‘Are you going away?’ asked Theo. ‘I suppose you’re only here on holiday, I forgot.’
He crouched down to pat Runcible, and I stirred the pans needlessly to give myself something to do.
‘Well, we don’t need to think about any of that now,’ said Alexander in an overly jolly voice, dropping his hand gently on Theo’s shoulder. ‘I think Fallon’s idea of tasting the syrups is agood one, and we should have some lunch too. Come on, Theo, you can help me put something together.’
The atmosphere eased as we all went about our different jobs, and before long, we were in the Hall, a tray of toast, cheese and some leftover roasted vegetables in front of us.
‘I like eating in here,’ said Theo. ‘It’s more comfortable than the Buttery.’ He turned to me. ‘We’re only eating in there all the time because of guests – we usually have lunch on our knees in here.’
Alexander laughed.
‘We do. You don’t mind, do you, Fallon?’
‘Of course not. And it’s so cosy with the fire. Here you are, I’ve brought a few glasses each because I want us to try each flavour with tonic but also with warmed apple juice.’
‘This is going to be the best cocktail bar in Yorkshire,’ said Theo, and we all beamed around at each other, the firelight flickering over our happy faces.
EIGHTEEN
As we finished off our simple but delicious lunch and were congratulating ourselves on the syrups, my phone rang. Fishing it out of my pocket, I saw that it was my business partner, Sam.
‘I’m sorry, I have to take this,’ I said, worried. He had promised he would only call if there was an emergency. I ran out to the little room at the end of the Hall, which I had since learned was called the screens passage, and tapped the green button.
‘Hello, Sam?’
‘Hi, Fallon, how’s it going?’
‘I’m having a good time up here, thanks. Is everything all right?’
We chatted for a few minutes, then I returned to the Hall to find Alexander and Theo looking concerned.
‘Nothing to worry about,’ I said, helping them put everything on the tray. ‘Sam just needed my advice on how to hurry up a particular supplier without offending them so badly they refused to work with us again. Luckily, I know them of old, so I think it’ll work out okay.’
‘The thought of work going on in London without you hasn’t stressed you out too much?’ asked Alexander.
‘Not at all. In fact, I feel quite energised by sorting that out. Being away even for this short time has made me feel much better, and working with you has helped me keep a balance. I was more worried about getting bored and stale.’
‘Did you think it would be boring up here?’ asked Theo.
‘Well, I did wonder,’ I said honestly. ‘But I was wrong, wasn’t I? Even when I’m not working, there’s plenty to do – more than I expected – and if there’s a moment to fill, then there’s always Mum.’
But Theo wasn’t to be distracted.
‘But youaregoing back to London after Christmas? I thought you liked being here with us?’
I glanced at Alexander. I could feel myself on uncertain ground here.
‘I do, of course I do. I love it here. But…’
I trailed off, alarmed by the little boy’s stricken face. This wasn’t part of the plan. Alexander stepped in.
‘Theo, love, Fallon has her home and business down in London. Of course she’ll need to go back to them.’
‘Like Grandpa does?’ asked Theo, his face brightening. ‘Go down to them sometimes, but then come back here?’
‘I’d love to come back,’ I said firmly, which I thought was true but also non-committal. ‘Now, what are you planning to do this afternoon? I think I’m going to go into York. I’m dying to have a look around the Christmas market, I haven’t had time yet.’
‘Can we go, too, Dad?’ asked Theo. ‘They might have the wooden birds for the Christmas tree that they had last year, and I’d love another one to go with the blue tit.’
