Page 56 of A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft

‘Wake Me Up’ by Avicii took me back in time. It had been the soundtrack to the summer in my early twenties when Barney, Tim, Levi and I went to Ibiza on a lads’ holiday before Barney took over the responsibility of running the farm. Barney had told us that he’d asked the DJ to play it tonight and we’d better be ready for it so, as soon as we heard those opening guitar strums, the four of us gravitated together on the dance floor, put our arms round each other and bounced about just like we’d done on that holiday.

When the track ended, I looked around for Poppy but there was no sign of her. Zara caught my eye and beckoned me over.

‘Phil had to go. She’s gone outside to say goodbye to him.’

‘She’s coming back?’

‘She didn’t say, but she didn’t say goodbye so I’m guessing she will. And when she does, if you don’t get your act together and get her a drink or dance just with her, I’m going to bang your heads together.’

I was parched after the over-exertions to Avicii and concerned that I hadn’t seen Chez since his argument with Lorna so I left the dance floor in search of a drink and my brother.I found my parents in the Sycamore Snug. Dad was at the bar ordering them both a pot of tea. I’d been planning on another pint but joined them at their table for a refreshing cuppa instead.

‘You’re sure he hasn’t been in the disco?’ Mum asked after I’d expressed concern about Chez’s whereabouts.

‘I’ve been in there all evening, and he hasn’t appeared.’

‘That’s strange,’ Dad said. ‘We saw him in the corridor after the bridesmaids did their routine and asked if everything was okay. He insisted it was and said he was going to get changed – you know he’s never liked wearing a suit – and would be back down shortly for the disco, so we assumed that’s what he’d done.’

Mum sipped on her tea looking thoughtful. ‘Perhaps he decided to stay in his room. Do you think we should check on him?’

She’d only just poured herself a second cup of tea, so I offered to go and promised to report back. A few minutes later, I knocked on Chester’s door but there was no answer.

‘I know you don’t want to speak to me,’ I called, ‘but Mum and Dad are worried about you. Can you at least confirm you’re in there?’

No response.

I returned to my parents. ‘He’s not in his room.’

‘We know,’ Mum said. ‘I’ve just spoken to him. He said he went up to his room to change and, with Lorna gone, didn’t feel in much of a party mood so he stayed there, but now he’s bored. He’s discovered a roof terrace, is getting some fresh air and will be down shortly.’

Neither of them seemed unduly concerned, but they hadn’t been around through the many Lorna bust-ups like I had. I knew that Chez would be really down and that he probably shouldn’t be alone.

‘I think I’ll go and find him,’ I said. ‘If I don’t see you both later, I’ll see you at breakfast.’

I hadn’t noticed a roof terrace, so I went via the reception desk to seek directions. Looking through the windows a little later, the terrace appeared to be deserted but there were lots of columns, screens and planters so Chez could easily be tucked behind one of them. I opened the door and stepped out into the cold night air.

‘Chez?’

He didn’t respond but he’d have known it was me and, as I clearly wasn’t his favourite person right now, he was most likely ignoring me. I didn’t have to venture far before I spotted him on a metal chair behind a pillar, drinking straight from a bottle of red wine. His hair was dishevelled and he still had his suit on – so much for telling our parents he was getting changed – and there was a wine stain down his shirt.

He scowled up at me. ‘When a person doesn’t answer to their name being called, most people would take that as a big clue that they don’t want to be found.’ His voice was loud and slurred.

‘I wanted to make sure you’re okay.’

‘I’m okay. You can go now.’

‘Can we talk?’

‘You mean can you lecture me?’

‘No. I mean can we talk? I know this past week or so hasn’t been great, but I’m worried about you.’

Chez jumped up with such force that he staggered to one side. I thought he was about to keel over but he somehow managed to right himself.

‘Well, stop it! I don’t need you to worry about me. You’re like a bloody helicopter parent, always hovering around me, always trying to protect me by telling me what to do and how to live my life.’

That was spectacularly unfair as well as being inaccurate. I was sick of Chez lashing out at me like this, as though I was a punchbag with no feelings. It hurt.

‘I’venevertried to parent you.’

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