by Heidi Swain
‘I think he’s a bit snowed under at the moment,’ I said, ‘what with it being the end of term and everything.’
‘Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about that.’
‘Ryan—’
‘I don’t want to talk about it, Poppy,’ he cut in, ‘not yet anyway. I will soon, but for now, I just want to get my head straight. I’m thinking about what I’m going to do after the summer, amongst other things, but I’m not going to talk to you about any of it until I’ve got it all in order. Is that all right?’
‘I guess.’ I smiled. ‘I was just going to ask you to pass me the tea towel.’
Ryan snatched it up, threw it at me and started to laugh. It was the best sound I’d heard in a long time.
‘Now,’ I said, ‘if it’s all right with you, I’m going to have an early night. I have to go back to work tomorrow. You can lock up before you and Gus turn in, can’t you?’
*
The next couple of days were extraordinarily ordinary compared with those which had gone before and I for one was grateful for that. Greengages was as busy as it had been before the heatwave and there were plenty of enquiries, about both what was happening in the Grow-Well and whether I had secured a publisher for my recipe book. I managed to answer them all without giving too much away and was more than ready for my day off and lie-in on Saturday morning.
However, it was not meant to be and I wasn’t the only one who was up with the lark.
‘What’s going on?’ I asked Jacob, who arrived at his gate at the same time as I was pulling my front door shut. ‘I thought you’d be making the most of the first day of your summer hols by sleeping in.’
‘That was the plan,’ he said yawning, ‘and what about you? I thought you had a date with your mattress until at least lunchtime.’
‘I did,’ I said, waving my mobile in his direction, ‘but Ryan’s not in his room and I’ve had a message from Luke, asking if I can get to the garden.’
‘Snap,’ said Jacob, ‘I’ve had the same. Perhaps Ryan is there already? I hope the vandals haven’t been back to finish the job off. I thought the police said they’d caught and charged whoever was responsible.’
‘Morning, Poppy, morning, Jacob!’ called Harold as he zipped up to us on his mobility scooter. ‘Where’s the fire?’ He tutted. ‘What’s going on now?’
‘I’ve no idea,’ said Jacob, as we spotted Carole and Graham crossing the road to Prosperous Place ahead of us, ‘but something tells me we’re about to find out.’
Almost everyone was assembled when we arrived at the garden and in varying states of undress, due to the early hour. Heather was missing, but Glen was there and Mark, Neil explained, would be joining us as soon as he’d finished the early morning bakes and Blossom could spare him.
‘What’s going on?’ John asked Luke. ‘You said it was urgent.’
‘That was me actually,’ said Ryan, stepping out of the bothy with Gus at his heels. ‘I borrowed Luke’s phone to message you all because the police have still got mine.’
‘Ryan has something he wants to tell us,’ said Luke, ‘don’t you, mate?’
‘Yeah,’ he said, looking awkward, ‘yeah I do.’
‘Well come on then, lad,’ said Harold, ‘spit it out. I haven’t had my first brew yet.’
‘It’s all in hand,’ said Kate, ‘if someone could just help me with the trays.’
Lisa and Carole rushed off to help and Jacob and I took the opportunity to ask Ryan if he was all right.
‘I will be in a minute,’ he said quietly, ‘don’t look so worried, Pops. Everything’s fine.’
We all sat round the large wooden table, helped ourselves to mugs of tea and bacon rolls and waited for Ryan to explain exactly why he had thought it was a good idea to drag us from our beds at such an ungodly hour.
‘I know that none of you blame me for what happened at the house and in here,’ he began, his voice wobbling a little, in spite of his insistence that everything was fine. ‘And I really appreciate that, but I am actually responsible and I want to explain why.’
We all looked up at him, holding our breath. Even the birds had fallen silent.
‘Ryan—’ I began but Jacob shook his head and I stopped.
‘When Poppy asked me to come and live here and you guys treated me like one of you,’ Ryan began with a swallow, ‘it meant the world to me.’
‘That’s because you are one of us,’ said Graham.
Ryan nodded.
‘Thank you, Graham,’ he went on, ‘but I’m not sure I deserve to be. You see, I had a bit of an ulterior motive for taking up my sister’s kind offer.’
‘Go on,’ I said gently.
Ryan dipped his head.
‘When Mum moved us to Wynmouth last year,’ he said, ‘I was in a bit of a state. I was still getting over losing Dad and I was angry all the time. Especially angry that she’d made us move. And I was determined to make things as difficult for her as possible.’
‘What did you do?’ asked Jacob.
I couldn’t imagine that anything my brother had done would hold Mum’s attention for long or make her think she’d made a mistake.
‘Nothing that bothered her,’ he confirmed, ‘as it turned out.’
I was right.
‘I made a point of falling in with the wrong crowd,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘There were a small bunch of locals who loved making a nuisance of themselves and there was this one lad—’
‘Kyle,’ I interrupted. ‘You’re talking about that Kyle, aren’t you?’
Ryan nodded again.
‘Yeah,’ he said, ‘he was the ringleader. I knew he was trouble right from the start but at the time I didn’t care. He got me smoking the odd joint and when I enrolled at college he thought I’d be the ideal person to ferry his dope from Norwich for him.’
There was a sharp intake of breath from Carole.
‘I knew I was really in deep then,’ said Ryan, rushing on. ‘I’d enrolled with the intention of getting away from Mum and Kyle for as long as possible during the week, but my plan backfired.’
‘So, when I called and offered you the chance to move here . . .’ I said.
‘I jumped at the chance.’ He nodded. ‘I thought it was the perfect way of getting out of the mess I realised I’d got myself in.’
I hated how he blamed himself and wanted to point out that he was the one who had been taken advantage of, that someone had latched on to his vulnerability and used it to get what they wanted, but I didn’t. There would be time to say all that once Ryan had told us everything.
‘And it was great to begin with.’ He smiled. ‘Better than great. You guys actually made me believe in myself again. You made me feel like I was worth something and I was stuck into my studies, helping out here and loving life, until Colin’s party at the bookshop.’
‘What happened at the party?’ Lisa asked. ‘I don’t remember anything going on.’
‘It was after,’ Ryan explained. ‘My photo made it into the paper and Kyle saw it.’
‘Of course,’ I said, thinking back to when I had found him and some others at the house. ‘He tracked you down. I knew you weren’t happy about him turning up. Why didn’t you say anything?’
And more to the point, why hadn’t I? I should have followed my gut instinct, but I’d let the moment pass. I’d assumed the lads had gone and that was that.
‘Because I was scared you’d find out I’d been transporting weed, Pops,’ said Ryan. He looked horrified now the worst of it was all coming out. ‘I was afraid that you all would. Kyle said that if I didn’t get back on board with his plan he’d make sure everyone knew. I was so ashamed. I didn’t want any of you thinking of me as a lad who did that.’
‘So, what did you do?’ asked Jacob.
‘I tried to stand up to him,’ said Ryan. ‘I told him to go to hell, and that’s when all this started. He said he needed money and that Prosperous Place would be full of stuff he could flog. He pinched Poppy’s phone and made
a note of the gate code and then when I wouldn’t let him into the house he took my phone. He was so pissed when he couldn’t find the house codes that he just smashed his way in.’
‘Why didn’t you say anything then?’ I asked.
‘Because I thought that would be the end of it.’ He choked. ‘I thought that as he hadn’t got anywhere he’d leave it but’ – he looked around him – ‘I was wrong. I’m so sorry.’
‘He tried to use your phone to frame you, didn’t he?’ said Jacob.
Ryan nodded.
‘Joe thought it might not be a bad idea to disappear for a bit, so that’s what we did.’
‘What made you come back, Ryan?’ asked Neil.
‘We got a lift with this lorry driver,’ Ryan said, rubbing his nose. ‘He had his radio blaring out and when the news came on there was a story about this place. I knew that it was down to Kyle and I knew he had my phone. I had to come back to clear my name and say sorry to you guys.’
He stopped for a second, his eyes filling with tears as he looked at the destruction.
‘Oh Ryan.’ I sniffed.
‘Don’t,’ he said, wiping his eyes. ‘Let me finish.’
I nodded and put my head down.
‘So,’ he carried on, ‘I went to the police. They’d already found Kyle’s prints on my phone and worked out most of it. They know him pretty well and when I told them how I’d got involved with him it confirmed everything. It’s not the first time he’s done something like this. I’m just so sorry I let you all . . .’ he started saying, but no one would hear of it. Everyone crowded round to hug and kiss him and pat him on the back.
It was such a relief to see everyone rallying round my brother that I found it impossible to stem the tears he had asked me to hold back.
‘It’s all right,’ said Jacob, wrapping me in his arms and kissing my cheek, ‘it’s okay.’
‘I know.’ I nodded, sniffing. ‘I know it is, but I just wish he’d talked to me.’
‘I’m so sorry, Pops,’ Ryan stammered, his bottom lip wobbling as he walked around the group to me.
‘And I wish Kyle had left this place alone,’ I said.
‘But he didn’t,’ Ryan carried on.
Jacob loosened his grip but stayed close. I hoped Ryan would interpret our brief embrace as nothing more than friendly.
‘And that’s the other reason why I’ve asked you all here,’ Ryan carried on, raising his voice. ‘There’s no way I can cope with the guilt if we pull out of this competition now,’ he said. ‘I know it’s nowhere near as good as it was before, but we owe it to the Grow-Well and I owe it to all of you to at least give it a shot. Don’t I?’
A second silence fell across the garden as everyone exchanged glances, clearly not knowing what to say.
‘We can’t let him win,’ said Ryan, sounding choked again. ‘This place deserves a chance to shine and if we all pull together, I really believe that we can make it happen. Who’s with me?’
Chapter 32
That weekend we worked harder than we ever had in the Grow-Well. Thankfully the searing temperature of the few weeks before hadn’t made a return, but by the end of Sunday we were still all hot, tired, grubby and in need of a relaxing Radox soak.
‘There’s nothing else we can do now,’ said Ryan, as we all stood back and looked at what our long hours, aching muscles and blistered hands had achieved. ‘And whatever happens, at least we can say we’ve tried.’
Both the break-in at the house and subsequent trashing of the garden had meant interest in the place had soared, and our phones were all abuzz with encouraging Tweets and good wishes. Lisa had roused the council worker responsible for processing the competition paperwork and convinced them to let us withdraw our withdrawal and everything was as firmly back on track as we could get it.
‘Yep,’ said Luke, stepping up to stand next to Ryan, ‘that’s it, folks. Let’s all go home. We’ll soon find out whether we’ve done enough.’
Jacob, Ryan and I walked back to the square together. Well, I say walked – my legs were so stiff that it was more of a shuffle really. How I was going to get up the stairs and into the bath was anyone’s guess, but it didn’t matter because there was a car parked outside my house. I clearly had company to see to first.
‘That’s Mum,’ my brother gasped when he spotted the car.
‘What?’
‘It’s Mum,’ he said, ‘that’s her car.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course, I’m sure,’ Ryan tutted. ‘That’s her tacky private plate.’
‘What the hell is she after?’ I frowned. ‘Hey, Jacob, I don’t suppose you fancy coming in to give us some moral support, do you?’
‘I would,’ he said, pointing to his own driveway, which I saw now had an unfamiliar car parked on it, ‘but by the looks of it you aren’t the only ones with visitors.’
We crossed the green and parted company, promising to catch up later. I held my breath as Mum’s car door opened and a pair of slender mahogany legs appeared.
‘Jesus,’ said Ryan, tutting, ‘she’d give that old bird on Benidorm a run for her money, wouldn’t she?’
I couldn’t help but smile.
‘Mum,’ I said, protectively stepping in front of my brother. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Neither of us have got any money,’ said Ryan, stepping round me and taking his place at my side. ‘So if it’s cash you’re after you’ve had a wasted trip. I daresay Poppy hasn’t recouped the last lot you had.’
‘How did you know?’ I gasped.
‘It didn’t take a genius to work it out, Pops,’ he told me.
Mum ignored us both and reached into her car for a large and gaudy handbag, which had no doubt cost the earth, and a bulky manila file.
‘Are you going to ask me in then, or what?’ she snapped.
As much as I would have liked to make her stand on the street, I didn’t think it fair to subject my neighbours to her overexposed bronzed cleavage, so I ushered her over the threshold.
‘Tea?’ Ryan muttered. He filled the kettle and then set about organising mugs and milk.
‘Yes, please,’ I answered. ‘Better make mine camomile, I think.’
‘Not for me,’ said Mum, wrinkling her nose in disgust. ‘I’m not stopping.’
‘Oh no,’ said Ryan sarcastically. ‘That’s a shame. I thought you’d want to hear all about how I’ve been getting on, and you and Pops must have loads to catch up on? I’m sure we could make a bed up on the sofa if you wanted to make a night of it.’
‘Ryan,’ I said, ‘don’t.’
‘Well,’ he said, crashing the fridge door shut. ‘She brings out the worst in me.’
‘I am here, you know,’ Mum suddenly burst out. ‘I can hear you, Ryan.’
I was beginning to think I should have left her on the doorstep after all. If this was a taste of what life in Wynmouth had been like, then it was no wonder Ryan had ended up making some bad decisions.
‘So out with it then, Mum,’ I said bluntly. ‘Why are you here?’
I wanted to get her gone as quickly as possible.
‘It’s Tony’s will,’ she said, thumping the file down on the table. ‘It’s finally been sorted. He’s left you rather a lot of money, Ryan.’
‘Has he?’ Ryan gasped.
‘Yes.’ She sniffed. ‘But you can’t touch any of it until you turn eighteen and some of it has to stay in trust until you’re twenty-one.’
Ryan burst out laughing.
‘No wonder you’re looking more sour than usual.’ He grinned. ‘I daresay you were hoping to help me spend it.’
She did look a bit like she’d swallowed a lemon.
‘It’s not easy being a single parent, you know,’ she choked. ‘There are all sorts of expenses. You don’t seem to understand that, Ryan.’
‘He might not,’ I said, ‘but I do and you haven’t been a single parent for more than five minutes, so don’t start with the waterworks because they won’
t work on us. When Tony was alive he always paid for everything, and Ryan’s been my responsibility for the last few months so you haven’t had to shell out at all. You haven’t even sent me his child benefit!’
‘I’m sorry, Pops,’ said Ryan, turning red, ‘I’ve never thought how hard it must be for you financially.’
‘Don’t you worry about that,’ I told him firmly. ‘I’m saying this for her benefit, not to make you feel bad.’
Ryan nodded and I hoped he knew I meant that.
‘Give it a couple of years,’ he said to me, ‘and I’ll be able to treat you.’
‘That money is for your future,’ I said, even more firmly than before. ‘I’ll be making sure you won’t be frittering it away on takeaways and chew toys for Gus!’
Ryan smiled and Mum looked disappointed. If she thought that turning up in person would soften our hardened hearts then she was in for a rude awakening. I would be doing everything in my power to make sure she wouldn’t see a penny of Ryan’s inheritance.
‘Tony put down in the paperwork that he wanted you to act as trustee, actually,’ Mum said to me. ‘If you agree, you’ll be looking after things on Ryan’s behalf until he’s old enough.’
‘Of course I’ll agree,’ I said, pulling the file towards me and thinking what an astute man Tony was, ‘but why am I only hearing about this now? Tony’s been gone for over a year.’
Mum shrugged.
‘Well,’ she said, ‘there have been complications.’
‘You mean you’ve been stalling the solicitor,’ said Ryan, ‘to see if there’s any way you can get your mitts on the money.’
I wasn’t sure that a solicitor would fall for her theatrics, but clearly something had been going on to stop them getting in touch. Thank goodness Tony had known what Mum was really like and had decided to leave the administration to me.
‘Don’t worry,’ I told Ryan. ‘I’ll ring the solicitor first thing tomorrow and straighten everything out.’
‘And if they need me for anything,’ said Mum, standing up to deliver her parting shot, ‘then they’ll have to email or Skype.’
‘Why?’ Ryan and I asked together.
