AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘I should jolly well hope so,’ his father replied, examining the knife in his hand before opening the book.
Callum grinned as he watched his father deftly start to remove the old leather-bound cover. He hadn’t forgotten how to do it.
Fifteen minutes later, the old cover had been removed, and his father had started the process of binding the book anew.
Callum smiled. ‘Isn’t this fun?’
‘I’ll say,’ Henry replied.
‘Why don’t I come round with more books and we can do them together? I saw a stack of books that I think you intended to do, possibly for some clients.’
‘Oh, yes. I need to get those done.’
‘We could do them together,’ said Callum.
His father smiled. ‘It will be just like old times.’
Callum grinned. He loved that his dad remembered. ‘Yes, just like old times.’ The sound of Henry’s door opening interrupted them. Callum glanced over his shoulder to see a middle-aged woman, dressed in a smart, business-like trouser suit, walk in without even knocking or introducing herself.
Callum frowned at her. ‘Can I help you? I’m visiting my father at the moment.’ Whatever it is, thought Callum, surely it could wait.
‘I’m the care home manager,’ she said. ‘Sorry, but I had to see you for myself. I’m a huge fan.’
Callum wiped the glue from his fingers with an old rag he’d remembered to bring with him and stepped forward, trying not to feel annoyed with the young care assistant, who obviously couldn’t keep her mouth shut. At least it was only the manager and not a crowd of other people who worked there.
Callum sighed. ‘Do you want my autograph?’
‘Oh, yes please.’
Callum stepped to one side, revealing the tools and book on the desk behind him. She walked over to the desk to take a closer look. ‘What’s going on here?’
‘I brought some things for dad. We used to bind books together. He’s very good at it.’
‘So are you,’ Henry added.
Callum turned around and smiled at him. Before they were interrupted, Callum had felt as though he had his dad back. They had been chatting, just like old times – before Callum became famous – when they had enjoyed binding books together.
The care home manager picked up the sharp knife and shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, but you can’t bring this sort of thing along for the residents.’
‘I didn’t bring it for the residents. I brought it for my dad. He can’t bind books without the right tools.’
‘Then I’m afraid this must stop.’ She kept hold of the sharp knife.
Callum stared at her. ‘You’re serious, aren’t you?’
‘I’m afraid so.’
‘Can’t you make an exception for my dad?’ Callum glanced at his dad, who was carefully gluing the new hardcover in place. Callum took the manager to one side and lowered his voice. ‘It’s helping his memory tremendously. It’s like he’s a changed person – as though the dementia has disappeared, and he’s got his memory back.’ He smiled, flashing the dead straight pearly white porcelain veneers that he’d gone to the expense of having done at the behest of his agent; apparently no one worked in Hollywood with bad teeth. Callum hadn’t had bad teeth, but they hadn’t been as straight as they could be, nor as white. They still wouldn’t guarantee him another job, though.
The care home assistant relinquished the knife. Callum had known that his engaging smile would work.
‘Please put it away.’
Callum frowned.
‘The glue has to go as well – in fact, all of it. It’s a health and safety thing.’
‘Fine.’ It wasn’t fine, but unless he wanted his father to lose his place at the care home, he’d have to do as he was told. Callum had a thought. ‘What if I brought this stuff with me on my visits and supervised Dad? That was my idea anyway – that we’d do it together.’
