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“Oh my...” I leave Drew standing and run to my brother. He picks me up, holds me close, and twirls me around. “I’ve missed you,” I cry into his shoulder.
“This is supposed to be a happy occasion, sissy.”
“Welcome home, buddy,” says Drew.
“Yeah, thanks. It’s good to be home. I think.”
I pull back from my brother, but he holds me close. He hasn’t changed one bit. He’s still my goofball.
“So, this is it, huh?” He nods his approval. “It’s not as bad as I was imagining. We’ll turn this around quickly.”
“So, you can help?” I ask cautiously.
“Of course. What else did you think I was here for, just to see you?” He pokes me in the ribs, and I manage to break away back to the safety of Drew's side.
“Right, well, now you have one set of capable hands here, I’ll leave you to get on. Duty calls and our break is nearly up.”
“When will I see you?” I quickly add because Drew is fast becoming my addiction again.
“I’ll call you when I get finished, and we can arrange something.” He leans in and kisses me again. “We’ll need a catch-up, bud.”
I watch as Drew leaves us.
“Anyone can see that you two are still crazy about each other. Why are you still at Mum and Dad’s?”
One simple comment from my brother is like getting ice-cold water tossed over me.
“You wouldn’t understand.” I shrug.
“Try me.”
“It’s not Drew, it’s the house. I can’t face it."
“Does Drew know this?”
“Kind of. I said I wasn’t ready to go home, but even I didn’t expect to feel so much anxiety over that house this far down the road.”
“Tell him everything. Talk to him. I think in the grand scheme of things, a house can be replaced. You can make anywhere a home, but you will never find another man like Drew, sissy.”
I know my brother is right. He always is, damn it. He has been home five minutes, and he has already seen through me and given me something to think about. He’s the second person who has brought up the house and ways around getting our life back on track.
I walk over to the window and look out in the direction Tom walked earlier. Is it a coincidence that a house is on the market in the same village where I have just bought a shop? I’m not too big on coincidences, but this one might be too big to ignore.
Chapter 24
Drew
Harper: Can you meet me in Culross tonight?
The warmth that spreads through me at the thought of being with my wife again brings me so much joy and happiness.
Me: Of course. See you about seven p.m.
I put my phone away and look at my watch. Two hours until clocking off time. Please fly by.
“What are you smirking about?” asks Carl.
“Just thinking about home time.”
