Page 25 of Moonlight Kisses at Willow Tree Hall

He stared at the screen for a beat before finally deciding to return the call.

‘Hi,’ he said, when she picked up the phone.

‘Hello, love,’ came the quick reply. ‘How are you?’

As always, her voice sounded strained. As if she were on edge. But he knew that he had made her that way. That he was the cause of the tension.

‘Fine,’ he replied, walking out onto the balcony of his bedroom and relishing the heat of the sun on his wet skin.

‘Good, good.’

He took a deep breath of sweet country air. ‘Actually, I’m at home for once.’

Home. Even then it sounded strange to say it out loud. Having craved security for so long, the first thing he had done when he had earned enough money was to build his very own house.

He still didn’t know why he had been tempted back to buy a plot of land only a few miles from his parents’ village, but he’d found himself unable to resist the sweeping view that came with it.

It was private and secluded in the middle of the countryside, and, thanks to the sheer amount of money he had earned so far in his job, the three acres of land had also come with a riverside setting.

All the living spaces had been designed by Jack to take full advantage of the exceptional position on the banks of the River Ley. The huge master bedroom was no exception, and Jack was able to stare down at the glittering ripples of water on the river whilst he maintained his telephone conversation.

His mother carried on chatting nervously. ‘Isn’t it a lovely evening?’ There was a pause on the line. ‘I didn’t know you were relaxing at home for once. I wouldn’t have interrupted you otherwise.’

‘It’s not a problem,’ Jack told her. ‘Is everything OK?’

‘I should have sent you a text,’ she said, still sounding nervous. ‘It’s really not important. I just wondered whether you were free in a couple of weeks’ time. Just a birthday thing for your dad. Only us.’ Another long pause. ‘It would be nice to see you.’

‘What’s the date?’ he asked, making a mental note to add it to his diary. ‘I’ll see what I can do.’

‘Great!’ The tension made her voice over-exuberant as she gave him the date.

‘Well, I’d better head off,’ he told her afterwards.

‘Yes, yes, of course. I understand. I won’t keep you. I’m sure your dinner’s ready. Your father’s watching the cricket on the TV.’

‘Send him my, er, regards,’ said Jack, his voice cracking slightly.

‘Of course! Well, take care, love.’

‘You too,’ he replied.

He hung up and sighed. Despite the lovely summer’s evening and beautiful view of the river and countryside, he felt extremely irritated. But it was only with himself.

Joan and Peter Carter had done nothing to earn the cold treatment that they endured from their adopted son. All they had done was give him a loving home and the stability that he had craved for so long.

But he had repaid them, hadn’t he? He’d done the very best with the private education that they had been able to give him. He had studied hard and now he was a rich man.

He knew that they were proud of him. They had told him so on the rare occasions that he had travelled home to visit them.

But would he ever be able to break down that barrier between them? The barrier that he had built up from the age of twelve, when they first met? He thought it highly doubtful.

Jack wandered back inside and changed into shorts and a T-shirt before heading down to the lounge. He poured himself a large glass of whiskey. It was a specialist, expensive brand that he’d had to hunt high and low for. But it tasted just right.

He took a large gulp before staring around the room. It was a huge lounge, modern and luxurious in the fixtures and fittings.

The view of the river, of course, was sensational.

Jack smiled and took a sip of his drink. He had won at life, that was for sure.