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‘I’m afraid not. If only you’d let me know you were coming.’
‘It’s okay.’ Callum grinned. ‘You know me, always footloose and fancy-free.’If only, thought Callum, weighed down as he was by that huge mortgage, and the rent arrears he still owed on the rental. Even though he’d given up the apartment he was renting in Malibu, and handed in the keys to the agency, they were still chasing him for the outstanding payments, and for the rest of the rent money for the six-month contract he’d stupidly signed.
‘It’s so nice of you to travel all this way to see us.’
It wasn’t the only reason I came, Callum thought. He had also travelled all that way to get his hands on a bookshop, sell it, and solve some of his money issues. He remembered the solicitor’s words about somebody potentially contesting his father’s will. But who would do that? The photo of those two girls came to mind.
Would it be so bad if he didn’t give them the campervan? Whoever they were, they might want the bookshop instead – who wouldn’t? It was going to be worth way more than the bright yellow VW, even though his dad had done an amazing job with keeping the vehicle so pristine.
Not pristine enough, however, to be parked on his mate’s land. He understood; they had paying guests. It would rather let the side down if they turned up to find an old yellow VW campervan with old-fashioned net curtains hanging at the windows parked outside.
‘Shame you haven’t got a pitch – you know, like a camping field. Then I could set up there.’
‘We had thought of that. Glamping is big at the moment. We were thinking of setting aside a field, and buying some pods – Beth’s idea.’
‘Pods?’
‘Yeah, you know little wooden cabins.’
Callum had never understood the appeal. No matter how comfy and cosy they were set up inside, you were still, essentially, sleeping in a shed with no facilities – not even a bathroom. He’d rather have the campervan any day.
‘Now, if you’ve got money to burn, and you feel like making another investment in the farm ...’ Jack trailed off, his expression hopeful.
Callum looked at him in surprise. Jack had hated taking Callum’s money when their farm had been in trouble a few years earlier.
Jack looked at him sheepishly. ‘It wasn’t my idea. Beth told me to ask you the next time I spoke with you. And look – here you are.’
Yes, here I am, thought Callum,without so much as two brass farthings to rub together.That wasn’t strictly true. He did have a little money on him, but he had practically travelled down there on fumes. Callum’s fondness for the little VW campervan had waned pretty quickly when he discovered how quickly the thing guzzled gas.
Jack was still looking at him expectantly.
Callum stared at him. Was he expecting an answer regarding investing in their farm business on the spot? Considering what he’d done for them in the past, Callum didn’t know why he thought it was unreasonable of his friend to expect him to say yes. After all, he’d always been so generous with his money.
Not anymore. Not because he had suddenly become stingy and tight, but simply because he didn’t have any – not until he sold the bookshop. Callum couldn’t wait.
He avoided Jack’s gaze, and was saved by Beth hurrying out of the farmhouse behind him and waving frantically. ‘Oh, my god, Cal! What are you doing here?’
Callum grinned. ‘Just in the neighbourhood.’
She ran up to him, and they hugged awkwardly, that night they’d spent together never far from their minds.
They shouldn’t have done it. It was completely and utterly wrong. They hadn’t been able to help themselves, although they’d both regretted it instantly.
‘It’s been too long.’
‘I know.’ Callum threw a furtive glance Jack’s way. The mistake would never have happened if he hadn’t turned up on that particular weekend five years ago when his best mate was away, taking some cattle to market in the next town. Jack had got caught in a torrential thunderstorm, which had closed a road on his way home, so he’d stayed overnight at a local bed and breakfast.
Callum knew why it had been so long since his last visit. Although the years had distanced them from what had happened that night, perhaps he still wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t for the bookshop. In fact, he was pretty sure he wouldn’t have.
‘You must stay for dinner,’ said Jack, putting an arm around his shoulder and steering him towards the farmhouse. ‘Beth is so right: it’s been too long.’
‘What about the van?’
They all turned to look at the campervan parked on their gravel drive.
‘As long as you’re gone before the other guests arrive ...’
‘Yeah, don’t worry – I will be.’ He glanced at Beth, and caught the relieved look on her face. Despite the apparent warm welcome, she probably didn’t want him here.
