couple of hundred quid in his bank account, that will smooth things over.’
‘That’s not really the answer,’ I tell him. ‘You know that.’
‘I never know what to do with Lucas,’ he admits. ‘He complains when I’m not there, hates me when I am. I can’t win.’
‘It’s always a balancing act and I realise that you have a lot of commitments, but all he wants is for you to spend time with him. If you were with us more regularly, then the abrasive edges would wear down.’
Shelby’s handsome face darkens.
I hold up my hands. ‘I’m not judging. I’m just telling you as it is.’
‘We have things we need to discuss,’ Shelby says, cryptically. ‘But let’s order first. Would you like to see the festive menu?’
I shake my head. ‘Too soon.’
So he hands me the à la carte menu and my eyes travel over it. I have no idea what to choose.
Shelby must see the terror in my eyes. ‘I recommend the baked figs followed by, perhaps, the confit cauliflower steak?’
‘OK. Great.’ That’s me sorted. With relief, I close the menu.
The waiter miraculously appears as I do and Shelby orders for us both. The baked figs with pomegranate and blackberries, then cauliflower with turnip tops and sweet potato for me. Shelby chooses salt and pepper squid followed by roast loin of cod with charred kale and parsnip puree. All sounds nice.
‘Festive menu.’ I give a shudder. ‘I can’t even believe they’ve already got their Christmas decorations up,’ I whisper. ‘It’s still November. I’m barely getting started.’
‘There’s no holding it back,’ Shelby says. ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.’
‘Tell me about it. We need to get a move on. There’s so much to organise for the open day and nativity.’ I don’t want to spoil the convivial mood of the evening, but I decide to bite the bullet and address a looming issue. ‘The new mayor came to visit us. Seemed like a nice chap. He’s got some money to spend on a community charity and Bev’s keen to have a slice of it.’
‘Sounds good.’
‘We’ve kind of told him that he can cut the ribbon or turn on the lights.’ I give a slight wince to indicate that I know it’s potentially a slight for him. ‘One of the two. Bev thought a bit of flattery might do the trick.’
‘I see,’ Shelby says.
I’m dreading that he’ll feel snubbed if he thinks the mayor is stealing his thunder. I hope he doesn’t mind sharing. ‘You’ll still be around to do celebrity duties, won’t you?’
‘Ah,’ he says and suddenly looks very guilty. ‘That’s what we need to talk about.’
Chapter Twenty-Three
At that moment, the waiter arrives with our food and I’m left hanging. Shelby is clearly uncomfortable too. We look at each other over the salt and pepper squid and whatever it is I’ve got. The last thing I can focus on is eating.
When Shelby isn’t immediately forthcoming, I say, ‘You’d better come clean, then.’
My stomach is in knots and, until I’ve heard what’s got him looking so shifty, I won’t manage a mouthful.
‘You see, I have a bit of a problem,’ he says. ‘It could be a good problem.’
‘For who?’
‘Things are tough at work.’ Shelby checks round to see that no one is within hearing distance, then lowers his voice as he confides in me. ‘We’ve got a new producer who wants the storylines to be racier.’
‘Bev will be pleased about that.’
He manages a smile. ‘Not for me, unfortunately. We have a “hot” young actor joining the cast. He’s going to be introduced in the Christmas special. He’s an insufferable tosser, if you ask me, but he’s the new generation.’
Bev will still be pleased about that, but I don’t voice that particular opinion.
‘He made his name on Love Island or something. I did three fucking years at RADA.’
There’s a bitter note in his voice and it’s not really surprising. In an industry that’s all about ego, it must be hard to be forced to stand aside.
‘He’s getting all the best stories next year.’ Shelby’s face looks sad. ‘I’ve been top dog on Flinton’s Farm for years, but I fear that I’m being sidelined. Too old to be the romantic lead.’
‘Never in my book,’ I offer.
He smiles thinly. ‘Thanks for the support, but I don’t think I’m going to survive this cull. New broom sweeps clean, and all that.’ His expression is bleak when he adds, ‘I heard a rumour that I’m going to die in a tractor accident.’
‘Oh.’ That can’t be good.
‘Which is