Page 81 of The Bookshop of Memories

‘Shame you haven’t got a spare barn I could hide the van in,’ commented Callum as they came up to the farmhouse door.

‘Oh, I’m not embarrassed about the van.’

Callum looked at him.

‘We can’t have some has-been Hollywood actor hanging around the place when the holidaymakers arrive.’

Jack was joking, of course, or thought he was, on the understanding that he was in the presence of a successful actor. Callum sighed. If only Jack knew that he wasn’t far off the truth with his comment about a has-been Hollywood actor. Callum knew he really should put them in the picture.

He was about to say something, when the farmhouse door flew open and a young boy dressed in a Star Wars outfit – a storm trooper – holding a light sabre, pointed at Callum, and said, ‘Who are you?’

Callum took a step back in surprise.

Beth said, ‘How many times have we told you to be careful with that thing?’

She turned to Jack. ‘I knew we shouldn’t have got him that outfit.’ She tutted. ‘You and your Star Wars obsession. I’d rather you hadn’t passed it on to him.’

Jack looked at her sheepishly.

‘I’m a Jedi,’ said Callum, to the young child, ‘I guess as I’m an enemy of Darth Vader, you might have to kill me with your light sabre.’

Beth quickly intervened. ‘Don’t encourage him!’

Callum exchanged a smile with Jack.

Beth looked from one to the other and shook her head. ‘Really, sometimes I think boys never grow up!’

Callum turned to their son. ‘I’m Callum. Now, behind that mask, I’m guessing you must be …’ He’d seen some of the photos and videos of their only child they’d posted on social media; he’d just never met him in person. He knew they’d had issues conceiving, and obviously he was a little blessing because they hadn’t had any children since.

‘Take off your helmet, please,’ said Beth.

He reluctantly took off his helmet to reveal curly blond hair and brown eyes.

Callum guessed he might remain an only child. He didn’t think that was all bad; the upside was that he would get his parents all to himself, with no sibling rivalry.

For some reason, Callum’s father and the two young girls in the photo came to mind. He thought he had an explanation for who they were; he just couldn’t believe it, the possibility that his father had led a double life and had had another family. It meant that it was quite conceivable that he himself wasn’t an only child after all.

Callum focused on the small child in front of him, trying to push that thought to the back of his mind.

Fergussuddenly came over shy without his helmet on to hide behind.

‘Say hello to Uncle Callum.’

Fergus lowered his light sabre and looked up at his mum. ‘I didn’t know I had an uncle called Callum.’

‘He’s not really your uncle. He is your dad’s best friend.’

Callum looked at her. He thought it was telling that she hadn’t said he wastheirbest friend – just his dad’s.

Callum was about to bend down and speak to him when Beth grabbed her son’s hand. ‘Come on!’

‘Let go!’ Fergus pulled away. ‘What is that?’ He ran out of the door, pushing past the adults trying to get outside.

They all turned around as Fergus ran up to the camper van. He turned around. ‘I want to go inside.’

He was already pulling at the door handle. The van was open. Callum never bothered to lock it. He couldn’t imagine anyone stealing an old campervan.

Fergus pulled the door open.

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