Tom stared out of the window at the skyline of New York as he talked on the phone to Sam. Manhattan didn’t feel like home. He wasn’t sure anywhere ever would again other than the tiny hamlet of Cranley.
‘Have you changed your mind about converting the old barn in the grounds?’ asked Sam.
Before he had left, Tom had mentioned the idea to Sam a fortnight or so previously. He had thought it would give him space to breathe but not so far from the family who had made him so welcome. He felt as if he belonged there.
There was just one thing missing from the picture. One person that he wasn’t sure he could face ever again.
‘I’m not sure,’ he finally replied.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Sam. ‘It’s yours if you want it.’
‘Thanks.’
He thought briefly of his Gran’s house. He had received an email the previous day, confirming that the sale had been completed. At least the last link with his father was broken. He would carry his Gran’s love and wise words of advice with him for the rest of his life but he would have no further contact with his dad.
How different families could be, he thought. If any good could come out of the summer he had spent at Willow Tree Hall, it was to show him the happiness that kindness and love within a family could bring.
Sam sighed down the line. ‘Talking of dilapidated buildings on the estate, it seems that my brother might need the gamekeeper’s lodge to hide in, after all. Have you heard?’
Tom grimaced. ‘I saw the headline somewhere.’
Apparently Will had become embroiled in a scandal involving a cabinet minister’s wife. His playboy ways had finally caught up with him and it was splashed all over social media.
‘I don’t know what to do,’ carried on Sam. ‘It’s such a mess. Ah well, that’s for me to try and sort.’ He paused. ‘Dylan misses you. He’s kept me up most nights whining for you.’
‘Sorry,’ said Tom, with a sigh. ‘I’ll probably take him with me back to London when I come back later this week.’
‘Not sure how he’ll cope in your apartment without the grounds here to dig up.’
Tom shrugged his shoulders. ‘I can rent somewhere bigger.’
You know, you’re welcome to stay at the hall when you come back to pick up the dog,’ said Sam.
Tom closed his eyes. He didn’t know where his future lay any more.
Sam sighed into the silence. ‘You know, if you were just a story, she would have published it a long time ago. And published many more details since. But she didn’t.’
Tom stayed quiet.
‘None of those words in that article made sense,’ carried on Sam. ‘Mainly because she didn’t write them. She told Annie that it was her ex-boyfriend who did a number on her. She wouldn’t lie to Annie. Not about that kind of stuff. Think about it,’ said Sam as he hung up.
It was all Tom had thought about for the two weeks since he had last seen Eleanor.
He had always enjoyed New York before; the busy streets and skyscrapers had always welcomed him. But this time he didn’t feel the peace that he had begun to feel all those weeks at Willow Tree Hall. He wasn’t anything except numb.
Eleanor had told him that she loved him. And he hadn’t said a word in reply. Instead, he had left, very angry with her.
He should never have made love to her but he hadn’t been able to stop himself. He should never have trusted her not to hurt him. But he had let her into his heart.
Because deep down, he knew that he did love her. He loved her so much that he ached from it.
He also knew that perhaps Sam was right. That maybe the story had had nothing to do with her. But it was too late. He had pushed her away. Had probably hurt her as much as she had hurt him with her lies.
He kept telling himself that leaving Willow Tree Hall was for the best. For her and for him. So why did he feel so utterly miserable?
He looked out across the skyscrapers again. He needed to see Dylan. He missed the dog so much.
Maybe his heart wouldn’t hurt so much if he was in the same village as Eleanor again.
At least, that was what he was hoping.