Page 41 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

‘Problems?’ asked Rose, looking astounded as she glanced at Arthur. ‘What kind of problems?’

‘There’s been suggestion of a bypass,’ began Jack.

‘Oh, yes, we know all about that,’ said Rose, waving a dismissive hand. ‘Think it’s going past Aldwych, isn’t it? But that’s miles from here.’

Jack sighed. ‘It seems that there’s an alternative route that wasn’t originally declared as an option.’

The family stared up at him expectantly.

‘Is that all?’ asked Will, reaching across the table to grab a bread roll.

Jack forced himself to carry on speaking. ‘If you won’t sell your property then there is the real possibility that the route of the bypass could be altered so that it runs through Cranley.’

Will’s hand hovered over the bread roll before he slowly withdrew it. ‘Through Cranley?’

‘You mean, it comes closer to the village than we thought,’ said Sam, looking concerned.

‘That’s awful,’ said Annie, looking back up at Jack. ‘How close?’

‘Not close,’ said Jack, taking a deep breath. ‘Over. Through, I mean. Directly through the village and the grounds of Willow Tree Hall.’

There was a second of stunned silence before everyone reacted. Rose gave a shout of dismay and began talking to Arthur quickly. Sam and his brother leapt up from the table to shout and rant. Annie placed a protective hand over her baby bump before bursting into tears. Skye rushed around the table to comfort her.

Jack stared at Lily over the melee. She was looking at him with wide, shocked eyes.

‘I don’t believe it,’ he saw her mouth say. ‘I just don’t believe it.’

Jack looked past them all to where Arthur was sitting, looking calm at the head of the table with Rose still talking ten to the dozen at him.

He nodded thoughtfully before holding up a hand and saying, ‘sit down,’ to his grandsons.

It was a quiet voice but it carried over all the different conversations, bringing them to a halt.

‘And, Jack, please join us and sit down,’ said Arthur, gesturing with his hand. ‘There is no point spoiling a perfectly good meal. I suggest we eat our dinner and then discuss the matter calmly.’

‘Grandad, we can’t remain calm!’ snapped Sam, who had remained standing. ‘They could be planning to flatten Willow Tree Hall right at this very minute!’

‘We’ve faced worse,’ said Arthur.

Will and Sam exchanged horrified looks.

‘We can fight this,’ said Sam to his brother.

‘Too right,’ said Will, nodding, but he also looked worried.

‘I agree,’ Arthur told them. ‘And we will. But we can’t do anything on an empty stomach.’

‘I’ve lost my appetite,’ said Annie tearfully, pushing her plate away.

‘You more than anyone around here need to eat,’ said Skye, pulling the plate back towards her.

‘Talking of which, I’m going to need a bloody big drink after this,’ said Rose, still looking upset. ‘Jack, darling, please sit down. And you boys, too.’

Reluctantly, Jack sat down at the end of the table next to Lily. She plated up some food for him and handed it over.

‘Thanks,’ he murmured, feeling that he, too, didn’t have an appetite.

Sam and Will also sat down. Arthur was insistent, so they ate their dinner in a strained silence whilst everyone was desperate for more details.