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‘Do you want to see him, your father?’ asked Beth.
Thea nodded. ‘I do.’
Chapter 61
‘Gone – what do you meangone?’
‘I’m afraid Henry absconded from the care home, in a taxi.’
Jack turned to Thea. They were standing in the entrance hall of the care home, at reception. ‘Don’t worry. I know where he went.’
‘But what was my father doing here?’
‘That was the other thing that I’m afraid Callum was going to have a hard time telling you …’
An hour later, they turned down a long drive winding through incredible Scottish scenery into a private estate. Thea was still trying to come to terms with the news of her father’s early onset dementia. Her sadness at finding out this fact was tempered by a theory of Callum’s that Jack had told her about. Callum had wondered whether Henry was remembering his life before the accident because of his condition; maybe those old memories about his past life had resurfaced as the fog of dementia closed in on the present.
Thea noticed a large sign readingPrivate Property. She whispered, ‘Did you take a wrong turn?’
Jack glanced at Beth. ‘No.’
Beth said, ‘It’s so much bigger, grander than I ever imagined.’
‘But where are we?’ asked Thea as Jack drove the van along a deserted, winding single-track road through a pine forest.
‘It brings to mind that family curse, though,’ said Jack.
Thea frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘Doesn’t it?’ said Beth, looking at her husband. ‘It’s so bleak and cold.’
‘And quite austere,’ added Edward, shivering.
Thea didn’t feel that way about the beautiful Scottish scenery, although she realised they were referring to the huge, rambling grey stone house with its turrets and gables that had come into view at the end of the road. There was no denying that the scenery surrounding the house was stunning, but the huge house at the end of the drive sent shivers down her spine.
‘I don’t like the creepy house,’ said Fergus.
‘Neither do I,’ commented Thea. ‘Would you like a chocolate biscuit?’
He nodded. ‘Yes please.’
‘Me too,’ said Edward.
Once they’d arrived in front of the house, everyone helped themselves to a nice, comforting chocolate digestive. It reminded Thea of the large country estates and houses that she sometimes visited in England belonging to The National Trust. Except this place, apart from the scenery, didn’t feel welcoming. She said, ‘What is this place?’
Jack switched of the engine and turned around in his seat. ‘This is Callum’s ancestral home.’
Thea stared at the house.
‘Turns out he is a laird – for real! Talk about life imitating art.’ Jack shook his head.
‘The family curse,’ Beth breathed.
Once again, Thea asked, ‘What are you talking about?’
‘Mabel went with Callum to the train station to see him off before he left for Scotland. She tried to find you, but you must have jumped on a train and returned to London.’
Thea kept her mouth shut. That wasn’t exactly what had happened. Mabel must have kept that to herself, to save Callum more heartbreak. Mabelhadfound her. She’d tried to give her the train ticket, telling Thea that she had to go with Callum to Scotland.
