Page 51 of The Shape of Your Heart
When he sees me, his face lights up. ‘Callie! What a nice surprise!’
In one of his old sweaters, he seems content to be in his own world. Going over, I hug him. ‘Hi, Dad. How’s it going?’
‘Pretty good, really, sweetheart. Can’t complain. Could do without this rain, though.’ He looks perplexed. ‘Your mother wants me to make a box for her to keep all her wool in.’ He shakes his head. ‘I expect by the time I’ve done it, she’ll be on to the next thing. But she was quite insistent.’
‘Hmm. Sounds like Mum.’ I watch him measure up a piece of wood. ‘But don’t take on too much, will you? How are you feeling?’
‘Not bad at all. I think they’ve sorted me out. Of course, your sister’s on my case, about diet and exercise.’
Alice has been great, coming down by train from London whenever she can. I can just imagine her laying it on the line.
‘I hope you’re listening to her. She knows what she’s talking about.’ I pause. ‘Actually, I wanted to ask you a favour.’
‘Yes?’ He looks up.
‘A friend of mine has bought some land. He wants to develop it. His original plan was to build high-end eco-houses, but he now wants to build an eco-friendly campsite and café – low impact, zero plastic, etc. I wondered if there was any chance you could ask Nick if he could spare half an hour – just to run ideas past him, and get some advice, really.’
‘I’m sure he’d find the time. So who’s this friend?’ My dad raises an eyebrow.
‘He is just a friend.’ I feel my cheeks flush. ‘His name is Nathan. If I give you his mobile number, could you pass it on to Nick?’
He looks amused. ‘Of course I can.’ He pauses for a moment. ‘So, this chap Nathan… Just a friend of yours?’ His eyes twinkle.
‘He is.’ I sigh. ‘He’s really nice – and I do like him. It just feels too soon after Liam…’ I tail off.
‘Only you know the answer to that,’ he says gently. ‘But you’ll know when the time is right.’
‘Sometimes I think it never will be.’ It bursts out of me. ‘When Liam’s gone, it doesn’t feel right to think about being with someone else.’
My dad is quiet for a moment. ‘It’s probably one of the hardest parts about moving on, isn’t it? The guilt?’
‘Yes.’ Tears prick my eyes.
‘But Liam wouldn’t want you to be alone. You know that, don’t you? He’d want you to have a happy, fulfilled life… To have a family.’ He pauses. ‘There will come a time when you meet someone else – who’s more than a friend – at least, I hope you will. Maybe it’s this Nathan – or maybe it will be someone else. But when you do, it will be OK.’
‘I know. I’m figuring it out.’ Swallowing the lump in my throat, I hug him. ‘Thanks.’ Getting out my phone, I send him Nathan’s number. ‘OK. You have his number. I’ll let him know.’
While I have a cup of tea with my mother, my phone pings with a text from Tanith.
I so need to escape! Pleeeeease! There’s a pub near mine, The White Horse. See you at 6? xx
Texting back that I’ll meet her there, when I look up, my mother is watching me.
‘How much longer are you going to stay in that house?’
I’m astonished. It’s the first I’ve heard that she has an opinion on my house. ‘I’ve no idea. Why?’
She shakes her head. ‘I just don’t think it’s healthy, a young woman spending all that time on her own.’
‘I’m fine there. It’s my home. And actually, I have quite a busy life just now. I have friends, Mum. I’m not alone all the time.’
‘Well, I suppose that’s something.’ But she sounds disgruntled. There’s obviously something on her mind. ‘What are you trying to say?’
‘I suppose I was wondering if you’d thought about going to live with one of your sisters – just for a while. It might help you to get your life back on track – and you’d see a bit of the city. Get away from all those memories.’
‘Oh no,’ I say firmly. ‘Incidentally, was this their suggestion or yours?’
‘All of us, really.’ She at least has the grace to look slightly awkward.
