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“Thanks. I’ll drop in on my way out.”
* * *
Even when she really doesn’t want to, Major Victoria Canmore keeps her word.
I swing past the office on my way out and I ask whether Mr. Hatchell is available. His secretary shakes her head.
“I’m sorry, he just nipped out. I can let him know you called in.”
“Thanks,” I reply.
My mind does a little jig of delight at having swerved that bullet for another day. I’ve got enough on my plate just now without enduring catch-up small talk with a long distant ex-boyfriend. Especially one who I’m not entirely sure how I feel about.
I don’t know what’s gotten into me recently. I think it must be coming back to Oakheart Glen. During my time in the Army, I never once thought of having a relationship or looking for someone to share my life with. My life was always so full, I was always so busy. My mind just never turned to love. Now as I drive about the town, I find myself thinking what a beautiful place this is, how content I’ve always been here, and how nice it would be to have someone to help me move the furniture about in The Pines.
I’m obviously getting soft in my middle age.
I’ve heard snippets about Ben’s success over the years. My mother never stopped trying to get us together. She and Ben’s mother met regularly for tea and strategy meetings. But I was never interested. And when Ben got married and moved to the city to launch his career, I think they finally conceded defeat.
The accident robbed me of most of my memories from around the time we were together, but I do remember that I did have feelings for him. That perhaps I thought I loved him. But also that he broke my heart.
I’m certainly not in the market for that.
I push through the heavy oak doors of the care home and skip down the wide stone steps. My eyes fall on my car and I smile. Time to get home and get on with stripping wallpaper. Contemplation of the unfathomable vacillations of my heart can wait for another day.
I pause at the bottom of the steps as a silver car pulls to a slow stop in front of me. I grumble slightly under my breath at its inconvenient placement. As I move to walk round the back of it, a familiar voice assails me.
“Well, I never. I heard the Major’s daughter was in town, but I thought it was just a terrible rumor.”
“Hi, Ben.” I smile despite myself at his cheesy opening line.
He sweeps towards me, leaving the car door wide open behind him, and before I know it, I’m wrapped in a hug.
“How are you doing?” he asks, holding me at arm’s length by my shoulders and looking me up and down. He takes the hint from my rigid shoulders and hurries up with his assessment. “You look well.”
“Thanks,” I mutter. “As do you.”
His chest swells, puffing out his carefully tailored suit jacket. “Thanks,” he replies. “I’m doing alright. Spent a few years as an auditor for a big accountancy firm in the city, but I missed the Glen way of life, you know.”
I look at him, with his Roller, his Saville Row suit, and his gleaming Italian leather shoes.
“Oh, yeah, I know.” I nod. “Totally get it.”
He has the self-awareness to laugh. “Never was much one for the outdoors, I will confess. But I do like to look at it thought the windows of my very large house. Real estate is so expensive in the city. Dropped half a mill in the city and I didn’t even get my own parking space. Now I’ve got a driveway with a fountain. And this place. Not for half a mill,” he clarifies.
“What made you jump to the care sector?” I ask, more out of politeness than any real sense of inquisitiveness. I know the answer.
He answers simply. “Money.”
Have to hand it to him. At least he is honest.
“I saw this place was for sale and I snapped it up. Proper little gold mine.” He doesn’t even blush as he says it. “I’m looking at developing another property. Do you know the old Rose place, just north of the town?”
“Yeah.”
“There. It is a great size and has some lovely views of Ben Breg.” He smiles. “I’m not a total money-monster, Vic, I like to give our clients the very best.”
I cut him some slack. “I can see that. My dad is very happy here.” I pause, wondering whether to ask my next question. I decide to go for it. “Does he remember you?”
