The fete had been a huge success. Jack found everyone was in very high spirits when they gathered outside on the patio later that evening.
‘We all done good,’ said Mick, sounding smug.
Jack nodded in agreement. Both Tom and the band had performed a great set.
But he had found himself distracted for the final hour of the show after his conversation with Lily. At least he’d finally managed to apologise to her for dumping her on the night of the prom. He had always felt so bad about that.
Weary after the long day, most of the family had headed up to bed, leaving just Jack, Sam, Will, Alex and the band having one last nightcap on the terrace.
‘The local paper’s going to do a full-page spread as well,’ said Sam, with a proud look on his face.
‘That’s great,’ Alex told him. ‘But that’s only local press. You need to get the word out to the nationals.’
‘Can you forget about the bypass for one evening?’ moaned Sam.
‘I’ll try,’ said Alex, but nobody was convinced by his tone.
‘I always forget how beautiful it is here,’ said Mick, staring up at the night sky where an almost full moon had just appeared from behind the trees.
Will nodded and yawned. ‘It sure is. I’d be watching the meteor shower later if I thought I’d last until midnight.’
Sam nodded. ‘I’ll be lucky to make it to eleven o’clock.’
‘You youngsters are such lightweights,’ said Mick, shaking his head sadly. ‘When I was your age, I didn’t go to bed until the sun was up.’
Jack took a sip of the whiskey that Sam had poured him. ‘This is good,’ he said, appreciatively. ‘Is it grain-based?’
Sam nodded. ‘It is. It was a gift from an American guitarist. You know your whiskey, that’s for sure.’
Jack shrugged his shoulders. ‘I appreciate a fine vintage.’
‘It’s wasted on this lot,’ said Alex, gesturing at the band. ‘They’d drink diesel if it came in a glass with some ice.’
‘I’ll have you know, mate, that I own a vineyard,’ said Mick, before frowning as if in deep thought. ‘At least, I think I do. Somewhere in Australia.’
‘How do you not know whether or not you own a vineyard?’ asked Sam, shaking his head in disbelief.
‘My accountant said it was a good investment,’ said Mick. ‘And what do I know about stuff like that?’
‘Well, you know how to drink it,’ said Sam.
‘I’m not sure that’s the same as growing grapes,’ drawled Will.
‘I’m a whatsitsname… a silent partner,’ said Mick.
‘More like a comatose partner if you keep drinking all your own profits,’ said Alex. ‘Is it just us then tonight? Not even lovely Rose to keep us company?’
‘She was helping Grandad upstairs,’ said Will.
‘Grandad looked tired,’ said Sam, after a short silence.
‘It’s been a long day,’ Will told him quickly. ‘Nothing else.’
There was a short silence whilst Alex looked from brother to brother. ‘What’s going on? I’m sensing tension.’
‘We’re not sure about Grandad’s health,’ said Sam.
‘Rubbish!’ laughed Alex. ‘Arthur’s as fit as a fiddle.’
‘If you say so,’ said Will, sounding gloomy.
Jack heard the concern in his voice. As if the Harris family didn’t have enough to deal with.
‘I think Aunt Rose is going to have a word with him,’ said Sam, getting up. ‘Sorry, but I think I’ll go and check on my wife. It’s been a long day.’
‘Night, bro,’ said Will, standing up to give his brother a quick hug.
‘Night, all,’ said Sam, giving everyone a nod before going through the French doors and into the main house.
There was a short silence after he’d gone whilst everyone sipped their drinks, deep in thought.
‘Well, this is a gloomy old evening considering it was such a good day,’ said Mick.
‘I agree,’ said Will. ‘Jack’s probably wishing he hadn’t bothered staying.’
‘It’s fine,’ said Jack, looking down at his glass. ‘Besides, I never would have been able to taste this whiskey otherwise.’
‘So, are you lot old friends?’ asked Mick, looking around at them.
‘We all went to the same school,’ said Alex. ‘Jack was mean and moody. Sam and Will were the good guys. I was the cool, fashionable one, obviously.’
Jack didn’t remember it quite like that. He recalled Alex struggling with his sexuality and being bullied quite a bit for being different. But he just laughed and said, ‘Mean and moody?’
‘God, yeah!’ said Alex, nodding. ‘You were always fighting.’
‘I suppose.’ Jack thought hard. Had he been like that?
‘You were,’ said Will, with a nod. ‘You did love a good scrap.’
‘Most of them deserved a good hiding,’ said Jack, with a grimace.
‘Yes, they did,’ agreed Alex, with a shudder. ‘They were so snotty, some of those boys. All privileged class, and God forbid you should wear anything different. I was glad to get out of there.’
‘Me too,’ said Jack.
It was the truth. Jack had excelled in his exams but none of that mattered in the eyes of his school colleagues, who were only interested in where you came from and which bank you would end up working for.
‘So, what have you been up to since then?’ asked Mick.
‘I originally qualified as an electrician,’ Jack told him. ‘But I’ve been a property developer salesman for the last ten or so years.’
He shifted in his chair, uncomfortable at where that had led him.
Will studied Jack. ‘Out of interest, have you got all your electrician certificates up to date?’
Jack was surprised at the question. ‘More or less. I’m missing a couple of years, but I’m still qualified.’
He had always maintained his training in case he ever needed a plan B. If his world ever fell in, he needed to know that he had a safety net.
Like now, he realised, as he was out of a job. He had treated the past couple of weeks like a well-earned holiday, but it was time he thought about where his future lay.
‘I suppose you’re out of work now that you’ve walked away from your job,’ said Will, tapping his chin in thought.
Jack nodded. ‘I’m out of property developing, that’s for sure.’
He was pretty certain that Eric would put the word out about him and he would be unlikely to get another job in that field of work. He waited for the pang of regret but it didn’t come. Maybe he hadn’t enjoyed it as much as he’d thought.
‘I don’t suppose you’d consider having a look at the barn with me in the morning?’ said Will. ‘I could do with a quote for getting electricity hooked up to it.’
‘Of course,’ said Jack, surprised. ‘What’s it going to be used for?’
‘Wedding venue for future renting out,’ said Will.
‘Everyone wants to get married here after I designed Sam and Annie’s fabulous wedding,’ said Alex, with a flourish of his hand.
Will raised an eyebrow. ‘Excuse me, but I think you’ll find that my wife designed most of the wedding, if you’re going to steal her thunder.’
‘Of course, said Alex quickly, looking horrified. ‘You know I wouldn’t do that. I love Skye!’
Will nodded. ‘I know you do. Sorry, mate. Bit tired and everything. Think I’ll go and find my wife. Night, all.’
After Will had left, Alex gave a heavy sigh. ‘Everyone’s on edge, I guess.’
‘And you as well,’ said Mick. ‘You’re all tetchy and stressed.’
‘Stressed? I’m a bag of nerves,’ said Alex, holding out his hands. ‘Look at my nails. Bitten down to the quick and I never bite my nails.’
‘You’ve gotta chill out, man,’ Mick told him. ‘Be cool.’
‘I can’t,’ snapped Alex. ‘I feel, I don’t know, out of sorts. Useless.’ He gulped. ‘Life’s hard, you know. My love life is a train wreck and I deal with the worst kind of people at work, fussing over designer this and designer that.’ He paused. ‘But this place is my constant. If the Hall is here and safe, then no matter what else happens I’m OK. But now I don’t know. It’s got me all rattled, that’s all.’
Sitting next to him, Mick put down his glass and placed a hand around Alex’s shoulders. ‘Alright, mate,’ said Mick, softly. ‘Don’t get your skirts in a flap. It ain’t gonna happen.’
Alex sighed and leaned heavily on his friend for support before drawing himself up straight. ‘Of course you’re right,’ he said, sounding a bit more sure of himself. ‘And these must be strange days because I’ve certainly never said those words before, to you of all people. Now, why are you wearing your leather again when I got you in those lovely suits last year?’
Mick grinned. ‘I gotta feel like myself again. All that cotton and silk against the skin, it ain’t natural. Not good for the creative juices, you know?’
‘I don’t like to think about your juices, thank you very much,’ said Alex. But he was smiling as he said it. ‘And on that disgusting thought, I think I, too, shall go to the land of nod.’
‘I’ll head up as well,’ said Jack, and they bid the band goodnight.
‘I guarantee they’ll all fall asleep in their chairs and be found first thing in the morning in the same place,’ Alex told him as they began to head upstairs.
‘They seem nice enough,’ said Jack.
‘They are,’ said Alex. ‘But don’t tell them I told you so.’ He stopped suddenly and turned to face Jack. ‘I know you think I’m a ridiculous creature. Most people think so.’
‘I don’t,’ Jack told him, truthfully. ‘I never did.’
‘Yeah. Thanks.’ Alex’s shoulders slumped. ‘And I’m grateful for that. Truly I am. I just worry for the future, that’s all. These people are my family and this feels like my home too.’
‘I get it,’ Jack told him. ‘I just haven’t ever felt like that about anywhere.’
‘Stay here long enough and you will,’ was Alex’s warning as they parted ways.
But Jack knew that would never happen. He trusted the Harris family but he still wouldn’t let them get too close.
He glanced at the stairs leading to the staff quarters as he turned towards the east wing corridor where his bedroom lay. The thought of Lily sleeping on the floor above him disturbed him for many reasons, all of which he was trying to ignore.
He thought that, once he had said goodbye to her all those years ago, it would be the end of their story.
He had been determined in his decision and had moved on. He had decided to leave her behind when he went to Europe. He had dumped her and, yes, given her a broken heart. It had hurt him to do so, but she was really better off without him.
At least, that’s what he had told himself at the time.
The trouble was that no single woman had ever come close to making him feel the way he had with Lily.