‘Don’t ask me to keep more secrets, Lucas. It’s not fair. This should be something we could enjoy together – all three of us.’
My troubled teen puts on his mardy face. ‘He’d just spoil it for me.’
‘But he’s so proud of you. Remember what the fundraiser was like in the summer when you and he were on the stage together? Wasn’t that great?’
‘He always wants to steal my thunder,’ he complains – which is not my memory of it at all. In reality, Shelby was nothing but encouraging and kind. He was so proud of Lucas’s performance. ‘I seriously don’t want him there. He can’t help but hog the limelight. It’s in his DNA. This is something that I want for myself. It has to be our secret.’
‘OK. That’s fine.’ Lucas is quite impassioned, so I don’t push it. I’m simply glad that he’s asked me to be there. If I have to keep it from Shelby, then that’s how it has to be. ‘When is it?’
‘Next week. I’ll let you know the details.’
That’s another consideration. I doubt Shelby would be able to attend anyway with it being his first proper week of shows, but I think it’s best that I don’t mention that. If I tell Lucas that his dad can’t go, then he’ll definitely want him there.
‘I’d love to hear what you’ve got planned. Do you want to try out your poem on me after supper?’
‘No,’ Lucas says and returns to eating his curry.
And that’s pretty much the end of that. So much for me being supportive.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Bev has been scheming behind my back. Clearly, she was worried after our tea room conversation and has secretly been Skyping Shelby to organise for him to come home today. It’s all been taken out of my hands and is planned to the nth degree. In true Bev style, she’s volunteered herself to look after the animals and Lucas. I’m not sure which will be the more demanding.
She’s been here since six o’clock this morning and everyone’s fed and watered. Except Lucas, who is still in bed. In fairness, this is the one day he does get a lie-in as he’s usually up every weekday to help me with the animals, so I’m happy to let him be.
It’s ten o’clock and Bev and I are tucking into hard-earned hot buttered toast when her phone rings. It’s the Hot Mayor, she mouths to me.
She chats away to him while I concentrate on my toast, and when she hangs up she says, ‘One Christmas tree arriving on Monday.’
‘Wow.’
‘What size?’
‘Extra large, I hope.’ She widens her eyes lasciviously.
‘You’re terrible,’ I tell her. Then, before I can ask any more, Shelby turns up and I can’t tell you how excited I am to see him.
I take Bev’s example and rush out to the yard, hugging him tightly when he gets out of his car.
‘That’s an unexpectedly enthusiastic greeting,’ he says as we hold onto each other.
‘I’ve missed you,’ I say. ‘I’m so glad that Bev organised this.’
‘Me too.’
We hold hands as we walk to the caravan. Inside, Lucas has just surfaced. He’s in his pants and a T-shirt, his legs pale and scrawny. His hair is a bird’s nest.
‘Lucas!’ Shelby is all smiles and good cheer.
‘Morning, Father,’ Lucas mutters back. He’s not at his best when he’s just woken up.
‘All good, son?’
Lucas shrugs. ‘Other than the fact that we’re killing our planet one piece of plastic at a time, everything’s hunky dory.’
‘Great.’ Shelby gives me a perplexed glance.
To Bev’s delight, Shelby kisses her and she puts the kettle on again. ‘Toast, Superstar?’
‘I’d love some. Thanks.’ Shelby flops down on the sofa. ‘My stomach’s been rumbling through the entire drive. I was going to head back last night, but we finished really late. I left as soon as I could this morning.’
‘I’m just glad you could be here.’ And I am.
‘I thought we could do something all together,’ Shelby says, brightly. ‘It’s a glorious day out there. Freezing cold, but the sun is doing its best.’
‘If we wrap up, a walk would be nice.’ I look across at Lucas for his approval.
He looks horrified. ‘What? Me too?’
‘It would be fun,’ I assure him.
‘In whose world? I want to stay here and play Fortnite.