Page 4 of The Allotment on Willow Tree Lane

Ceri rolled her eyes. ‘I know how long it takes to get to the church. What I’m saying is, make sure you are on time. If anyone is going to be late, it should be Rowena.’

Huw turned a worried face to her. ‘You don’t think she will be late, do you?’

Ceri smiled. ‘No, I don’t. I think everything will go smoothly, and everyone will have a wonderful time. And in just over an hour, you will be married to the love of your life.’ She took both his hands in hers and looked her brother in the eye. ‘You are so lucky to have found each other,’ she said, ‘and I wish you all the happiness in the world. You deserve it.’

Then she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and hurriedly left, so he wouldn’t see the tears gathering in her eyes.

Damn it! She vowed she wouldn’t cry, but she had started already. What was it about weddings that made her turn on the waterworks?

She didn’t really need to ask herself the question though, because she already knew the answer: wishful thinking.

Aiden’s parents hadn’t wanted a wake, so after the church service and the harrowing secondary service at the graveside to which only the immediate family, plus Damon and Luke, had been invited, Damon was heading back to the car when Sadie waylaid him.

Her pretty face crumpled, and he opened his arms.

She fell into them and he let her sob, her tears dampening the front of his shirt as he stared wordlessly over her head wondering how he could possibly comfort her when he was in dire need of comfort himself.

But nothing anyone could say or do could change the stark reality that Aiden was gone.

‘I’m off,’ Luke said, moving in to hug them both.

Sadie pulled away, her face streaked with tears, her eyes red and sore. Damon suspected he looked just as ravaged. They all did: no one who had known and loved Aiden could believe he was gone.

‘Home?’ Damon asked him. Luke lived in the West Midlands.

‘India.’

Damon blinked. ‘India?Why?’

‘I can’t stay here, man. I’ve gotta, you know… get away for a bit. Try to clear my head.’

‘I wish I could come with you,’ Sadie muttered. Her chin wobbled and she bit her bottom lip.

Luke shrugged. ‘You can if you want. You, too, Damon.’

Damon grimaced. ‘I’m going back to Foxmore.’ He could hopefully grieve in peace in his grandmother’s house in the depths of rural north Wales, where he had spent much of his youth and where he had been the happiest when he was growing up. The little village of Foxmore – and Willow Tree House especially – had been his sanctuary, and instinctively, like a wounded animal, he had fled to the only place he called home. That had been a fortnight ago, and as long as he was careful and didn’t flaunt his presence, no one should find him there.

‘Luke, Damon…’ Frank called. He was standing a respectful distance away and he beckoned them towards him.

‘I swear to God if he wants to discuss the band right now, I’m going to deck him,’ Luke growled.

‘I’ll beat you to it.’ Damon scowled at Black Hyacinth’s manager.

Frank was brilliant at what he did, but his focus was always on the bottom line, and it must be tearing him apart wondering what the two remaining band members were going to do once the dust had settled and they’d had time to take stock of the situation. But Damon didn’t want to think about the band right now. All he wanted to do was to return to Foxmore and hide.

As they approached, Frank said, ‘I thought I’d better warn you that there are a couple of photographers on the pavement.’

Luke’s expression darkened. ‘What the f—’ but before he could do anything daft, Damon grabbed hold of his arm.

‘Leave it,’ he warned. The press would do what they were going to do, regardless of whether they were told to clear off or not. They’d hounded both him and Luke since Aiden’s death, and they certainly weren’t going to wind their necks in and show any respect today, not when they had the prospect of some juicy shots of the two remaining band members on the day of the funeral, and not when the circumstances surrounding Aiden’s death made such a good story.

Luke shook off his hand, but Damon was relieved he didn’t go storming over to confront them. Aiden’s family had enough to contend with, without anyone adding to the drama.

‘There’s another exit around the back,’ Frank was saying. ‘You can leave through there. Aiden’s parents, too, if they want. I’ve sent the cars round.’ He hurried off to speak to them and Damon watched him go.

‘That’s that, then,’ he said wearily. He was so tired, he didn’t know what to do with himself.

‘See you, mate.’ Luke clapped him on the shoulder, and Sadie stood on tiptoe to give him a hug.

---