‘Do you mind just grabbing the rucksack out of the back, please. It’s got everything we might need.’ Drew was clearly still determined not to give anything away and Eden did as he asked, before following him in the direction of the cabin. He definitely had the heavier load carrying Teddie in his arms. Maybe they were just parking here. There were various stops along the Camel Trail, a route that ran alongside the River Camel from Padstow to Wenfordbridge on the track-bed of two former railway lines. Eden had never walked the trail, but it was something she’d wanted to do for a long time. The scenery was stunning, and from what she’d heard the terrain was fairly even. Although if Drew was intending to walk rather than ride, she’d need to get Teddie’s buggy out of the car, because he was far too heavy to carry over any significant distance.
‘Shall I go back for Teddie’s buggy?’ Drew shook his head, almost before Eden had finished asking the question.
‘We won’t need it.’ The smile was still playing around Drew’s mouth, but Eden wasn’t going to keep pushing him for an answer he clearly didn’t want to give. It was only when they rounded the side of the cabin that she saw the rows of different types of bikes. There were kids’ ones and adult ones, as well as e-bikes for anyone who needed to take it a bit easier, but then she saw the family bikes. They looked almost more like oversized pedal cars, with two seats for adults, each with its own steering wheel. There was a bench seat behind, that could accommodate a couple of children, and another bucket-style seat in front, which reminded Eden of the ones in shopping trolleys. And all of the family bikes had red-and-white striped canopies.
‘Are we taking one of those out?’ She was already smiling at the idea. Teddie would be in his element sitting up front.
‘Yes, I’ve booked one for the next three hours and we can see how far the Camel Trail takes us. I know you said you always wanted Teddie to be able to ride a bike, and that you wish you could too. We might not be able to make either of those things happen today, but we can work on them. In the meantime, I thought this might be the next best thing.’
‘It isn’t the next best thing. It’sthebest thing and so are you.’ Dropping the rucksack on the ground, Eden threw caution to the wind and wrapped her arms around Drew, sandwiching Teddie between them.
‘You’re the kindest, most thoughtful man I’ve ever met.’
‘You forgot ruggedly handsome.’ He laughed and she nodded.
‘Sorry, I thought that was obvious.’ Reaching up, she kissed him, not caring what anyone thought of the display of affection outside the bike hire shop. Finding out she could have such strong feelings for someone who fitted into her life so perfectly hadn’t been something Eden had even thought possible. It was like Drew was the final part of a puzzle she hadn’t even realised had a missing piece, but he’d changed the whole picture and she never wanted it to go back to how it had been before.
18
Over the next few weeks Eden and Drew’s relationship went from strength to strength. They spent as much time together as they could, most of it with Teddie, although they managed to spend some time alone. Felix was now living with her parents for the time being too, while he waited for the flat he would be renting to become available. It was an option he’d had to resort to when he couldn’t extend the lease on his Airbnb any further. It was a bit of a tight squeeze with all of them there, but Eden felt confident leaving Teddie in the care of his uncle and it meant that she and Drew had the opportunity to get to know one another better.
‘Is this what they call official?’ Drew had smiled the morning after she’d first spent the night at his flat.
‘Do you want it to be?’ She’d searched his face and knew the answer long before he responded.
‘More than anything.’
‘That’s good then, me too.’ She’d rested her head against his chest, and it had felt as if it was exactly where she was supposed to be.
‘Just promise me one thing.’ Drew’s tone had been serious and she’d tipped her head back to look at him.
‘What is it?’
‘Promise me you’ll tell me if anything changes. I can take anything, as long as it’s the truth, but the one thing I could never deal with is living a lie. I witnessed my father lying to my mother for years, and I watched her living that lie rather than facing up to the fact that their relationship had been over for decades. I couldn’t stand the thought that you might want out at some point, but you don’t tell me.’
‘I can’t see that happening.’ She trailed a hand down his chest, but he didn’t smile.
‘Please, Eden. Just promise me, no lies and no pretending.’
‘I promise.’
It hadn’t been a difficult promise to make because she wanted exactly the same thing. They’d both had far too much lying and dishonesty in their past to allow that to be a feature of their life together, and it really did feel as if they were building a life together. Although it had still been a shock when Eden had been given a letter, addressed to the two of them, as though they were a long-established couple. The handwritten note left in A&E reception had been the last thing she’d expected. It was a thank-you letter from Callum’s mother for everything they’d done on the day of his death. Eden had sobbed the whole time she was reading it, but the final paragraph had got to her most.
Nothing will ever take away the pain of losing our son, but you helped us to see that he could still touch the lives of other people the way he always had done. If his death can help prevent the same thing happening to someone else, he’ll have made his mark on the world, the way we always knew he would do. He’ll remain our beautiful, brilliant boy and forever eighteen. Callum knew he was loved every single day of his life, and he gave that love back just as freely. I hope that’s what everyone will remember about him and that they’ll all try to be a little more like Cal xx
Eden had kept the letter with her all day, not wanting to risk losing it, and she was finally about to show it to Drew. They’d met up to take Teddie to get some ice cream after work, and they were sitting outside in the sunshine, at a café near the beach.
‘I got this today, from Callum’s parents, but it’s addressed to both of us.’ She handed the letter over watching different expressions flit across his face as he read it.
‘No one should ever have to lose a child.’ Drew’s eyes were glassy when he looked back up at her, after he’d finished. ‘My mother never got over losing Flora; I’m so glad Callum’s parents are finding some solace in the fact that his postmortem will contribute to medical research and knowing what caused his death. At least now they know it was long QT syndrome and they can get other members of the family screened.’ It was often a hereditary condition, which increased the risk of an irregular heartbeat, sometimes causing seizures and even sudden death, the same tragedy that had befallen Callum.
‘His mother told me that he has two younger sisters and I know she’ll want to do everything she can to protect them. It’s going to be so hard for Callum’s siblings, whatever the outcome of their tests. If I ever lost Felix…’ She shook her head, unable to contemplate the prospect of it, let alone finish the sentence. ‘I hope having each other will help them.’
‘Me too.’ Drew folded Rachael’s letter carefully and slid it back into the envelope. ‘When you lose a sibling early, you lose a huge part of your identity too. I wasn’t anyone’s little brother any more, after Flora was gone. I was suddenly an only child, carrying all the connotations that came with, but not feeling like the label belonged to me at all. I had to throw myself into studying and make myself a promise that I wouldn’t let Flora down, otherwise I think I might have ended up like my mother, searching for something to take away the pain.’
‘You didn’t let Flora down, and I think the world would be a better place if more people were like you too.’
‘I think there might have been a bit too much rum in your rum and raisin ice cream.’ He was trying to brush off the compliment, but she wanted him to know how much he meant to her.
