I blinked owlishly up at him, taken aback by his words. A way to have what I want… “That seems impossible,” I blurted out.

Leonard simply shrugged as he pulled away, sipping his coffee. “I thought it would be impossible to deliver that calf this morning without inadvertently killing the mother, and look at us now.”

I sat there in stunned silence, my half-finished danish utterly forgotten as my mind whirled with thoughts. Perhaps there was a way forward, after all. A path to have what my heart desired, no matter how much I tried denying it. A way for Chris and I to be together while still staying here, in Moonstone.

Maybe... just maybe...

Later, long after Leonard and I had said our goodbyes, I found myself going on another walk; only this time, I knew precisely where I was going.

The Packhouse. I needed to talk to Chris, to tell him…

My pulse kicked up a notch as I saw a white-haired beauty making her way down the front steps, her entourage of guards trailing along dutifully behind her with their arms full of suitcases and gift boxes.

Lily. Was she… leaving?

Casting my gaze up toward the front door of the Packhouse, I saw a solitary figure framed in the arched doorway. Chris. His arms were folded tightly across his chest, his expression unreadable as he watched Lily’s departure.

A fleeting tendril of hope curled in my chest as I started toward the steps, only to be brought up short as Chris’s eyes flashed in my direction. Our gazes met and held for a long, loaded moment, and I felt my chest clench when I saw the look in his eyes.

Anger. Anger directed at me.

Clenching his jaw, Chris turned on his heel and disappeared into the Packhouse without a second glance.