Thursday
As Lando strides into the hall and leans his arm on the office doorframe, I swallow my despair that he’s still here and focus on channelling my inner serenity.
I ignore the thump of my heart, and meet Lando’s gaze head on.
‘Lando! If we didn’t actually know better, we might think you’d come back to live here.’
I’m waiting for his laughter to burst across the office, but instead, he jerks to a halt with his eyes wide open.
I cut in to save his discomfort. ‘It’s a joke, Lando.’
‘No… yes… no.’ He opens and closes his mouth then shakes his head. When he starts again a few seconds later his tone is firmer. ‘This is exactly what I was about to tell you. I’m obviously here for more than just the boat. I actually came to St Aidan because Salvador asked me to help him find buyers for his sites. After some long and very complex negotiations, the Nancarrow family trust is taking over parts of his property portfolios.’
Jess, Poppy and I exchange meaningful glances, but Tia’s voice goes high.
‘You’re a vulture here for the pickings?’
Lando gives an embarrassed grimace. ‘It’s not quite like that.’
The ground feels as if it’s collapsing underneath me, but I keep my voice level. ‘What is it like then?’
Lando drags in a breath. ‘Salvador called me a while ago. Because of my contacts, he thought parts of the business would interest me.’
My stomach hits the floor. Why the hell did I not think of this before? Lando with his asset-rich family and easy access to vast amounts of cash at short notice was bound to be Salvador’s first stop, even if they had been estranged. How, even in my deepest, most private thoughts, did I ever imagine this could have been about me?
Poppy’s eyes go wide. ‘That sounds fabulously cosy. Can you tell us more about what you’re proceeding with?’
Lando pulls a face. ‘It’s not a secret. We’ve taken over his eco-friendly holiday developments.’
I’m forcing my brain to remember the places where Sav has mentioned he has those. ‘Polperro, St Austell, Fowey and Port Isaac?’ They’re all at least an hour away, so it’s unfortunate, but it could be worse.
Lando’s eyebrows rise in recognition. ‘They’re the main ones, and those sites are close to completion.’ He shrugs. ‘I’ll personally stay around to oversee them initially, fitting that in alongside my own consultancy work. I should be able to pick up some volunteering as well, to keep my sanity.’
Poppy’s frowning again. ‘Isn’t that upmarket beachside glamping place beyond Comet Cove one of Salvador’s as well?’
Lando purses his lips. ‘It was.’ There’s another second of hesitation. ‘Silver Meadows at Unicorn Creek. We’ve taken that too.’
I’m not going to overreact; this might not be as bad as it sounds. ‘Isn’t that a handful of tipis on a field?’
Lando nods. ‘With seventeen additional acres earmarked for eco-cabin development and a swathe more for rewilding and habitat creation. This will be my own special interest project. It’s right up my street.’
Tia snorts. ‘Up your country lane would sound better.’
I’m trying to stay calm and rational until I know the worst. ‘If you’re creating wetlands, you could be here for decades?’
He nods. ‘That’s completely possible.’
And just like that the course of my life is forever changed.
There’s nothing for it– I’m going to have to jump onto Mum’s idea: leave home and live in a camper van.
Jess’s eyes have been getting wider and she finally speaks. ‘Congratulations on your acquisitions, Lando, but we didn’t bring you in to quiz you about your asset stripping.’
Poppy frowns. ‘Why is he here then?’
Tia gives me a nudge. ‘He’s here for same thing you are.’ She pulls a face. ‘If you don’t like the next suggestion, it’s completely okay to say “no” and everyone will understand.’
Jess raises one eyebrow. ‘Lando’s already been let in on the secret.’ She picks up a package from behind the filing cabinet, hands it to Tia and points across the hall. ‘Let’s move to where we have more space, and we’ll show you the frames we’ve had blown up.’
