The Prodigal Son Read online

  Rob laughed. “He giving you a hard time is he?”

  “Not a hard time as such. He’s just a little frightened that you’re putting too much onus on him and that he’s going to let you down, which is understandable. He hasn’t seen much change on Achravie since he was a young man. I’ll tell what, though. He thinks the world of you … won’t hear a bad word said about you. Look after Fraser and you’ll get 110% commitment from him in return.”

  “I suppose we really should give thought to a General Manager, as we talked about. That would probably make him feel more comfortable. It’s just finding the right person for the job.”

  “I just might be able to help you there,” she advised gaily. “Lizzie and I had dinner last night with Fraser. Lorna joined us. She’s lovely. I can see why you two are such good friends. Anyway, Fraser asked her how things were at the school. It turns out that since the trouble, and Stella’s involvement being uncovered, some local parents having been giving her a hard time over her relationship with Stella. Generally, they’ve been making life difficult for her.” She sighed. “She’s actually given thought to leaving Achravie to look for another job, although she admits that leaving would be a last resort.

  “She’s a bright lady … did Business Management at university, same as me. She loves Achravie, knows the estate, gets on well with Fraser and like him, thinks the world of you.”

  “Are you suggesting, what I think you’re suggesting?” Rob enquired with a smile.

  “Offering Lorna the General Manager’s position, yes. I haven’t mentioned it to her yet. I wanted to sound you out first, see what you thought about it. You know her better than I do, but she strikes me as being a thoroughly decent and honest person, and I could certainly work with her. We’d make a good team, the four of us.”

  Rob thought for a few seconds. “If we did offer her the job, it would be because she was the best candidate and you not doing her a favour as a friend. If you’re happy that she is the best—and I have to say you make a very good case for her—then go for it. Tell her you’ve spoken to me and that the offer comes from both of us, and is on a best-candidate basis.”

  “I’d hoped you would agree,” she said happily. “I think it’s too good an opportunity to pass up, for all of us. By the way, I’m standing in the Red Lion car park, meeting Lorna for a drink. She went into the bar a couple of minutes ago, so I’m going to go talk to her now. I’ll call you back later.”

  “Good luck. Talk soon. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Rob returned to the bedside armchair and turned the ringer volume on the phone back up. He was reading emails from Joe when his phone started playing Eric Clapton’s “Layla”. Justine. He gave frequent callers their own ringtone.

  “Hi gorgeous,” he answered merrily.

  “Be careful who you call gorgeous when your girlfriend’s sitting next to them,” Lorna laughed. “That might get you into trouble one of these days.”

  “And how are you, equally gorgeous?”

  “Flattery might work for you most of the time, Rob MacLaine, but I know you too well to fall for your sweet talk,” she teased. “Can we be serious for a minute?”

  “Your minute starts now.”

  “Justine just offered me the General Manager position at Achravie Estate. She told me that she’d spoken to you and you were in agreement. I’m really flattered, but I’m not convinced you’re making the offer for the right reasons. I don’t want a job because you guys feel sorry for me, or feel obliged to—”

  “Let me stop you,” Rob interrupted firmly. “This isn’t Robbie MacLaine the friend that you’re talking to —this is the Rob MacLaine who’s putting lots of money into the Achravie regeneration project. I bought Angus’s shares for a couple million and it’s going to cost a lot more to fund the project. I don’t treat that kind of investment lightly. I need this to work and I need it to make money when all is up and running.”

  “But—”

  “I can’t run the estate on a day-to day-basis, and neither can Justine, though she’ll be more involved than I will. Fraser can look after the land side, as he always has, but he’s not a business manager—and that’s what we need. Someone to oversee daily management. We need someone who has the capability to run a business … someone we can trust … and if that someone knows Achravie, that’d be a bonus.”

  “Okay, but—”

  “This offer is Justine’s initiative; all she did was state the obvious. I quote, ‘Lorna is a bright lady … she loves Achravie, knows the estate, and gets on well with Fraser’. I agree with her assessment—that you’re thoroughly decent and honest, someone she could work with. So, the offer has nothing to do with friendship or sentiment, or feeling sorry for anyone. I honestly look forward to working with you.

  “Your minute is up, so do you want the job?”

  Lorna laughed. “Of course, I want the job. I needed to be sure that I was being offered it for the right reasons … and I need to be certain the job won’t affect our friendship. It’s too precious to me, now that you’re back in my life. So you’re aware, Rob, I was looking Justine in the eye when I said that. She’s shaking her head and whispering that you think too much of me to let that happen.”

  Justine spoke, sounding ecstatic. “I think we have ourselves a General Manager!”

  In the background, he heard Lorna say, “You certainly do, and I won’t let you either of you down!”

  37

  Justine phoned the next morning to tell Rob that she’d told his mother and Fraser that Lorna would be appointed General Manager of Achravie Estate. His mother was pleased by the news, but Fraser was overjoyed. Not only was he getting the support he had so badly wanted, but it would be coming from someone he knew and treated like a daughter since her father had left when she was still at school.

  Justine told Rob that Pete Hall would be picking them up around midday and that she’d see him that evening, so he wasn’t surprised when she and his mother were at standing by his hospital bedside at seven o’clock.

  Both women kissed him and fussed around, adjusting cushions and glasses, and Mars bars on Rob’s cabinet before sitting on the bed. They were excited to share details about the trip.

  “But where are we with everything?” he asked impatiently as they continued to chat like schoolgirls.

  The women looked at each other, then at him.

  He held out both hands and they all laughed.

  Justine slapped his hand gently. “We spoke to Lorna this morning and she handed in her resignation to the school; apparently, she has to work her notice period, which is one month. But with the school being on holiday right now, that’s a bit moot, so she can get involved pretty much right away. She and Fraser are already sorting out who’ll do what … the lines of responsibility and accountability and so on. We need to agree a role spec and terms and conditions of employment.

  “We talked about the hospitality and HSE type training that Lorna is going to need. She’ll look at sourcing all that either in Ayrshire or Glasgow. She’s absolutely delighted with the job.”

  “She’ll be a real asset,” his mother chipped in. “And Fraser is over the moon, as you might imagine.”

  After discussing more details and agreeing actions, Justine went to get coffee for them.

  As they watched her leave, Rob’s mother took his hand. “She’s a lovely girl—so open and friendly. She gets on really well with Lorna and Fraser; they’ve both really taken to her.”

  Rob smiled happily. “I wasn’t sure how she’d interact with Lorna initially … but it was she who suggested bringing Lorna on board. She understands … the two get on extremely well. No jealousy, no resentment. Real friendship, I’d say.”

  “What about you two? You haven’t been together all that long, but I sense a very deep bond. She loves you very much; she told me so this morning.”

  Rob stared across the room as he determined how to put his feelings into words. “I love her very much, Mother.
I can’t explain the why or wherefore, and if you’d asked, I’d have said that I didn’t believe in love at first sight … but the minute we met and started to talk, I knew she was going to be someone special.”

  “Look after her. She’s worth her weight in gold and you make a lovely couple.”

  Justine arrived with three large coffees in a tray, accompanied by Mr Holmes, Rob’s consultant.

  “I found this one doing her best to get decent coffee out of the cafeteria and she invited me to join you. I hope you don’t mind, because I do need to talk to you,” he said with a big smile as he strolled to Rob’s bedside. “We need to think about getting you back home, too. Your latest scan looks really good. The internal injury is healing up … probably better than I’d envisaged … and looks pretty strong. The physios are more than happy with your progress. There’s no real reason to keep you here any longer. I think this young lady will keep you in check and make sure you stick with the exercise regime. Please feel free to leave us tomorrow afternoon at whatever time suits. I’ll arrange a discharge letter and some pain relief to tide you over. You’ll get an out-patient appointment to come see us in a few weeks, so we can ensure all is healing as it should be.”

  The next afternoon, Justine drove Rob home, warning him as they drove that she’d added a few personal touches to the apartment and reminded him light-heartedly that he needed more wardrobe space.

  “Sounds like a bigger house might be a better idea,” he laughed as they drove along Chelsea Embankment towards Vauxhall.

  “In the country with a stream at the bottom of the garden,” she grinned.

  “Sounds like something you’ve already planned.”

  “Just a dream. One day, maybe …” She drove into the underground parking and assisted him to the lift.

  In the penthouse apartment, Rob was happily surprised: his mother and Richard were there. “What’s this? A welcoming committee? Great to see both of you.” He turned to Justine. “Did you know they’d be here?”

  “I wasn’t certain. Lizzie said Richard was picking her up this afternoon to take her home, but she wasn’t sure of timing.”

  Lizzie gestured her husband and he hurried into the kitchen, and returned with a large platter of sandwiches, covered with cling film. He placed it on the coffee table and took a seat beside his wife.

  Lizzie motioned Justine to sit on the other side. “Your mother phoned earlier to say that they were going to pop in to see Rob at the hospital on the way back home. When I told her you’d gone to get him, she asked if they could drop by. I said they’d be very welcome.” She turned to her son. “They live in Buckinghamshire, dear, so it’ll be M40 for them. We’d done a few sandwiches for you and Tina’s parents. They may want tea before they set off home.”

  “Are you not staying? Or have you put something in the sandwiches?” Rob jested.

  “Cheeky devil!” She wagged a finger. “We were going to let you have some time with Mr and Mrs Fellows, who should be here any moment. Dickie, will you put on the kettle?”

  Justine motioned him back down when he rose. “My mum and dad would love to say hello again—plus you went to all the trouble with the sandwiches—so, please, do stay,” Justine pleaded. “Richard, you and I’ll make tea.”

  As Justine arranged cups on a tray, the door buzzer sounded. She crossed to the wall phone and, after a brief exchange, advised that her mother and father were coming up.

  Upon exchanging pleasantries, the group moved onto the balcony, where they animatedly talked about Rob as if he weren’t there, much to his amusement. Tea flowed and sandwiches quickly disappeared.

  “Beats afternoon tea at the Ritz,” Rob whispered to Justine, nodding to the view of the river and beyond.

  She nodded and took his hand.

  Twenty minutes later, Richard informed them that he and Lizzie had to head out. “I have a Rotary dinner in Winchester tonight, so best beat the traffic on the M25.”

  He and Lizzie said their goodbyes and wished everyone well.

  As Rob sat on the balcony with Justine’s father, the women gathered cups and plates, and moved into the kitchen.

  Matt Fellows got up and leaned into the balustrade, and staring across the Thames. “This is a marvellous view. I can see why Justine was so taken with it the first time she saw it. She loves the sounds of a river. There’s a little tributary of the Thames that runs along the bottom of our garden; she loved to sit there and read when she was a child.”

  “You’ve ditched your stick today,” Rob commented.

  “The walking stick? Yes, it’s gone.” He laughed. “I had glasses, which I hung round my neck with a chain. Ingrid hated them hanging there. Said it made me look old. So I got talked into these bloody varifocals. First night I wore the dammed things, I tripped over my own feet walking down the stairs and twisted my ankle. Hence, the walking stick when we visited you in the hospital.” Matt laughed again. “We’re looking to move house shortly. It’s getting a bit much for Ingrid and I’m starting to struggle with the garden, so we’re going to look for something smaller and more manageable. Tina won’t be happy; she loves that house.” He returned to his seat, across from Rob. “She helped us modernise the interior a couple of years ago, but the exterior and the gardens need a lot of work. I think she always saw herself in it after we were gone ...”

  “Where abouts are you?”

  “Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, near Marlow.”

  “Nice area from what I remember. My business partner lives out that way. We should come see you some time, before I go back to work again.”

  “Why not come out for Sunday lunch this weekend, if you feel up to it?” He turned and shouted, “Ingrid, why don’t the young ones come out for Sunday lunch this weekend?”

  Ingrid peered from the kitchen doorway. “That would be lovely!”

  “It’s a plan then,” Rob said with a smile, then leaned close to Matt. “Speaking of plans, don’t say anything to Tina about selling the house for the time being. I may have a plan.”

  38

  Sunday afternoon, Justine drove Rob to her parents’ house in Bourne End. It was a beautiful day and the English countryside looked at its best as they drove through Buckinghamshire with the top down on her Mercedes SLK.

  She turned into a narrow country lane upon entering the village and drove past large secluded houses, before reaching the gravel drive that led to the Fellows’ home. It was a large traditional house with white harled walls and red tiled roof. The gardens were extensive and Rob could see why Matt had said the grounds needed some work.

  As they parked outside the front entrance, Justine’s parents hastened out to meet them. They hugged and kissed their daughter. Ingrid Fellows kissed Rob, albeit more tentatively. Matt shook hands with Rob and ushered him into the house ahead of the women.

  The interior of the house belied the traditional exterior. Justine’s influence with the interior was abundantly evident in the stylish contemporary décor and furnishings which somehow didn’t look at odds with the more traditional aspects of the property.

  “You have a beautiful house,” Rob commented once they’d strolled through a large reception room and vast dining room to a large Victorian style conservatory.

  He motioned Rob to sit in one of two thickly padded chair in the spacious conservatory. “We like it very much. Tina got an interior designer she was a school with and, between them, they came up with what you see. Sadly, as I said the other day, we’re going to need to look at something smaller. Ingrid had a slight stroke nine months ago and doesn’t have the stamina she had before. She struggles a bit with the house, but won’t hear of getting help.” He smiled sadly. “I’m just getting old, plain and simple, and I don’t have the energy for the gardens now, although a gardener does come to cut the lawns.”

  The women appeared.

  “What are you two cooking up?” Ingrid asked wryly.

  “I was hoping you pair were doing cooking up in the kitchen,” Matt grinned. “We we
re just talking about the refurbishment of the house and—”

  “It’s a beautiful house, Mrs Fellows. I very much like the décor. I can see why Justine enjoyed living here when she was young,” Rob quickly said, giving Matt a meaningful look.

  “Why don’t you show Rob around before we sit down for lunch? Show him the rest of your handiwork. We’ll call when we’re ready to eat,” Matt said.

  “Good idea. Please, call me Ingrid. Mrs Fellows is too formal.”

  Justine helped Rob out of the chair. His leg, although healing well and becoming markedly less painful, still felt stiff after he’d been sitting for a while. She showed him the comfortable family room, huge farmhouse style kitchen, and utility room on the ground floor. The second floor was comprised of the master bedroom with dressing room and en suite, five other bedrooms and two additional family bathrooms.

  Upon showing him the last bedroom in the northeast corner, Justine opened a door. “Ta-da!” She flourished an arm to indicate a sturdy timber spiral stairway. They descended the stairs with Justine holding Rob’s hand for extra balance. At the bottom, Rob found himself in a handsome six-by-six-metre office/study, which boasted a small galley kitchen.

  “Wow. This is one serious study. The rear stairway makes it almost self-contained.”

  “That was my idea—that and the galley kitchen. But I’m not sure it’ll ever be utilised as I planned. Justine’s folly,” she chuckled and gestured. “There’s a garage with storage through that wall and—”

  “Tina, Rob! Lunch!”