Page 98 of Summer At Willow Tree Farm

Josh beamed at the compliment, and it occurred to Ellie how much her son had changed physically in the last three months. She hadn’t really noticed it, as the change had been so gradual, but Dan was right. Their son no longer had that pallid, waxy skin from too much time spent indoors on his Xbox. And his sturdy body was solid now rather than flabby. He’d even begun to wear a belt that Dee had found him to hold up his jeans.

As Josh wrapped his arms around his father’s waist, she had a vision of the day their son had taken his first steps solo. Dan had squatted down two feet away and beckoned him forward while she held his straining body upright. Josh had staggered towards Dan on unsteady legs, falling forward into his father’s arms, and Dan had wrapped him in a bear hug and lavished him with praise. She’d loved Dan without reservation in that moment, even though they’d had an argument that morning about the text entitled ‘lonely nights’ she’d found from a co-worker on his iPhone.

Josh burrowed his head into his father’s chest, his hands grasping the back of his shirt, his cheeks bulging in an ear-splitting grin.

Dee stood back with Toto; they both looked almost as shell-shocked as Ellie felt.

‘Mum, Toto, this is Dan, Josh’s dad.’ Ellie did the introductions, because Josh was far too busy absorbing his father to talk.

She couldn’t bring herself to ruin the touching reunion between father and son. The argument Josh’s arrival had interrupted would have to wait.

Slinging an arm over Josh’s shoulder and fixing him to his side, Dan reached out a hand to Dee.

‘Hi, Dan Granger, pleased to meet you, ma’am.’

Dan’s golden brown hair shone in the light from the window, the day-old scruff on his chiselled, patrician jaw making him look handsome and rugged – a bit like a movie star who had been professionally rumpled for a photo shoot.

He looked like a campaign poster for the perfect son-in-law, wearing that mantle of self-confident charm that she knew he could turn on and off like a light – a golden all-consuming light that dazzled everyone.

If Dan noticed she’d introduced him as Josh’s dad instead of her husband, he didn’t let on.

‘Hello, Dan. Call me Dee,’ her mum said, not looking very dazzled as she shook his hand. Maybe Dee was immune to Dan’s charm.

Dan nodded at Toto. ‘Hey there, Toto. I hear you’re Joshie’s new friend. He talks a lot about you.’

Toto didn’t speak, leaving Dan’s hand hanging in mid-air, her freckles standing out more than usual against her flushed skin. Dan pulled his hand back and rubbed it on his chinos before tucking it into his pocket.

So Toto was immune too.

‘Don’t call me Joshie, Dad. I’m too big for that now,’ Josh said, sounding more excited than grumpy.

Dan ruffled his son’s hair. ‘Sure thing, buddy.’ Dan stood back as if assessing Josh’s height. ‘I reckon you’ve grown about two inches since I last saw you too.’

It was Josh’s turn to blush, clearly overjoyed at his father’s praise.

‘How long is Dad staying?’ Josh asked, his eager smile joined by Dan’s querying look. ‘Can he stay for the wedding?’ Josh pleaded. ‘It’s gonna be so cool, Dad.’ He sent an adoring look at his father. ‘Maddy and Jay are getting married and me and Toto are going to be the attendants. We get to scatter rose petals and everything.’

‘I’d love to stay,’ Dan said, casting a meaningful glance her way.

‘Jay’s room is free, isn’t it, Mum, now that he lives with Maddy?’

Ellie felt some relief that Josh wasn’t expecting his parents to share a bedroom. But the thought of moving Dan into the room next to hers, and between her and Art… Her head started to pound in double time. Thick heavy thuds that hit the base of her skull.

How had everything got so screwed up so quickly?

But how could she kill that spark of joy in Josh’s eyes? ‘That would work for tonight,’ she said. She turned to her mother. ‘Is that OK with you, Mum?’

‘Whatever you want to do is good with me,’ Dee said.

Josh punched the air and Dan grinned, having won this round.

It didn’t matter. She didn’t plan to be in the room next door to his tonight. She needed to go and speak to Art. They’d agreed to meet at the caravan tonight. She just hoped he was still willing to keep that liaison. The thought of having that conversation was filling her with an odd mix of dread and anticipation, which she would have to examine later too.

Dee set about making them coffee and cake. And Josh settled into a never-ending conversation apprising his father of every single thing he’d done in the last three months, while Toto looked on bemused.

Ellie’s heart raced into her throat, and threatened to gag her.

Dan’s surprise appearance might be one problem even Mum’s sticky toffee ginger cake can’t solve.

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