Natural Born Readers (The Book Lovers 3)

by Victoria Connelly

  They ate their breakfast together, collecting the first of the eggs and Flo watched the clock tick round.

  ‘I suppose we’d better take you to school,’ she said at last and Sonny nodded as if he’d been expecting it. Luckily, Mitch and Sonny lived within the catchment area for the school in Castle Clare so that made life easy for Flo.

  ‘I don’t suppose you’ve got a uniform in that bag of yours, have you?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Yes? You mean you have got a uniform in there?’

  He nodded and Flo scratched her head. ‘Let me take a look in there.’

  Sonny looked panicky for a moment, but said nothing as Flo opened the bag and looked inside. There, she found a few items of clothing including Sonny’s school uniform and his packed lunch box which she hastily filled with a rather haphazard sandwich and a banana.

  ‘You’d better get into this,’ she said, pulling the uniform out. ‘I’ll take you to school.’ She bit her lip. ‘What time do you get out?’

  ‘Half-past three,’ he told her.

  Flo took a quick look at her calendar and cursed. She’d got an appointment with her podiatrist and it had taken her an absolute age to get one too because there were an awful lot of feet needing attention in the Castle Clare area, it would seem.

  ‘Oh, dear,’ she said, and then she thought of something and picked up the phone.

  ‘Bryony?’

  ‘Flo?’

  ‘I’ve got a huge favour to ask you.’

  Chapter Seven

  Flo Lohman wasn’t in the habit of breaking into people’s houses, but the circumstances warranted it, she told herself. After she’d dropped Sonny off at school, she’d called Mitch yet again but there was still no answer and she knew that he hadn’t tried to contact her because she’d made sure her mobile was on and that the landline hadn’t been pulled out by Dusty who like to play with the cable.

  Sure enough, the spare key was where it always was – under the gnome with the missing right arm – and she let herself inside, grimacing at the state of the place. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d visited. Mitch always came to hers with Sonny rather than her going to his and now she felt guilty. Perhaps she should lend a hand here. Then again, wasn’t she struggling just to keep her own place running? She hadn’t hired Bryony just so she could spend time tidying up Mitch’s place.

  She felt anxious about breaking into her nephew’s home and wondered if she could be arrested for such a thing.

  ‘I was looking for clothes for Sonny,’ she’d tell the officer if it came to it, and she honestly was, but she was momentarily waylaid by what she found in the living room. At first, she could only make out odd shapes because it was so dark in there. She walked towards the window and dared to pull back the curtain and gasped at what she saw. The room was stuffed full of things. Old things. Things like candlesticks and lamp bases, silver photo frames and pretty glasses. There was even a suit of armour in the corner. Flo shook her head in confusion. Was Mitch in the antiques business now? Funny he’d never mentioned it.

  Her gaze landed on a little table in the middle of the room where there were heaps of pound coins and fifty-pence pieces. She wasn’t sure how many there were, but it looked like the best part of one hundred pounds. She shook her head and moved on, taking in a collection of mirrors and a shelf full of figurines.

  Climbing the stairs, she turned left into Sonny’s room and caught her breath. Like the living room, it was dark because the curtains hadn’t been opened and it was also full of antiques. Other than a football poster and a sticker album on the bedside table, it would have been impossible to tell it was a young boy’s bedroom. Was the rest of the house similarly stuffed, she wondered, walking back out onto the landing and poking her head into the next room? Yes, it was. There were antiques everywhere apart from the bathroom, she was relieved to notice.

  Returning to Sonny’s room, she picked up an empty carrier bag from the floor and started to fill it with clothes from a drawer. She was just folding up a little jumper when she heard the front door open and close. Her whole body froze in panic. She might have gone through the scenario of what she’d do if the police caught her, but she hadn’t reckoned on Mitch catching her. There was only one way to handle this, she thought – face on – so she boldly walked downstairs and into the living room.

  ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ Mitch shouted as soon as he saw her.

  ‘Mitch, I –’

  ‘How did you get in here?’

  ‘The key.’

  ‘What key?’

  ‘Under the gnome.’

  He swore and she was just about to chastise him, but realised she was in no position to take the higher ground.

  ‘Mitch, love, what are all these things?’

  ‘What business is that of yours?’ he snapped.

  ‘I just wondered –’

  ‘I’m a trader. On eBay, okay?’

  ‘eBay? Where’s that?’

  ‘It’s not a where, stupid. It’s a website.’

  ‘Oh,’ Flo said. She’d never got the hang of the whole internet business. The modern world had passed her by. She’d only got her first mobile phone last year.

  ‘What’s in that bag?’ Mitch said, his face full of suspicion.

  ‘Some clothes for Sonny.’

  ‘I gave him some.’

  ‘Not enough,’ she said, squaring up to him now and remembering how mad she was at his treatment of his son. ‘Not if you’re going to leave him for god only knows how long.’

  ‘I’m busy, Flo. I haven’t got time for this,’ he said, shuffling around the living room, picking up random objects.

  ‘You haven’t got time for your son either, have you?’

  ‘That’s right.’

  Flo felt stung by this admission and wanted to lash out at him, but it wouldn’t do any good, she knew that.

  ‘So, he’s staying with me, then?’

  ‘Looks like it.’

  Flo could feel tears threatening to spill as she thought about the poor boy whose mother had walked out on him and whose father didn’t want him in his life.

  ‘Fine!’ she said.

  ‘Good!’ Mitch replied, not bothering to look up.

  ‘I’ll let myself out.’

  ‘Like you let yourself in?’ Mitch retorted.

  Flo chose to ignore him and made a quick exit.

  The classroom Ben had been assigned in the school on the outskirts of Ipswich wasn’t the worst he’d taught in, but it was definitely on the shabby side with its rickety desks, patchy paintwork and windows that constantly jammed at just the wrong height. Still the pupils were great, the hours good and the pay – well – he could manage on it for now.

  Ben had never planned to be a teacher, but had found he had a natural aptitude for it when he was working abroad and had since gained qualifications to teach. It certainly beat some of the waiting jobs he’d had or the dishwashing job in the centre of Naples with the irate Italian chef who used to throw saucepans at his staff.

  He’d just finished his last class for the day and had walked to his car for the drive to Castle Clare. He’d been thinking about it all day. Discovering that Bryony’s shop was closed on a Monday after a fruitless trip into town, he’d determined to revisit the next day. Today. Right now.

  He’d tried to formulate some kind of plan and had even pulled out his A4 notepad to write some ideas down, but the page had remained blank. The truth was he didn’t know what to say to Bryony, especially not after the Sunday lunch fiasco. He’d been relying on his old charming self – his cheeky chappie sense of humour – to win her over, but cracking a joke wasn’t going to get him out of this fix. He knew that now.

  Just talk to her, he told himself. Heart to heart. Tell her how you’re feeling. Women like to know that kind of stuff. They want contrition, they want to see those tears in your eyes. He looked at his reflection in the rear-view mirror. Oh, he’d cried over Bryony. He’d never admit it to any
body, but there’d been tears when he’d left the UK. He hadn’t been able to believe that she wouldn’t come with him. He could understand her anxiety. After all, she had a wonderful family whom she loved. That couldn’t be easy to give up. But hadn’t she also loved him? Hadn’t she wanted to be with him more than her family? Obviously not.

  But how he’d done his best to persuade her to come to him. He’d never shown his fear that she might not join him. Instead, he’d sent book after book, picked up on his travels, and postcard after postcard, full of his love.

  She’s probably burned the lot, he thought to himself.

  Before he knew it, Ben had arrived at Castle Clare and managed to find a coveted parking space in the market square, which was surprising because the school had just finished for the day. He walked the short distance to the yellow-painted shop and paused. He still had no idea what he was going to say and the irony of being lost for words in a bookshop wasn’t lost on him. He just hoped that it would be easier to be with her this time. She’d had a little while to get used to him being back and had also had a chance to calm down after he’d barged in on her Sunday lunch. Maybe she’d be more receptive this time.

  Taking a deep breath, Ben entered the shop, the little bell tinkling above his head. At first, Bryony didn’t turn around because she was focussed on a small boy in a school uniform. He noticed that she had her hand on his shoulder and they were laughing together.

  ‘Oh, you’re so clever. I’m so proud of you,’ she told him and Ben swallowed hard as the boy looked up at her with adoration in his eyes.

  Nobody had told him Bryony had had a child. He wasn’t very good when it came to estimating a child’s age, but it seemed as if Bryony hadn’t wasted any time once he’d left Castle Clare. Ben looked at the kid. He had chestnut hair. He cast his mind back to the baker fellow he’d seen Bryony with in the pub that night – did he have chestnut hair? He couldn’t remember. Anyway, what did it matter who the father was? The only issue was that it wasn’t Ben. His Bryony hadn’t waited for him. She’d moved on the minute he’d left her and had made a life for herself.

  Bryony looked up when the shop bell rang the second time and saw Ben leaving. She hadn’t been aware he’d come in at all; she’d been so focussed on Sonny and his response to the book she’d chosen for him. He really was a bright lad, but it was obvious that he was totally lacking in confidence and that he could do with a lot more encouragement when it came to reading.

  But what had Ben been doing in her shop? Hadn’t she given him a clear enough message already? Before she had time to dwell on that, the shop door opened again and in came Flo.

  ‘Oh, Bryony,’ she cried. ‘Thank you so much for picking Sonny up for me.’ She came forward and kissed his cheek. ‘You okay, monkey?’

  He nodded.

  ‘He’s been an angel,’ Bryony said. ‘He’s helped me unpack some new arrivals and we’ve been reading together, haven’t we? He’s very good, you know.’

  ‘Is he?’ Flo looked surprised by this declaration.

  ‘But he needs to keep reading,’ Bryony asserted.

  ‘I’ll take him to the library before we go home.’

  Bryony nodded.

  ‘Oh, and buy him plenty of books too!’ Flo added, making Bryony smile.

  ‘That sounds like a good idea. It’s important for him to have his own books – ones he can return to rather than ones which have to be returned.’

  ‘Got you!’ Flo said and then she noticed Bryony looking wistfully out of the shop window. ‘What is, dear?’

  She sighed. ‘Something strange just happened.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Ben came into the shop.’

  ‘What did he say?’

  ‘Nothing. He left before I realised his was here.’

  ‘Is he the good-looking guy with the dark hair and beard I passed on my way?’

  ‘I don’t like beards,’ Bryony stated.

  ‘He’s very handsome,’ Flo said. ‘From what I saw.’

  ‘Why would he come in here only to leave without saying anything? Don’t you think that’s strange?’

  Flo looked confused for a moment, but then clapped a hand over her mouth. ‘You don’t think –’

  ‘What?’ Bryony asked.

  ‘He saw you with Sonny, didn’t he?’

  ‘I guess.’

  ‘You don’t think he thought he was your son, do you?’

  Bryony frowned, but then let out a laugh. ‘You think?’

  ‘It’s possible, isn’t it?’

  Bryony nodded and then smiled. ‘I think I’ll have to borrow Sonny more often,’ she told Flo. ‘It seems he’s the best possible Ben deterrent there is.’

  ‘For goodness’ sake, will you stop pacing?’ Georgia told Ben. ‘What is wrong with you?’

  ‘I went to see Bryony,’ he began.

  ‘Oh, Ben! You’ve got to give up on her. She doesn’t want to know.’

  ‘I can’t just give up. I have a feeling about this. We’re meant to be together.’

  ‘I think it’s only you who feels that way.’

  He shook his head. ‘No, no. I carried that woman in my heart right around the world. She’s a part of me.’

  ‘So what did she say to you this time?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘She ignored you?’

  ‘No.’ Ben raked a hand through his hair. ‘I didn’t talk to her because she was with her son.’

  ‘Bryony has a son? I didn’t know that.’

  ‘No, neither did I,’ Ben said, visualising the young boy once again.

  ‘How do you know it was her son?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I mean, she didn’t introduce him to you, did she?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Then maybe it wasn’t her son at all. Maybe a parent had left him in the bookshop for a moment.’

  ‘Maybe,’ Ben conceded.

  ‘Anyway, what does it matter if she does have a kid? People do, you know. Although I hadn’t heard she’d had a boy. Mind you, I’ve only been back in Castle Clare myself for the last year so it’s possible I’ve missed the news and I don’t really mix with the Nightingales. Not after what you did to Bryony.’

  ‘Gee, thanks for the support.’

  ‘You’re welcome!’

  ‘Surely Sam or Josh would’ve mentioned her having a kid to me.’

  ‘I don’t see why,’ Georgia said. ‘It’s not that big a deal, is it?’

  ‘I just never imagined it. All those years away and she was settling down and making a family.’ He swore under his breath. ‘I should never have left.’

  ‘You had to leave.’

  He flopped down on the sofa next to her. ‘Yeah. Yeah, I did.’

  ‘But you’re back now and you have to build a new life for yourself here. Possibly without Bryony.’

  ‘But she’s not married.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘She’s got a kid, but she’s not married.’

  ‘What difference does that make these days?’

  ‘I’m just saying that the father couldn’t have counted for much.’

  ‘Maybe it was a one-night stand with some hunky musician she met after a gig in London or something.’

  Ben glared at his sister. ‘What?’

  ‘Could happen. The father could be anyone – a random stranger, a summer fling, a sperm donor.’

  ‘Georgia!’

  ‘I’m just saying. Women do that, you know, if they want a baby but don’t want all the hassle of a man.’

  He frowned. Would Bryony really have done something like that? He didn’t think so. She’d never seemed like the one-night stand sort of person either, but then he couldn’t really claim to know her anymore, could he? Although he strongly believed that people didn’t change that much. Not fundamentally. You could be damaged and wounded by life, you could have your heart broken and learn from lessons you’d rather never have had, but the core of you never really changed.

&nb
sp; ‘You’ve got to make a decision to stop thinking about her. To move on. I thought you’d forgotten about her years ago,’ Georgia told him. ‘I didn’t know you were still hoping to get back with her.’

  He gave a little shrug. ‘What can I say? She got to me good and proper and coming back home made me realise just how much. I didn’t think it was going to be easy, but I never thought it was going to be this hard.’

  ‘I’d move on,’ Georgia said. ‘Move on and forget her.’

  Ben sighed. ‘I don’t think I can.’

  It was later that evening when Ben’s phone went. He looked at the screen and saw the name. He’d been waiting for this call and answered without delay.

  ‘Hey,’ he said. ‘You okay?’ He paused. ‘You found the place alright? That’s good. No, I’ve not had a chance yet, but I will now. I know and I will, I promise. I’m here for you. I told you that, okay? Alright. Get a good night’s sleep and we’ll talk in the morning.’

  He hung up. Just when he’d thought life couldn’t possibly get any more complicated, Aria had arrived in England.

  Chapter Eight

  There were several sets of footprints in the muddy lane which led out of Castle Clare into the fields beyond: a large pair, a medium-sized pair, a small pair and an excited set of dog paws. They belonged to Jago, Polly, Archie and Dickens.

  It was a bright and breezy April afternoon and it was lovely to take time out to spend together. Polly Prior, née Nightingale, and her son, Archie, had recently moved into Lilac Row with Jago Solomon. As much as she’d loved her home at Church Green, in the village of Great Tallington, she’d had no qualms about leaving it. Although she didn’t believe that her husband, Sean, would ever turn up on her doorstep again, she just wasn’t willing to take the chance. Besides, she had fallen madly in love with Jago and couldn’t wait to start her new life with him. Archie adored him too. Even Dickens the spaniel loved him, trotting happily alongside him whenever they had a family walk.

  There’d been a bit of gossip about the arrangement, of course. Polly wasn’t immune to the conversations that had been had in Castle Clare.