‘Done,’ he cut in, ‘and ready for you to submit.’
‘Certainly. I’ll get you on the next flight tomorrow.’
‘No.Tonight.’
Again, Zara was a touch taken aback and was itching to know why Jasper had to go home so urgently.
‘When should I book the return flight?’ Those brown eyes searched his face.
‘I’ll do that. Just get me to Manchester ASAP.’
Feeling somewhat deflated, Zara nodded politely and did as Jasper instructed.
Three hours later, Jasper was checking in at the airport. He felt better already, seeing it as a step in the right direction. In just eight hours, he would be home. He would see and breathe in the fresh, green grass and hear birdsong. He’d be able to drive through quaint, leafy lanes and drink real ale in country pubs. Ah, bliss.
‘Enjoy your flight, sir,’ the desk attendant said with a plastic smile.
‘Thank you,’ he replied and took his boarding pass.
Chapter 4
‘I blame my mother for this,’ hissed Cleo as she took in the sight before her. There, pulling up the driveway was a sky-blue camper van, complete with her excited daughter at the wheel.
‘You’ve got to admit though, Cleo, we’ve not seen her so happy in a long time,’ conceded her husband, Pat.
‘But to chuck it all in!’ trilled Cleo.
‘Shush, don’t ruin this for her,’ he warned, already predicting an almighty row between wife and daughter. That’s what they were notorious for, their blazing arguments. Little wonder Adira had often sought solace with Edie. And now his mother-in-law had excelled herself, encouraging their daughter to take off in a camper van, he thought wearily. ‘Come on, united front,’ he told his wife, as positively as he could muster.
Together they plastered on smiles and went to greet their precious daughter, who was about to ‘find herself’ at the cost of her glittering career she had busted a gut for.
‘Well, what do you think?’
It was hard to be negative and tell her what they really thought, especially at seeing her face lit up with such glee and anticipation.
‘It’s…’ Cleo faltered, looking the van up and down.
‘Smashing, love,’ finished Pat.
‘I know! Come and look inside her,’ Adira beamed.
‘Her?’ Pat replied with a frown.
‘Sheila. She’s an Aussie import,’ laughed Adira as she ushered her parents into the cosy interior.
‘How sweet.’ Cleo was genuinely beginning to melt. But then it would be hard not to at seeing the cute kitchenette with a small sink, gas hob and distressed wooden cupboards. The fabric furnishings matched the outside sky blue of the camper van.
Adira had put up a flora material padded noticeboard with criss-cross elastic. It held photographs of family and friends, in case she got homesick, not that she anticipated for one moment she would, such was her eagerness to get on the road and escape the rat race. The camper van was kitted out beautifully and also had a small shower unit and toilet towards the back.
‘Adira, it’s fantastic!’ Pat was hugely impressed. Despite his wife’s reservations, he could see the attraction this little van had. A part of him envied his daughter. If only he had had the same backbone at her age. He glanced sideways at his wife. Was that a wistful look he noticed in her eye? Maybe she was thinking the same deep down. There could be no disputing Adira’s utter joy, it was practically radiating from her. ‘So,’ he swallowed the lump in his throat, ‘where do you intend to go first?’
‘Up north. Scotland, I think,’ she replied, beaming.
‘Scotland?’ snapped Cleo, earning herself a scowl from Pat. She softened her voice. ‘Why Scotland, Adira?’
‘Just fancy it,’ she shrugged. ‘You never know, Mother, I could stumble across some ancient castle in the Highlands and end up marrying a dark, swarthy laird.’
Pat smiled wryly.
