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‘You’ve bought it? How? I mean, what with? Have you had a win on the lottery? And why buy a house here?’
Her dad wrinkled his forehead. ‘I haven’t bought a house. Whatever gave you that idea?’
‘You just said you had.’
‘I didn’t.’
‘You did!’
‘I said I’ve boughtthat.’ He pointed again, and Seren, who was about to continue arguing with him, paused.
Was he referring to the van?
Nah, he couldn’t be. He didn’t even particularly like ice cream.
‘You don’t mean the van…do you?’
‘I do.’ He looked as pleased as Punch and a coil of fear twisted in her stomach.
Please don’t tell me he’s going senile, she begged silently. ‘What are you going to do with it? It’s the wrong time of year to sell ice cream.’
‘I’m not going to sell ice cream.’
‘What, then? Hot chocolate? Candy canes? Gingerbread men?’ she scoffed. He was having her on; hemustbe.
‘It’s a thought – but what you sell is up to you.’
Seren put a hand to her brow. She had a headache coming on and she was beginning to feel nauseous. ‘I don’t understand.’
Patrick slung an arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him. ‘It’s obvious – you wanted a mobile gift shop, so this is it.’
She continued to stare at it. The van didn’t look anything like the ones she’d seen on the internet. And didn’t her dad say he’d bought it—
Seren rolled her eyes as the penny dropped. ‘You want me to run a gift shop out of an ice cream van?’ she shrieked.
‘That’s the idea.’
‘What on earth possessed you? Dad, I can’t drive an ice cream van, and I certainly don’t know anything about operating one.’
‘But it won’t be an ice cream van, will it? It will be a gift shop,’ her father pointed out.
Seren nearly swore. ‘No, it’s so not a good idea. Let’s get back in the car and go home. My tummy is crying out for that fish and chips you promised.’
‘He gave her the keys to his car. I’ll see you back at the house.’ Her father looked so disappointed she could have cried.
‘Aren’t you coming with me?’ she asked.
‘I’ve got to drive the van back. I was hoping you would do that, but…’
‘You really have bought it?’
He nodded.
‘I thought you were exaggerating, or it was a turn of phrase.’
‘I’ve bought it.’
‘Oh, Dad. How much did it set you back?’
