Chapter 19

19

‘Hi, Jade, just to let you know our ETA’s ten thirty at yours.’

Sarah sounded relaxed and happy and Jade breathed a sigh of relief as she pressed her mobile to her ear and glanced out of the reception window at the icy blue sky. March was as cold as February had been. Although there were definite signs of spring in the air.

The sun was out today, she could feel its warmth through the glass. Daffodils had sprung up around the duck pond and there were primroses and musky wood anemones everywhere.

‘Is Ben still at Darren’s?’ Sarah asked, bringing her back to the present.

‘Yes. I spoke to Darren’s dad last night and apparently they were watching Wonka .’

Sarah laughed. ‘Bless them. Ben’s seen that film at least four times already.’

‘So was Callum OK with leaving his parents to fend for themselves?’

‘Yes. Although it’s been manic. His parents are lovely, by the way. His dad looks just like him – but with more grey. I told them all about Ben and they can’t wait to meet him.’

‘Brilliant. Are you sure you don’t want me to get him from Darren’s in case you get held up?’

‘No, it’s fine. We’ll nip in and get his stuff en route and then go and get him. I can’t wait to see him. I know we’ve chatted on Zoom every night, but it’s not the same. How’s your handyman getting on?’

‘He’s great. I don’t know how I ever managed without him.’ She gave Sarah a list of what Finn had done so far, which included renewing all the guttering on the outbuildings, repairing a section of rotten fence, although there was a lot more to be done, and sorting out a downpipe on the quarantine kennels. She paused for breath when she heard Sarah sigh.

‘What? What have I said?’

‘I’ve never heard you so excited about a bloke.’

‘He’s not a bloke, he’s an employee.’

‘He’s a bloke as well, though, isn’t he? Even you must have noticed that. So, what’s he like to live with? Does he bring you tea in bed?’

‘No, he does not, he’s never set foot in my bedroom.’ Not that the thought was unappealing, she realised, feeling her face colour. Good job they were on the phone.

‘I bet you that’s only because Ben’s been around,’ Sarah said archly. ‘It’s like having a chaperone, isn’t it?’

‘Actually Ben gets on very well with him. They’ve been talking about painting – he’s offered to give Ben lessons if you agree. I think he’s going to ask you.’

‘Loves kiddies too. Well, well. I shall look forward to meeting this paragon. Is he there now?’

‘Yes, somewhere about.’

‘Well, make sure he doesn’t disappear before we get there.’

The phone rang as soon as Jade disconnected, and she’d only just finished a lengthy conversation with a woman who wanted a kitten for her daughter and sorted out a petfood delivery when the campervan drew into the yard and parked outside reception.

Callum and Sarah came in together and Jade looked at Callum’s animated face and thought she’d never seen such a well-matched couple. She was surprised they hadn’t decided to make their relationship more permanent. Maybe they had. Maybe they’d stopped by at Gretna Green on the way. No, she thought, stepping over sacks of dog biscuits that had just been delivered, and kissing them both on the cheek. Sarah would never have kept something like that to herself.

‘The kettle’s just boiled,’ she told them. ‘You can make a brew while I go and find Finn. He takes his white with two sugars.’

‘Callum can make the tea, I’m coming with you. I want to see all these miraculous transformations you told me about.’

Jade laughed, knowing Sarah was far more interested in interrogating her than in Finn’s handiwork, a fact that was confirmed as soon as they stepped outside.

‘Now tell me the truth.’ Sarah linked her arm through Jade’s. ‘You do like him, don’t you? You can’t keep something like this from me. I’m your best friend.’

‘All right.’ Jade knew she wouldn’t get a minute’s peace until she confessed. And she did want to talk about Finn. She’d spent an uncomfortable night torn between thinking she might be falling for him and wondering whether it was just because he’d been so kind when she was vulnerable.

‘Yes, I do like him. And there is chemistry. I’m pretty sure he feels it too. But he is working for me. It’s really early days, and I don’t want to…’

‘Rush into anything,’ Sarah finished. ‘Yes, I can see that. And I guess you don’t need to, do you, seeing as you’ve got him exactly where you want him. I bet Aiden hates his guts, doesn’t he?’

‘He’s not over fussed – how did you know that?’

‘For someone who’s so bright, you’re amazingly dense where men are concerned,’ Sarah said glibly. ‘Aiden’s had the hots for you for months.’

‘I’m beginning to think you’re right.’ Jade told her about the date that never was at Da Vinci’s. ‘Don’t you dare say anything to him, I’m not supposed to know. And if you say anything in front of Finn, I’m going to kill you.’

‘About Aiden?’

‘About anything. I don’t want him frightened off. He’s too useful.’

‘Don’t worry. I won’t. I can see you’re smitten. You’re completely transparent, Jade. Well, you are to me. I’m really pleased for you, it’s about time you fell for something with fewer than four legs. Hey, is that him?’ She paused and shielded her eyes and Jade saw Finn up a ladder that was resting against the quarantine block.

‘Yes. He said there were some tiles that needed replacing. I knew I should have bought new – it was a false economy getting second-hand.’

‘You live and learn. He’s pretty fit, isn’t he? Very nice bum.’

‘Sarah!’

‘He can’t hear us.’

They paused at the foot of the ladder and Finn acknowledged them with a nod and began to climb down.

‘Sorry to interrupt,’ Jade began as he reached the ground and turned, smiling, towards her, ‘but I just wanted to introduce you to Ben’s mum. Finn, this is my best friend, Sarah. Sarah, this is Finn.’

There was a pause, which got longer and longer, and Jade stood in the winter sunlight, feeling a rising sense of bewilderment.

It was hard to tell what Finn was thinking, it always was, but Sarah looked as if she’d just seen a ghost, complete with severed head clutched under one arm and clanking chains.

Finn broke the awkward silence. ‘We’ve already met,’ he said, glancing at Jade. ‘Although I don’t think we were on first-name terms back then, were we?’ He held out his hand, but Sarah didn’t take it and after a few moments he nodded and let it drop back to his side. ‘It was a long time ago,’ he went on for Jade’s benefit. ‘It was a Christmas party, if my memory serves me right. And we’d both had way too much to drink.’

‘I can’t remember much about that party,’ Sarah blurted, finding her voice at last. ‘After about nine o’clock it’s a complete blank.’ She raked her fingers through her long hair and glanced at Jade. ‘Must have been a good party. We went to lots of parties in those days, didn’t we, Jade? You were probably there.’

‘Yes,’ Jade murmured, even though she was sure she hadn’t been. She’d never been much of a partygoer. She’d always preferred quiet pubs and restaurants where you could hear yourself speak.

‘I can’t remember much either,’ Finn said quietly, his eyes holding Sarah’s, and she nodded and went scarlet and looked vastly relieved, all at the same time. Jade had the strangest feeling Finn was letting Sarah off the hook for something. But she had no idea what.

‘Are you coming down for a cup of tea?’ she asked him. ‘Callum’s just making it. Or shall I bring it down here?’

‘I’m all right for now, thanks. I want to get these tiles done before it rains.’

‘Right,’ Jade said, glancing distractedly into a cloudless sky, and hurrying to catch up with Sarah, who was already marching back up the yard.

‘What on earth’s going on?’ she hissed, falling into step beside her friend.

‘Nothing. Nothing’s going on.’

‘Sarah, tell me. Oh my God.’ Realisation hit her like a bucket of ice. ‘It was that Christmas party. The Christmas party where you met the guy and… Oh, my God, Sarah, Finn’s Ben’s father, isn’t he?’

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