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Chester and Joy barked frantically and James’s head turned to the house, his eyes catching Estelle’s. He looked… pleased? Relieved? She couldn’t make out his expression as his attention was dragged to his sister, who was hugging him and crying.
Beverley was at the passenger side, her arms around—holy shit. Kevin’s hair had gone from coal black to snow white and he seemed shrunken and exhausted.
Elyse, still as perfectly put together as ever, gave Estelle a wave, then called to James to open the boot. He unlocked it, then was grabbed by his mother.
Collecting a small bag, Elyse came to Estelle’s side. ‘Can we go now? I’m so tired.’
‘Er, yes. Where is your suitcase?’
‘James is having the rest of the luggage sent here tomorrow. We had too much to bring in the Ferrari.’
‘Okay, let me just get my bag.’ Putting Chester down and letting go of Joy’s collar, she dashed back inside the house, a sudden punch of emotion to her throat making her want to cry.
Did you honestly think he would come to you first? Take you in his arms and tell you how much he’d missed you?
Shut up.
After the arsey emails you’ve been sending him? And anyway, you’re not family or his girlfriend.
I know!
Then suck it up and go home.
Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she tucked the fleece dog beds under her arm and went back outside, loading them into the back of the Defender as Beverley and Sophia were all over Kevin, and James was petting Chester and Joy.
‘Are we off now?’ Elyse asked, then climbed into the car.
‘Yes, let me just call the hounds.’ She whistled for them, but they ignored her.
‘Heel!’
James stood, holding an overly-excited Chester, as Joy frantically humped his leg.
‘Oi,’ he growled at them. ‘Knock it off.’
He strode to Estelle’s side. ‘I believe these are yours?’
She nodded, struggling to find words. James was even better looking than she’d remembered, even though he appeared wiped out and had clearly lost weight.
‘They missed you,’ she eventually replied.
James gently passed her Chester. ‘And I missed them. More than they’ll ever know.’
‘Can we go?’ Elyse called from inside the car.
The spell was broken.
Estelle turned away from James, opening the boot for Chester and Joy.
James followed her to the driver’s side as she got in. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow?’
She gave him a brief nod.
‘James!’ Beverley called over. ‘Let’s get inside!’
He took a step back.
Estelle fired up the car and drove away. In the rear-view mirror, James had already turned and was entering the house.
