Chapter 67 Cameron
SIXTY-SEVEN
CAMERON
“Jesus,” Fraser says as we pull the truck into the yard outside the farmhouse. It’s four p.m., and the sky is greying over our heads. “Alec wasn’t kidding.”
I study the lambing barn. There’s a ragged hole in the roof. My stomach turns uneasily.
Alec sent one single text this morning, as we were packing to leave the hotel in Inverness.
ALEC:
Lambing barn damaged by storm. No injuries to livestock. Need your help to move them when you get back.
He didn’t respond when we tried to call him.
We both climb out of the truck, and I hook my cane out of the back seat. My leg’s weak and burning like a bitch from being stuck in the car, but that’s the least of my concerns right now.
As we approach the barn, it’s clear what happened. One of the old elms was hit by lightning. Several of her branches are charred and black, and her trunk is still smouldering.
Fraser whistles. “Jesus. What are the chances of it getting struck by lightning? It’s the one thing Alec couldn’t secure the place against.”
I don’t answer, pulling open the barn door.
The front half of the barn is a mess, with planks and rubble littering the floor.
A beam has been knocked loose and is lying across the floor.
A hastily erected tarpaulin has been hung from the rafters.
On the other side, the ewes and lambs are all penned close together and kept warm by a circle of heaters.
They’re oddly quiet as Fraser and I walk through them, our feet crunching through the straw.
Viola snuffles at my cane curiously, and I bend down stiffly to rub her head.
“Alec’s going to be losing it,” Fraser says darkly. “’S the worst thing that could happen to him. God, I hope Summer’s okay. Must have scared her. Bet the buildings in London never spontaneously collapse.”
The mention of Summer sets my body aching. We’ve only been apart a day, and I spent the entire time missing her.
Fraser had some words with me on our drive yesterday. Wouldn’t shut up, actually.
“C’mon,” he argued, spinning the steering wheel. “You know she belongs here, mate. You like her. You can’t say you don’t.”
I looked out at the wet grey roads, remembering how much I hate cities. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“Well, too bad, ’cause you’re trapped with me, aren’t you? Unless you want to open the door and forward-roll out onto the motorway.”
I considered the car door. There was a click as he turned on the child lock. Twat.
“Listen, mate, I just think you’re being pathetic, is all. I get you’re scared of your feelings, or rejection, or whatever, but—”
“I’m not scared of rejection,” I’d muttered. “I’m being realistic. She doesn’t want to stay here.”
“How do you know? Have you asked her? She doesn’t even like it in London.”
And on, and on, and on. Fraser had talked at me all through the drive.
All through the deliveries. All through dinner.
Even when we were getting ready for bed, he’d sat on the edge of my mattress and orated at me with a mouth full of toothpaste.
Fraser’s usually easygoing, but when he’s decided to be irritating, he’s a dog with a bone.
It worked though. By this morning, I had to accept that he’s right. Summer has gotten under my skin. I want her with us. I don’t want her to go. I’ve decided to ask her to stay. She’ll probably say no, which is fine. At least I won’t be a coward.
I look around at the mess of the barn. “Let’s find her.”
As we head back outside, I see a figure dressed in a red coat crunching up the drive. It’s Liam, the geriatric postman from the village. He waves at us, waiting for us to join him.
“All right, lads?” he asks. “You survived the night then?” He squints at the barn. “Christ, but that’ll be a task to clear up.”
Fraser nods. “None of the livestock are hurt, but aye, the building is a mess. How’s the village?”
“Streets are soggier than a cod’s bahookie, but everyone made it through. D’you boys need help fixing up your barn? I could round up a crew.”
Fraser glances at me, and I sigh. We both want to say yes. Fixing the barn will take forever with just three men. But Alec is notoriously terrible at accepting help. He’d probably turn away any volunteers we managed to scrape up.
Liam clicks his tongue. “You tell your Alec that he needs to let us down in the village help out. What are we, English, ignoring our neighbours?”
“I’ll ask him,” Fraser promises.
Liam nods. “All righty. Oh, I have one for you.” He shuffles a letter out of his satchel and passes it to Fraser. “Looks important. See you two later, okay?” He squelches back down the drive, humming under his breath.
Fraser and I both look at the envelope. It’s thick and has the council’s stamp across our address.
“Well, that’s not good,” Fraser says brightly. He claps me on the back. “C’mon. Let’s find our girl.”
When we get inside the farmhouse, it’s dark and eerily silent. I don’t even realise Alec is sitting at the kitchen table until I flick on the light. He’s staring at his laptop blankly.
A feeling of dread trickles down my spine. Something is wrong.
“Bad night, huh?” Fraser says, shucking off his boots. “Good job securing the sheep. Thank God none of them got hurt. Here, letter from the council for you.” He passes it over and looks around. “Where’s the wee sunbeam? Bet she needs a cuddle after all that drama.”
For the first time, Alec stirs. “She’s gone,” he says quietly.
Fraser blinks at him. “Where? Down to town?”
Alec doesn’t say anything, and the dread that’s slowly been seeping through me solidifies. Fraser stares at him for a moment and then walks towards the guest room. I hear him calling for Summer, opening doors.
I lean my cane against the kitchen table. “What happened,” I ask Alec.
“I messed up,” he says slowly, like the words are hard to get out.
“And Summer?”
Alec doesn’t answer, ripping open the envelope and shaking out the letter. He reads it quickly, his shoulders slumping. “The council is taking the eastern quadrant.”
“What?”
Alec starts to read the letter in a monotone.
“‘Due to recent council plans to develop the county’s economy, the land parcels comprising E1 to E12 on Lochview Farm will be subject to a compulsory purchase order. Should you or any local citizens wish to contest this, a public consultation survey is available on our website for the next seven days, after which the compulsory purchase order shall take effect.’” He drops the letter and takes off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“The whole eastern quadrant?” I ask. “That’s most of our pasture. We’ll have to cut our flock by half.” I do some quick maths. “It doesn’t work,” I realise. “The business will collapse. What’s that bit about a survey mean?”
“It’s a sham,” Alec says into his hands.
“They’re saying if enough locals complain via the survey, they’ll halt the purchase.
But public consultations usually last for months.
They’re meant to be properly advertised with leaflets posted through doors, ads in the papers…
They’ve hidden it on their website and given us no time to let anyone know it exists.
” He swears. “I should have taken Isla up on her offer to spread the word,” he mutters. “I should have—”
Before he can finish the thought, Fraser comes stomping back. His face is red, and he’s waving a sheet of paper. “What. Did. You. Do?” he snarls at Alec.
“What is it?” I ask.
He shoves the page at my chest. I scan Summer’s handwriting.
Fraser and Cameron,
I’ve had to leave. I’m really, really sorry I couldn’t stay to say goodbye, but Alec doesn’t want me here, and I don’t want to be in your way any longer. It’s time for me to stop hiding and go home.
Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. You’ve both treated me better than anyone ever has. Give Crumpet a cuddle from me.
Love,
Summer x
I stare at the paper until all of the words blur.
No.
No. She’s gone. Just up and left with no warning. And I thought I was coming home to her.
“Well?” Fraser asks, and my head snaps back up. He’s standing over Alec, practically vibrating with fury. “Talk!”
“It was for the best,” Alec says flatly.
“What do you mean, for the best?” Fraser explodes.
“How could you tell her to leave? And without asking us, you absolute bellend!” He wipes a hand over his face.
“Look, I know your head was probably a mess, what with the storm and the barn and everything, but this is beyond the pale. Get up. We need to fix this.” Fraser starts stabbing at his phone, then swears as a dial tone sounds.
“She’s not answering. We need to go after her. Set this straight.”
“We don’t have her address,” I point out. There’s no point. It’s too late.
“So we trawl every designer store in London,” Fraser growls.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Alec says, putting the letter back into the envelope. “I’m not going to ask her to come back. She’s safer in London. Keeping her here is just selfishness.” He picks up his phone. “I need to make some calls—”
Fraser’s mouth falls open. “Selfishness?” he roars. “It’s what she wanted, you eejit.” His words ring around the lounge. “Christ, I knew you had a martyr complex, but I didn’t think you’d go so far as to send away the one girl who actually made this place feel good again.”
Alec stands suddenly, anger pouring off him.
“She could have died last night!” he shouts, and Fraser balks.
I feel sick. “She came out to help me, and she almost got killed. A loose beam almost hit her. It was so close. And I—” He tugs a hand through his hair, suddenly breathing hard.
“I can’t do it again. I can’t have what happened to Cameron happen again.
I can’t. I can’t do it. I had to get her away from me. She’s only safe if she’s away from me.”
I stare at him. “What do you mean,” I say slowly. “‘What happened to Cameron’?” He doesn’t answer. “Alec,” I snap. “Did you send Summer away because of my leg?”
He gives my cane a tragic look. “For God’s sake, look at what I did to you.”
Whatever sympathy I had left for him dies.
I knew this was coming. I’ve given Alec years to get over this. It’s clearly not going to happen.
Which means I can’t be here anymore.
I grab my cane and head to the door.
“Where are you going?” Alec rasps behind me, but I don’t answer. I just pull on my coat.
“Cameron,” he says. “We have to try and spread the news about this consultation. If we split up, maybe we can get enough attention to fight this—”
Fraser heaves a sigh. “He’s quitting,” he tells Alec. “Because you treat him like shit.”
“What?” Alec says. “Cameron. Wait—”
As I open the front door something nudges my calf. I look down. The lamb is standing at my feet. She baas at me plaintively, wanting to be pet.
I don’t. She doesn’t want me. She wants Summer. And that’s not going to happen.
I turn to look at both of my best friends. Probably the only two people I’ve ever really loved. Fraser looks resigned. Alec is pale, his exhausted eyes wide behind his glasses.
“Go fuck yourself,” I tell him and slam the door behind me. As I limp back up the path and away from Lochview, the thought dawns on me.
I’m pretty sure I loved Summer too.