Chapter 40
Seth was still sound asleep when I got up the next day. Not surprised really as we’d been up till the early hours, talking.
Jo and Emma came over to call for me. We had decided to go for a walk before we went up to Tessa’s – there was still much to do for the barn dance and we thought that heading to the beach for a stroll would be a good idea to start the morning.
There had been a beautiful sunrise; the promise of a nice day ahead.
I always tried to be outdoors when I could to make the most of living where I did.
The sight of the sea always grounded me and I felt its therapeutic benefits, as we let the waves gently lap over our feet.
As we ambled along with our shoes in our hands, I filled the girls in on my surprise visitor, and when we walked towards the house, to grab a cuppa before heading over to the barn, the very man we’d been talking about was in the doorway.
Seth stood, taking in the view, stretching his arms above his head and yawning.
Emma muttered something under her breath.
‘What was that?’ I asked.
‘I said, you never mentioned that your brother was a dead ringer for Bradley Cooper,’ she whispered a little louder. We all laughed as we approached him.
‘Something funny, ladies?’
‘Not at all.’ I mock-glared at my pals as he pulled me in for a one-armed bear hug, reaching for a mug of steaming coffee from the windowsill.
‘Thought I’d make myself at home. Hope that’s OK.’
‘Sure is!’ I grinned again, still not quite believing he was in my home. ‘I don’t want to assume you have nothing to do while you’re staying here but…’
When I woke earlier that morning, I’d been mentally preparing a to-do list for the looming event that Seth could be helping us to tick items off.
Daisy had previously told me what a brilliant DIY expert he was and how he’d renovated their latest property almost single-handedly.
I didn’t want to bombard him, but while him turning up unexpectedly really was incredible, we had so much to do.
‘At your disposal, ladies. What are you thinking? Tour of Sandpiper Shore? Venture out to the local area?’
‘More like helping us sort out a local barn dance. If you don’t mind. An extra pair of hands would come in mighty handy.’
‘Count me in! Let me go and get dressed properly and then I’m all yours.’ He sauntered off into the guest room.
‘You’re so like each other, you know,’ Jo mentioned.
‘Really? I’ve never thought we were.’
‘You can definitely tell you’re related,’ Emma added. ‘You are very similar in looks as well as temperament. That same can-do-anything attitude. And you have the same smile.’
If someone had said that to me when we were kids, I would have hated it, but now we were grown up and had been reunited, I rather liked it.
Seth fitted in with everyone like a dream. Every so often some Canadian twang came out in his accent which made us all laugh. He’d been there for over twenty years though, so I supposed it was inevitable.
At Tess’s, he and Seamus humped around a load of hay bales and built the makeshift stage for the music.
Emma said they’d got a local act called The Brighthearts to play.
They were originally going to have a band, but The Brightheart singers Becky and Sarah said that they had all the backing tracks that would be needed and Emma had loved the sample they’d sent through.
They both had amazing voices and did a mean Shania Twain, which we all felt would go down a treat.
* * *
It was a few days later and we really were steaming ahead with plans for the event.
I absolutely loved having Seth around, and I was already dreading him leaving.
Him being here had softened the blow of what had happened over the last couple of weeks somewhat, but keeping busy both looking after him and throwing myself into everything for the barn dance was really distracting and very much welcomed.
‘Have you thought much about when you’re going home, Seth?’ I asked. I’d loved every minute of him being around and was almost scared to ask the question.
‘Well, there’s something I’d like to talk to you about actually. I just didn’t know when the right time was.’
A funny feeling formed in my belly. This was going to be it. When he announced when he was returning to Canada.
‘No time like the present.’ I tried to put on a brave face, but could feel that my smile was fake.
‘Working on this barn dance venue has been a blast and I almost feel quite sad that I won’t be around to see it. There’s still a week to go and much as I’m loving being here, I’m really missing Daisy and the kids.’
My heart sank. I knew he was definitely going to tell me he was going home soon. I supposed I’d been deliberately not thinking about it because I’d enjoyed having him here so much. But I was lucky that he’d come at all. It had been amazing to spend time with him.
‘Of course you must be missing your family.’
‘I’ve never had more than a night away from them and that’s when I’ve been on a work training course. I know it’s probably daft, but I hated every minute of being away.’ He rubbed the back of his neck, and I wondered if he was a little embarrassed.
‘You’re a proper family man, aren’t you? That’s lovely, Seth, something to be very proud of.’ I reached out and gave him a hug. ‘That annoying little boy has grown into a wonderful father and husband. I’m so proud of you.’
His eyes welled up and he took a deep swallow.
‘Not as proud as I am of you. Look at all of this.’ He looked around him and held his arms wide open. ‘Your fabulous friends, this gorgeous little village by the sea, an amazing company.’
‘Yeah, one that might have to fold soon because I can’t afford to do the things I need to, now that slimy shit has taken all my savings.’
‘Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about actually.’
I could feel my brow furrow.
‘I still have my inheritance from Mum and Dad, you know.’
‘God, really? That’s incredible. Why have you not spent it?’
‘Because I wanted to save it for something really important. But I think that time is now, Chelle. I want you to have it. Plough it back into your business if you want or just replace your savings that the thieving Greek bastard stole.’
‘I can’t take your money, Seth.’
‘I’m not asking you to. I’m telling you that you’re going to. I’ve waited many years to boss you around, and I’ve finally got there. Is this what it feels like to be the bossy one? God, it feels good.’
I smacked him on the arm and he backed away, in fake pain.
‘Ouch.’
‘Wimp!’
‘Yeah, so what if I am? Anyway, I’m serious, Chelle.
That money was Mum and Dad’s and I honestly think they’d want you to have it.
We’ve got everything we need. As an only child, Daisy got shitloads of money when her dad died, and my business, well, it’s doing really well.
We want for nothing. Daisy and I have already discussed it and we’re not taking no for an answer. ’
I clutched my hand to my chest. This was honestly one of the nicest things that anyone could have ever done for me.
Flinging my arms around him, I breathed in deeply, taking in every smell I possibly could.
His musky cinnamon-spiced aftershave, mixed with citrus shower gel – a smell that I’d forgotten.
I knew it would probably be a while before I saw him again, although we’d recently talked about me taking a holiday in Canada.
In all the time he’d been there, I’d never visited.
Part of me felt awful to know that I’d not made the effort, but the other part never thought he wanted me to.
‘Get off me, you weirdo!’ He laughed.
‘Are you sure, Seth, really?’
‘I can’t think of anything more that Mum and Dad would have wanted.’
I swallowed down a huge lump that had appeared in my throat and blinked back tears. I could see that once again his eyes were welling up too.
At that moment, Theo, Seamus’s dog, came bounding over and jumped up, nearly knocking me over, Seamus closely behind.
‘Theo! No! I’m so sorry, folks. He has no manners and no perception of personal space. Hope he wasn’t interrupting anything serious.’
Seth and I looked deeply into each other’s eyes before he broke the silence.
‘No, you’re all good, mate. We’d just finished.’
‘Thanks goodness for that.’ Seamus laughed. ‘You know, mate, it’s such a shame that you won’t be here for the actual barn dance. It’s going to be a fabulous event.’
‘Well, actually, Chelle. There was something else I wanted to talk to you about too.’ My brother’s brow wrinkled in that familiar way it did whenever he was in trouble with Mum.
Seamus put his palms up. ‘Come on, Theo, let’s go and leave these good people to chat.
’ Theo bounded off in the opposite direction while Seamus sauntered over to Jo and Emma, who were laughing while hanging festoon fairy lights around the beams. Emma was holding the ladder while Jo was hanging them on hooks.
It was going to look spectacular by the time they had finished.
It really was a shame that Seth wouldn’t be here for it.
He chewed the inside of his cheek before blurting out, ‘So, Chelle. I’ve had an idea. ’