Page 96 of Best Summer Ever

‘Actually, so am I,’ I said, also feeling startled when I realised what he meant. ‘That’s the first spot of signal the phone has picked up on since I moved in.’

‘You’ll have to make a note of the exact location for future reference.’

I wrinkled my nose at the suggestion. The limited access was suiting me just fine.

‘You know,’ I said, ‘I don’t think I will. I rather like the radio silence. I’m using the internet up at the manor for the Wynbrook Blooms social media accounts of course, but so far, not much else.’

‘Well,’ said Dad. ‘I’ll leave you to get on. I just wanted to thank you for nudging me in the right direction. Have you got anything specific planned for today?’

‘I need to talk to Algy again,’ I sighed. For the first time ever, it wasn’t a prospect I was looking forward to. ‘He was in a rum mood last week.’

‘That he was,’ Dad agreed, letting out a breath. ‘Your mumand I both said the same, as you know. I’ll go and find him later as you’re going in this morning. He’s bound to be pleased about the cat.’

‘I hope he will be,’ I said, picking up my empty bowl and phone. ‘It would be nice if we could find something he was pleased about.’

Unfortunately, as a result of the message that had been left on my phone, I wasn’t feeling in a particularly cheerful mood myself as I got ready to walk up to the manor.

‘I don’t believe it,’ I gasped, as I listened to the message, left a terse text response and then immediately deleted the evidence and blocked the number, which belonged to my ex.

Had I known Laurence had changed his mobile number for some reason, I would never have listened to what he had to say, but without that knowledge, I had found myself subjected to his voice and words I very definitely did not want to hear.

Apparently, he’d been working away for a few weeks and therefore hadn’t realised that I had called the flat from the cottage phone until he returned and found the number logged. Thanks, Dad! He also cockily said he hoped I might be reconsidering my rash action of walking out and that I would now be pleased to hear from him. He seemed to be labouring under the misapprehension that giving me some space would have made me pine for what we’d had and that I would now be ready to forgive, forget and go back. What. An. Idiot.

My response to his stupidity had been to inform him that it was Dad who had called, not me, and that I had happily moved on with my life.

‘Come on, Daisy,’ I told myself, in my best sergeant-major tone. ‘You’ve dealt with it now. Let it go.’

To shift my mindset, as I showered and dressed in a floral tea dress and sandals rather than the usual shorts, T-shirt and safety boots that my new role dictated, I recalled the many ways I had moved on since my return to Wynbrook. My fling with Josh, my new home, my dream job, my happiness for my engaged friends, my repaired relationship with Dad… they were all wonderful things to celebrate.

And if, I pondered as I walked up to the manor with a spring in my step and my ponytail swinging, I could find a way to combine Josh with Wynbrook, then that really would be the flake in my cone.

‘But why is he so reluctant to visit here?’ I said aloud. ‘Why won’t he come?’

He was certainly curious about the estate – his listening ear when I had rambled on in the pub about my childhood and beyond,andthe books he’d been studying in the cottage were proof enough of that – but for some reason he was remarkably reluctant to step over the cattle grid. Was there actually a reason for that or was I making too much of it?

I came out of my reverie as I heard Algy’s voice drift out of the conservatory and I changed direction towards it. Unfortunately, I was about to overhear what should have been a private conversation, although thankfully Algy sounded much happier than he had when he’d been talking to me a few days ago.

‘After all these years,’ I heard him say in a voice heavy with emotion, and I stopped dead in my tracks. ‘I can’t tell you what a joy it is to see you again and to actually have you here, at Wynbrook. Well, it’s a dream come true. More than I ever could have hoped for in my lifetime.’

I had no idea who he was talking to, but clearly what was being said wasn’t for my ears and I turned away, thinking I’d silently backtrack to the kitchen door and then work in the office until Algy was free to talk.

‘I’m only sorry it’s taken me so long to make my way here this summer,’ came the response to Algy’s delight at welcoming this visitor. ‘I can tell you – it really has taken me an age to find my courage and work my way up to doing it.’

I stopped again, only this time out of shock rather than discretion.

‘Josh,’ I mouthed.

His accent was unmistakeable. It was Josh who was sitting with Algy in the Wynbrook conservatory. But why? Suddenly, the flake in my cone I’d been wishing for just minutes before felt entirely unnecessary.

I rushed around to the kitchen door and clashed with Mum on the threshold.

‘Daisy!’ she gasped. ‘What’s got into you, flying in here like that?’

‘Who is Algy talking to?’ I asked, feeling a horrible combination of shock, nausea and upset. ‘Who is Algy talking to in the conservatory?’

‘I don’t know.’ Mum frowned. ‘I didn’t even know he had company. I’d better make some coffee if he’s got visitors. Are you all right? You look awfully pale.’

‘No,’ I stammered, backing away. ‘No, I’m not all right.’

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