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Henry shook his head. ‘No, you’re not.’
Callum breathed a heavy sigh. ‘See you soon, Dad.’ He stepped out of the room and shut the door.
It occurred to him that whoever those girls were, they probably wouldn’t be interested in an old campervan. Perhaps they wouldn’t even be interested in hearing from Henry. And at this rate, with the deterioration of his memory, Henry would be none the wiser if Callum never found them or delivered the van.
A little voice in Callum’s head said,Why bother finding them?It felt like a wild goose chase. He could be using his time a lot more wisely by just locating the bookshop he now owned and selling it.
Outside the care home, Callum got back into the campervan. He glanced up at the former hotel, spotting his dad standing at the window, looking down. Callum waved, feeling guilty for deciding to ignore his wishes and just concentrate on sorting himself out by selling the bookshop.
But even if that was what he was going to do, he had to find the place first.
Chapter 18
For the first time ever, Thea couldn’t face going into work on Monday. When Gracie knocked on her door and Thea told her she wouldn’t be going into work, Gracie didn’t sound surprised. In fact, she had a suggestion. ‘When was the last time you took some annual leave? I know you love your job, but even you need to take some time out, and have a break, once in a while. I’m pretty certain that under the circumstances, and with all that leave accrued, Edward will just sign it off and let you take it immediately if I have a word with him. When was the last time you saw your sister?’
‘Are you suggesting I go and stay with my sister in Suffolk?’ Thea couldn’t think of anything worse; she’d rather stay in her flat than in her sister’s busy household with her two teenagers – not to mention her husband’s roving eye. It wasn’t something she’d tell her sister, but Thea had caught the way her sister’s husband looked at her. It made her feel uncomfortable.
That thought made her think of Miles. Gracie was right; what had happened – what she’d discovered – was for the best. It was just that it didn’t feel like that just then. She was heartbroken.
‘I think you need to get away from London, and everything that reminds you of Miles … and he knows where you live. I bet he’ll be round.’
Thea shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. He didn’t phone or text me. That was my sister.’
Gracie sighed. ‘He didn’t call you or text you for a reason.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘He knows you won’t answer your phone or reply to a text. But if he turned up here, in person, and rang your doorbell insistently, there’s a chance you might answer that door.’
Thea stared at her.
‘Now, you see why I think you shouldn’t hang around the flat in case he does come round. You need to get away for a bit.’
Thea nodded. ‘All right.’ However, she wasn’t intending to stay with her sister. Gracie didn’t understand; they didn’t have that sort of relationship. They didn’t have that much in common. When they were younger, she had been the annoying little sister, always trying to copy Jenna; always sneaking into her room and using her makeup. She had looked up to her big sister and wanted to be just like her, but had also been envious of her being older, wearing makeup, having a boyfriend, learning to drive, and going away on holiday with her friends to Ibiza when she was seventeen. Although Thea had known that her time would come, nothing had been able to change the fact that Jenna, being three years older, had always got there first.
But it wasn’t just their teenage years that had led to their strained relationship; it was the fact that her sister often expected her to drop everything and babysit her children at weekends, as though the world revolved around her just because she was a mother. And when Jenna had a problem or wanted some advice, she’d be straight on the phone to Thea – but it didn’t cut both ways. Thea knew that there was no point getting in touch with Jenna and explaining what had happened, expecting a listening ear, sympathy, or an invite to go and stay with her. Her sister would be far too busy.
Gracie was still standing at her door. ‘Have you got in touch with your sister to find out what she wanted?’
‘I think it’s probably just babysitting for the weekend, although …’ Thea trailed off. Jenna had sounded different on the phone.
‘What is it?’
‘I’m not sure. She didn’t sound herself.’
‘Why don’t you phone her and find out?’
Thea sighed. She had a lot on her plate. She knew that whenever her sister got in touch it was because she wanted something – or specifically she wanted her little sister to do something for her. Thea wished that just for once, Jenna would be a big sister and look after her for a change.But I’ve got Gracie, thought Thea, her smile fading at the thought that just then, what she really wanted was to speak to her mum.
‘Come here.’
Thea stepped forward and got enveloped in a big hug. ‘Now, you, my girl, are going to be all right. I’m off to work. I’ll let Edward know that you won’t be in work today. Phone your sister. If you’re not here when I get back, I’ll know you’ve gone to Suffolk.’
‘Look, I’m sure I’ll still be here when you get back. I won’t be going to my sister’s.’
‘Never say never.’ She smiled at her. ‘Now, my advice to you is to give her a call. It might be something important.’
Important for her, thought Thea glumly. Even so, she said, ‘All right,’ knowing that otherwise, Gracie would be on her case. That wasn’t the only reason; over the last couple of days, Jenna had left her several messages; in the last one, she had said that something had happened and that she needed to speak to Thea urgently. Thea had rolled her eyes. Her big sister had always been like that – so melodramatic over the least little thing. Although now it struck her as odd that the messages, and calls, had suddenly stopped. Her sister was nothing if not persistent – normally.
