‘Pete likes his social media and he’s not following many people so if someone posts he usually sees it.’

‘Who posted?’

‘Cameron posted a picture of the Heights of Abraham and said, “Home sooner than planned.”’

She was relieved to know where Cameron was, although that only lasted a moment. If he’d gone home, he’d likely be with Gina. She made the drinks. ‘Did you want a biscuit or anything?’

‘No, the tea is fine,’ said Barry.

Ros checked the cupboard. Cameron had left something behind: one last bag of Hula Hoops. She took them and the drinks over to the sofa. ‘Did you enjoy the party?’ she asked.

‘I had a terrific time. Don’t know why we haven’t done something sooner. We’re all hoping to meet up every couple of months either for a coffee or lunch or maybe even a barbecue.’

‘Nice.’ Ros stuck her hand in the crisp packet and pulled out her finger with a Hula Hoop on the end. She considered it briefly before eating it off her finger. It wasn’t a miracle cure but Cameron was right: it was more fun to eat them like that. She had a few more, then became aware that her dad was watching her. ‘Sorry, did you say something?’ she asked.

He smiled. ‘No, I was remembering you doing that as a child.’

‘Did I?’ Ros was surprised. If she had eaten them like this, it was long forgotten.

‘Yep.’ He sipped his tea but he was still eyeing her closely. ‘I know it’s none of my business but I’m going to stick my oar in anyway. You and Cameron, you had the makings of a great relationship there. Surely you’re not going to leave things as they are?’

Ros’s shoulders sagged with the weight of her guilt. Now was the time to come clean. ‘Dad, please don’t judge me for what I’m about to tell you. But me and Cameron wasn’t the big love affair you thought it was. You see . . .’ It was so hard to tell him; she felt awful. The best thing she could do was spit it all out quickly and hope he didn’t have a heart attack with the shock. ‘I’m really sorry but I overheard you tell Uncle Pete that you wanted to see me settled in a relationship, so I paid Cameron to pretend to be my boyfriend.’ She waited.

Barry was nodding and took ages before he spoke. ‘I thought as much.’

‘What?’ Ros was instantly affronted that he’d seen through their intricately planned charade. ‘How?’

‘There were a few things that didn’t add up at the start. And your mother thought she overheard something.’

‘If you knew, why didn’t you challenge us?’

‘Because I guessed why you had done it. And thank you for that. It was an incredibly kind thing to do.’ He reached out to squeeze her hand and she had to pop the two Hula Hoops that were on her fingers into her mouth quickly.

‘At least you know the truth now. And everything is back to normal, so that’s a relief,’ she said.

‘Is it?’ He looked at her over his mug.

‘Yes. It was exhausting keeping up the pretence.’

Barry pursed his lips. ‘You see, I didn’t see it like that. What I saw was two people who cared for each other, had each other’s backs and enjoyed sharing time together. That was what I witnessed with my own eyes and I don’t think either of you are that good at acting or that it was all make-believe. There was genuine friendship between you. You both had a laugh together but everyone could see there was also so much love and care for each other. There is no more solid base for a relationship than that.’

Ros wanted what he was saying to be true but that would just be a fantasy and she didn’t need to torture herself with that. ‘It’s a lovely notion but I fear you are seeing things through rose-tinted spectacles.’ She finished the last Hula Hoop and scrunched up the packet. Gazza jumped to attention even though he’d seemed to be sound asleep.

‘They’re prescription varifocals and I can see perfectly well through them. Anyway, I’ll not dwell on it.’

‘Please don’t, Dad. Cameron is very likely about to propose to someone else so . . .’ The thought made her sadder than she cared to admit.

‘Oh.’ Barry seemed surprised. ‘Is that why you’ve decided to work abroad?’

‘It’s not definite yet. I’m still thinking it over. But a fresh start was appealing. Although I did want to talk it over with you. I’d never go if you needed me here.’

‘I understand.’ He nodded. ‘I think you should go. In life you usually only regret the things you don’t do. Everything comes into sharp focus, either with or without varifocals, when someone stamps an end date on things. You need to do what’s best for you now, nobody else.’ He gave her a hug.

‘Thanks, Dad. You’ll be first to know when I decide.’

***

The day after the party Darla was still smarting that Ros was leaving for a new life and hadn’t even told her. And she was having doubts about her ability to get a business off the ground without her friend to support and guide her. She swapped her livestock library books for business-related ones, which scared and bored her in equal measure. There was far more involved in setting up a new company and she didn’t know where to start. Darla was busying herself with trying to work out how best to make a slide for the goats when she heard a familiar sound. She turned around to see Winston sitting on the garden wall.

‘Winston, you’re alive!’ Emotion caught in her throat. She immediately called Elliott.

‘Hiya, I was just thinking about you. How was the party?’

‘Horrendous. Barry had a great time. Anyway, I have news. Winston has just rocked up. It’s like yin and yang. A bad thing happens and then a good thing happens to balance it out.’

‘Right. I’m not entirely sure I know what you’re talking about but I’ll be over in about half an hour. Please keep him occupied with tuna if necessary.’

They said their goodbyes and Darla ended the call. The whole time not daring to take her eyes off the elusive Winston. ‘Goats, your play area will have to wait.’ Nibbles bleated her annoyance at the delay, or at least it sounded like she was. Darla exited the goat pen and went to make a fuss of Winston. He seemed pleased to see her and happy to have his head scratched. From the cursory check she gave him he seemed fine, which was a relief. Now all she had to do was to lure him inside. Or easier still she could just pick him up and carry him in.

He was purring flat out when Darla gently lifted him into her arms. ‘Good boy. You’re going to get some tuna while we wait for Elliott.’ The cat rubbed around her chin. It was all going well until she had to loosen her hold so that she could open the back door and that was when Winston took off. With a quick wriggle he was out of Darla’s one-arm hold and away. ‘Noooooo!’

Darla was inside waiting for the kettle to boil when Elliott let himself in. ‘Hiya. Where’s the wanderer?’ he asked, looking about the kitchen.

‘I’m really sorry. I had him in my arms but then I couldn’t hold him properly when I was opening the door and he just jumped down and ran off. I can’t find him. Even the tuna didn’t work.’ She pointed at the open tin on the table.

‘Oh, never mind. I’m sure he’ll come back,’ said Elliott, not looking convinced by his own words.

Darla’s phone rang. It was the house-sitting agency. ‘I’d better get this,’ she said to Elliott before answering the call.

Darla listened as the person on the other end made her already crappy day much worse. She thanked them – for what, she wasn’t sure – and ended the call.

‘Everything all right?’ asked Elliott, filling the waiting mugs now the kettle had boiled.

‘No,’ said Darla. ‘I can’t believe it. I’m being evicted. I knew this wasn’t forever but now someone is buying the place so they were telling me I’m not needed anymore, but they don’t know exactly when my last day here will be. I’m going to be homeless again,’ said Darla with a sob.

Elliott was quick to wrap her in a hug. ‘It’s okay. Everything is going to be fine because—’

‘No, it’s not! I love it here. I even love the goats and the chickens. Except for The Captain,’ she said as more tears dripped off her chin. ‘He’s still a vicious little bugger.’

‘Here,’ said Elliott, handing her a clean tissue.

She dried her eyes to see he was smiling. That wasn’t really the reaction she was expecting. Mutual dismay felt more appropriate. ‘This is serious you know. I’ll have to leave. I won’t be just up the road anymore.’

‘Slow down,’ said Elliott. ‘I was waiting to tell you something.’

‘Tell me what?’

‘I’m not going to be a farmer anymore.’ He looked very pleased when he said it. ‘It’s because of you and what you said about me having to do what makes me happy. I’m going to go back to being a civil engineer. I start in a few weeks.’