Ken can drive you home. It will be a late one, but you’ll be back with your precious animals.’
I ignore the slight barb. ‘Can Lucas come too?’
‘Of course. Nothing would make me happier. If you can persuade him.’
That might take some doing. His father isn’t on his ‘favourites’ list and I’m pretty sure panto won’t be up there either.
As you know, I lay awake most of the night and my brain was very busy. I’d have to make a lot of sacrifices to move in with Shelby, but don’t I owe it to him to try? If this relationship is to work, then I have to be more open to his lifestyle and he to mine. Could I get a manager in to run the farm full time, I wonder? That someone would have to live on-site in the caravan as we need someone here 24/7. But then that would be more expense and eat into our valuable resources. What would I do with the dogs? I couldn’t bring them here. Betty Bad Dog would wreck the place within five minutes. That beautiful Christmas tree would be a goner. Valuable ornaments? All smashed. And what of Lucas? If we lived here would he want come back? My gut feeling is that he’d prefer to stay at the farm in the caravan and, in truth, that’s where I’m most comfortable too. I’d hate to move here and leave him behind. I couldn’t do it.
‘I’m sorry, but I have to run.’ Shelby’s voice breaks into the workings of my frenzied brain. ‘If you’re ready, Ken can drop you off on the way.’
‘I’m good to go.’ I have my overnight bag that I was very grateful for. My nice dress is safely packed away and I’m in my more customary jeans and jumper.
We jump into the car and Ken whisks me back to the farm. Bev opens the gate. The dogs hurl themselves at me as if I’ve been away for six months. Little Dog runs round and round in circles chasing his own tail in excitement. I step in front of Betty Bad Dog before she wees on Shelby’s shoes again. They’ll all be attached to me like limpets today in case I have the audacity to want to go anywhere without them.
‘Look,’ my friend says as she greets us. ‘All is just as you left it.’
‘I owe you one, my co-conspirator.’ Shelby hugs her.
Bev gives me side-eye. I can be in no doubt about what she’d like that ‘one’ to be. Naughty lady.
I kiss Shelby goodbye, embarrassed to have so many onlookers. ‘See you Wednesday,’ he says. ‘Don’t forget.’ Then he’s in the car and gone.
Bev and I watch him leave.
‘Was it utterly romantic?’ Bev asks.
‘It really was.’
‘And did you shag each other ragged?’
I laugh at her, outraged. ‘You’re so very rude.’
‘I’m so very jealous,’ she says.
‘Thank you for being sneaky enough to organise it.’ I link my arm through hers as we walk to the caravan. ‘I think it did us good to spend some time together.’
‘You’re seeing him on Wednesday?’
‘I doubt it.’ My heart sinks. ‘It’s opening night and he wants me to be there. But I can’t go out two nights in a week. I can’t put upon you again.’
‘You can,’ Bev says. ‘You know I don’t mind.’
But it’s not just that. I don’t mind seeing the panto, though it’s not really my thing. The after-show party is another matter. Since meeting Shelby, I’ve only been to a couple of social gatherings with his actor friends, but I’m so out of my comfort zone. I’d rather stick pins in my own eyes.
‘I did begin to think whether we might need a full-time manager on site.’
‘Blimey.’ Bev stares at me, aghast. ‘That’s radical for you.’
‘I know. But Shelby’s not comfortable here and, he’s right, there’s a massive house down the road standing empty.’
‘This is your life,’ she says. ‘You’ve worked so hard for it. Don’t rush into anything.’
‘I won’t. I have Lucas to think about, above all else.’
‘Lucas should be Shelby’s responsibility. He seems to be quite happy to have abdicated that and handed parental duties over to you.’
‘I don’t mind,’ I counter. ‘I’m hoping that if I hold the fort for now, it will be easier between them when Lucas is a bit older and more tolerant.’
‘He was fine last night, our lovely boy,’ she says. ‘A bit moody but that could be down to anything.’
‘Aurora didn’t show up?’
Bev shakes her head. ‘No.’
‘I can’t tell you how much