AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Although he had intended to leave the stuff there when he left so that his dad could do some work if he fancied it, obviously that wasn’t going to happen now. ‘It’s a compromise. What do you think?’ Callum flashed that smile again.
This time she relented. ‘Oh, all right. As long as you don’t leave any of it here, and you supervise, I can’t see the harm.’
‘Great.’ Callum’s smile faltered. Wasn’t he meant to be travelling to Suffolk in the campervan to look in on Jack and find those girls?
‘Now, what about that autograph?’ she said, interrupting his thoughts.
‘Oh, yes – right.’ Callum looked at the newly bound book. He guessed his father’s business had been wound down months earlier. There were no clients, no money to be had from binding the books, although he’d rather not tell his dad that. He looked at him. ‘Here, can I put the finishing touches on that?’
‘Of course.’ He handed it over.
Callum opened the book, checked the binding, and patted his dad on the shoulder. ‘Good job!’ He opened the book to the first page, which was blank. He picked up a pen, asked the manager’s name, and wrote in the book, signing it with a flourish. He handed it to her. ‘Hope you don’t mind the book. I helped Dad bind it, so I thought you’d like a little memento.’
‘Oh wow – thanks.’ She turned it over in her hands. ‘I’ll treasure this.’ She walked out of the door. Callum saw her glance over her shoulder and heard her mutter, ‘If only I was twenty years younger,’ before shutting the door behind her.
‘Why did you give the book away?’
Callum turned around and sighed. ‘Dad, you haven’t got any clients now.’
‘That can’t be right. Where did they all go?’
Callum pursed his lips and sat down in the chair beside the bed. He looked around the room, his eyes settling on the wallet and the deeds that were still on the floor. He bent down and picked them up, wondering whether to broach the subject of the bookshop again with his father, and of the old wallet with the photo inside. He didn’t want to. He didn’t want to risk upsetting him again.
Callum picked up his bag. Perhaps it was all for the best. Although he wanted to see his best mate, just then he knew he should be here, spending time with his dad – not travelling south in his old campervan.
Henry walked over and sat on the bed. ‘What have you got there?’
‘Oh, it’s nothing.’ Callum opened his bag to put away the envelope containing the deeds and the wallet.’
‘Is that my wallet?’
Callum stopped. He held it up. ‘You recognise this?’
‘Yes, it was in the back of my desk drawer.’
Callum stared at him. ‘He held up the envelope. What about this? It’s the deeds to the bookshop.’
‘Yes, I know that.’
‘You left me a note.’ Callum read the note to Henry. ‘The van is for the girls. I made them a promise, so you must give them the campervan. Don’t tell your mother, but promise me you’ll look after them. They are—’Callum showed him the note. ‘You didn’t finish the sentence, Dad. Who are they, and where can I find them?’
Henry focused on the note in Callum’s hand. ‘That’s right. You must find them. Find the bookshop. That’s where they’ll be. The Bookshop of Memories.’ He added, ‘There’s a photo inside.’
‘Yes, I know. But who are they?’ He stared at his father. A ludicrous thought crossed his mind. His dad had been a travelling bookseller. Callum had heard stories of people who led a double life – who had two families. Was it possible he had met someone else and had another family?
Callum stared at him and thought of what he’d written in the note.Don’t tell your mother.But he knew his dad. The idea was ridiculous; he could never keep a secret like that. Callum thought there must be more to it.
‘Dad, who are they?’ Callum asked again.
Someone knocked on the door.
Callum threw his hands in the air. ‘For goodness’ sake, not now!’ He rolled his eyes when the door opened. It was the young care assistant who had asked for his autograph earlier.
Callum eyed her. ‘Yes, what is it?’ He hadn’t meant to sound rude, but he finally felt he was getting somewhere with his dad. He stood up and walked over, trying to stop her entering the room. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound short with you, but I was just having a conversation with my dad ...’ Callum lowered his voice. ‘It’s one of his lucid moments and there’s something I desperately want him to clear up.’
The young woman standing in the doorway looked over at Henry. Her gaze shifted to Callum, her big blue eyes staring up at him. She whispered. ‘Sorry. I just wanted to come and apologise. I know you told me not to say anything, but I was just so excited, and my boss wondered what was up. I couldn’t help myself – I had to tell someone.’
Callum sighed. ‘It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.’ He attempted to close the door, but the young woman stood her ground. She smiled coyly. ‘There’s just something I wanted to ask you.’
