Nate nodded.
‘Promise me,’ his dad added.
Somewhat reluctantly, he assured him that he would try. ‘I won’t make any more calls until we need to.’ Because the expression on his dad’s face was enough to tell him that this man was actually worried now Nate had made his confession, worried that his son, no matter what he said, was going to try to ship him off somewhere away from everything he loved. And that wasn’t Nate’s intention at all. ‘I’m really sorry, I’ve upset you.’
‘I know you mean well. But you said yourself, you’ve seen what I have in this village.’
Nate smiled. ‘I have. I was even telling Morgan the very same thing.’
Trevor raised an eyebrow. ‘Morgan?’
Nate began to laugh. ‘Don’t get any ideas; she’s engaged.’
It was Trevor’s turn to be amused. ‘You two looked very comfortable at the stall together. Reminded me of Sebastian and Belle working at the Bookshop Café.’
‘I’m warning you, Dad, don’t go getting any ideas.’
‘Would I do that?’ he asked innocently. ‘Now, I’ve had a terrible shock. Why don’t you fix us both a glass of Pimm’s and lemonade?’ He pointed to the pantry cupboard. ‘There’s a bottle of Pimm’s at the very back, should be a couple of cans of lemonade too. And we’ll take a glass outside, drink it beside the oak tree.’
‘Mum’s favourite spot.’
Ruth could be found on many a summer’s evening sipping Pimm’s and lemonade in a deck chair beneath the shade of the tree and it felt fitting to go and do the same in the place where his mother’s ashes were scattered.
Nate needed this reminder tonight. The reminder not to try to be there for every eventuality, to enjoy the moment, reflect on the past and embrace life as it was right now.
He owed his dad that much.
Later on when he was content that his dad was fine in his favourite chair watchingMastermind, Nate took Branston for a walk. He was surprised to see Morgan coming out of the bakery as he passed by on the familiar route.
‘They’re open late.’ He gave Betty a wave as she turned the sign on the other side of the glass door fromOpentoClosed.
‘Keep walking,’ Morgan said through her teeth as she waved at Betty too. ‘She’s watching us.’ Morgan had a paper bag tucked under her arm.
Nate turned to see the owner of the bakery was indeed watching them walk away. ‘She’s obviously keen for some local gossip. Maybe I should kiss you now, give her something to talk about.’ He’d meant it as a joke, but as soon as he’d said it, he realised he meant it and perhaps Morgan even knew that. He tried to keep that rock of an engagement ring firmly in his mind to act as a reminder she was taken.
When they reached the village green, neither of them addressing the kiss comment, Nate picked up a stick from the ground and threw it for Branston.
‘What did you do to your hand?’ Morgan asked.
He turned his hand over and, sure enough, along the edge was a nice brown streak. ‘Didn’t notice that. I stained a key organiser I made but didn’t think to check my hands afterwards. I ended up at the hospital with Dad.’
‘What happened?’
He hadn’t meant to sound so dramatic. ‘He’s fine, sorry, should’ve led with that.’ He detailed what had gone on. ‘It’s minor, should fully heal in a week or so.’
‘Thank goodness. I remember every time Mum hurt herself, it didn’t matter whether it was minor or not; it was another reminder of why I was there with her.’ She looked over the village green and up to Forget-Me-Not Cottage. ‘Didn’t matter either that minor accidents could happen to any of us at any age.’ When she looked back at him, she asked, ‘So no plans to haul him back to Wales yet then?’ This time, she bent down to pick up the stick, ready to throw it for Branston and despite the loaf tucked safely beneath one arm, even managed to give the dog a stroke along his glossy brown coat before she did so.
‘Dad doesn’t want that.’
And more importantly, he was beginning to realise that perhaps it was going to have to be him who made a move. Already, he’d been wondering whether he should get his place in Wales valued so he’d know what his options were.
But was there anything left for him here other than his dad?
‘I’m glad,’ she said and before he could questionglad about what?she added, ‘that Trevor is hanging around.’
‘You might be off soon yourself.’
‘Good point. But…’ She broke off.
