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CHAPTER 10
‘Liam, what time is my dental appointment? Will you drive me into town? I don’t want to be late.’
Liam stopped sweeping the yard and sighed. He was getting worse. ‘We talked about this earlier, Dad. Your appointment was cancelled a couple of days ago so you don’t have to worry about going anywhere. Anyway, it’s half past five and the day’s almost over so you can relax.’
Robert Satterley, tall like his son, with wiry steel-grey hair and pale blue eyes, zipped up his padded jacket that was far too warm for spring. ‘Are you sure about my appointment?’
‘Quite sure. They sent us a letter, rearranging it for next week.’
‘Did you show me the letter?’
‘Yes, at lunchtime.’
‘Ah, I don’t remember.’ His strong face crumpled. ‘Sorry.’
‘There’s no need to apologise, Dad. We all forget things, don’t we, Mum?’
‘What’s that?’ His mum shook the tablecloth out of the door, scattering crumbs everywhere.
‘Dad forgot his dental appointment had been postponed and was worried he’d be late.’
His mum, small, round and rosy-cheeked, patted her husband’s arm. ‘You’ve been helping me turn out the back room instead, Bob. Sorting out all those issues ofFarmers Weeklythat you’ve been stockpiling. Shall we do another half hour before tea?’
‘If that’s what you want, Pam.’
She led him inside, after a worried glance at Liam, who gave her a reassuring smile, even though he was as concerned as she was.
Everyone forgot things, so he’d convinced himself at first that his Dad’s short-term memory lapses were normal for a man in his seventies. That was until he’d found his father, a few months ago, sitting in the tractor he’d driven for years, with no clue how to start it up. Since then he’d got gradually worse. Another visit to the GP was needed soon.
Liam turned to continue his sweeping and almost fell over Billy as he tried to wind between his legs.
‘Billy, stop getting under my feet, for goodness’ sake.’
He hadn’t meant to raise his voice but this week was proving to be even more trying than he’d anticipated. When the border collie flattened his ears and mooched off into a corner of the farmyard, his belly low to the ground, Liam felt a whoosh of shame. Billy wasn’t the reason for his bad temper so why should he get the backlash?
‘Sorry, boy.’ He fished in his pocket for a dog biscuit and knelt down in front of him. ‘Am I forgiven?’
Faithful Billy – what would he do without his companionship? – licked at the biscuit before gobbling it down in one, his tail wagging. Liam had just patted him on the back when a husky voice in his ear made him jump.
‘What on earth have you done that needs forgiveness? Nothing too naughty, I hope.’
Liam got to his feet while Katrina put her hands on her hips and laughed. She was very attractive when she laughed, with her big grey eyes and her dimples. Hell, she was attractive any time.
‘You made me jump, Katrina. I didn’t hear you approaching.’
‘I’m very light on my feet.’ Her scarlet toenails were poking out of her strappy sandals. Dee used to wear very similar sandals, Liam remembered, until she trod in a massive dollop of manure and complained she couldn’t get rid of the smell. She threw them away in the end, presumably adding that to the list of things she hated about the farm.
‘Come back to me, Liam. You’re miles away.’
When Katrina pushed her beautiful face closer to his, a heady scent that spoke of spices and faraway places wafted between them. Her lips, the same colour as her toenails, were so close. He pulled back and pushed a hand through his fringe.
‘I’m fine. How can I help you, Katrina?’
‘I was in the area and thought I’d call in to buy half a dozen eggs and to check how you’re doing.’
‘I’m doing well, thanks. I’ll get you those eggs.’
When he came back a few minutes later, she was still standing in the yard. Most visitors gazed towards the sea which glittered in the distance, across the fields. But Katrina was staring at the farmhouse that had been in his family for generations. It was quite a pressure, keeping the farm going now that his parents were getting older and his dad was unwell. His sister, Mel, showed no interest in farming and was happily settled in Exeter with a husband and two small children. She often advised him to let the farm go but his parents would hate living anywhere else. Plus, he’d grown to love this land. Its permanence grounded him these days.
