Page 110 of Best Summer Ever

He’d obviously noticed Mum’s modified tone as well.

‘Especially on an empty stomach,’ I mischievously added.

‘Don’t worry,’ said Josh, who was now dithering on the granite paving and looking nervous, ‘I’m about to start plating up.’

‘I’ll help,’ said Mum.

‘No need,’ Penny jumped in, in a way that was ferociously firm for her. ‘You sit down, Janet. I can help Josh.’

Josh looked as if he could have kissed her for coming to his rescue and within minutes, we were all tucking into succulent slices of beef, seasonal veg, crispy roast potatoes, lashing of flavoursome gravy and absolutely enormous Yorkshire puddings.

‘These Yorkshires are miraculous,’ Mum declared and I noticed her champagne flute had been drained a second time.

‘They’re Josh’s doing,’ Algy said with a hint of pride.

‘Under your instruction, Algy.’ Josh blushed. ‘I’ve never had these back in the States.’

I wondered if he was ever going to call Algy ‘Grandad’, but I supposed it was still early days for the pair of them.

‘Well, they’re perfect,’ said Dad. ‘Best I’ve had in a long time.’

‘Because Mum hasn’t made any in a long time,’ I said quickly, making sure I freed him from the hook he’d just swallowed.

‘Beginner’s luck,’ Josh said modestly, but I could tell he was pleased the dinner had turned out so well. ‘I haven’t had a roastlike this since I lived in the UK when I was little and I wish I could remember them from back then. This food alone is worth me staying on for.’

‘So,’ said Mum, suddenly completely sober, ‘you are thinking of staying on then?’

‘Let’s clear these plates,’ suggested Algy, ‘and then we can have a little chat before we fill ourselves up even more with pudding.’

By the time the two men had between them first explained about the letters and cards Algy had sent but Josh had never received and then stated in no uncertain terms that Wynbrook Manor and the estate would be left to Josh, who very definitelydidwant to run it and intended to keep it in the Alford family, there wasn’t a dry eye around the table.

‘Your wretched father,’ Mum said, her posh accent thankfully abandoned, as she leant over and sympathetically patted Josh’s arm, ‘has a lot to answer for.’

‘Indeed, he does,’ Algy readily agreed, ‘but there’s nothing to be gained by wasting further time in fretting about him, is there?’

‘Hear, hear,’ said Dad, raising his glass.

We all did the same.

‘To the future,’ said Josh.

‘To the future!’ everyone toasted in unison.

Algy looked at me and winked, and I knew that he definitely wasn’t going to mention that he had been thinking about selling the estate. I was pleased about that.

‘I do have a feeling there are going to be some changes happening round here in the future,’ he did then say to everyone. ‘These young people are going to keep us all on our toes, but the essence of Wynbrook and the things that really matter will be further enhanced, not lost.’

Given what I had in mind for Wynbrook Blooms and indeed, myself, I could heartily agree with that and the look on Josh’s face told me that whatever his idea was, was going to be exciting too.

‘And are we going to hear about those changes tonight?’ Dad asked.

Algy shook his head.

‘I think we’ve had enough excitement for one evening, don’t you?’ he laughed. ‘And besides, I haven’t even been apprised of them myself yet.’

‘I promise my idea is nothing any of you will object to,’ Josh was quick to clarify.

‘And mine isn’t either,’ I added and reached for Josh’s hand.

---