‘All right,’ I nodded. ‘Lots to think about though.’
‘Mm,’ Eliot agreed.
‘Look,’ I began, ‘about what Anthony said.’
‘Do we have to talk about that?’
‘We don’t have to, but…’
‘Good,’ he cut in, before hauling himself out of his leathers. ‘Is Bill about?’
It was only then that I realised I hadn’t heard a peep out of Grandad. There had been no squeaking floorboards to prompt me to fill the kettle.
‘Do you know,’ I said, forgetting everything else, ‘he’s still in bed.’
Eliot looked at me and raised his eyebrows.
‘I had to pop into town earlier and he was still asleep when I got back.’
‘I was a bit worried about him yesterday,’ Eliot frowned. ‘I think he’s taking on too much.’
‘No, he isn’t,’ I snapped. ‘I haven’t let him.’
‘But with all the changes…’
‘I’m dealing with those,’ I told him. ‘I haven’t dumped anything on him, if that’s what you’re suggesting.’
‘Of course, it isn’t,’ he said, looking surprised. ‘What’s got into you, Fliss? I thought you’d be walking on air.’
I heard a creaking overhead.
‘There,’ I huffed. ‘You’ve woken him up.’
‘I’ll go and check on him then, shall I?’
I felt bad when they eventually came down because Grandad did look a bit peaky, even though he insisted he was fine.
‘Just not used to sleeping for so long,’ he said, when I commented that he looked pale. ‘I’m all out of kilter, but I’ll be right enough when I’ve had a cuppa.’
‘I’ll leave you to it then,’ said Eliot, addressing Grandad. ‘I’m sure you’ll be right as rain again tomorrow, but I’ll ring anyway, just to check.’
‘Fuss over nothing,’ Grandad smiled as Eliot thrust his legs back into his suit. ‘But it’s been a pleasure to see you again today, my lad.’
‘At least someone thinks so,’ Eliot grumbled, as he zipped up and walked out.
‘Have you two fallen out?’ Grandad asked as we heard the bike start up.
‘Of course not,’ I said. ‘We’re right as rain too.’
Chapter 26
Worryingly, Grandad wasn’t as right as rain the next day and took to his bed for the whole day. We had planned to drive to town to take part in the bank holiday celebrations, but instead he quietly rested and I caught up with the fruit picking, cleaned out the hens and carried on writing up my supper club plans.
I briefly checked in with Marco again, giving him the good news that Saturday had been a success and Nonna’s semifreddo a total triumph. I also passed on Bec’s email address and mobile number at her request, and later researched ideas on how best to convert the barn and what official permission we would need in order to get the project underway.
In spite of my best efforts to keep my mind occupied it was still filled with the image of the watch I had seen Anthony proudly wearing. With no way of sneaking unseen into Grandad’s room to check, my thoughts were dominated by a cocktail of upset and fear and the tiniest chaser of hope that it was all just an unsettling coincidence and Anthony’s new watch wasn’t the treasured Brown family timepiece at all.
Tuesday dawned with a palpable air of relief because Grandad, although a little pale, was seemingly back to his old self and once out of bed, only slightly later than usual, I offered to air his bedroom and change the sheets.
‘Oh, yes please,’ he said, enthusiastically taking up my offer and subsequently triggering a pang of guilt. ‘That would be much appreciated.’
As soon as I could see he was settled in his chair under the apple tree with the newspaper, I abandoned the bed, went to the dressing table and took out the jewellery box. My hands were shaking as I lifted the lid. Everything was still neatly arranged, but on the bottom layer there was the Rolex box shaped gap I had dreaded, but known deep down, that I would see.
My stomach churned and my hands felt clammy as I returned the depleted box to the drawer. There was no doubting it now. Anthony was wearing my great-grandfather’s watch, but why had Grandad parted with it? He had told me it was precious, that it held many special family memories, so why had he let it go?
Was this what he and Louise had been secretly talking about? Selling his prized family heirloom and, if it was, then why did Grandad need that sort of money? My guts lurched again as I wondered if at some point in the not too distant future, he was going to surprise me with a supper club set-up fund. Was selling the watch a decision he’d made after he’d originally dismissed the club idea and before he told Eliot to give me the go-ahead?
I sincerely hoped not because I genuinely wanted to use my savings to get the business up and running. I could easily work to replace the cash, but no amount of filled punnets and boxes of apples would be able to replace the watch.
I re-made the bed and rushed downstairs remembering that Anthony had said he’d found the watch in the jewellers in the courtyard. I would go there and quiz the staff before talking to Grandad. Anything to put off having to face the potentially unpalatable truth – that he had parted with his treasure to help fulfil my vision.
He walked back into the kitchen just as I arrived in it and I quickly scooped up my bag along with the Land Rover keys.
‘How are you feeling?’ I asked.
If he wasn’t able to convince me that he was at least ninety-five per cent better then my quest would have to wait.
‘I’m fine,’ he said, waving my concern away. ‘Don’t fuss.’
His impatient dismissal was good enough for me. If he was well enough to object to my coddling then he was well enough to be left alone for an hour
