Page 16 of A Second Chance in Seabury
‘Oh. Right.’ Hannah felt a blush sting her cheeks. Of course it was something as simple as that. Just because things happened as if by magic in this place, it didn’t mean there wasactualmagic going on!
‘Jason called me to confirm about two minutes before you arrived,’ said Lionel. ‘Though, if I’m being honest, his dad’s had you booked in as part of the party for at least a week.’
‘He has?! But… I only arrived yesterday!’ said Hannah, frowning in confusion. ‘And no one knew I was coming… I don’t think.’
‘Seemssomeoneknew you’d be here,’ said Lionel, his eyebrows bristling with amusement.
‘Erm… well, yeah… I guess so,’ said Hannah, shaking her head. There was bound to be some kind of straightforward explanation, though for the life of her she couldn’t imagine what it was right now! Either way, there wasn’t any point worrying about it. She had other things to sort out.
‘So… I’m sorry to do this the minute I see you, but I’ve got a favour to ask,’ said Hannah, fidgeting slightly. ‘Two favours, actually.’
‘Ask away, dear girl!’ said Lionel, looking delighted.
‘Well, the first one’s a bit embarrassing.’ She glanced over her shoulder to check that they weren’t about to be overheard. ‘It’s about Mr Eaves…’
‘Oh?’ said Lionel, suddenly looking intrigued.
‘What’s his first name?’ said Hannah, feeling more than a little bit daft. ‘Aunty Millie always called him Mr Eaves, and… well… we’re well past the point where I can just turn around and ask him!’
Lionel grinned. ‘It’s David.’
‘David?’ said Hannah, her eyebrows shooting up.
‘Why do you look so surprised?’ said Lionel.
‘He always seems so… different,’ said Hannah, doing her best to choose her words carefully.Odd. Strange. Maybe a little bit magical… as well as supremely annoying.‘I guess I just expected his name to be…’
‘Different?’ said Lionel, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
She nodded.
‘Like what? Bee Daddy?’
Hannah hooted out a surprised laugh. ‘Bee Daddy?! Oh my goodness... I’m never,evergoing to be able to look at him in the same way! Oh no… what if I slip up and actually call him that?!’
‘If you do, you have to promise me one thing?’ said Lionel.
‘What?’
‘I want to hear all about it!’
‘Happy to promise you that because there’s no way it’severhappening,’ Hannah giggled. ‘We don’t know each other that well.’
‘That’s not what I heard,’ said Lionel.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Sounds like you were very helpful with a bit of sheep wrangling,’ said Lionel, looking curious.
‘Oh that,’ chuckled Hannah. ‘That was more of adisgruntled neighbourthing. Bernard let himself into my garden, so I didn’t have much choice but to help.’
‘Fair enough,’ said Lionel. ‘Now then, what was the second favour?’
‘I’d like to pay in advance for Jason’s birthday bash, please,’ she said, rummaging in her bag for her wallet. ‘I’ll give you my card details, and you can just put the whole tab on there.’
‘Can’t let you do that, I’m afraid,’ said Lionel, shaking his head.
‘But… why?’ said Hannah. She didn’t want to get into an argument about it—after all, that was precisely why she was doing this in advance. ‘It’s the least she could do given the surprise invitation. Plus, I haven’t got Jason a present!’
