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Esme frowned. ‘What law clinic?’
Calvin turned to his granny. ‘They hire out offices to self-employed solicitors so they can meet with clients. She liked the idea of it, but didn’t feel it was something she could do when she had nowhere to live and no regular income.’
Esme looked incredulous. ‘So offer her a place to live,’ she said, like the answer was staring him in the face. ‘Tell her she can stay here while she builds up her business. We’d all be okay with that, wouldn’t we?’
Everyone nodded and made noises of agreement.
‘And I don’t know about you,’ Rowan said, as if struck by an idea. ‘But my will could do with updating. There must be others like me, people in the village who’d benefit from Kate’s expertise. Maybe we could drum up a bit of business to help her get started?’
‘Oh, good idea, Rowan.’ Geraldine patted Suki’s head. ‘I need power of attorney forms completing, so add me to the list.’
‘And I should get a will drawn up,’ Natalie said, looking at Jacob. ‘Especially now I’m a mum. I couldn’t afford to do itbefore, but if we’re going to get paid regularly from now on, it’s something I definitely need doing.’
More nodding followed and murmurings of agreement.
Calvin frowned. ‘What are you saying?’
‘We’re saying… give her a reason to stay,’ Larry explained, looking at him earnestly. ‘If she has a place to live and a few clients lined up, she might be tempted to try self-employment. It reduces the risk for her.’
Everyone nodded again.
‘And she gets to be with you.’ Larry smiled. ‘That’s what you want, isn’t it?’
Calvin felt his throat tighten. ‘More than anything.’
Larry’s smile widened. ‘Then make it happen, son.’
Make it happen?Larry made it sound so easy, like he had complete control over the situation and it was purely down to him. But it was Kate who had left, who hadn’t been in touch. She’d made her feelings pretty clear. She wanted a fresh start. Shouldn’t he respect that? ‘Supposing she says no?’
‘Then at least you tried,’ Larry said, with a shrug. ‘And you’re not left wondering what might have been. Fortune favours the bold. I’m living testament to that. You think I’d have got my Francie if I hadn’t shown a bit of guts?’
From the stories Larry had told him, he didn’t think so.
Larry got up and walked over. ‘Misery is easy, son. Happiness, you have to work at.’
Everyone turned to Calvin, waiting with bated breath to see what he’d do.
He thought back to his time in Leeds and his brother saying, ‘What have you got to lose?’ Maybe this applied to the Kate situation, too. What was the worst that could happen? She might turn him down and he’d be no worse off than he was now, heartbroken and missing her. But supposing she said yes…?
He turned to Alex. ‘Is she still in Surrey?’
Alex nodded. ‘She’s staying at my mum’s place. There’s a big New Year’s Eve party there tonight… Want me to text you the address?’
A flutter of excitement rippled through Calvin as he handed his granny the champagne flute with the words, ‘Take this for me, will you? I need to be somewhere.’ He stood up and ran for the door. ‘Send me that address, Alex.’
Alex grinned. ‘Will do, mate.’
Esme blew a kiss after him. ‘That’s my boy.’
Rowan started clapping. ‘It’s like a scene from a film,’ he said, looking upwards. ‘What’s that, Ursula? Oh, absolutely. Love is indeed a splendid thing.’
Amongst cries of ‘Good luck!’ and ‘Drive carefully!’ Calvin raced from the room and headed outside to his car, a plan formulating in his head.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Eighty miles west of Pluckley, Kate was trying her best to put on a happy face and join in with the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
She’d returned from her girlie shopping trip with her cousins, shattered from both the physical exertions of traipsing around Godalming searching for outfits, but also the emotional turmoil of pretending she was okay about starting a new job next week, when in truth, she was filled with dread. She loved her cousins, and they meant well, but she could have done without being coerced into buying clothes she couldn’t afford.
