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“So, did he grow up here?”I asked.
He looked around my age, probably a little older, but it was a small town, and I would have remembered if we had ever been in the same school, especially with a name as distinctive as Donovan.
“No, not really,” June said.“He was born here, but his parents moved to Cornwall when he was three, and then they moved to Italy when he was twelve.Donovan has been travelling the world since he was eighteen.This is the first time he’s set foot in England since then.”
“So, you haven’t seen him in…?”
“Ten years.He barely kept in touch, but I can’t hold that against him.”She sighed.“He didn’t really grow up having me and his grandad around because Trevor and I lived in Manchester when he was born.We moved here when he was eleven, so he didn’t get much regular time with us before they left the country.I never expected him to worry about his old gran and grandad when he was having adventures.”
I wasn’t sure I agreed.I’d loved my grandparents and visited them once a week, sometimes more when I could.I was unlucky to have lost them all at a young age, and I would have done anything to have them back.
“So, is he moving here or just passing through?”I asked.
“Just passing through.”A wistful look crossed her eyes.“I think his parents guilted him into spending Christmas with me since they’re away on a cruise.They booked it before…” She paused, swallowing hard as tears brimmed in her eyes.“Before Trevor died.They didn’t want me to be alone.”
I reached over to squeeze her hand.June and Trevor had been the most adorable older couple.Most couples quit holding hands when they’re in public once the honeymoon period is over, but not them.Their hands were always joined, even for a quick shopping trip in town.Love and adoration absolutely oozed from them, and June’s grief was almost palpable sometimes.She handled it well mostly, but the loneliness got to her more often than she let on.
“You wouldn’t have been alone,” I said.“Mum and Dad have insisted you come with me to their house for Christmas.I was going to ask you about it today, but…” I trailed off, shrugging.
My parents knew June from when they’d been to visit me and we’d been chatting on our doorsteps, or when June had been at my house.We’d all grown fond of her and none of us could stand the idea of her being on her own at Christmas just months after she’d lost her husband.
I’d been kind of looking forward to taking her to my family home, but being with her own family would be better for her.
June’s hand rested on top of mine.“That’s a lovely offer.One I would have taken you up on if Donovan wasn’t here.”She giggled.“I might just take you up on it anyway.For a twenty-eight-year-old, he’s like a grumpy old man.”
Her words made me laugh.Maybe I shouldn’t have judged him on our tiny interaction, but he hadn’t made a great first impression with his glare and bad attitude.
“Anyway, enough about that,” June said, sipping her tea.“Tell me how your day went.”
I launched into an explanation of my Friday at work.Seeing eight-year-olds getting excited for Christmas was delightful.The last couple of weeks of term were all about rehearsals for Christmas plays and making fun things the kids could take home to their parents.
The sound of the doorbell interrupted the conversation, and June carefully lifted herself from her seat.
“That’ll be Donovan with the cream.”
Oh, joy.
Chapter2
Donovan
My hometown wasboth different yet somehow hadn’t changed a bit.While many shops were new, the centre of town—The Lawn, the bandstand, the stream—had remained unchanged since my last visit.
Being back in the UK was strange.Like I’d stepped into another world or something.It was home, but it hadn’t been for over fifteen years.Seeing familiar things made the transition easier, but I still felt detached somehow.
I had planned to return to the UK for more than a year, but there was always ‘one more trip’.One more place to see.However, since my grandad had died, the trip I’d had most experience with was the guilt trip.My parents were appalled that I didn’t come back for Grandad’s funeral.The truth was, I hadn’t wanted to face it.I had guilt enough about not seeing them in so long.I didn’t want the first time I saw my grandma to be under those circumstances.
However, this would be her first Christmas alone.The circumstances weren’t much better now, not when it was the season when everything was supposed to be happy.I’d long grown out of excitement about Christmas, but being with Nan when she was still mourning was going to make it rough and depressing, especially when I could have been sunning myself on a beach somewhere.
I’d made my living for the last seven years as a travel writer, and my blog, Off The Beaten Track, had gained popularity, allowing me to make money to keep globetrotting.Apparently, sarcasm, photography skills, and a couple of viral TikTok videos can take a person far.More followers meant more money, and I could have very easily afforded to buy my own home anywhere I wanted.However, I didnotwant the UK.
I picked up the clotted cream, already practically tasting it on my tongue as I drove back to my nan’s house.I didn’t have a key yet.I’d only arrived a few hours ago, so I rang the doorbell and waited for Nan to let me in.When she opened the door, she said, “I thought you’d got lost!”
I bristled slightly.I wasn’t sure if that was a dig about me not staying in touch or visiting.
And, of course, you would only know whether or not it was a dig if you’d taken the time to stay in touch with her.I shook the thought away.
“It would be pretty hard to get lost in Dawlish.I was just having a look around,” I told her as she let me inside.
