Page 37 of Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall (Ghosts of Rowan Vale #1)

37

The following morning dawned bright and sunny, which I thought deeply unfair. Surely it should have been pouring with rain? If nothing else, it would have ensured that Brodie Davenport got soaked while he loaded up his bloody van.

There was a tap on the door and Mia popped her head round, her eyes widening as she saw me standing fully dressed by the window.

‘Immi says you’re not coming down for breakfast. I thought you must be ill, but you look okay to me.’

‘I’m not ill,’ I said. ‘Just felt like having coffee in my room if that’s okay.’

She pushed open the door and walked in.

‘Come in, why don’t you?’ I grumbled, turning back to stare out of the window at the drive where, in approximately one hour, Brodie would be loading up the rental van with all his and Lawrie’s belongings.

‘You’ve got to come downstairs,’ she said, sounding shocked. ‘It’s Lawrie’s and Brodie’s last day! Our last chance to have breakfast all together. Even the Wyndhams are sitting at the table with us. Agnes is in floods. Poor Aubrey’s doing his best stiff-upper-lip routine, but you can bet he’s almost as devastated as she is.’

‘How do you know?’ I asked automatically before realising. ‘Oh, of course, Florrie’s told you.’

‘Yes. She’s rather upset too. As am I.’

I turned round, feeling suddenly ashamed. Mia was clearly sad about the Davenports leaving and here she was, trying to cajole me into having breakfast downstairs when she should have been spending every precious moment with them.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I suppose I’ll come down then. Are you having breakfast with us for a change?’

‘Yes. You know, I only preferred eating in the kitchen because Florrie often joined me there,’ she said, nudging me. ‘She liked the smell of my cooking, and I liked her sitting close by, even though she wasn’t aware I could see her.’

‘That makes sense,’ I said. ‘All that time, you could have been in the dining room with us, though, instead of eating alone. The things we do for love, eh?’ I could hardly keep the bitterness from my voice.

‘Callie is there something wrong?’ she asked anxiously. ‘You’re not yourself today.’ She hesitated, then put her arm around me. ‘It’s Brodie, isn’t it? Has something happened between you?’

‘Why should this be about Brodie?’ I demanded.

She raised her eyebrows. ‘I’m not blind,’ she said. ‘I hold my hands up. I hoped something would happen between you, and yes, I heard all about it from Bonnie. Fevered kisses and all that stuff. She swears she could hear you two sizzling from the other side of that door.’

‘Bloody Bonnie!’ I said furiously. ‘Is there anyone she hasn’t told?’

‘I’m sure there are a few people she hasn’t met yet,’ she said with a giggle. ‘Oh Callie, don’t look like that! If you want Brodie to stay, why don’t you just ask him?’

‘Oh, what a brilliant idea!’ I gave her a wide, fake smile. ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’

‘You mean, you’ve already asked him? And he said no ?’ she said incredulously. ‘I don’t believe it.’

‘Believe it or not, he turned me down flat. Something about the house in Devon and his job interviews.’

She shook her head. ‘That doesn’t make sense. He wouldn’t put those things above you.’

‘You mean the estate,’ I said. ‘And he has.’

‘I mean you! Oh, Callie.’ She sounded almost impatient. ‘Surely you know how he feels about you? As if I needed Bonnie to tell me what was happening between you! Those puppy-dog looks he gives you would be almost laughable if they weren’t so sweet.’

‘You’re very much mistaken,’ I told her. ‘All that’s between me and Brodie is a silly kiss. Anyway, I couldn’t compete with Lawrie. In the end, I’m a very poor second. And that’s okay,’ I added hastily. ‘Lawrie’s his grandfather and he loves him. I get that.’

‘But he loves you too,’ she said earnestly. ‘You have to trust me on this. I simply don’t understand why he’s turned you down when all he wanted?—’

She broke off and I stared at her.

‘When all he wanted was what?’

‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘Look, let’s go downstairs and have breakfast. It will be getting cold.’

‘I’ll be down in a minute,’ I said. When she gave me a doubtful look, I added, ‘Promise.’

She nodded and, rather reluctantly, left the room.

I heard some mumbling and then there was another knock.

‘I should just instal a revolving door,’ I said crossly, then blushed as Lawrie walked in, leaning heavily on his stick. ‘Sorry.’

‘That’s quite all right,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry to disturb you but I wanted to have a word with you in private.’

‘Okay,’ I said, surprised. ‘Please, sit down.’ I pulled up a chair for him and dropped onto the edge of the bed. ‘What can I do for you?’

‘Well,’ he said, carefully easing himself onto the chair, ‘this is rather awkward and somewhat embarrassing. I’m here to ask you a favour, my dear. And to eat humble pie.’

‘Ooh, that sounds intriguing.’ I smiled. ‘What could be so embarrassing?’

Lawrie rubbed his eyes. ‘You know, of course, that I sat in on Walter’s lesson yesterday?’

‘So I heard. How did it go?’

He beamed at me. ‘Marvellous. Of course, Walter did show off a little, with me being there, but I expected that. However, I can’t deny that he’s a good teacher. He was thrilled when I offered to turn the pages for him, and later, while he did some arithmetic with Florence, I gave John and Robert a reading lesson. They’re so enjoying it, Callie! You should see their little faces.’

‘Immi told me the same thing,’ I said. ‘She’s sitting with them this afternoon after…’

‘After we’ve gone,’ he said.

I nodded. Everything came back to that, didn’t it? Every conversation. Every thought. Brodie leaving. And Lawrie, too, of course.

‘That’s what I wanted to speak to you about,’ he said slowly. ‘I’m… I’m rather embarrassed to ask this of you, Callie, but I was wondering if it would be possible… That is, would you consider… Oh dear.’

‘Just say it, Lawrie,’ I said gently. ‘Whatever it is, if I can help you, I will.’

He nodded and I saw tears gleaming in his eyes. ‘I’ve been such a fool,’ he burst out. ‘A stubborn, proud fool. Callie, the fact is, I don’t want to leave the estate. I love it here, and the thing is, I’ve finally realised that perhaps there is a place here for me after all. Helping Walter.’

He held up his hand, silencing me before I could speak. ‘I promise you, I wouldn’t interfere in your work. You are in charge now, Callie, and I fully accept that. But Walter needs me. The children need me. I would have a purpose. A reason to be here. And I realise now that’s all I needed. I couldn’t stay here doing nothing, my dear. But being in the classroom…’

His voice trailed off and he gave me a pleading look.

‘Oh, Lawrie,’ I said joyfully, ‘I couldn’t be happier! Of course you can stay. We’d all love you to stay!’ My heart leapt as I realised what this meant. ‘Both of you. You and Brodie.’

He shook his head sadly. ‘Not Brodie, my dear. I’m afraid his mind is quite made up on this. I spoke to him earlier, you see. Told him how I felt and asked if he would stay with me, but he’s not going to change his mind. I must admit, I’m surprised. He loves this place as much as I do. And I’ll confess, I’d hoped you and he… Ah, well, none of my business, and as you said, it was just a kiss.’

My heart sank like a stone as I stared at him. Brodie had turned down the chance to stay, even knowing his grandpa wasn’t going to leave with him?

So, it was the job and the house in Devon? I couldn’t even compete with those? Even with everything I’d offered him? Wow, that said it all. How had I got things so wrong?

‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ I said, swallowing down the lump of grief in my throat. ‘Still, it’s wonderful that you’re going to stay. I’m sure Agnes will be even more delighted than the rest of us.’

‘I’m sure she will,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘Thank you so much for being so understanding, Callie. Now, shall we go downstairs for breakfast and break the good news to everyone?’

‘Of course.’

I stood, too, but turned quickly as I heard the slamming of a door. Looking out of the window, I saw Brodie loading the first of the boxes into the van, watched by a bemused Agnes and Florrie.

Agnes lifted her gaze and stared directly at me, shaking her head slightly. What had I done now? Well, quite frankly I was past caring if I’d offended her.

Nothing really mattered now.