‘I wanted to see the place, that’s all.’ He got up and shuffled slowly over to the walking frame and without another word made his way out of the barn. Harvey followed on after but it was a slow journey across to the house.
‘You sit in the chair, let me get you some water,’ said Harvey once they were inside. Barney didn’t argue. At least going outside and over to the barn that was still done up ready for the ball suggested a vague interest in the upcoming event. ‘Are you still happy with the way we’ve done the inside?’ Harvey asked him.
‘You’ve done a wonderful job, the both of you.’
‘Melissa has been bossing everyone around, we’re almost ready.’ Although she’d been keeping a low profile the last few days, avoiding him since they’d begun to get closer again. She’d called earlier but he’d hesitated to answer, he wasn’t sure whether he wouldn’t end up telling her exactly how he felt.
‘Glad to hear it, she won’t let anyone make a mess of it.’
‘Neither would I, Barney, neither would I.’
‘Talking of Melissa…’ Barney glanced at the clock. Sitting back in the chair, at least he had a bit more colour to his cheeks. ‘Where is she? Not like her to be late.’
Harvey wondered whether that was why she’d called him, was she making her excuses not to come? He looked around. ‘I thought we were having lunch.’
‘We are,’ Barney grinned. ‘Benjamin is bringing it over. I thought as it might be my last summer here in the house, I’d entertain properly, look after my two favourite people.’
‘Stop talking about it being your last summer, honestly, I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous.’
‘I’m getting old, no denying it.’
‘What’s Benjamin bringing?’ Best to change the subject, but he didn’t get far in his line of questioning because Melissa’s voice carried through from the back of the house.
‘Barney, it’s me,’ she trilled, coming into the lounge, her beaming smile raising Barney’s suspicions immediately.
‘What are you up to?’ was Barney’s first question.
‘I’m glad you’re sitting down.’ Melissa’s smile had faded a little as she went over to him and crouched down, putting her hand over his as he sat in his favourite chair. ‘I have someone here to see you.’
‘It’s not that blessed reporter from the gazette is it, fussing about photo shots on the night of the ball? I told him he could take as many as he wanted.’
‘It’s not the photographer, no.’ Melissa looked to Harvey and then back at Barney, and they all turned when another voice floated through the back door, calling out a hello.
Harvey looked up to see a woman about Barney’s age with bobbed pewter hair. She had a bag looped over her wrist, her hands clasped together in a way that suggested she was extremely nervous. And it was within seconds he realised who it was. He looked at Melissa, he looked at Barney. And he looked at Lois.
‘Come in,’ Melissa urged Lois, who was hovering, unsure what to do. Barney, uncharacteristically silent, didn’t move a muscle.
Lois took a few steps closer to Barney. How had Melissa managed this? And was Barney going to thank them for their interference or kill them with his bare hands?
When Barney still couldn’t find his voice Harvey found his own instead and introduced himself to their overwhelmed visitor. ‘It’s lovely to meet you, Lois.’
‘Likewise.’ But she was focused on Barney, nobody else, and he was still in his chair staring at her in disbelief, blinking now and again as though this apparition may vanish if he wasn’t careful.
Barney looked across at Lois. ‘You’re here,’ was all he said.
‘I’m here,’ she smiled, bravely sitting on the sofa opposite.
Harvey heard Melissa’s sharp intake of air and he cocked his head to indicate they go outside and leave Barney and Lois to talk.
‘Did you know she was coming?’ he asked the second they were out in the fresh air.
Melissa briefly explained Ashley’s summons to White Clover, meeting Lois for the first time, the story Lois had shared with her. ‘I tried calling you earlier, I wasn’t sure how to handle it.’
He sat next to her on the big tree stump that was wide enough for two. ‘Barney and Lois went through hell,’ he said with a shake of his head. ‘No wonder they both buckled under the strain.’
‘It would’ve been a dreadful time.’ She swished a persistent fly away from her arm. ‘I still can’t quite believe she’s here. I wonder if Barney’s found his tongue yet.’
‘Never seen him so quiet,’ Harvey grinned.
