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He laughed. ‘Were you using my jumper to train them to hate me or hump me?’
A sheepish grin spread across her face. ‘Do you want it back?’
He glanced at the crate. Chester was rearranging it with his teeth and front paws. The little dog finally seemed happy, spun in two circles, then flopped down with a contented sigh.
‘I think he should keep it. He’s clearly got a taste for Ralph Lauren.’
‘Alongside all the rats.’
He faced her. ‘Well, they do live at your stables, so they must be classy.’
Silence fell upon the room. It was full of possibilities, uncertainty, and questions that didn’t yet have an answer.
‘I’ll be seven hours ahead of you, so depending on what’s happening on the ground, I’ll be able to work on the festival during your day and my evening,’ he began. ‘I don’t know how long it’ll take to get Dad back, but I’ll do everything I can.’
She nodded, as all the happiness that had animated her for the past few hours drained from her expression.
Holding the travel mug tighter, he glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘I have to go.’
She nodded and led the way to the front door.
Outside, it was dark and still. Estelle crossed her arms across her chest as if she was cold. James wanted to reach out and hold her, to reassure her everything would be okay, but he could already feel her withdrawing.
He bit back a sigh. ‘I’ll message you when we get there.’
A flash of something painful passed across her features at the word ‘we’. Until that moment, he’d forgotten he would be living with Elyse for god knew how long. The thought made him nauseous.
Estelle took a step back. All their earlier intimacy had disappeared as if it had been a dream.
I’ll miss you. I need you. I lo— ‘Please lock the door behind you when you go in.’
She nodded.
He strode to his car and got in. Switching on the engine, he turned his head to wave goodbye.
She’d already gone and the front door was shut.
Setting his jaw, James eased out of the yard. He just needed to get his dad home. Then he could make everything he and Estelle had begun that night, unbreakable.
26
From: James Hunter-Savage
To: Estelle Foxbrooke
Subject: Arrived
We’ve finally got to the town where Dad is meant to be. I’ve got a VPN, but it’s patchy and I’m not sure if all my messages will get through. I’ve left my login details on my desk so you can access my email if you need to. Let me know your thoughts on the new batch of CVs I sent through for the key positions when you get a chance.
Got to go. More later.
Yours, James
From: Estelle Foxbrooke
To: James Hunter-Savage
Subject: Re: Arrived
