Page 15 of A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft

I dashed over to my car and started the ignition. Thankfully the car parked in front of me had gone, giving me the gift of a drive-through space. As I drove towards the exit, I stole a glance in the rearview mirror but Damon had gone. Thank goodness for that! Perhaps I’d finally got through to him.

I couldn’t believe he was still banging on about our ‘date’. It hadn’t been a date at all. Last year, Dad had time-shifted more frequently and, when I arrived at The Larks one stormy October day, he’d shifted back to his days as a journalist and thought I was there to be interviewed for a job as a junior reporter. I wasn’t sure I could blag my way through an interview so I told him I had a job already as a beekeeper. He’d stared at me for a moment and I held my breath. Any moment now, he’d realise who I was. Or even if he didn’t know that, he’d remember that he’d been a beekeeper.

‘A beekeeper?’ He nodded and I was sure he was processing a memory, but my hopes slipped away. ‘I’ve never met a beekeeper before. Is it dangerous?’

I stayed an hour while he quizzed me for an article he’d decided to write about beekeeping. It was a pleasure talking tohim about my passion, telling him how much it had meant to me to learn it all from my dad, but it was heartbreaking too because there wasn’t a single moment during our time together when he knew who I was. I’d known that day would come. I thought I’d prepared myself for it but nothing could truly prepare me for the moment I knew I’d lost my dad. The moment where his brain was so damaged by this horrific disease that the memories from the part of his life which we’d shared were gone. The moment where I effectively had no family left and was all alone in the world.

I was halfway home when I heard the first rumble of thunder and, by the time I made it back, a storm was raging outside but also within me and I desperately needed some release. Skidding to a halt on the drive, I slammed the door shut and sprinted along the pathway running down the side of the garage and into the back garden, seeking out memories of my green-fingered nature-loving dad chatting to the bees as he pruned the roses, laughing at the antics of the squirrels as they stole the nuts from the birdfeeders, beaming proudly at the beautiful garden he’d created.

The rain was so torrential that my hair was plastered to my face and my clothes were already clinging to me but I barely noticed as I stood on the grass and screamed. As the storm raged, I raged with it. With my fists clenched, I cursed and yelled and jumped up and down, stamping my feet, turning the lawn beneath me into a muddy mess. I hated this. I hated the injustice of it. I hated the cruelty to the dementia patients and everyone who cared about them. And I hated that my dad no longer knew who I was. And suddenly I had no voice left, no energy, no fire and I sank onto the grass, my tears lost in the rainwater on my face.

Damon found me and he helped me into the house, made me a hot drink while I dried off, and then he listened as I pouredout everything I was thinking and feeling. It was cathartic to get it all out and I felt so much lighter. I asked if I could take him out for a coffee the following day to thank him for his kindness. We were only out for an hour and, as Damon wasn’t the greatest conversationalist, there were several awkward silences. As we left the café, he told me he’d had a great time and asked me when I was free for our second date. I immediately corrected him – not a date, just a one-off coffee to say thanks for yesterday. Over the next few weeks, he messaged me every few days asking me out but then it fizzled out and I assumed he’d got the message. Apparently not.

6

JOEL

‘All set?’ I asked Imogen as I pulled into a space in the car park of Crafty Hollow – a creative studio in the grounds of Hedgehog Hollow run by Samantha’s cousin Chloe and her auntie-in-law Lauren. They were both brilliant at sewing so would be undertaking any dress alterations this week.

She nodded, smiling.

‘Off you go, then. I’ll see you later.’

Her face fell. ‘I want you to stay with me.’

‘We talked about this before, sweetie. You’ll all be getting changed so it’s not right for me to be there, and I thought you didn’t want me to see your dance until the wedding.’

Amber and the bridesmaids had been preparing something special for the guests and all Imogen had revealed was that it had been her idea, it involved a Taylor Swift track – unsurprising given my daughter was a major Swiftie – and they’d been practising it through a video link. This was the first time they’d been together as a group although there wouldn’t be a full complement of bridesmaids as Amber’s sister, Sophie and their brother’s long-term partner, Tabs, had filming commitments out of the area so couldn’t join them today.

‘Itisa secret, but I still want you there.’

‘You can’t keep it a secret if I’m there,’ I said, gently. ‘You’ll be fine. You know everyone and you’re going back to Darcie’s afterwards.’

‘But I’ve never been here before.’

I pointed to the entrance. ‘It’s just that door there.’

Her bottom lip started quivering and tears pooled in her eyes so I turned off the engine, surprised and alarmed by her reaction.

‘How about I take you inside? I can’t stay, though. You do understand why?’

She looked up at me with big sad eyes and nodded slowly, melting my heart. She’d never been a clingy toddler and starting at primary school hadn’t fazed her either. She’d been praised by her teachers for her confidence and how great she was around new or shy children, making sure they were never left out. New places didn’t normally bother her either, so I wasn’t sure what had brought on this uncertainty and particularly the tears. I didn’t like seeing her like this and it made me feel even more guilty that I wasn’t always around for her. If something was bothering her, would she confide in me? I hoped so, but I couldn’t be certain. It wasn’t the time to quiz her now, but I’d see what I could find out over the weekend.

We exited the car, and she clung onto my hand as we headed towards the former stable block.

Samantha must have spotted us approaching as the door opened. ‘Hello, you two. Come in!’

‘Is everyone decent?’ I asked.

She laughed. ‘Aw, bless you, Joel. Yes, it’s safe.’

As soon as we were inside, Imogen spotted Darcie at the other side of the room with Fizz and Phoebe, let go of my hand and was off like a shot.

‘Bye, Imogen!’ I called after her.

She turned and blew me a kiss before hurling herself at Darcie. They hugged and twirled round in a circle together. Fizz and Phoebe waved at me.

‘She was adamant I had to come in with her, but I don’t think I’m needed after all,’ I said to Samantha, giving an exaggerated sigh.

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