‘How’d it go, then?’ Travis asked when Seb shuffled into the gallery later, buckling under the weight of the camera bag. It was almost time to close up after a very busy day. ‘Are you ready to take on a new career as a music PR?’
His flippancy vanished when he saw Seb’s gloomy expression.
‘What’s up? Didn’t the shoot go well?’
‘It went well. I got some good shots. Nate and the guys were really happy.’
‘That’s good … isn’t it?’
Seb rested the bag on the framing table with extreme care. ‘I, er … there’s no easy way of saying this, bro …’
The hairs on the back of Travis’s neck stood on end. ‘No way of saying what?’
‘I downloaded the pictures of the shoot OK, but then there was an accident.’
‘What accident? Travis folded his arms. ‘Don’t tell me you dropped the camera in a beck?’ He laughed and pointed a finger at Seb. ‘This is a wind-up, yeah?’
‘I wish it was. No, someone else dropped it. Not in a beck, though.’
‘Someone else dropped it? Who?’ Travis said sharply.
‘I was in the pub with the guys from the band after the shoot and Fenno was there and he asked me about what I’d been doing.’ Seb kept his eyes on the floor. ‘And I let him hold the camera and it slipped and fell onto the tiles in the bar.’
‘Fenno?’ Travis groaned. ‘That tosser again?’
‘He’s not a tosser.’
‘He’s the one who got you into trouble last time. What were you doing with him and his moronic mates? Bet you were pratting about!’
‘No, I wasn’t! It was an accident like I said.’
‘Was Fenno pissed? Were you?’
‘No! I was stone-cold sober and I’m gutted! I was dreading telling you this because I knew you’d go ballistic! Look, I’m really really sorry, but can’t you claim on the insurance?’
The insurance. Travis was riled by Seb’s casual attitude. ‘Well, yeah, I guess but it won’t cover the lot. There’s a big excess.’
Seb covered his mouth with his hand. ‘Shit. I’d expected you’d get the lot back.’
‘No – but that’s not the point! You should never have let him touch it. I asked you to be careful. I was happy to let you take it. I was glad to see you take an interest but you had to show off, didn’t you?’
Seb stared at the ground.
Travis threw up his hands and let out a cry of frustration.
‘Have you finished?’ Seb said quietly.
‘Not really. Jesus, Seb. Why do you do this stuff?’
‘I don’t know, Trav. Maybe because I thought I’d enjoy it. I never set out to break the camera. I never asked Fenno to drop it! If you didn’t trust me, why did you even lend me the bloody thing!’
‘Because I never expected you to be so cavalier with my stuff. You’re hopeless!’
Seb opened his mouth then shut it. His eyes glistened and Travis wanted to kick himself. His brother looked on the verge of tears. ‘Bro, I didn’t mean that. Honestly. I was just shocked – and a bit pissed off.’
‘I worked that out,’ Seb said quietly.
‘It was an accident. I realise that and the insurance will cover most of it, bar a few hundred. I can take that hit. Cameras get broken all the time.’
‘Do they?’ Seb lifted his eyes. ‘Not by you, though. I bet you take care of your stuff. I’m sorry I didn’t.’
Travis reached out to pat his shoulder but Seb flinched away. ‘No. You’re right. I am hopeless. Everything I touch turns to shit.’ He turned for the door. ‘Stop trying to turn me into something I’m not: a useful member of society. It’ll be easier for both of us.’
Seb pulled the door open as Freya arrived and pushed past her.
‘Sorry,’ he muttered, but hurried away from the shop.
Travis jogged over, watching his brother skulk off up the street like a wounded animal.
‘What’s the matter with Seb?’ she said.
‘I’ve upset him,’ Travis said, filled with despair. ‘I need to go after him.’
‘Wait.’ Freya put her hand on his arm. ‘Looks like you need to leave him to cool down. Maybe both of you need to give each other some space.’
He traipsed back into the shop and sat down, his head in his hands. He told her what had happened, the broken camera on the counter seeming trivial against the damage to the fragile relationship with his brother.
‘You can fix this,’ she said firmly.
‘I admire your optimism but I feel I’ve kicked him back down just as he was rising. Why didn’t I think before I spoke? The moment he mentioned that bunch of idiots was involved, I saw red.’
‘Because you were frustrated and you care about him?’ she offered.
‘He sees me as having come back purely to get on his case. I don’t blame him, but you know the worst part? The way I reacted reminded me of my dad. I called Seb “hopeless”.’ He swore silently, feeling queasy at the remembrance of his words. ‘That’s last thing he needs to hear. Sometimes I feel that I’m repeating my dad’s mistakes where Seb is concerned.’
‘I doubt it. From what you’ve told me, your father didn’t care enough about any of you to take an interest in your lives whereas you care too much.’
‘Maybe.’ He sighed deeply, feeling out of his depth but grateful for her insight. ‘Sometimes I think we can’t escape from the past; it comes back to haunt us. Why think things could be any different?’
‘They can.’ She put her arms around his waist and saying sternly. ‘Go and see him later or first thing tomorrow. Don’t let this fester between you.’
Travis opened the curtains of the cabin, to find pink tingeing the sky as the day began. It was forecast to be bitingly cold but clear, with blue skies. He had time to head up to the fells with his camera before he opened the gallery.
It was then he spotted an envelope on the doormat. Recognising the handwriting instantly, he opened it and his stomach clenched.
Dressed in a smart trouser suit, Freya walked into the living room.
‘What have I done?’ he murmured, pulling banknotes from the envelope, and holding them out to her. ‘Seb must have put this through the door late last night.’
She took the money from him, dismay on her face. ‘There must be several hundred quid here.’
‘Where did he get the money for this?’ Travis said, feeling close to tears. ‘You know what? I’m beginning to think it’s not Seb who’s hopeless, it’s me.’