Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Lily assumed Flynn’s muted enthusiasm about his transfer back to Scilly had been down to it not having fully sunk in, but over the course of the afternoon, doubts tumbled in. Maybe he was more disappointed about missing out on the sergeant’s position than he was letting on.
When Lily suggested they get Seren and Kit on a video call, hoping to stir some excitement in him, he shrugged the idea away – saying she should just message them about it.
When he emerged from the bedroom after calling PC Jones late in the afternoon, the weariness in his features had her worried.
“How did it go?” she asked.
“Fine. He’s going to get in touch with Mrs Silverton.” He yawned and flopped beside her on the couch. “Shall we order a takeaway for dinner?”
She gave a noncommittal nod and turned sideways to face him. “When I left you for your call this morning, I was thinking about what we’d do if you didn’t get the job.”
He tilted his head. “And I thought you had every faith in me.”
“I didn’t doubt you’d get it,” she insisted. “But it’s something I’d already been thinking about. I didn’t like the long-distance relationship.”
“I know.” He placed his hand on her knee. “But you don’t have to worry about it now.”
“Yeah. But my alternative plan wasn’t terrible.”
“What was it?”
“I thought I could move to London.”
“You said you couldn’t leave the shop.”
“Yes, but when I thought about it more, I realised I could open a shop here. It would have been okay.”
He shook his head. “I disagree. It was a terrible plan.”
“No,” she said. “It would have been fine.”
“Good thing we don’t have to find out.” He shrugged. “What takeaway do you feel like?”
“Can you stop thinking about food for a minute and listen to me?” she grumbled. “I’m trying to make a point and you’re not getting it.”
His eyebrows pulled together. “Maybe because you’re not being very clear. What was your point?”
“That you coming back to Scilly isn’t the only option. If you’d rather stay here, we should talk about that.”
His lips parted slightly, but it took him a moment to speak. “I’ve told you all along I want to come back to Scilly.”
“But I feel as though you got your hopes up about being sergeant. If you want to stay in London and apply for a sergeant position here, I’ll understand.”
“No.” He shook his head. “I don’t care about the sergeant job.”
“I don’t believe you. Something is bothering you, I know it.”
“It’s not that.”
“What then?”
He leaned his head back, stared at the ceiling.
“I didn’t want to say anything yet because I didn’t want to bring the mood down.
And because it doesn’t actually matter…” She glared at him until he rolled his head in her direction and met her gaze with a solemn expression.
“The officer who suggested I shouldn’t get the sergeant job was Inspector Brand. ”
Lily’s heart squeezed. “Your dad blocked the promotion?”
“Essentially, yes.” He shifted in his seat. “I’ve wondered all along if he knew I’d put in for it, and if he was going to interfere. I was starting to think he was just staying out of it. Until today.”
“I’m so sorry,” Lily whispered.
“The thing that really annoys me is he found a way to look like the good guy. He made out as though his motives were about putting too much pressure on me. Anyone who knows he’s my dad thinks he’s acting out of concern for his son.
If people don’t know our relationship, they think he’s looking out for the well-being of a less experienced officer.
He comes out looking good, which he somehow always manages to do. ”
Not knowing what to say, Lily reached for his hand and intertwined their fingers.
“No wonder you were upset,” she finally murmured.
“I didn’t mean for you to think I’m not happy to be coming back.” He smiled sadly. “Tomorrow I’ll be properly excited, but today I feel pretty crap that my dad has once again made my life more difficult.”
“He’s awful,” Lily said, putting her arms around Flynn’s shoulders. “I know it’s easier said than done, but try not to let him get to you.”
He nodded and pulled her close. “I’m trying.”
“Do you know what I think will help?”
“Food?”
She chuckled. “We’ll get food too. But let’s see if we can get Kit and Seren on a video call. They’ll be so excited, and seeing their enthusiasm will make it a lot easier to forget about your idiot dad.”
“Maybe,” he agreed. “I need to tell Jago, too.”
“I should also let Maria know. I called her earlier, so she knows it’s a possibility.” Her eyes lit up. “Let’s get everyone on a call!”
“Who?” he asked sceptically.
“All the Trenearys. And Maria and Glynis, Ted, PC Hill, Jessica and Rhys… the whole gang! I’ll send a link and people can jump in whenever they have time this evening.”
“I don’t know,” he said, but the twinkle in his eyes told her he liked the idea.
“It’ll be fun,” she insisted. “You need to celebrate.”
“I could also just celebrate with you,” he said, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
She nodded and gave him a soft kiss. “We’ll have our own private celebration later,” she promised, then snatched up her phone. “You organise the takeaway, I’ll organise the party guests!”
It didn’t take a lot of organising – she set up a link and fired it off to their friends. Then she spent some time replying to their messages, but everyone had time at some point over the course of the evening.
She and Flynn ate Chinese food, then opened her laptop on the coffee table and waited for the faces of their friends to appear.
The alcohol might have played a part – they’d opted for beers rather than champagne in the end – but the enthusiasm from everyone who popped onto the call definitely factored into lifting Flynn’s mood.
As always, the Trenearys kept the energy levels up with their lively banter. Glynis and Maria stayed on the call for almost two hours – not participating too much but looking thoroughly entertained just watching and listening.
Everyone was thrilled to hear Flynn’s news. PC Hill looked a little sheepish until Flynn started cracking jokes about the new sergeant. The Trenearys jumped on it too, but there were also heartfelt congratulations among the teasing.
It was just gone eleven when they finally said goodbye to Kit and Seren, who’d predictably stayed on the call after everyone else had bowed out.
“That was fun,” Flynn said, his posture utterly relaxed as he reclined on the couch with a lazy smile. “You have the best ideas.”
“I do,” she said cheekily.
He tugged on her arm, pulling her so hard that she crashed into him, laughing. She settled against his chest and he kissed the top of her head.
“I love you,” he murmured into her hair.
“I love you, too.” Wriggling out of his embrace, she gave him a soft kiss before standing and pulling him up. “Time for our private party, I think.”
His lips twitched upwards. “I like the sound of that.”
They were at the bedroom doorway when Lily’s phone rattled on the coffee table.
“Ignore it,” Flynn said. “It’ll only be Seren sending you memes.”
She’d had no intention of paying it any attention, anyway. Pulling Flynn into the bedroom, she closed the door behind them.
Whoever was messaging her could wait.