He took it from her and watched Riley follow his sister down the corridor.
‘I do hope those two patch things up,’ his mother said.
Callum couldn’t understand her attitude. ‘You can have this food, if you want. I’m not hungry.’
His stepfather Barry entered the house and seeing Callum holding the food out to his mother who didn’t seem interested in it either, took it from Callum’s hand. ‘Well, if no one wants this delicious-looking food, I’ll take it.’
‘Go ahead.’ Callum turned to leave space for them to make their way to the orangery. ‘You’ll find the others out there.’
Barry immediately walked through to join the others but his mother didn’t move.
‘What is it, Mum?’
‘You’re not joining us?’ she asked.
Callum wondered what Tasha might be doing if Riley was here chatting to his sister. Aware his grandfather wanted to make the most of seeing family members he rarely spent time with and considering that he saw his grandfather several times a week, he decided to make the most of the chance to spend time with Tasha before it ran out. He was tempted to call and see whether she would be happy for him to pop down to see her. He decided there was no harm in asking her while his grandfather was engrossed in chatting to his guests. If she wanted to make the most of her peace, she could say no.
‘I’m not sure. I’ll just make a quick call but will let you know if I’m going out for a while.’
‘Fine, but don’t be long.’
He wondered why his mother wanted him to hurry when they both knew she would spend her time catching up with the rest of the family.
Callum took out his phone and decided to message Tasha instead.
Have just seen Riley at the house and wondered if you were free for an hour or so? C
He was about to put his phone back into his pocket when it pinged. Either she was happy to hear from him and wanted to see him or knew without thinking about it that she wasn’t in the mood to spend time with him. He hoped it was the former.
Was hoping you’d contact me. Come down as soon as you like. T
Callum reread the message as he walked to the front door, his mood lifting at the thought that Tasha probably wanted to make the most of seeing him, just as he did, before she left the island.
He set off at a jog, then slowed to a walk. Maybe running there was a bit too eager, he thought, amused at his overthinking the situation. As he tried not to hurry past the colourful and scent-filled borders to the cottage, he couldn’t help thinking how meeting and getting to know Tasha had made him feel far less jaded about life and more like he used to feel before breaking up with his fiancée Zena two years before.
He recalled his grandfather’s advice at the time when coming across Callum sitting miserably in his grandfather’s garden. ‘I know this feels like the end of the world for you right now, Callum, but I promise there will be a time when you don’t hurt this badly.’ He had hesitated and Callum had asked him to say what else was on his mind. ‘There will even be a time, although you won’t believe me just yet, when you’ll meet someone new who will make you glad that Zena did call things off.’
Callum had gone to argue, but his grandfather would have none of it. ‘No, Callum. You mark my words. One of these days you’ll look back and recall what I’m telling you now and know I was right.’
‘And what makes you so sure that’ll happen?’ Callum had responded in disbelief.
‘Because, my lad, you’re a good, kind chap who cares about others, and one day someone will recognise there’s more to you than what people see on the surface.’
Could this be the someone his grandfather had been alluding to? He pictured Tasha and thought about how kind, hard-working and fun she was, and hoped so.
27
TASHA
Tasha listened to Brooke continuing her rant as she paced the living room, intermittently staring out of the window like a modern-day Cathy yearning for Heathcliff in a badly acted play, then glaring at Tasha, hands on her hips as she yelled at her.
‘He’s a complete and utter bastard,’ Brooke screamed. ‘And what I want to know is what you intend doing about it?’
Tasha needed Brooke to go before Callum arrived. The poor man had enough to contend with in his own life without having to bear the brunt of Brooke’s dramatics. She also didn’t want him to witness this hysteria and worry that it might be aimed at Erin.
‘As much as I’d love to sort everything out for you, Brooke,’ she said in her calmest voice, ‘even if it was my job to boss him around, which it isn’t, we both know Riley doesn’t listen to anyone.’ She gave Brooke a sympathetic look. ‘I mean, if he doesn’t listen to you, why should he take any notice of what I’ve got to say?’
Tasha wasn’t sure how Brooke would react to this comment, but felt hopeful when the woman closed her eyes and dropped her hands to her sides as if all the fight had gone out of her. Tasha didn’t much like the woman, but no one deserved to be treated disrespectfully.
