Page 88 of A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft

‘I love you, Dad. Thanks for everything you and Mum did for me. Missing you always and forever.’

36

JOEL

I phoned in sick again on Sunday, feeling like such a fraud but equally not caring about it because, right now, I was where I needed and wanted to be.

While Poppy caught up on some work in her office, I sat in the lounge and FaceTimed my parents who’d flown back to Portugal with Chez on Friday. My brother was having a swim so I couldn’t speak to him but Mum and Dad both said he already seemed a lot more relaxed. They hadn’t booked him a return flight, the hope being that he’d ultimately find work locally and stay.

When we said goodbye, I was about to find Poppy to update her on the conversation, but my phone rang again, this time with a FaceTime request from Tilly. SheneverFaceTimed me and to do so while she was on holiday couldn’t be a good thing.

‘Everything okay?’ I asked when I answered.

‘Imogen wants to speak to you.’

‘Okay. That’s fine.’

‘No, it’s not fine. She’s been nagging me to FaceTime you since she woke up and she refused to get ready for our day out until I let her.’

‘So why didn’t you let her call me sooner and why are you being all angry with me?’

‘I’m not angry with you. I’m just frustrated. I said she could speak to you tonight, but she got herself into such a state about wanting to speak to you now that she threw up in the tent.’

‘Oh, my God! Is she all right?’

‘Sheis. The tent isn’t. It stinks in there. I’ve never seen her like this before so I’ve said she can speak to you, but I wanted to give you a heads up that she’s upset before she comes on the phone. Are you okay to talk to her now?’

‘Of course. Put her on.’

‘Hey, sweetie,’ I said gently when Imogen’s face appeared on the screen a couple of minutes later. She was pale and tearful, clutching Cloud against her face and I longed to hug her. ‘I hear you’ve been sick.’

‘You have to come and get me, Daddy! I hate it here!’

‘You love camping.’

‘Not here! There isn’t a playground and Mummy and Greg say we might live here, and I don’t want to. It took forever to get here and Ezra and Delphine were both sick in the car and I don’t want to go to a new school without all my friends. I want to see Darcie and ride Munchie and see you all the time. I want to live with you. If they make me move here, I’ll run away.’

Her rant was punctuated by sobs.

‘Ssh,’ I soothed. ‘Look at me, sweetie. I’m right here.’

‘I want you, Daddy. Come and get me.’

‘I can’t do that. I’m not just down the road.’

‘But Ihateit here.’ She shouted the wordhate.

‘Take a deep breath with me. And another. You’re scaring Cloud.’

She sniffed and wiped her tears on her sleeve as she cuddled her sheep closer.

‘I wish I could come and get you, but I’m at Poppy’s house right now because her dad’s very poorly. You’ve got Mummy and Greg and your brother and sister to look after you, but Poppy doesn’t have anyone so I need to be here with her. Can you understand that?’

She nodded, wide-eyed.

‘I wish I could be with you, but this is your special time with your family and you usually love holidays. I bet you’d love this one if you let yourself. We’ll get together when you’re home and do something special then, okay?’

She nodded but the sadness in her eyes broke my heart.

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