Chasing What's Already Gone (Second Chances Book 1)

by Michael Ross

  “Come on, let’s go. If we get there early, we might catch him scooting his harem off the property, and then we can see him for what he really is and get back to normal. Actually, thinking about it, we are more likely to catch him out having his afternoon nap. Maybe we ought to visit the shoe section before we go. I’m sure I saw some nice, fluffy slippers for sale last time I was there.”

  “If we weren’t using your car, I would tell you to get knotted.”

  “But we’re in mine, aren’t we? And we know why we are in my car, don’t we?”

  Jess was nearing the end of a three-month driving ban, which she could not wait to be over.

  “Not for much longer, thank goodness.”

  “Amen to that.”

  They both laugh and head for the car park.

  Chapter

  Thirty-Eight

  When I have jobs to do I tend to graze, drift from one task to the other. The time when I’ve nearly finished doing a job is the trigger to start something fresh. It’s now just after three and I have abandoned a couple of the packing cases and I am hammering some nails in the walls so that I can hang up some of my favourite pictures, when I hear a car pulling up outside the door. I peep through the window to see my sister getting out of her car, quickly followed by Jeremiah, who is leaping all over the place.

  I open the window and shout out,

  “I’m sorry, only posh people allowed in this property—go away!”

  Jeremiah jumps up and down, unable to control himself.

  “Uncle Dan! Uncle Dan, is this really your new house? Can I come in, please?”

  “Of course you can’t. We don’t allow naughty boys in here—go away.”

  “Please, Uncle Dan.”

  “Oh, go on then—just this once, mind you.”

  My sister shouts out, “Dan, this is wonderful. Hang on, let me help Derek to get out of the car.”

  “Hold on, I’ll come and help.”

  “No, stay there—he needs to start doing things for himself.”

  A hard taskmaster, my sister, but I know she is right. I turn around and my crazy nephew leaps into my arms. By the time I show Jeremiah his bedroom for when he comes to visit, Chan and Derek have made it to the lounge.

  “This is the business, Danny.”

  “It’s not bad, is it? Let me give Chan a quick guided tour.”

  When we are upstairs, I ask Chan, “How is he? Is he coping with the wheelchair?”

  “No problem at all. Jeremiah has helped. He keeps pestering Derek to give him a lift around the house and the garden. Derek knows it’s not for long.”

  “That’s good. Well, within the next hour you are going to meet the new additions to my social circle, and Derek’s boss for the next few weeks.”

  With that, I hear a car horn being sounded and look out the window to see Gemma’s Peugeot. Well, here goes. The Chan Test. Is Jessica Roberts ready for it? Will she pass it?

  Chan has no chance to disapprove, because Jeremiah’s enthusiasm makes up her mind for her.

  “Aunty Jess! Aunty Jess!” He does his full-throttle runny, jumpy thing and Jess scoops him into her arms. If that does not impress Chantelle, nothing will! Jess carries him down the path and passes him to me, but not before planting a kiss on my mouth. In front of an impressionable child!

  Gemma hangs back, but I beckon her in.

  “Hi, Gemma. Come on in, welcome to hobbit land.”

  “Hi, Danny. This is gorgeous. It’s everything Jess said and more.”

  Jess, not JB. Mm, changes afoot. Oh well, I suppose I can allow someone else that privilege.

  “Hi, Jess. I’m Chantelle, Dan’s sister.”

  Hey, this is getting ridiculous. The next person has to call her JB, and that’s an order.

  Chan continues, “And this lump confined to a wheelchair through circumstances I find too embarrassing to retell is my husband.”

  “Hi, Jess. It’s very nice to meet you.”

  I give up. This is a conspiracy.

  “Come on in. I will give you the Pearson guided tour, Gemma. It won’t take long, but beware of jumping nephews and falling apples.”

  Ten minutes later, the six of us are sitting in the lounge. Derek has had to leave his wheelchair in the hallway. But it is not uncomfortable; it’s quite cosy in fact.

  I take on the role of mine host.

  “Who’s for coffee and who’s for tea? Oh, and I’ve got a nice farmhouse cake that needs demolishing.”

  “Blimey, Daniel—talk about turning over a new leaf. You’re almost acting like an adult.”

  “Oh, sis. Things were going so well.”

  She jumps out of her seat and gives me a big hug. “Okay, no more mickey-taking today. Truce?”

  “Truce.” I leave to boil the kettle. I’ve always been good at that. I expect the room to go quiet after I leave it, but exactly the opposite happens and at the centre of it all are question-and-answer sessions between my girlfriend and my sister. I might be safer in the kitchen for a while.

  “Daniel, she is lovely.” My sister has snuck in and put her arms around me. “I wholeheartedly approve.”

  I gulp. That might be just about the nicest thing she has ever said to me in her entire life. I cannot think what to say.

  “Have you got any trays?” she asks.

  “Mm—yes, over there behind the fridge.”

  “Let’s load all this up and go back in.”

  I kiss her on the cheek. I don’t care who knows—I love my crazy sister. We go back into the lounge and divide the cake and drinks between my guests. The three girls seem to be getting along like the proverbial house on fire. I must Google that—wherever does that expression come from?

  When everyone has had their fill, Jess offers to help me tidy up in the kitchen. It turns out it is simply her evil plan to have a long snog with me. I don’t put up too much of a fight.

  She whispers in my ear, “Your sister is crazy but adorable, and she has made it clear that she will hunt me down and kill me if I ever hurt you.”

  “Did she say that?”

  “Not in so many words, but the message was there.”

  “Well then, you’d better treat me well, because she packs a powerful clout on her.”

  “I’ll consider it.”

  Another big kiss, which is interrupted by a knock on the back door.

  “Hi. Can I come in?”

  “Hi, Ed. Yes, come on in. Ed, this is Jess.” I’ve completely given up on fighting this losing battle. “Jess, this is Edwin. He says his friends call him Ed.”

  “Hi, Ed. Nice to meet you.”

  “Come on through, Ed, and meet the rest of the clan. This is my silly nephew Jeremiah, my sister Chan, and her disabled husband Derek. Derek, this is your new boss, Edwin Pedlar.”

  “Ed.”

  “Nice to meet you, Derek.”

  “Oh, and this is Jess’s friend Gemma. Gemma, this is Ed.”

  And I see it. I turn to look at Jess; she’s seen it as well. Something happened, something when their eyes met. I question Jess with a look and she answers back, Yes, something definitely happened there.

  “Well, I think that’s all the introductions done.” I turn my back and make a small gesture of rubbing my hands together, just for Jess’s benefit.

  “Hello, anybody in?”

  I know Bill’s voice by now.

  “We sure are, Bill. Hang on, I’m coming out.” I grab Jess’s hand and go out to the back door where Bill is paused, standing behind a wheelchair in which is seated the love of his life. She is obviously frail, but has a most delightful smile.

  “It is such a pleasure to meet you, Mary. This is Jessica.”

  “Hello, Mary. It is so lovely to meet you.” Jess reaches over the wheel chair and kisses the old lady gently on the cheek. “Please, come on through. It’s a bit of a squeeze, but you are the guest of honour today.”

  From her lap Mary lifts a plate.

  “I’ve made a blackberry and apple crumble fo
r you.”

  “Oh, that is so considerate. I have a feeling that will all be gone within minutes. After you, Bill.” Jess has got a natural way of putting people at their ease. I am guessing she has very little chance at work to use that skill. She provides the old couple with an introduction.

  “Make way, everyone. This is Bill and Mary, who lived here in Cotswold Lodge for more than forty-three years.” The delightful atmosphere in the room is like nothing I have ever experienced before. I could almost cry with joy.

  “Well, I can tell you now, this is the most people that have been in this room together for at least forty years.” Mary says this with admiration.

  I glance at Bill and he smiles back at me. He did the right thing bringing her here. I look out the front window and see a florist’s van arrive. This could be one body too many…I have a moment of inspiration.

  “Ed, I know I was meant to be going with you to pick up the van, but it would be just a bit awkward if I left right now. I tell you what…” I interrupt Gemma, who is talking to my sister. “Gemma, you couldn’t help me out, could you? I need to get my van back from the site because I’m stuck for transport otherwise. Is there any chance you could drop Ed over there, so he can drive it back?”

  She looks at Jess, who gives her a nod. Gemma nods at me.

  “Hang on, Ed. Let me get the keys to the van.” As I pass the keys over I whisper, “I tell you what, Ed, it’s way too crowded in here. If you could spin it out, time-wise, for an hour I would appreciate it.”

  “Yeah, why not? An hour, you say?”

  “A bit more, if you can manage it.”

  “No problem. See you later.” I am latching on to Jess’s expressions now. The look says I could kill you; the eyes say Maybe, who knows? Mind you, if I’ve got the eyes wrong I could be in serious trouble.

  I go outside to welcome Ruth and ask her to follow me into the lounge, where I reintroduce her to her old teacher.

  “Mary, I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but this is Ruth Cable. She was one of your pupils.”

  From her wheelchair, the old lady stares up at my visitor. For a while nothing happens and then she exclaims, “Ruth. Ruth Cable. How are you, my dear?”

  “All the better for seeing you, Mrs. Collins. So much better for seeing you once again.”

  ***

  Whilst Gemma is driving back to his storage yard, Edwin Pedlar feels uncomfortable. It’s strange and unnerving to experience this lack of confidence. He glances over at Gemma, who is concentrating her gaze through the front windscreen. Fair enough, he thinks. She is a very attractive girl, but that has never been a problem before. It’s only five minutes until they reach the depot and they have hardly spoken a word.

  Gemma breaks the silence.

  “You’re not as confident as you look, are you?”

  “Pardon?”

  “I mean to say you look confident, Jack the Lad and all that, but I would guess that’s because you live a life neatly cocooned in your comfort zone.”

  “My comfort zone?”

  “Well, you certainly don’t pull girls with your sharp turn of phrase and quick wit.”

  “Wow—why don’t you say it how you see it!”

  “How I see it? Well, how I see it is that you’ve never had to try…with girls, that is. You enter a club or a room and you’re six feet tall, looking like you work out at the gym every day.”

  “I don’t.”

  “As I was saying, you look like you work out every day of the week, and you have this simple, boyish look on your face that gives the impression of being not very bright. I bet you’ve never been turned down or rejected in your life, and I also bet you’ve got dozens of notches carved in your headboard.”

  Ed watches Gemma pull the car over to the side of the road. “You can tell all that from the couple of dozen words that have passed between us?”

  “You fit a type.”

  “That you’re not attracted to?”

  “I am most certainly not attracted to.”

  Ed recalls his conversation with Danny the previous day. Gemma is not that far wrong. He has had no problem, ever, in chatting up girls and taking them back to his place. It is something he has never thought about before, but he can’t remember ever having to make much effort. And at the time that was enough; all he wanted was the sex and it was always good, but…forgettable.

  “I haven’t got a headboard.”

  “Way too much information.” He hates breaking promises, but he might have to let Danny down this time.

  “Danny asked me if I could not come back for at least an hour.”

  “Oh, my God! I might have to cut my throat.”

  “I think you’ve made your point, Gemma. Let me buy you a drink and try and convince you I’m not as bad as you think. There’s a decent pub less than a mile up the road.”

  “I would love for you to buy me a drink, so you can discover what it’s like not to get rewarded for spending your money.”

  Ed does not have clue how to respond, so Gemma puts the car into gear and drives on and into the pub car park.

  ***

  Mary and Ruth find themselves tucked away in the corner and are soon chatting away about the old school days and members of staff long since moved on. Bill is happy to see his wife animated and content. He looks over towards me and mouths a “thank you.” Jess is nattering away with Chan and Derek, so I grab Jeremiah’s hand and take him out to the garden.

  “Do you want a job, Butch?”

  “No.”

  Mm.

  “How about a job that gets paid?”

  His eyes light up.

  “What do I have to do?”

  He has yet to learn the art of negotiation. I pass him two supermarket bags. “Go down to the orchard area and put all the horrible apples in this bag, and all the nice ones in this bag.”

  “How are they horrible?”

  “Good point, Butch. Pick up the apples that look nice, okay?”

  “Yes, Uncle Dan.”

  I go back inside and ask Jess if she will come outside with me.

  “Is Gemma giving you a lift back?”

  She seems intrigued.

  “Yes. Why?” Her eyes screw up. “Are you suggesting I stay the night with you?”

  “That would be fantastic, but I think impractical.” I try and force a quizzical look. You know, just in case…whoa. Keep talking, Danny. “I was thinking of asking Chan if she wanted Butch to stay the night with me, so they could have the hotel room to themselves.”

  “That was truly what you were thinking?”

  “It was, but then I thought, if I arranged that when all the time you had planned to seduce me, I’d end up feeling pretty gutted. So I’m sort of checking that you had no intention of seducing me tonight, because if you were, sod my sister and her bloody awful son.”

  “Well, it most certainly was my intention, but that moment has passed.” For a split second I think she might be serious before she thumps me in the arm. “No chance, Romeo.”

  “Phew—thank goodness!” Sexual tension? What’s that?

  She puts her arm through mine, we go back in, and I make my offer to Derek—not Chan—who does not hesitate to accept my proposal. Within a few minutes, the older trio have left, followed by Chan and Derek. It’s just Jess, me, Jeremiah and two bags of smelly apples.

  “What a great day,” I say. “It feels like I’ve forgotten something.”

  “Gemma and your unknown builder friend?”

  “Damn—don’t say he’s broken that court order yet again.”

  “Not funny.”

  “Yes, it is. I’ve only known him a few days but he’s a good guy, from a good family. Your Gemma is perfectly safe.”

  “I thought it was a woman’s role to be a matchmaker?”

  “It’s the feminine side of my character coming out.”

  “Gemma’s a good girl. I am very fond of her.”

  “I take that as read. They haven’t been gone that long,
have they?”

  “An hour and seventeen minutes.”

  “Shall I call him?”

  “I’m not her mum.”

  “I’ll call him.” What to say? It should mean they are getting on well, shouldn’t it?

  “Hi, Ed. Sorry to trouble you, but Jeremiah fancies some fish and chips. Will you be long? Oh, okay. Well yes, if you could. Hang on.” I put my hand over the mouthpiece. “They’re having a drink down the pub. He says shall he bring some fish and chips back with him?”

  Jess shrugs; my nephew understandably ignores me because I have already stated he fancies fish and chips.

  “Yes, do that please, and maybe bring back a bottle of Prosecco.”

  Jess sits down and Jeremiah sidles up and sits on her lap. She runs her fingers through his hair and smiles at me.

  “I won’t be around for a few days—well, not until the end of next week. I’ll be in Paris until Thursday. Plan a surprise for next weekend because I think I might well need my spirits lifted.”

  No jokes from me in response, only a warm feeling in my chest.

  ***

  There are some spare tables outside the pub, of which they decide to take advantage. Ed goes to the bar and returns with their drinks. These uncertain minutes spent with this attractive black girl are forcing feelings to the surface. He has now made a decision to let Danny down and offload her as soon as possible.

  They are struggling for small talk, so he asks her,

  “Got much on next week?”

  “Not really. You?”

  As he speaks, he feels something overcoming him, something strange and uncomfortable. Even as he continues talking, he can feel the tension building in his head. “I’ve got the work at Danny’s place to start, and on Wednesday I’ve got to go to the solicitor’s.”

  “Why?”

  “For the reading of my uncle’s will. It’s…” But he cannot force out another word, and suddenly moves from his seat and walks quickly around the pub to the outside toilets. Once inside, he breaks down and sobs violently. The feelings of loss for the uncle he loved so dearly, having been held back thus far, completely overcame him.