AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘I’m sorry – what did you just say?’ Thea jumped out of her seat and ran up to the window.
Chapter 60
‘Oh, my god!’ said Thea when she spotted Jack and Beth peering out of the campervan at the house. They spotted her at the window and waved.
‘That’s Henry’s campervan,’ said Edward.
Thea frowned at him. ‘No, it’s not. And before you say anything, yes I know he had one similar.’
Edward turned to Thea wide-eyed. ‘I’m telling you – that is Henry’s van.’
‘No, it is not. It’s Callum’s van, all right?’
‘Who?’
‘Before you ask, it’s a long story, and I don’t want to talk about it.’ Thea had barely finished her sentence when she heard the doorbell. She rolled her eyes. She knew why they were there; to take her back to Aldeburgh. They were about to find out that they’d had a wasted trip. She was not going back.
Now she wished she’d opened Mabel’s letters and replied. Perhaps then word would have got back to Beth and Jack, and they wouldn’t have turned up in person.
Thea had a lump in her throat. When she’d first caught sight of the van, she’d thought it was Callum. Despite convincing herself that she never wanted to see him again, her heart had leapt.
But it wasn’t.
Thea felt like hiding in her flat, pretending she wasn’t there, but they’d seen her. So, you can still hide in your flat and not answer the door.Thea decided that was the plan.
‘I want a closer look,’ said Edward.
Before Thea could stop him, he was already out of the flat door and heading to the front door of the house. She caught up with him on the front steps.
‘Thea!’ Jack and Beth stepped aside as Edward barged passed them.
‘Edward!’ Thea called out. She shook her head.
Jack and Beth glanced over their shoulder at the stranger examining the van.
Thea said, ‘Look, guys, it’s really nice of you to come and see me, but—’
Jack and Beth exchanged a glance. Beth said, ‘Have you read Mabel’s letter?’
Thea looked at Beth. ‘How did you know Mabel had written to me?’
Beth looked at her sheepishly. ‘Mabel told Lili next door in The Potting Shed, who told me. So, have you read it?’
Thea pursed her lips. ‘No, I haven’t even opened them.’
‘Them?’ Beth looked at her. ‘She sent you another one?’
‘Yeah. I got it in the post today.’ She looked at the van. ‘Is Dickens with you?’
Edward overheard her. ‘Dickens! Ah ha!’ he exclaimed.
Jack and Beth turned around to look at Edward.
‘Goodness me, I can’t believe it, that old cat is still alive! He must be ancient, probably one of the oldest cats in, well, the world!’
Thea shook her head at Edward again and turned to Beth and Jack. ‘That is Edward, my boss and good friend. He’s a senior archivist at the museum. He’s having a bit of a moment, because he thinks this is Henry’s, my dad’s, old campervan. He used to have one just like it. Edward and my dad were best friends.’
Jack and Beth stared at her.
