Shaking his head at her claims, he put his toolbox into the tray of the truck. ‘I’ll see you around, Casey.’
‘Don’t go all broody on me. How about a drink at the pub? Just friends, I know the deal. Come on, there’s nobody around. And I’m bored.’
He sighed between his teeth. ‘You’ll get me into trouble.’
‘I’ll try to.’
‘OK, you’re on. Let me go and tell Barney, I’ll drop the truck home, meet you there.’
And when Melissa came outside and overheard him tell Casey he’d see her at the pub, her reaction told him perhaps Casey was right about the girl who’d once broken his heart.
Maybe both of them had fallen in love a long time ago and neither of them had truly let the other one go.
Chapter Eight
Melissa was pleased with progress when it came to organising Heritage Cove’s event of the year. Despite her plummeting mood after she saw Casey with Harvey last night, inviting him to the pub and hanging off his every word, she’d turned her attentions to everything else that still needed to be done for the Wedding Dress Ball to go off without a hitch. She’d confirmed flowers with the florist, managed to get hold of the band, and she’d contacted the newspaper. She’d had a few emails back and forth with Jay, although ignoring any mention of her little cottage in the Cove, and she’d been for a long walk around the countryside filling her lungs with the fresh air that had a calming effect.
At least it had until she went over to Barney’s in time for dinner that day. Giles had made a lasagne that Barney took one look at and claimed it was enough to feed a family four, he suggested Harvey come on over, and when Harvey turned up he’d gone on and on about Casey and how she wanted him to join their pub quiz team, he was a hidden weapon apparently. Melissa had begun to wonder whether Harvey was going to bring her to the ball, and it didn’t put her in a particularly good mood.
After the dishes were cleared, Harvey headed to his mum’s place to fix her shed door that had come off its hinges, and Melissa busied herself emptying the dishwasher for Barney.
It wasn’t long before Barney called over to her from the armchair. ‘What’s with the crashing about? I won’t have any crockery left if you’re that heavy-handed with it.’
She took a deep breath and slowed down. ‘Sorry, Barney.’
‘What’s he done now?’
‘What’s who done?’ She stretched to slot a pile of four plates onto the corner shelf near the cooker.
‘You know full well who I’m referring to. Harvey, that’s who. He must be the reason for the sudden bad mood.’
‘I’m in a perfectly good mood, thank you. And Harvey hasn’t done anything.’
‘Could’ve fooled me,’ he batted back.
‘Cup of tea?’
But her question was interrupted by a knock at the front door and Barney grumbled, ‘Who’s that? It’s after eight o’clock.’
And he thought she was in a bad mood? ‘I’ll get it.’ He usually reacted well to visitors and she hoped his frame of mind would shift sooner rather than later. But when she answered the door, she knew from the uniform that this visitor wasn’t going to help matters.
‘I do apologise,’ said the woman as she followed Melissa through to the lounge. ‘I’m the health visitor. I couldn’t get here earlier, my schedule has been ridiculous.’
Harvey had mentioned the health visitor was coming but it had completely gone out of her head.
‘What are you here for?’ Barney snapped.
‘Barney…’ Melissa laid a hand on his shoulder. ‘Be nice,’ she whispered. ‘She’s not the enemy.’
She turned to face the health visitor and mouthed the word, ‘Sorry.’ The woman just smiled and took a seat opposite Barney, ready to take charge. Melissa hoped she’d have better luck than she had in trying to convince him he wasn’t too old to make a full recovery if only he’d comply.
Melissa picked up a pile of sheets she’d laundered yesterday and left them to it while she went to make up the spare bed that Harvey had stayed in a few times to keep an eye on Barney. He was still staying here some nights but mostly he’d gone back home at Barney’s insistence, and the only signs he’d left behind were a spare toothbrush and toothpaste.
She leaned against the window frame and looked out past the peaked roof over to the barn. Although enjoying her solitude at the inn, she wondered whether Barney might have been better had she stayed here. She’d be around all the time then and maybe have half a hope of persuading him to take on board his part in the recovery process.
She thought back to the times she’d stayed here as a kid. She and Harvey had begged for sleepovers in the barn every summer, arranging hay bales to sleep on, positioning their sleeping bags and pillows on top. They’d only ever had the sleepovers when Harvey’s dad was away with work, but it had always been fun, a big adventure for them even when booming thunderstorms came with a vengeance. Barney had often stayed in the barn to keep an eye on them, and the night of the big storm Harvey and Melissa had giggled away at his snores competing with the chaotic weather outside until a long, low rumble followed by an almighty clap of thunder had Melissa so scared that Harvey reached out to hold her hand and tell her everything would be fine. They were safe, they always would be here.
As she came down the stairs after making up the spare bed and walked along the corridor it was a relief to hear the gentle murmur of voices. Barney was at least talking to the health visitor and Melissa hung back, not wanting to interrupt. She wondered whether she and Harvey had been crowding Barney and perhaps someone impartial was exactly what he needed.
