I thought she may have been about to protest, but at that moment Luke Winter appeared in the barn door. ‘Am I too late? I thought it finished at nine?’ He pulled up short when he saw Becky’s parents, but to his credit he recovered admirably. ‘Dr Solomon. Mr Adams.’
‘Yes, in you go,’ John Adams said. ‘Everyone’s welcome at Damson Farm this evening, and I think you’re in time for the after-party.’
* * *
In the end, it was far too cold to stay in the barn without the mass of bodies to supplement the heaters. Instead, we packed up the remains of the food and drink and decamped to the farmhouse kitchen.
‘How’s Jase doing?’ Luke asked Alice, once we’d filled our glasses with the remains of the wine. ‘I’ve not seen him at football much this season.’
Alice, sitting opposite him, pulled a face. ‘That’s because he’d rather sit at home and play fake football on his X-Box. I wouldn’t mind so much, but it means I have to watch telly on my phone, and if I want to read I need to go in the bedroom to get away from the noise.’ She took a sip of wine. ‘That’s not true. I’d still mind. I might as well be invisible when he’s gaming. And since he lost his job he’salwaysgaming.’
‘No luck finding anything else?’ Becky asked.
She shook her head in disgust. ‘Luck’s got nothing to do with it. He’s not even applied for anything yet. Stillconsidering his options. Which is fair enough, only after four months considering, he’s so far opted to remain seated on the sofa doing eff all.’
‘Sounds like you need to have a conversation about it,’ Becky said. ‘You don’t want to end up being taken for a mug.’
Alice shrugged. ‘I don’t want to end up one of those controlling, naggy girlfriends either, and there’s worse things he could be addicted to. Let’s face it, apart from that he’s way out of my league. I’ve spent a lot of time consideringmyoptions lately, and for now Jase seems my best bet.’
I wanted to ask Alice why she thought a man who ignored her most of the time was out of her league. But by the way she flicked her hair over one shoulder, plastered on a grin and pointedly asked Becky if she’d been seeing anyone lately, I knew it was more important that I respected her closing the conversation.
Becky responded by choking on her mouthful of coffee.
‘Do you know what,’ she said, once she’d stopped spluttering, ‘I really need to go. Busy day tomorrow.’
‘So that’s a “no” then?’ Alice asked, for some reason refusing to let it drop.
‘Yes, it’s a no.’ Becky yanked her long wool coat off her chair and over her shoulders, one sleeve whipping Luke, sitting next to her, in the eye.
‘Do you need a lift home, Luke?’ Alice asked.
‘You’re driving?’ Luke asked back, blotting one eye with his jumper sleeve, scanning her wine glass with the other.
‘Becky is.’
‘I don’t think this evening is the best time for Becky to be venturing into the New Side,’ Daniel frowned.
‘Luke’ll be with her!’ Alice said.
‘Right, I’m off then,’ Becky interrupted. ‘Um, Luke, if you need a lift then I’m sure it will be fine, if I maybe just keep my headlights off or something. I don’t suppose anyone knows my number plate…’
Luke looked up at her, a polite smile on his face. ‘I’ve brought my bike, but thanks for the offer.’
‘Maybe another time?’ Alice asked, face round with glee. ‘Either of you free next weekend?’
‘Oh, shut up!’ Becky squawked, her bag thwacking Alice round the head as she raced out. Luke waited until her car had left the farmyard before making a swift exit.
‘A bit too much?’ Alice asked, after arranging her taxi.
‘Yes!’ Daniel and I answered in perfect sync, causing Alice to flicker her eyes between the two of us, another smile dancing at the edge of her lips.
21
After waking up the next morning, I spent a glorious hour thinking how lucky I was to be able to lie here in bed, watching the clouds float by the window. I was due to look after Hope later that morning, and I probably should think about clearing up the barn at some point, but it had been a hectic few days, and for now I was enjoying a cosy duvet, the first flicker of spring in the air and my ambling thoughts.
Until a text message pinged through to my phone, charging on the bedside table.
An unknown number.
