The following morning is breezy, which seems to put a damper on at least some of the naked frolicking. Polly has Reggie dressed and fed in record time. The others busy themselves packing the awning and tent away and having a hasty mug of tea.
‘We’ll stop for breakfast when we’re on the way to see Tommy,’ Isaac says rather breathlessly as he jumps into the back of the van as Polly starts the engine.
They cruise out of the site, trying not to look at the family of five, who it’s clear are very soon to be six, playing a very energetic game of volleyball on the play area.
‘Good Lord,’ murmurs Peter. ‘I’m glad Frances isn’t here to see this. When she was expecting Miles I seem to remember her wearing a series of very pretty flowing cotton dresses.’
Lucia pats him on the arm. ‘I know what you mean,’ she says. ‘It must be lovely to be so free of inhibitions though, don’t you think?’
‘No,’ says Peter firmly, and closes his mouth like a trap.
After a drive through beautiful wooded countryside, they find a roadside café where the smell of bacon cooking mingles with a heady aroma of toast. Polly and Isaac order fried egg sandwiches and Lucia fetches bacon cobs for herself and Peter, while Reggie, small nostrils quivering eagerly, has a little taste of everything.
‘It’s only just over half an hour’s run to Tommy’s place from here. Shall I ring to warn him we’re on the way?’ Isaac asks Lu.
‘Hmmm. I guess we should let him know. He might be going out somewhere. I think they have trips and so on,’ she says, reaching for her phone.
Tommy answers the call on the first ring.
‘Lu, darling?’ he says. ‘I was just thinking about you. I … I wish you were here.’
‘Well actually, we nearly are there,’ she says, worried at his desolate tone. ‘We’re on the way to Cornwall and we thought we’d stop over this way for the night. Can we pop in and see you? We’ll be about ten minutes.’
‘Are you joking? You’re really coming to see me? In the van? What a wonderful thought! I’ll meet you on the drive and we can sit outside and have a drink. Hurray! This is the best thing that’s happened since I got here.’
As they cover the final few miles, Lucia relays the conversation to the others. ‘I can’t bear the thought of poor Tommy mouldering away at the back of beyond way before he’s ready to settle down.’
‘You’re right, my dear,’ says Peter. ‘It was a huge mistake. I tried to tell him as much but I think I was too preoccupied with my own troubles to get more involved in his plans. I should have tried to stop him.’
‘I feel the same. What are we going to do? We can’t leave him there. He sounds so unhappy,’ says Lucia. She thinks for a moment, suddenly nervous. Will the others go along with her idea? ‘We could take him with us,’ she finally blurts out.
‘Have we got room?’ wonders Polly. ‘It’s the sleeping problem. There’s a spare seatbelt but where would he go at night?’
Isaac’s looking edgy. Lucia knows he would hate to share his space, but Peter sees the problem and comes to the rescue.
‘I’m sure we can find some sort of camping shop on the way to Cornwall and pick up some extra bedding and a blow-up bed. There’s plenty of room in the awning.’
‘But what about tonight?’ Lucia has visions of Tommy squeezing into the van with her and Polly, and her heartbeat quickens. It’d be embarrassing in the extreme. He’s not really her relation and he’s always seemed … well … more manly than most men. She cringes at her own Victorian attitude, acting like a delicate little flower of shy womanhood, but the feeling won’t go away.
‘If I know Tommy Lemon, he’ll be more than happy with a couple of cushions and a blanket or two just for tonight. He used to camp out on the floor of the ballroom at the Manor when he was working on the hedging project. He’s a tough cookie, is Tommy,’ says Peter.
Lucia isn’t convinced but she supposes they could give him the choice of whether to rough it for now. It depends how keen he is to escape. The more she thinks about the idea, the better it seems. As Isaac says, Tommy is the generous soul behind this escapade. He should at least be given the chance to come with them.
The man waiting on the driveway outside the sprawling complex looks about as desperate as they come. It’s a matter of moments before he’s opened the back door of the van and is ushering them all out.
‘Come on, it’s warm enough to sit outside in the shelter of the house. Chrissie’s bringing us coffee, although a large brandy might hit the spot better.’
They troop after Tommy, gazing around at the grandeur of the sweeping grounds. Lucia has sudden qualms about suggesting he should leave such luxurious surroundings to sleep on the ground and join the washing up rota. She must be crazy. Maybe they shouldn’t even mention the idea.
Tommy is, as always, an excellent host. He settles them comfortably around a picnic bench, beaming at everyone. ‘It’s good to meet you again, Polly. We bumped into each other briefly during your shopping trip with Lu, do you remember?’ Tommy bends down to smile at Reggie. ‘Is the little chap warm enough? Yes? Oh my goodness, I’m so glad to see you all. You might as well all know. I’ve been a fool.’
He makes sure they’re all clutching steaming mugs of coffee before he carries on. ‘I jumped straight into the idea of living in this place when I was still worried about having been ill. It looked like a cushy number and I’ve always loved Somerset. My house was too big for me and it just seemed like the right thing to do.’
‘And now you think it wasn’t?’
‘Lu, darling, it’s so boring in there, you wouldn’t believe. I’m sure I’m going to fade away from lack of excitement. To cap it all, this morning I had a dreadful row with the woman in charge. She’s a nightmare.’
‘Good heavens. What was the row about?’ Peter asks.
‘She said I wasn’t allowed to have a dog.’
‘Oh.’ Lu’s lost for words. She knows that Tommy was lost after Bruce, his old German Shepherd, died a couple of years ago but he’s never said he wanted another.
‘And dogs are not allowed,’ says Tommy, spitting the last two words out with venom. ‘Nor are cats, guinea pigs or even tropical fish, apparently. It’s against regulations. The old gorgon said she thought I’d have bothered to read the rules before I moved in. Lu, you should have seen the rule book. I’d still be reading now if I’d bothered with all that malarkey.’
Lu puts an arm around Tommy’s waist, leaning in to kiss his weathered cheek. He smells of fresh air and his favourite aftershave, light and spicy. The familiar feel of his strength and the warmth of his skin give her a shock of something unexpected. It’s just affection, she tells herself sternly. I’m worried about him, that’s all.
Peter shudders. ‘It sounds horrendous, my friend,’ he says.
Tommy puts his head in his hands. Even his mad white curls look sad.
Lu can’t remember seeing him even slightly dejected before, let alone as unhappy as this. She decides to test the water after all. ‘So what are you going to do about it?’
‘To be quite honest, I was just contemplating packing my bags and ordering a cab to take me to the nearest train station and then … well, I suppose I’d have come back to Chandlebury and you wouldn’t even have been at home. I should never have sold up in the first place. Mind you, it was worth it to be able to give you two a boost. At least something good’s come of me being an idiot.’
Isaac, Peter and Polly are all casting meaningful glances at Lucia now. She takes a deep breath. ‘Isaac said you were feeling blue. We were just wondering, Tommy … how do you fancy joining us on our road trip in Flora?’
He stares at Lucia open mouthed. ‘Tell me you’re not kidding,’ he says after a few moments. ‘I can’t think of anything I’d like better. Do you really mean it? All of you?’
They all nod enthusiastically and Peter leans over to slap Tommy on the back. ‘It’s unanimous,’ he says. ‘You, my old chum, are the missing piece of the jigsaw. With you on board, my happiness is complete.’
Tommy is speechless but his shining eyes say it all.
‘How quickly can you be ready?’ asks Lucia, looking at her watch. ‘We’re on the way to Cornwall and we should get going soon so we don’t hit the teatime traffic at the other end.’
‘Lu, darling, give me ten minutes to throw a few things into my old haversack and another five to tell the matron where she can stuff her potted meat and I’ll be in that van raring to go.’
Lucia sighs with relief as they watch Tommy leap to his feet and trot into the main building. He’s almost as good as his word and they are soon back in the van and heading down the lane towards the main road. Tommy leans out of the window as they pass the sign for the home.
‘Hasta la vista, baby,’ he yells, ‘And thank the Lord for friends like these.’
They drive on until they reach the next campsite, where fortunately everyone is wearing a full set of clothes. Tommy insists on booking them in, paying for the night’s accommodation and reserving a table in the onsite restaurant for an early dinner.
‘This is pure bliss,’ he says, as they pitch camp. ‘I should have known I was doing the wrong thing throwing in the towel. At least now I’m back on track with an adventure thrown in.’
‘But how could you have predicted it’d turn out badly?’ asks Polly. ‘Sometimes you don’t know until you try.’
‘Oh, I think I knew. I just didn’t let myself see the signs.’
Polly, Isaac and Peter begin to set up the tent and Tommy edges closer to Lucia. ‘You get what I’m saying, don’t you, darling?’ he says, quietly. ‘I gave away my guiding light before I’d let it do that one last job properly, and ignored the warning signs it had already given me. I hope you’re getting on okay with it? No problems?’
Lucia stares at his anxious face. Her eyes automatically go to her bag, where the leather case is tucked safely away. ‘So far, so good,’ she whispers. ‘I wanted to ask you …’
‘All in good time, darling. We’ll have lots of chances to talk now you’ve rescued me from a life of disgusting biscuits and pink trifle. I should have paid more attention before I let my treasure go though. Don’t you make the same mistake, Lu. It’s yours now. In the right hands, that little compass is dynamite.’