Page 67 of Where We Belong

Cam felt Hope relax beside him as soon as she spotted the car outside the gate. ‘It’s Mrs Davis, our cleaner.’ She opened the gate and stood aside to let the little red Fiat through. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I thought you’d need a hand with washing and the like,’ Mrs Davis said, resting one arm on her open window. ‘Blooming smoke gets into everything.’ She looked past them to the makeshift campsite in the yard. ‘And if anyone needs a bed for the night, then I’ve got a spare room and Iain at the pub says he’ll take in a couple. Sandra and Penny said the same.’ She looked back up at Hope. ‘It was Sandra who rang me after the café closed early.’

Ah, the good old village grapevine had been at work by the looks of things. Cam was touched at their thoughtfulness and he rested a hand on Mrs Davis’s car as he bent down to offer her a smile of thanks. ‘That’s so kind of you. I think we’re all right for beds tonight, although I’ll ask the team to be sure. As for doing a bit of washing, that would help us out no end, if you really don’t mind?’

‘Not a bit. Bag up everything and we’ll get it sorted and back first thing in the morning. Those that haven’t got rooms to offer still said they’d be happy to stick a load on, so it won’t be a problem.’

Cam raised his head to look at Hope, who was blinking back tears. ‘You didn’t have to do this, you know?’ she said, her voice sounding raw.

Mrs Davis snorted. ‘After everything you and your family have done for this community, it’s the least we can do. Now come on, let’s get everyone sorted out. There’s a box of meat in my boot as well, sent from Charlie at the butcher’s, and Rob sent a load of veg that needs using today.’

While Adam and Zoë sorted out a couple of sets of clothes from everyone and shoved them in a black bin liner for Mrs Davis to take back with her, Cam and Hope carried the donated food into the kitchen.

‘What’s this?’ Rowena asked, greeting them with her usual warm smile.

‘A little help from the village,’ Hope said, setting the boxes down. ‘Mrs Davis has summoned the cavalry.’ She opened the box and began pulling out carrots, courgettes, peppers and onions. ‘At least we won’t have to worry about having enough to feed everyone.’

‘Looks great. I can rustle up a stir-fry or we can roast them in the oven,’ her aunt suggested. She looked to the pile of sausages, burgers and chops Cam was unloading from the other box. ‘Or we can do everything on the barbeque like we did for the party.’

‘We can cook,’ Scott volunteered from where he’d been washing some dishes in the sink. ‘Me and the others will sort it out.’

Cam smiled in approval at the boy. No, not a boy, he was a man. There were still things to resolve with his father, but Scott was growing in confidence every day. ‘That would be a great help, Scott. Why don’t you stick everything in the fridge for now and then you can let the others know the plan.’

It was a polite dismissal, but Scott was smart enough to pick up the hint. ‘Sure thing.’

Once they were alone in the kitchen, Cam closed the door.

‘What’s got you so serious?’ Hope asked.

Sighing, Cam sat at the table and faced the truth he’d been trying to avoid. ‘I think we should shut down the dig.’

Hope sank into the chair next to him. ‘Won’t that put you behind?’

‘I can’t put the team at risk, Hope. Their safety is my responsibility and if someone were to get hurt, I’d never forgive myself.’ He’d also be out of a job, but right now that was the least of his worries.

‘You’re right. I know you’re right…’ Hope reached for his hand. ‘This is going to be terribly selfish of me, but I don’t want you to go.’

Cam couldn’t stop the warm glow spreading inside him. ‘It’s going to take us more than one summer to sort out everything that’s going on up there, a couple of weeks’ break won’t do any harm. The team are doing their best to hide it, but I know they’re as shook up about all this as I am.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘Given everything that’s happened, I’d feel better if I knew they were off site and safe until the police sort it out.’

She nodded. ‘Honestly, I would too.’

Rowena took the seat opposite them. ‘Your mother and I were talking earlier and we’re closing the hotel and spa as well. We’ve got enough volunteers from the estate staff to keep an eye on things up there tonight, and most people are due to head home tomorrow. We’ve already spoken to Ziggy, and he agrees. Stevie and I have been on the phone all afternoon, postponing everyone with a booking for next week.’

She nodded towards the closed doors to Ziggy’s office. ‘I’m going to check and see how she’s getting on.’

‘We can’t go on like this forever.’ When Cam turned to face Hope, her expression was bleak. ‘It’s a balancing act keeping the various businesses profitable and every day we’re without guests will push us further towards the red.’

Cam could only imagine how much pressure the situation had put her whole family under. ‘I don’t see you have much choice at the moment. Whoever is behind this isn’t going to stop until he’s caught.’ If someone got hurt, or God forbid, killed, that would surely be the end of the estate. Something like that would destroy their reputation.

‘Let’s hope the police find him sooner rather than later.’ Hope did her best to smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. ‘Let’s try to look on the bright side. You’ll definitely have to come back next summer now.’

He cupped her cheek. ‘You can’t get rid of me that easily. I said the team were going home for a couple of weeks, I didn’t say anything about me.’

‘You’re staying?’ The way her eyes lit up made his heart soar.

‘Of course. I know you’re strong enough to deal with everything that’s going on with your family, but I want to be here for you. If you’ll have me, that is?’

‘You don’t even have to ask.’

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