CALLUM
He heard his sister’s laughter before he saw her.
‘Where the hell have you been?’ he bellowed from the orangery where he stood at the top of a ladder tying string to hold up one side of a specially ordered banner for his grandad’s surprise birthday party. ‘We could have done with your help hours ago.’
‘Where’s your manners?’ Erin said.
Callum looked over his shoulder at her, surprised to see Erin wasn’t alone but walking into the room arm in arm with Riley Sharp. Tasha followed and was looking directly at Callum.
Callum’s ladder wobbled, causing him to drop the string and quickly grab hold of the top of the ladder to steady himself.
‘Hey, steady on,’ his stepfather Barry said, grabbing the sides of the ladder. ‘Don’t want any accidents now, do we?’
‘I bumped into these two when I was out walking,’ Erin explained, looking very pleased with herself.
Callum swapped surprised glances with his mother who stood on the top of another ladder to fix the other side of the banner. He doubted they had come across each other by accident, especially as Riley and Tasha always seemed to keep to themselves. He had a sneaking suspicion his sister had planned for this very thing to happen.
‘I see.’ He smiled at the new arrivals. ‘Hi there.’
‘Hi. We didn’t mean to interrupt anything,’ Tasha said.
‘It’s fine. I’ll just finish tying this side, then will fetch you all a drink if you’d like one.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Tasha said at the same time Riley said he’d love one.
Barry held up another piece of string for Callum to thread through a lower hole in the banner. He focused on what he was doing, trying not to be too cross with Erin for going to the cottage grounds when he had explicitly told her to leave Riley and Tasha in peace.
‘Everything straight, Mum? Barry?’
Barry gave him a thumbs up and Callum realised the look on his mother’s face he had taken for surprise was in fact delight. Surely she wasn’t pleased to see Erin with the film star? Callum stepped down to the floor as Barry helped Callum’s mother off her ladder.
‘It’s time we had a break anyway,’ Callum said, deciding that even though he would rather continue finalising decorations in the orangery it was a bonus to have Tasha here and be able to spend a little time with her.
‘It’s looking splendid,’ Tasha said. ‘And if you do need any help, please just ask.’
‘I’m Michelle, Callum and Erin’s mum,’ he heard his mother saying, turning to see her take Barry’s arm and pulling him into the small group. ‘This is my husband Barry. He’s the children’s stepfather.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Their actual father is Keith’s son, James. He’s my?—’
Erin moved to stand next to their mother. ‘I think they get the gist of who we are now, Mum.’
Callum saw Tasha gently bite her lower lip as her eyes twinkled in amusement.
‘Keith?’ Riley asked looking bewildered.
‘It’s Keith’s eightieth,’ Barry explained. ‘He’s the reason we’re all staying here and who we’re celebrating at the party. He’s a good sort and we’re all very fond of him.’ He turned to Michelle. ‘We all get along well, don’t we, love?’
‘Well enough,’ she said, barely hiding her sarcasm and reassuring Callum he had made the right decision inviting his mother and Barry to stay in his flat while they were on the island. He hadn’t initially expected his mother to want to travel over for his grandfather’s party, but she had insisted she should be there, having known him for thirty years.
Callum suspected her being at the celebrations had a bit more to do with wanting to see how his father and fiancée Betsy really got along. He had a feeling that although his mother had tired of her marriage, she had been with James for so long it must still be difficult for her to see him with someone else, especially someone with whom he seemed extremely happy.
‘You get us all some drinks, Callum,’ Michelle said. ‘I’ll show this charming young man through to the living room so we can make ourselves comfortable and get to know each other a bit before the party.’
What? Callum went to explain that Riley and Tasha weren’t guests but not wanting to embarrass anyone, thought better of it.
Tasha gave him a knowing smile. ‘Come on, I’ll help you get those drinks.’
As soon as they were in the kitchen out of earshot of the others, Callum looked at Tasha and shook his head. ‘I’m sorry. Mum has a habit of taking over things even when she’s not organising it.’
Tasha laughed. ‘It’s fine. I think like most people she was a bit taken aback to see Riley standing there.’
