Paradise Fields Read Free Page A

ever.’ She didn’t mention the meeting. He would want to come with her, and it would make everything more complicated.
    â€˜You could just put a stamp on them, you know.’
    â€˜I know, but it’s a chance to catch up with people.I’m always so busy when we’re setting up, I don’t get time to chat. There are bound to be things they want to ask me about the changes we need to bring things up to standard and become a properly recognised market.’
    â€˜That’ll mean a lot of work. Is it really worth it?’
    Nel took a deep breath, swallowing her irritation. ‘There are grants we could apply for, websites to go on, advertising ourselves. As an official farmers’ market, we’d get far more publicity, far more people. Fenella thinks that if I present a proper plan to the council, tell them how everyone will be following all the rules, having the right scales, stuff like that, they’d go for it. The more stalls we have, the more money the hospice gets in rent.’
    â€˜Just because Fenella works for the council, it doesn’t mean she knows everything,’ Simon replied huffily. He didn’t really like Nel having sources of information other than him. ‘And do we really want all the extra traffic?’
    â€˜It’s only going to be once a month to start with!’
    â€˜That’s hardly viable, financially.’
    â€˜Oh Simon, stop being so cheerful all the time. It’s really wearing!’
    Simon laughed, acknowledging her teasing. ‘I just think upgrading this market into a properly recognised farmers’ market will be a lot of work, and no proper money. Now your children have practically left home, you could get a proper job.’
    Nel didn’t want a proper job. Mark’s insurance had left them adequately provided for and she enjoyed working at what interested her and not having a career. As they’d had this conversation many times and now wasn’t the time to have it again, she just smiled.
    He regarded her crossly, annoyed at his inability to interest her in earning money. ‘And you could have just brought your Christmas cards with you and delivered them now.’
    In fact Nel had intended to do just that, but there’d been so much on her mind when she’d rushed out into the pre-dawn that they’d got left on the hall table. ‘I said, I need to talk to people. And organising the market will be a lot of work, but it’s very worthwhile, and could be huge fun.’ She frowned as the thought of planning permission on Paradise Fields floated into her consciousness. Surely the hospice owned them! Harry had probably got the wrong end of the stick. He was a lot more dreamy than the other two. ‘But as I said, I want to talk to everyone.’
    â€˜You live for chat,’ said Simon.
    â€˜I do, I do!’ agreed Nel. ‘What better motive in life is there? And here’s someone who needs mistletoe. Hey, Adrian! Buy some of this for your wife. This big bit would look lovely in your hall.’
    â€˜We have home-grown mistletoe at the farm, Nel.’ Adrian Stewart farmed a few miles away from the town. Nel knew him because she used to work for his wife in her catering business.
    â€˜I’m sure, but I bet you just leave it on the trees. It’s no good if you don’t bring it into the house. No one will kiss you in the middle of a ploughed field.’
    Adrian laughed and put his hand in his pocket. ‘How much will you sting me for, then?’
    â€˜You decide what it’s worth. Here’s a nice big bunch. Let’s say a pound. It’s for a good cause.’
    â€˜I thought you said Sam was getting the money,’ said Simon.
    â€˜Sam is a good cause. Thank you, Adrian. Give Karen my love. I’m planning to pop over later with my Christmas card.’
    Adrian kissed Nel’s cheek. ‘She’ll be pleased to see you. She was struggling with a