The colour flooded his cheeks. ‘Where’s all this come from?’
‘I know I’m not considered the bright one of the two of us, but I’ve never been slow in saying what I think, and I reckon you need to be honest with Jenna before it’s too late.’
‘Are you talking about our friend over at the Mill?’ he said.
‘You know perfectly well I am.’
‘What about Jenna? How does she feel about Blake?’
‘She keeps going on about him being a work colleague and therefore out of bounds, but I’m not convinced.’
His brows drawn, Callum said, ‘What gave me away?’
‘I’m your sister. I know that look that comes into your eyes when you’re interested in a girl. I’ve seen it a few times in the last few days. You’ve been looking at Jenna differently to how you used to.’
‘That’s as maybe, but I’ve already hinted that I’d like to be more than that and she didn’t leap at the suggestion.’
‘Perhaps she needs more encouragement from you. Something more tangible than merely a hint?’
He looked doubtful. ‘Even if that’s true, I always come back to the same sticking point, that it would turn everything weird between Jenna and me if we changed gears and became a couple.’
Rachel stared at him. ‘Does it feel weird at the moment?’
He smiled. ‘Coming so close to dying has sharpened your perspective, I’d say.’
‘Yeah, I’m reborn.’ She suddenly yawned, then grimaced at the pain it caused in her chest.
‘You’re tired,’ he said, ‘I should leave you to sleep.’ When she didn’t dispute this, he stood up. ‘Thanks for the chat, little sis.’
She snuggled down into the bed, overcome with weariness, her eyelids already closing. ‘My pleasure. And think hard about what I’ve said.’
Her last thought before succumbing to sleep was that she did feel strangely reborn. Knowing that life could suddenly be snatched away so easily had given her the ability to see things through different eyes. Clearer eyes.
There had been no sign of Jenna when he’d arrived, but now Callum found her alone in the garden sitting on the wooden bench overlooking the river. Was it his imagination, or was she staring out across the water at the Mill? Was she thinking of Blake? He could hardly blame her if she was. The guy had saved her best friend’s life after all.
By rights Callum should be jealous of the man, but he wasn’t. The truth was, he liked Blake and could easily imagine them enjoying a drink together.
But was Rachel, not ordinarily known for her wisdom and discernment, right to say he should be proactive? And how could he, after the chat he and Jenna had had two days ago? A line had been drawn and surely there was no crossing back over it? It seemed to him that their roles had been defined a long time ago and to step out of character now was just too risky.
Look at what was happening amongst their parents as a result of Alastair behaving out of character – Dad was all over the place, Mum was claiming Valentina was the devil incarnate, Frankie and Danny were suddenly planning to leave Suffolk to move here to the Broads, and his sister had very nearly got herself drowned!
He ran a hand through his hair. Was it any wonder people preferred to stay in their safe little ruts, living their safe little lives the way they always had?
So no, he thought with conviction, as he approached Jenna, he wouldn’t do as his sister advised. He’d continue just as before.
Unless Jenna herself chose to change the status quo.
She turned, as though alerted by some sixth sense that he was there. ‘Hi, Callum,’ she said, ‘have you been to see Rachel?’
‘Yes. I left her nodding off, having thoroughly exhausted her with catching up on all that’s been going on. I don’t know, I leave you for a few hours, and look what happens.’
She gave him a small, sad smile. ‘Time to sit and chat for a while?’
‘Just for a few minutes. I have to go to Norwich; don’t suppose you fancy coming along for the ride?’
He saw the hesitation in her face. ‘That’s okay,’ he said hurriedly. ‘It was only a thought.’
‘I’m not sure I’d be very good company right now.’
