He tilts his head on one side and speaks slowly. ‘I admit I came back to help Sav out.’
The words are bursting out of me. ‘And so you should have! You’re completely responsible for the mess Sav is in to start with.’
His voice drops. ‘How can you possibly think that, Maevey?’
I roll my eyes. ‘Sav’s always been in awe of you and your wealth. You’re the one who gave him the taste for spending with no thought for where that would end.’
Lando purses his lips. ‘I’m not sure now is the time for this level of recrimination. Can we deal with this down the line, along with the rest of the issues?’
For once I won’t let him wriggle. ‘When Sav was starting out, you let him into the secret of interest-only loans and encouraged him to take the plunge with rental properties. You knew how impressionable and impulsive he was. You should have steered him away but instead you made it easy for him.’
Lando blows out his cheeks. ‘I admit I used my contacts and introduced him to the better banks, but only to save him paying astronomical rates.’
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. ‘So you’re the good guy here?’
Lando pauses to kick the sand. ‘Sav is driven and ambitious. He lives and breathes deals and he works like a demon, but that’s not down to me. He’d have been the same whether he knew me or not.’
I’m shaking my head. ‘You make it sound like you had no part in this.’
He looks at me with a steady gaze. ‘My involvement is less than you imagine. I certainly don’t share Sav’s drive to amass money. My work involves sourcing finance, but beyond that, so long as I have enough to cover my basic lifestyle, I’ve no wish for more. I already told you about my jeans.’
I’m incredulous. ‘That’s total horse, Lando. How is a castle and half of Falmouth basic?’ Now I’m going, I might as well carry on. ‘And what about the way you dragged Salvador to Australia then left him on his own?’
Lando hesitates. ‘That’s what he told you?’
‘Why else would I say it?’
Lando lets out a breath. ‘Sav was the one who ran out on me. We’d taken jobs in a remote area, and he couldn’t handle the space. He lasted a week then he ran for the beach.’
‘So there was an argument?’
He shrugs. ‘It wasn’t about that. With all of this, we’re each entitled to our own view. But it’s always beneficial to fact-check before launching a full-blown attack.’
I snap back. ‘That’s a loaded person’s way of saying I’m wrong!’
He looks at me. ‘Ten years on I’d hoped you’d have more insight. Just because I come from a wealthy family that doesn’t automatically make me a bad person.’
I sniff. ‘You’re still just as patronising.’
From the way his mouth twists he’s taking that as a compliment. ‘And you’re ten times more dogged when it comes to never changing your opinion.’
I sigh. ‘Let’s face it, we were always at loggerheads, why should that change? Especially after the latest revelation you threw in.’
‘I can think of one time we weren’t.’ He gives a cough.
I think back. ‘You helped with my maths and I did your art. Apart from that, it was mostly war.’
Lando tilts his head on one side. ‘People often leave their childhood differences behind them?’
My jaw is set. ‘Not if they’re as dogged as me, with everything you’ve added in since.’
He narrows his eyes. ‘How about we suspend hostilities for the day. I’ll go and change and get us some coffees from that new machine of Erica’s. There’s no guarantee how they’ll taste, but I’d like to support them.’
I’d kill for a coffee, but I have to tell him. ‘I’m afraid my kind of basic lifestyle means I don’t buy carry-out drinks. Especially not now. That’s how we make it to the end of the month.’
‘Shit, Maeve.’ His exclamation bursts out, then he resets. ‘I’m sorry, I should have thought; this one’s on me. The Coast FM woman is in the distance, so you may need it.’
‘You’re kidding?’
