Chapter 44
Theo’s stress showed on his face as Nic carried two hot drinks to a small table where they could talk without being overheard.
His brother had insisted on meeting away from the office and Nic had to admit it came as a fresh shock to see him in the wild.
While he was thankfully walking again, it looked like an effort.
His skin was grey, and his shirt was creased and slightly stained.
Nic picked up a spoon and balanced it across his fingers while Theo ripped open a sugar and dumped it in his coffee before tipping in two more.
This was also off. Theo didn’t take sugar.
‘You staying tonight?’
‘I plan to, if that’s OK?’
‘Fine with me. Your flat is a bit of a mess, though, as I’ve been packing.’ Theo picked up the cup, sipped from it and made a face.
‘Too much sugar?’
‘I asked for coffee.’
‘Sorry. I have a lot on my mind.’ Despite recognising his brother’s fragile state, Nic felt irritated that he was moving on. ‘You know you’re welcome to stay at my place for as long as—’
‘I want my life back,’ Theo said quietly, his voice thick with anger, as he banged his cup down.
‘I know. And you’re on that road. It will take time.’
‘I don’t want it in time. I want it now.’
Nic ground his teeth. ‘I stole it from you. Or at least that part of it,’ he gestured to Theo’s leg.
‘Stop being a martyr. We were mucking about. But the hire company was to blame.’ Theo pushed the tea away. ‘Ah fuck it, I need caffeine and an energy drink.’
Nic pushed his chair out. ‘Let me get it.’
‘If you so much as stand right now, I will kick you with my good leg.’
Nic held up both hands. ‘Understood.’
‘Check your emails for any more unpaid bills while I slug over to the counter and flirt with the cashier.’
Despite the weak joke, Nic felt relieved Theo was getting his sense of humour back. When his brother returned, the waitress following him with puppy-dog eyes and some drinks, Nic smiled to himself.
But there were zero jokes as Theo opened his laptop. ‘I know it came as a shock, but I was serious about wanting to resign. Hopefully, I’ve done enough to keep you afloat. You’ll need to hire a business manager to replace me. Do not try and do it yourself.’
Nic grabbed Theo’s hand. ‘I can’t let you leave.’
His brother pulled it away. ‘It’s not your choice, and please don’t interrupt till I’ve finished. This is hard enough.’
A scolded Nic listened intently to his brother’s speech. At the end of it, he wrung his hands. ‘How will you make ends meet?’
‘Sell the shares? Only kidding! I’m going to rent a room from a friend who has offered me a job doing his books. It’s light work. In the long term, I may move to Brighton.’
Nic’s eyes flashed. ‘Move in with Mum?’
‘Maybe help out in the hotel. Build up my strength and look for a flat by the sea. I’ve spent a lot of time in hospital and recuperating, Nic, and it has given me time to think.
The old things that used to matter just don’t anymore.
I don’t want any more meaningless dates or one-night stands.
I don’t care about cars or money. So that means looking at my lifestyle and figuring out how to make myself whole again.
Or as whole as I can be with this.’ He glanced down and quickly away.
‘Working with you and navigating London with a prosthetic limb takes all my time and energy. And don’t tell me I can work from home.
I will walk normally again – in fact I plan to run marathons with the help of my amazing new leg.
But right now, I need to protect my physical and mental health which means making changes and putting myself first.
‘I’ve been reading a lot of books and I’m thinking of studying philosophy or something similar.
And I crave the salt air you get at the seaside – the stuff that used to fill our lungs.
Don’t get me wrong, your flat has been a lifesaver, getting me away from our overprotective mum and back to work.
’ Theo bolted back his coffee and opened the soft drink.
‘But the flat and the business is your life. Going forward, I need to focus on mine. It’s been a horrible experience, but maybe the accident was a much-needed wake-up call.
Hey, don’t look so dejected. We’re still brothers! ’
‘That’s a rubbish consolation prize,’ Nic sulked, offering Theo a small smile. ‘There’s nothing I can say to make you stay?’
‘Afraid not. So, what now for you? Go hell for leather to get the site ready and sold off?’
‘Have to.’
‘Including the show home?’ Nic could feel Theo’s eyes on him.
He couldn’t bear the idea of being apart from Aria for more than a night.
But the Lake District project was a puzzle that was almost solved.
If Theo went ahead with quitting, he’d have to return to London and wouldn’t have time for more than the odd weekend away.
His dilemma must have been written all over his face as Theo jumped in.
‘The fake engagement? You’ve fallen for her. I knew you would.’
Nic sighed. ‘I don’t think anyone was faking it.
I do have all these feelings for her. But I should have deeper feelings for the company, right?
I’ve thrown everything at it for years.’ Nic realised Theo looked happier when he spoke of his new life and he didn’t want to take that away.
‘I’ll be fine, you go and sniff the salt air and relax, while I work myself into a grave. ’
‘Let’s face it, you were always going to do that.’
***
‘OK, I’m going to give you some final instructions,’ Theo said at six in the morning.
The small hours had ticked by in brotherly companionship that had at times tipped into argument.
‘Firstly, you cannot phone to talk me out of resigning, no matter what a shitshow it feels like at the beginning. Secondly, you can quite capably turn this company around without me. You need to keep a close eye on the finances, and I will help you interview candidates to replace me.’
With one ear on Theo, Nic clicked on a message from his case officer who told him they were bringing forward the planning meeting at the district council and he was likely to be able to crack on with things soon.
Theo looked over his shoulder at the email. ‘What are you doing about Aria’s hut?’
‘I’m on it,’ Nic repeated what he’d said to his father at the swim, clicking on Uber and ordering a cab to the station.
‘And one last thing,’ Theo said as if reading his mind. ‘Keep a close eye on Dad. I still think it’s a mistake involving him, but it’s your company. He will interfere in everything.’
‘I know.’ Nic started gathering his stuff together.
‘Where are you going?’
‘Home.’
‘Now? But you’ve had no sleep.’
‘It’s the only place I do get a good night’s sleep these days,’ Nic replied, thinking about how well he’d slept the night Aria was in his bed.
***
Arriving back in the Lakes, Nic parked in town and popped into the supermarket for some bread and milk.
When he couldn’t decide what to buy for dinner, he loaded his basket with convenience food for an easy meal.
In the shop, he found Cal Lawson enquiring if the trainee manager would consider stocking his beers once the brewery was up and running.
He nodded hello at the till and exited the supermarket with the barman.
‘Your ales sound great. Put me down for a crate.’
Cal clapped him on the back. ‘You’re on. Now I just need to put a bomb up the builders. I hoped to be open by New Year, and it’s already June.’
‘Oh, I know that feeling,’ Nic sympathised.
‘Want a quick tour of the old barn?’ Cal asked. ‘See where we’ve got to with the building work? You can buy that beer from me too.’
***
Nic grabbed a cab back home in a fine mood.
He’d been able to advise Cal on how to cut corners and costs without compromising the look of the building.
He’d also made some suggestions for décor, advising his new friend to save the barn’s existing brick, stone and wood wherever possible to preserve the authenticity of the place.
Cal had charged him mates rates for the beer and they’d sampled some together.
As he walked up his drive, Nic smiled at a text from Theo.
Gr8 to see you last couple of days Nico. Thanks for not trying to talk me out of it. Happy to see u finally falling in love. When u going to make that engagement real bro?
Opening the front door, he called Aria’s name but was met with silence and a very tidy house.
She was unlikely to be at work at this time, but maybe she was putting in the hours.
That would explain why his texts had gone unanswered apart from a brief thank you for the fruit.
Peering down at the beach, he saw Tiger lolloping around and knew his owner wouldn’t be far away.
So, he grabbed some of the beer and a bag of crisps, ignoring a bunch of WhatsApp messages about getting things in place in advance of the planning meeting.
As he wandered down to the lake, Tiger announced his arrival with three woofs.
He tickled the dog’s chin. ‘Thanks for the welcome, buddy. I missed you both. I think your owner must be a fish, the amount of time she spends in the lake.’ The pug barked his approval, picking up his favourite toy and placing it at Nic’s feet.
Understanding the dog’s request, Nic threw it into the bushes, scalping a plant in the process.
Tiger disappeared after it with a happy woof.
‘Actually, I come from a long line of mermaids.’ Aria walked out of the water and pulled on her dry robe. A much longer gown than the other day – a crushing disappointment to the male population, Nic thought. He flashed her a wide smile she didn’t return. Instead, she looked around for the dog.
‘In the bushes chasing after a duck,’ he answered her unspoken question. ‘I brought beer and snacks so we can watch the sun go down together.’
Aria blanched. ‘Given what occurred the last time we were together with alcohol, I don’t think it’s the best idea.’
‘That was cheap red. These are Callum Lawson’s finest craft beers. He’s pivoting nicely!’
‘How do you know Cal? I thought you looked friendly at the swim.’
Nic ripped the crisps open with his teeth and offered the pack to her.
‘He’s a mate,’ he said, enjoying the sound of the words.
If he had a friend, and a fiancée, then he belonged here, right?
Aria hesitated, before picking out a few.
‘I was watching you out there,’ he told her.
‘Remember how pleased Hetherington was when you finished behind him at the swimming event?’
‘He’s so ridiculously competitive. There was no need to shout out scores or measure everyone else against himself. Did I tell you Fred’s OK? In fact, we had a lovely chat when I went to visit him last night.’
‘Will you have another potato chip, Saint Aria?’ Nic offered her the packet again.
‘I will, Nicolas Castellanos.’ Aria took a few more, casting a glance at the bag. ‘We’re from different worlds, you and me, aren’t we?’ she said, presumably not approving of the expensive potato chips.
He begged to differ. ‘We both spent our teens by the water, brought up by a single parent. We’re both Leo with Capricorn rising.’
‘You made that up,’ she murmured.
‘How did you know?’
‘Because, last time I checked, I was a Virgo.’ Her voice was flat as she swatted the midges congregating around them.
‘I hated being called Nicolas Castellanos. Theo and I shortened our name to Castle at school. We wanted to fit in, but also distance ourselves from Dad. Aren’t you cold?’
She slapped her leg. ‘Actually, yes, and these buggers are out in full force.’ She stood up, dusted down the back of her robe and made her way back to the hut while he opened the bottles with his keyring.
When she returned, she was dressed in a hoodie, shorts and sliders, all in clashing colours. ‘Don’t judge me. Most of my clothes are at yours.’
‘I would never judge,’ he said and was rewarded with two exaggeratedly raised eyebrows. ‘OK, but only when you—’
‘We don’t have to go through my back catalogue of faults and disasters, thank you very much.’
‘I was about to say steal my wellies which is more a liberty than a fault. But then, I’m guilty of taking all kinds of liberties. We could swap examples of our bad behaviour, if you like?’ He nudged her playfully but got nothing back. This was odd.
‘No need for the games now,’ she said, staring out at the lake.
Her coolness took him aback, and he was only a little reassured when she changed her mind about the beer, taking a glug and pushing the base of the bottle into the shingle. He’d done something wrong, and he needed to get to the bottom of it.
‘What did you mean, games?’
‘I heard you, Nic. Loud and clear.’
He stared at her, confused. ‘Heard me?’
‘On the phone, to your brother. You told him you’d achieved what you wanted, and it was all about the business now.
So, I’m moving back into the hut, and you can stop the act.
I am happy for you and Theo, and I hope you get your permission and build your houses.
I’m going to hold you to your promises about the lake, though. ’
Nic was stumped as he tried to process her words.
He thought back to the morning he’d learned Donna was endorsing him.
Perhaps he’d said some stuff like that to Theo, but only to try and persuade him to stay.
‘I think you overheard half a conversation. I also raved about your part in the deception.’
‘Deception being the word. I bet you and Theo have had a good laugh over how we hoodwinked Donna.’
He couldn’t believe all this was spilling from Aria. ‘On the contrary, we talked about the future of the business. And my feelings for you.’ He dropped his voice at the final sentence, not used to being vulnerable in front of someone.
‘You are a good actor, Nic, but the performance is over, and the audience went home.’
He pulled out his phone, accessed his texts and threw it into her lap. ‘Maybe this exchange with my brother will convince you.’
She frowned as she read it, before confusion washed over her face as though she didn’t know which story to believe.
He gestured to the flower beds. ‘Can you believe I’ve never grown anything? Of course, I’ve had hundreds of trees planted for me, for landscaping purposes, and to mitigate flying, but I’ve never done it myself.’
She leaped up. ‘Weren’t you a boy scout? Never germinated an oak from an acorn?’
He threw her a questioning look. ‘Does that actually happen?’
‘It’s happening right now on the windowsill!’ She momentarily looked embarrassed. ‘Not the one I hung out of a few days ago, in case you were worried.’
‘No full moon tonight, then?’
His joke didn’t land. Instead, she walked off and climbed the rotten steps to the cabin’s wooden veranda where she collected a jam jar. ‘Follow me.’