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‘Which means we had to babysit my sister, and we couldn’t come here or see Callum all weekend.’
Thea sighed. ‘I know it wasn’t the best, sweetheart, but there was nothing I could do about it.’
‘Why can’t you just bring her along?’ Mabel asked. ‘I’d love to meet her.’
Callum caught Thea pursing her lips. ‘I’m doing all this for my sister, and I wanted it to be a surprise. The problem with Katie is—’
‘She can’t keep her big trap shut!’
Thea rolled her eyes at her nephew. ‘I don’t think she’ll be very good at keeping secrets, Mabel.’
‘I see.’
Callum noticed Mabel staring at Thea at the mention of the word,secrets. He caught Thea and Toby exchanging a sigh. This bookshop was their secret – at the moment. Once Katie found out, word would get back to Jenna. As Toby said, his sister just couldn’t keep her mouth shut.
Thea said, ‘Let’s not spend your last day at the bookshop worrying about the weekend, eh?’
‘So, it is my last day, all because of Katie.’
‘Well, no. Your dad will come back this weekend. He did text and say that, didn’t he?’
‘But then he’ll want to spend the weekend with me and Katie, and we’ll have to visit mum. There will be no time to come here. It will just be you and Callum in the bookshop for the rest of the week, and next weekend.’
Thea fell silent.
Callum kept his mouth shut too. Unfortunately, that would probably be the case. He glanced at Thea and caught her smiling his way. The look on her face said she wasn’t sorry it would just be the two of them.
‘I’ll be here,’ said Mabel, ‘helping out.’ She dunked a biscuit in her tea.
Thea’s face dropped. ‘Oh, I didn’t think you would be. I didn’t realise you worked at the weekend too.’
‘You mean in the charity shop? No, I don’t normally. That will remain closed on Sunday, but I’m going to make an exception and work here.’ Her eyes roved to Callum.
For the first time all day, Callum was actually pleased Mabel had invited herself over.
Thea turned to her nephew. ‘Look on the bright side. Today, Katie is at drama class after school, so at least you get more time here before we go and pick her up. Isn’t that nice?’
Toby frowned. ‘Yes, I suppose so.’
Mabel said, ‘Keep your pecker up, Toby. I’m sure things will work out.You know, in my experience, life can surprise you.’
Callum locked eyes with Mabel.
Chapter 50
‘I need to skip drama class today.’ Katie turned around and looked at her friend, Caitlin. They were standing together in the lunch queue at school.
‘Why?I thought you wanted to come on Mondays as well.Didn’t your auntie agreed to pay for you to attend Mondays as well as Thursdays?’
‘She did. It’s not about the tuition.’
‘Then what is it?’
‘I want to find out what’s going on. My brother was suspended from school.’
‘Yes, I’d heard he’d been suspended.’ She gave Katie a sideways glance. She also knewwhyhe’d be suspended. He’d been in a fight with a boy over a girl – over her.
‘But did you know it was forfiveschool days?’
