AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘I can sort out a quiz… if you like,’ a tentative voice called from the back.
All heads turned to see who had spoken.
Geraldine strained her head. ‘Who said that?’
‘Me.’ Alex stood briefly, and then immediately sat back down again.
Calvin gave him a thumbs up. ‘Thanks, Alex. Sounds like we have everything sorted.’ He looked around the room. ‘Is there anything else anyone wants to raise before we finish?’
‘Yes, I do.’ Geraldine struggled to her feet. ‘I think I speak for everyone when I say how grateful we are to have you here, Calvin.’
His insides squirmed. ‘There’s no need, Geraldine—’
‘Yes, there is.’ She raised her hand to stop him. ‘I know things aren’t perfect, and we still have a heap of problems to overcome, but we’d be in a much worse state if you hadn’t shown up. No one was forcing you to stay here and deal with us lot. You could’ve easily buggered off back to Leeds and left us to it, but you didn’t. You’ve worked your socks off trying to make things better for us, and we’re very grateful… even if we don’t act like it sometimes.’
‘Here, here!’ Rowan started clapping, encouraging everyone else to join in.
Calvin’s mortification hiked up another notch. He wanted the ground to open and swallow him up.
Geraldine bundled into him and clasped his face in her hands. He had a horrible feeling he knew what was coming next. ‘Your uncle would be so proud of the way you’ve stepped up. You’rea credit to him.’ She kissed him. Of course she did, why was he even surprised.
Aside from the humiliation of being kissed in public by a woman old enough to be his grandmother, it was hearing everyone’s cheering and thank yous that unsettled him most. Even the dog had joined in. Suki jumped up and licked his hand, her tail wagging furiously.
Guilt flooded through him. He felt like such a fraud.
They were thanking him for staying… when all he wanted to do was run away.
They thought he was a decent bloke… when he was anything but.
They were expecting miracles and the care home to be saved. When in reality he had no intention of saving anything.
Once probate was granted, he was off. Back to Leeds. His family, his friends. His old life. He wasn’t some kind-hearted saviour. He was a failed footballer with nothing to offer these people except momentary respite from the inevitable. They deserved better.
He didn’t think anything could make him feel worse, until he saw the look on Granny Esme’s face. Pride, mixed in with hope, and a dash of misguided belief that he might be softening to the idea of staying.
Christ, he hated letting people down.
Chapter Eleven
Friday, 10thDecember
Kate couldn’t remember the last time she’d travelled in a minibus. It was probably the school trip she’d gone on, to Wales, as a kid. A trip that her aunt and uncle had paid for, which had inadvertently upset her mum. Not that her mum had ever said anything, but Kate knew she’d wanted to pay for the excursion herself – she just couldn’t afford it.
Today’s outing reminded Kate of that noisy and boisterous road trip. Only, instead of a bunch of unruly teenagers causing mayhem, it was the care home residents and staff playing up… except for Hanna, who’d stayed behind to look after Priya.
Alex had also declined to attend Pluckley’s Christmas lights switch-on event, preferring to stay in and watch TV. Although, how much peace and quiet he’d get, Kate wasn’t sure. As they’d loaded everyone into the minibus, ready to depart, a moped had pulled up and handed Alex a takeaway pizza, much to the disgust of Hanna, who had accused him of being selfish, as he hadn’t ordered her one. As the bus had pulled away, all Kate could see when she glanced back was the pair of them arguing on the care-home steps – with Alex trying to hand over his pizza to Hanna, and Hanna making a show of refusing.
Things weren’t a lot calmer in the minibus. Natalie was trying to pacify a crying Jacob, Geraldine was giving Calvin instructions on how to drive the bus, and Rowan and Esme were knocking back the contents of a hip flask. Judging by their rosy cheeks and raucous laughter, Kate suspected their claim of it containing ‘hot chocolate’ was stretching the truth somewhat.If itwashot chocolate, then it was laced with something a lot stronger.
Any hope Kate had of remaining inconspicuous, tucked away at the back of the bus, vanished when Rowan turned to her. ‘I hear Ursula’s been up to her old tricks. Rumour has it she hid your drinking glass and stole your pen.’
Nothing remained private at the care home, Kate had discovered. ‘Correction: Ilostmy pen, and someone probably moved my drinking glass when they were tidying up. No doubt I left it somewhere when I was showing the auctioneer around,’ she said, trying not to encourage Rowan in his fantasies.
She’d had a manic few days, dealing with the representative from the auction house and trying to agree lease values for the properties in London. Getting flustered and mislaying things had been inevitable, as her focus was all over the place. She wasn’t about to let Rowan attribute it to the actions of a random ghost. She was struggling to hold on to her sanity as it was.
Rowan tapped his lip in contemplation. ‘I still believe it was Ursula, up to her tricks. Was the pen of sentimental value?’
Kate shrugged. ‘Kind of.’ It had been a graduation present from her mum, but she didn’t want to give Rowan any further ammunition.
