Page 82

When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers, with laughter dancing in his eyes. ‘I promise you Evelyn, I won’t give you cause to regret it. Ever. I love you.’ He delighted in saying the words aloud.

‘I love you, too.’ Her words came far more easily that she expected, and felt so right that she laughed and yelled them into the night air. ‘I love Jake Macpearson!’

By the time Jake walked into The Brockle’s Paws café the next afternoon, Evelyn, Summer and Linda were already there waiting. Summer was happily eating a Brockle cake and had a milkshake moustache, and Linda was chatting with her granddaughter. But he could feel Evelyn’s worry from the door, and see her tense movements as she crumbled her cake into tiny pieces. Almost as if she felt his presence, she looked up and shot him a tight smile.

He could understand her stress. Although Nick had already told them he thought they were going to clear their fundraising target easily, Jake wouldn’t be happy until he’d seen the final figures – and he knew Evelyn wouldn’t be able to relax either. But Evelyn had enough of her own worries, so he pasted a casual smile across his face and raised his hand in greeting.

‘Hi, does anyone want anything else to eat or drink?’ He kissed Evelyn’s cheek, and gave Summer a hug. ‘Well you seem well set, but do you think I should buy your mum something else that she might actually eat?’

‘Maybe.’ Summer pursed her lips. ‘She likes the fruit buns.’

‘Noted.’ Jake nodded. ‘How about you, Linda? Anything for you?’

‘No thank you.’ Linda shook her head.

‘I’ll be right back.’ He looked to Evelyn. ‘Do you want to come see if there’s anything you fancy?’

She slipped her hand into his, and he helped her to her feet. As soon as they were out of hearing range, Jake stepped closer to her and lowered his voice. ‘Are you OK?’

‘Yeah.’ Evelyn nodded. Now she was out of the corner where their table was, he could see how tired she was.

‘Do you want to try that again?’

‘Not really.’ She rubbed her eyes, then cursed and checked her fingers. ‘Have I just rubbed mascara all over my face?’

‘No.’ He peered at her closely. ‘Just a tiny bit, right here.’ He swept the smudge away with the edge of his thumb. ‘I have to ask, is it just the stress of today or’—he took a deep breath—‘is it that you’ve changed your mind about what you said last night? Because, in case you’re wondering, I haven’t.’

Evelyn’s face softened as he watched her, and her hand found his. ‘No, I’ve not changed my mind. I meant what I said. I think you’re crazy for hoping it will work, because I’m still not so sure, but I’d like to be wrong. Just this once.’ She sighed hugely. ‘Assuming we even get there at all.’

‘You will,’ Jake reassured her as he guided her towards the café’s counter. ‘I’m sure of it. Now, can I get you anything to eat? Another drink.’ He ordered quickly – including a coffee and a doughnut for Nick and fruit buns for himself and Evelyn, and carried the tray back to their table.

After what seemed like an age of uncomfortable small talk in which they all tried to politely skirt around the elephant-sized issue worrying them all, Nick finally arrived, laptop in hand and looking hot and sweaty.

‘Sorry to have kept you all waiting.’ He sat on the bench next to Summer. ‘I was just waiting to make sure we had all the figures from last night in and confirmed.’ He took the mug Jake offered and took a few long sips. ‘Delicious. I must remember to see if they’ll sell me some of their bean mix. I think I’m getting slightly addicted. What is it, Brazilian? Columbian?’

‘Mate.’ Jake struggled to keep the frustration out of his voice. As much as he’d spent weeks reassuring Evelyn that they were going to pull this off, and as much as Nick reassured him they were in good shape, he needed to know for certain and to see the final figures himself.

‘Yes.’ Nick gave him a bright grin through the mouthful of doughnut.

‘We’re all waiting.’ He glanced over to Summer, wary that she was listening. ‘As much as I love you like a brother, if you don’t put us out of our misery, I’m going to drop you in the duck pond like when we were kids.’

‘All right, all right. Sorry, I’m starving.’ He shoved the rest of the doughnut in his mouth and dusted off his fingers before opening his laptop. He pressed a few buttons, and a spreadsheet lit up the screen. He scrolled rapidly, the figures racing by in a frustrating blur. When he reached the bottom of the sheet, he typed in a formula so quickly that Jake couldn’t read all of it.

‘Can I get a drum roll please?’ He grinned at Summer who beat out something resembling a rhythm on the table, before hitting enter and sitting back, looking pleased with himself.

They all leaned forward eagerly to read the bold, black figure at the bottom of the page. Evelyn exchanged a glance with Jake, then looked over to her mum, confusion and worry filling her eyes.

‘Fifty-three thousand? That’s it? But …’

Jake danced his fingers across the keyboard, scrolling backwards rapidly, before grinning.

‘Nick, are you sure about these numbers?’

‘Checked them twice. And then a third time because I still couldn’t believe it. It’s why I was late. I’m sure.’

Jake couldn’t help it. The relief burst from his lips in a bubble of laughter.

‘I don’t understand what’s so funny?’ Evelyn demanded. ‘Surely we raised more than that. We have to have.’