Never better? Like hell, thought Jasper as he lay back on his pillows that night. He was in his old room, up in the eaves. Sighing, he put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. What was he to do? Although he had only just arrived, already the thought of flying back to Dubai leaving Fletcher to rattle about in this great house, alone, gave him an uncomfortable feeling – one which was growing rapidly. He’d been quite shocked at his uncle’s decline; watching him struggle with his cutlery, seeing his hands tremor gripping his whisky glass and slowly sink into his armchair with shaky legs, made him want to weep.
A desperate urge gripped him to turn back the clock to the days when Fletcher was full of life and vitality. He’d been his world as a little boy, a figure to look up to. Uncle Fletcher always had the answers, knew how to put things right. He’d been his idol, his tower of strength. Now he was weak. A weak, old man who needed his help. With a dull realisation, Jasper knew the roles had reversed. It was his turn to look after him. Like it or not, Fletcher needed him. By the look of things, his uncle wasn’t going to give in and receive any form of help easily. And just how was Jasper going to help, living thousands of miles away in Dubai? He had to think of a plan, and fast.
He cursed himself for not having come sooner. How had it happened so fast? The last time Jasper had seen Fletcher, he had seemed more agile.But how long ago was that?his conscience pricked him. Obviously quite some time ago, judging by his deterioration.
A branch scraped across his window in the night’s breeze. He opened his eyes. The moon was beaming through the thin curtains, faintly illuminating the bedroom. This had always been his room, tucked up snug under the beams. He’d loved it as a child. The small leaded window gave panoramic views of the rolling green hills, woods and streams. The bare wooden floorboards creaked and the tiny cast-iron fireplace still smoked when lit. A far cry from the spacious bedroom in his Dubai apartment, where the huge king-sized bed stood by the balcony doors overlooking the bright lights of the city and the air conditioning hummed quietly in the background. But he realised with sudden clarity that he didn’t miss it. He was beginning to appreciate more and more just where his loyalties lay.
Jasper enjoyed Dubai, he really did. It was hard not to when everything was on offer: golden beaches, clear blue oceans, high-class restaurants, designer shops, a glittering career and women, well… Although disciplined, he knew he pretty much had his pick. Not that he took advantage, but he was a man – and one that women found attractive. Zara for one. Once or twice he’d been tempted, she was very easy on the eye after all, but she was also a colleague and Jasper knew more than most never to mix business with pleasure.
For a moment, he contemplated Fletcher and wondered why he had never married. Always, his uncle would brush off any questions about his relationships, declaring he’d simply never met the love of his life. Jasper had struggled to believe this though, especially when considering how vivacious Fletcher was, how magnetic his personality. He was fun to be around, his sense of humour and outlook on life was refreshing. He had charisma and people sought his company. Jasper recalled the parties he’d hosted, when The Laurels had been packed with guests laughing and chatting, delighting in Fletcher’s hospitality. In his day, he’d been a looker and had cut a very handsome chap, always impeccably dressed, hair sleeked back with Brylcreem.
Jasper had a photograph of his parents and Fletcher, all huddled together smiling into the camera, with The Laurels in the background. It was his favourite one of his parents and his uncle. So why? Why had Fletcher never married? He’d been handsome, brilliant company and owned a country estate. It beggared belief. And to top it all, he’d have made a fantastic father. Jasper would have had a cousin to share the magical childhood he had had at The Laurels. But no, it had never happened for Fletcher.
Jasper’s head ached. His eyelids grew heavy and gently closed. He was jet-lagged and his troubled mind was weighing him down. Soon, his breathing became steady and controlled and he fell into a deep, deep sleep.
Chapter 6
As predicted, Edie was in raptures over the camper van.
‘Oh Adira, she’s lovely!’ she exclaimed. It tickled Adira that her gran had referred to the camper van as ‘she’, like her.
‘I know. I can’t wait to get going.’
‘No regrets then?’ Edie grinned.
‘Absolutely none. Leaving that job is the best thing I’ve ever done. I can’t tell you how much better I feel already.’
‘Good.’ Edie squeezed her, then guided her into the kitchen. On the table was a wooden box, filled with all sorts of bottles and containers.
‘What’s this?’ Adira asked.
‘It’s a stock of basic medicine,’ Edie told her. ‘Didn’t want you to go on the road empty-handed.’
‘I see.’ Her brow furrowed, trying to decipher what was in there.
‘There’s the everyday ingredients to warn off infection, or—’
‘Just what do you think’s going to happen, Gran?’ Adira laughed.
‘There’s nothing like being prepared,’ Edie replied rather indignantly.
Adira shook her head with affection. Her gran meant well and Edie’s formulas had often proved fruitful in the past. It would be handy to have some in whilst she was travelling.
‘Thanks, Gran.’ She hugged her hard. ‘I’m going to miss you.’
‘Oh give over, you’ll be far too busy enjoying yourself.’ Edie hugged back and willed herself not to get emotional. ‘Oh, and I’ve also got this for you.’ She pulled out a large UK map from the side of the box.
Adira chuckled. ‘I do have satnav, you know.’
‘Yes, but those things don’t always work,’ Edie dismissed, making Adira smile again.
She looked at the kitchen clock, it was ten a.m., almost time to go. Adira was due to set off late morning to allow herself a good day’s drive. She planned to make several stops on the way to Scotland, taking her time to appreciate the journey and stay in new places. That was about all her plans consisted of, deciding to take each day as it came. That, after all, had been her intention in the first place. At the risk of sounding like a hippy, she had well and truly got into the travelling mode and wanted to ‘let go’, it being such a stark contrast to the rigid work pattern she had been forced into over the years. On reflection, Adira grasped that perhaps she was also escaping from the monotonous, stringent regime developed from revision and exam taking too. This was truly the first time in her life that she could completely relax. It was only a year, then she could easily get another job. Perhaps she would move out of London? Who knew? And who cared, thought Adira. For the time being she was a free agent and she intended to make the most of it.
‘Where will you stop tonight?’ asked Edie.
‘Dunno,’ Adira shrugged. ‘Wherever the mood takes me.’
Edie took in her granddaughter’s free spirit and marvelled at the change in her, compared to the tired, serious-looking girl that had visited only a few weekends ago. Why her own mother hadn’t seen how exhausted she’d looked was beyond Edie. Typical Cleo – high expectations and no pleasure, she thought with a tinge of regret. Why couldn’t her daughter lighten up? Surely now, even she must see how happy Adira was.
