I walked Mum and Archie out to the car park and told her Sammie’s proposal for Dad’s living arrangements.
‘That’s a wonderful idea, sweetheart. Samantha’s such a kind girl.’
‘It wouldn’t bother you if they accept?’
She glanced down at Archie. ‘I think we’re beyond anything about this situation bothering me. Besides, I may have a potential love interest of my own.’
I stopped and stared at her, surprised. ‘Who?’
‘Alex, from the barbeque. I told you about him… actually, no, I didn’t get to explain but I will. Or you can ask Samantha. She knows the full story and she sent me his number this afternoon.’ She unlocked the car and secured Archie’s car seat in the back.
‘And you’ve already organised a date?’
‘Too right I have.’ She finished fastening Archie in then stood up straight and gently closed the door. ‘There’s no point putting these things off. I met him four years ago and didn’t seize the moment then. I’m not going to make that mistake again. Life’s too short and we have to live our best life every day because you never know when that will be in jeopardy as several people close to you have proved recently.’ She smiled then gave me a quick squeeze and kissed my cheek. ‘Take care, sweetheart.’
I stood back and waved as she drove off. She kept delivering surprise after surprise. A date? And one that she’d initiated? I’d sat beside her hospital bed, clutching her limp hand two years ago this October, terrified I’d lost her forever. My emotions had swirled into a ball of rage towards Dad and Beth yet look at her now. Who knew something so positive could come out of something so dire?
When I returned to the waiting room, Dad’s pallor was grey and I could see he was fighting to keep his eyes open.
‘We’re going back to the hotel. You’re going to have something to eat and then you’re getting an early night.’
‘No, I need to—’
‘You need to listen to me and, if you won’t, I’ll find a doctor who you will listen to. You’re no use to Beth or Lottie like this.’
He stood up and followed me without further objection.
Back at the hotel, he insisted he didn’t need any dinner but I physically shoved him in the direction of the restaurant and said we wouldn’t leave until he’d eaten.
For a man who allegedly wasn’t hungry, he devoured his soup before I’d even put away two of the five potato skins I’d ordered so I requested another soup.
‘Sammie and I have a proposal for you,’ I said when it arrived. ‘We want you to move into the farm with us. All four of you.’
He dropped his bread into his soup as his head shot up and he stared at me with disbelief. ‘You can’t mean that.’
‘We do. I thought about you moving into Alder Lea but Sammie suggested you’d be better off at the farm as she’ll be there 24/7. Could be handy to have a nurse around.’ I nodded towards his soup. ‘And you might want to rescue that bread.’
He looked down and swiftly fished it out. ‘You’d really do that for us? After everything we did?’
‘We’re drawing a line in the sand. Your family needs some space which is at a premium in your flat and you’re going to need some help. We can offer both. And, before you say anything, the offer isn’t because you’re ill and Beth’s injured and I feel it’s the right thing to do. It’s because I want to do it.’
Dad pressed his hand over his mouth and slowly shook his head. Tears glistened in his eyes and he took a couple of deep shaky breaths. ‘Thank you, son. That means a lot. I wasn’t sure how Beth was going to manage on those stairs back at the flat.’
‘There’s stairs at the farmhouse but the difference is we’ll be around to help.’
‘I want to say yes but—’
‘I know. You need to check with Beth first but, assuming she’s happy with it, we can move your things over whenever you’re ready.’
It must have been a big weight off his mind because the colour returned to Dad’s cheeks and he tucked into his second bowl of soup with gusto and even managed a portion of apple crumble with custard afterwards. He was suddenly talkative too. Wanted to know all about Sammie and Hedgehog Hollow so I told him how we’d met, Thomas’s legacy and how the Grimes boys had done their best to destroy it. I even told him about Sammie being ill but I didn’t mention anything about babies. It felt far too personal to be sharing that level of detail and we didn’t have that relationship back yet. We probably never would. One step at a time, though.
An hour after we’d finished eating, Dad was sound asleep and lightly snoring. I kept picturing the grateful expression on his face earlier and, for the first time, I considered everything he’d lost. It was actually greater than what Mum or I had lost: his practice, career, home, financial security, son, surrogate sons and his best friend since school, not to mention his reputation and dignity. It was testament to the strength of his relationship with Beth that they’d survived what had to have been a tough time with both of them unemployed and a baby on the way. He obviously loved her very much and, having seen them together, it was definitely mutual.
I still would never have put them together as a couple yet it seemed to work. They were so different. Or were they? Did I really know Beth? I’d never have believed she could have kept up such a pretence. We’d been together about eight months when I finally admitted to my parents that I had a girlfriend. After that, Beth had Sunday lunch at our family home several times and even spent Christmas there. She’d been my plus one at a wedding and the four of us had gone on a weekend break to Berlin. What had they both been playing at? Had they nipped off for a quickie on those occasions, laughing at Mum and me for being so clueless that we’d facilitated time for them to be together.
Staring at Dad’s silhouette in the darkness, I had to quash the rising anger again. It was done and I needed to stop focusing on it. When they were better, maybe I’d question them or maybe I’d leave it. I probably wouldn’t like the answers anyway.
I turned over and closed my eyes. Enough. The past was in the past and, as Mum said earlier, life was short and we needed to live our best life every day. Stewing on the choices Beth and Dad had made was not living my best life. Not at all.
48
Josh
‘Are you okay?’ Dad stepped out of the en-suite as I was frantically stuffing my belongings into my bag the following morning.
‘There was another attack on the farm last night. I need to get home.’ I could hear the panic in my voice.
His mouth dropped open. ‘What happened? Is Samantha okay?’
‘They threw a box of eggs at her and split her cheek open.’ I yanked the zip closed. ‘She had to go to A&E for stitches. She’s playing it down but I can tell she’s really shaken.’
‘She’s bound to be. That’s awful. Can I do anything?’
‘I don’t think so.’ I looked round me. ‘I think I’ve got everything that’s mine and the room’s already paid for. Will you be alright today without me?’
‘I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.’
‘I’ll try to make it back later.’ I hoisted my bag onto my shoulder. ‘Although I’m not sure about leaving Sammie on her own.’
‘Don’t even think about coming back. There’s no need. Beth’s through the worst now and I’m feeling a lot better after a good night’s sleep. We’ve got the appointment with my oncologist on Tuesday so I’ll see you then.’
‘Okay. Good. I’ll pick you up for that.’ I’d completely lost the ability to do the simple maths around what time I’d need to collect him. ‘We’ll make arrangements later. Sorry. My head’s all over the place.’
‘Go! Send Samantha my love.’
With an apologetic shrug, I closed the door and power-walked along the corridor and out to the car park, feeling sick with worry. What was wrong with people? Who drove up to a remote property at the dead of night and did something like that? The only comfort was Sammie’s assurances that they’d caught the perpetrators and tha
t the Grimes boys were already behind bars where they belonged and that she hadn’t been alone when it happened. I was a bit confused as to who Fizz was and what she’d been doing at the barn but thank God she had been. Sammie must have been terrified.
My eyes widened as the farmyard came into view over the hill. I recognised Jonathan’s car and Dave’s van but who did all the other vehicles belong to?
As I drove closer, I could see that the barn was a hive of activity with a group of people lined up along the wall scrubbing off graffiti. Sammie was in the middle of the farmyard talking to a woman with pink hair. She waved when she spotted me and they both moved aside so I could park.
‘I told you there was no need to rush back. I’m fine.’ Her tight grip round my waist suggested otherwise.
‘I knew you’d be fine. You’re a badass. It was the hedgehogs I was worried about.’ I stepped back and winced at her face. A track of neat stitches ran along her swollen left cheekbone and there was bruising beneath her eye. She still had the remnants of bruising on her arm from when she’d fainted and now she was in the wars again. I gently stroked her other cheek with my thumb. ‘I had to make sure you were okay. I’m so sorry.’
Her eyes glistened. ‘It was pretty scary but it’s over now. Hopefully properly over.’
‘Who are all these people?’
‘Friends of Fizz’s. ‘Come on. I need to introduce you to her. She turned up an hour ago with an army of helpers and they’re doing a great job. Dave’s inside boarding up the windows until we can get some glass cut and Dad’s on hoglet duty.’ She took my hand.
By mid-afternoon, the stonework on the barn was scrubbed clean. The graffiti had been spray-painted this time rather than painted. The words ‘gold digger’, ‘get out’ and ‘leave’ were on the back wall but, more disturbingly, ‘all hedgehogs must die’ had been sprayed in large letters across the front. Sammie told me that, despite the fear and pain, she’d managed to hold back the tears last night but it had been too dark to see the graffiti then. Seeing those vicious words in the daylight was too much. It broke my heart as she described how she’d sunk to the ground sobbing. Fortunately Jonathan had stayed all night and was able to comfort her and assure her they were just words and the hedgehogs were safe.
Fizz’s army of volunteers – a mix of friends and students from the veterinary nursing course she was taking – had been amazing. As for Fizz herself, if her performance across the day had been a job interview, she’d have aced it. Not only had she rounded up everyone off her own back to save Sammie the distress of sorting it out, but she’d driven off with a couple of them at around 11 a.m. and returned with disposable barbeques and a mountain of food.
She seemed to have an endless pool of ideas around promoting our work and gathering support from the local community. She had connections everywhere from the women’s institute to the young farmers and was keen to do anything she could to help us. I was so impressed with her that when Jonathan said she’d mooted the idea last night of work experience at the practice, it was a no-brainer. When did she want to start?
It had been good to hear so much chatter and laughter after such a tough couple of days but, by the time Fizz and her friends said goodbye with enthusiastic waves and offers to call on them anytime, I was craving some quiet time with Sammie.
‘The Disney Quads are fed and settled for a bit.’ Jonathan stood up and stretched. ‘Why don’t you two take a mug of tea out to the garden while I feed Leia and Solo?’
Sammie looked up from the chart she’d been filling in. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind, Dad? You’ve been up all night.’
‘Not all night. I had a couple of naps. You’ve barely seen each other so grab some time together and we can all have a catch-up later.’ He gave me a meaningful nod when Sammie wasn’t looking. Good. So we were still on for what I’d asked him yesterday. I wasn’t sure if the timing would be appropriate but he clearly thought it was okay.
‘It doesn’t matter how chaotic things are, I feel so peaceful the minute I sit down on Thomas’s bench.’ Sammie tilted her head towards the sun and closed her eyes, breathing in long, slow lungfuls of air.
‘And life is certainly chaotic at the moment. How’s the cheek?’
‘Painful but it could have been worse. It hurts most when I smile or laugh and there’s been a lot of smiling and laughing today which is unexpected in the circumstances.’
‘You really like Fizz, don’t you?’
‘Oh, Josh, she’s amazing. She was so calm last night and then to do all of that off her own back this morning…’ She shook her head. ‘Talk about experiencing the best and worst of human behaviour in the space of twelve hours. Fizz is going to call round one night during the week to feed the hoglets and discuss how we can best use her. She knows we can’t pay but she’s eager to help and, given how valuable she’s been so far, I think I might be seriously indebted to her cat, Jinks, for bringing her into my life.’
‘You sound so positive.’
‘I feel it. The vandals have been caught, I’m back to full strength, I’ve recruited a brilliant volunteer and I’m living Thomas and Gwendoline’s dream properly now.’ She took my hand in hers. ‘And I’ve found my forever.’
I lifted her hand to my lips and lightly kissed it. ‘Speaking of finding forevers, Mum has a date lined up with Alex.’
‘She’s rung him? That’s brilliant news.’ She beamed at me then winced. ‘Ow! Smiling hurts.’
‘She said you could tell me their story because she never got a chance to.’
‘And you need to tell me about your dad. Did you ask him about moving in?’
We sipped on our drinks while we brought each other up to speed. Dad had texted to say he hoped Sammie was okay and that Beth couldn’t thank us both enough for the kind offer so yes please to moving in.
‘I wondered if your dad might be a bit stubborn about it, like a certain person I know.’ Sammie gave me a gentle prod. ‘I’m really pleased they’ve accepted. Do they have any idea how long Beth and Lottie will be in hospital?’
‘Not sure. Dad was hoping for some guidance later today.’
‘I was thinking about your dad’s job and him having to commute to Wilbersgate each day when your practice is so close…’ She raised her eyebrows at me and I had to smile. Always thinking about others.
‘I’d rather he didn’t do the commute every day either but having him back at the practice?’ I shrugged. ‘I’m not sure. I do have a vacancy for a veterinary nurse but wouldn’t it be humiliating for him to step into that role at the same place where he was a partner?’
‘I never thought of it like that. Yeah, could be awkward.’
‘It’s probably best to see what his oncologist says on Tuesday. He might be out of action for some time and work will be the last thing on his mind.’
As we walked hand in hand towards the barn, my stomach tightened into a knot. We’d had such an uplifting half hour on Thomas’s bench just now. I hoped me involving Jonathan wasn’t about to undo that positivity.
49
Samantha
‘What are you two scheming?’ I looked from Dad to Josh and back to Dad again. They were acting really weird. With all the hoglets fed, Dad had suggested we move over to the farmhouse for a change of scenery. It was fine at first. Josh gave him an update from the hospital and Dad told him about a couple of emergency cases at the practice yesterday. Then it fell silent and they kept exchanging meaningful looks across the lounge as though they wanted to say something but each wanted the other to start the conversation.
‘We’re not scheming anything,’ Dad insisted.
‘You are such a liar. Something’s up and, if one of you doesn’t spill it soon, I’ll go over to the barn and ask the hedgehogs if they know what’s going on. I’ll probably get more sense out of them.’
‘Okay.’ Josh nodded his head. ‘You know how I thought that my parents had a good marriage and you discovered that wasn’t quite the truth so you suggested I have a
word with my mum?’
‘Yes…?’
‘When we were talking about your mum yesterday, you said that she’d been a lovely person before you came along and I wondered whether it could be a similar situation where you haven’t quite had the full picture so I went to see your dad on the way to hospital…’
I stared at him, wide-eyed with disbelief. I was really close to my dad and Josh knew it but this wasn’t something I wanted Dad to know about. Not yet anyway. He was still consumed with guilt that he hadn’t done more to stop Mum’s abhorrent behaviour despite my recollection of him constantly being my shield. The last thing I’d ever want was for him to think that his perceived lack of action had contributed to me not wanting children.
‘I didn’t say why I was asking,’ Josh added quickly, placing a calming hand on my leg. He looked over to my Dad. ‘Will you tell Sammie what you told me?’
Dad sat forward and clasped his hands between his legs. ‘When I met your mum at her cousin’s wedding, I’d finished college and was preparing to leave Whitsborough Bay to train as a vet. The last thing I was looking for was a girlfriend but love has a habit of turning up when you’re not expecting it or looking for it. We had two months before I left and spent every minute together. Those two months were amazing and, by the end, I knew I wanted to be with her forever so I asked her to marry me before I left for university.’
New Arrivals at Hedgehog Hollow Page 26
