Page 63 of Just the Beginning

‘Nothing?’ Ed echoed.

Rick shook his head. ‘Not a word.’

The twins exchanged glances.

‘Ooh, he’s big mad,’ said Ed.

Harry nodded. ‘The only thing worse than getting one of Dad’s disappointed-but-understanding chats is the big freeze.’ He patted Rick on the leg. ‘You’re really in the poop, aren’t you?’

‘Neck deep, I reckon,’ Ed said, not at all helpfully.

‘Up to his chin at least, maybe even touching bottom lip.’ Harry raised a hand to indicate the level and the pair exchanged a grin.

‘Did you honestly only come here to torment me, because believe you me, I’m more than capable of doing that without any assistance from you two chuckle hounds.’

‘Nah, mate.’ Harry sat back, throwing one arm across theback of the sofa. ‘Matt messaged and told us what happened and we wanted to make sure you’re okay.’

‘I’m the last person you should be worried about. If I hadn’t kept quiet about Davy he might already be having treatment. What if…’ Rick had to pause so he didn’t choke up. ‘What if it’s too late?’

Ed’s expression was completely sober as he leaned forward. ‘A couple of months can’t have made that much difference and besides, from what Matt told us it sounds like there’s only one person to blame in all this and that’s Uncle Davy.’

‘He always was a stubborn old goat,’ Harry grumbled. ‘And Ed’s right. If Uncle D decided to stick his head in the sand about his condition then that’s on him.’

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Rick knew they were right but that still didn’t excuse what he’d done. ‘I forced him to give that job to Anya, told him I’d tell everyone he was ill unless he took her on.’

Harry looked at him for a long moment then shrugged. ‘I don’t see the problem. The hotel’s been getting a bit much for Uncle D for a while. Anyone with eyes could see it and you know both Dad and Uncle Ryan have tried to persuade him to slow down well before now.’

Ed nodded. ‘Exactly. And Anya clearly needed a job asap given the hole that wanker left her in. I, too, am failing to see any problem here.’

Rick sighed. ‘I put a bereaved woman who’s lost her husband in the worst possible circumstances in close proximity to someone I thought was also going to die soon.’

‘Oh.’

‘Shit.’

‘Yeah.’ Sinking back against his cushion, Rick took a morose sip of his beer. ‘She hates me, and she’s got every right to.’

‘I doubt she hates you,’ said Ed, ever the optimist.

‘Oh, no, I’m pretty sure she hates you,’ Harry said, never one to pull his punches. ‘But there is one bit of good news in all this: Uncle D might not be dying – well, not quite yet, at any rate.’

‘I suppose there is that. But I don’t know what I’m going to do about Anya.’

‘I don’t think there’s anything you can do,’ Ed said. ‘Not right now.’

‘But there must be something.’ Rick raised a hand to rub his temple where a headache had started to pulse. ‘I can’t think straight, I’m too tired. But I’ll work something out.’ He had to. Anya was too important to him to let one mistake ruin everything. Even if that mistake seemed pretty insurmountable right now.

‘You never change, do you?’ Harry snorted. ‘Mr I-Can-Fix-Everything. I hate to break it to you, but I reckon the only chance you have of getting this right is by not doing anything.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Some things are simply beyond your control. Whether Anya can come to terms with what’s happened is up to her, not you. Whether she then decides to forgive you…’ Harry shrugged. ‘Also up to her.’

‘What about losing her job at the hotel? She’s got Freya to think of, and like Ed said, Drew left her right in the hole. I’ve got some savings?—’

Harry held up his hands, his expression one of pure disbelief. ‘You’ve got to stop, Rick, seriously. You’re going to have to let her get on with it. Anya’s mistakes are hers to own, and hers to rectify. You can’t swoop in like Prince bloody Charming and slay all her dragons in the hope she’ll swoon at your feet in eternal gratitude.’

‘I think it was the prince inSleeping Beautythat had to kill the dragon, not the one inSnow White,’ Ed pointed out.

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