Page 19 of Four of Hearts

‘So, yeah, about the stag do, Harry ...’

‘The one I’m not having? What about it?’

‘Well, it’s like how Liz and Jen have just said about Grace’s hen do being a surprise, isn’t it?’

The twist in Harry’s stomach got tighter. He moved his attention from Dave to Jadyn.

‘How do you mean, isn’t it? Isn’t it what? And how should I know? I don’t want a stag do.’

‘Oh dear,’ said Dave. ‘Oh deary, deary me...’

Harry ignored Dave as Jadyn was speaking again.

‘Well, there’s not much you can do about it now, seeing as we’ve arranged one. Ben’s idea, by the way, in case you were wondering. He knew you wouldn’t be up for it, so he had us all promise to keep it from you until, well, until now, I suppose. Can’t quite remember. It was definitely today you were to find out, though. Not sure who was supposed to say. Probably not me. But I have, now, so it’s not really a problem, is it?’

‘You’re rambling, Jadyn,’ grumbled Harry.

‘I know. Anyway, it’s like with the hen do, so that’s okay, isn’t it?’

‘Is it? How?’

‘What I mean is, we kept it a secret from you, like Ben asked us to, left it to the last minute, because we knew what you’d say. Which you just did, didn’t you?’

Jadyn was repeating himself and Harry was lost. He very much wanted to go home and forget the conversation and especially it’s more than obvious conclusion.

‘What did I just say?’

‘No.’

Harry raised a knowing finger in the air.

‘Ah, yes, that’s right, I did, didn’t I? Now, if there’s nothing else to discuss, then maybe I can finish this?’

Harry held up what was left of his sandwich, which wasn’t much.

‘The stag do’s tomorrow as well,’ said Jadyn, ignoring the sandwich. ‘We arranged it like that so that you’d not feel bad about going out and leaving Grace at home, because we all know that’s what you’d be thinking, even if you didn’t say it. Or you’d certainly use that as one of your excuses to not go.’

Fair point, thought Harry.

‘This isn’t something you can get out of, Harry,’ said Ethan. ‘It’s all planned. Tables are booked. Transport, too. And rooms.’

‘Rooms?’

‘We’re all off to the Tan Hill Inn,’ Jadyn explained. ‘It was Jim’s idea. Food’s excellent, what with the meat all being from Cockett’s, it’s bound to be, isn’t it? We did think about going to The Green Dragon over in Hardraw, but that’s not much of a trip out from here, is it?’

‘You don’t need to worry about the dogs, either,’ added Liz, jumping in, her tone all reassurance. ‘Arthur’s staying over at your place for that.’

‘You were in on this, too?’ Harry asked, staring at his new sister-in-law.

‘Everyone’s in on it,’ said Dave, and Harry almost threw the last bit of his sandwich at the man’s massive head.

‘But... but you just did the whole folded arms, scathing look thing!’ said Harry.

‘Sometimes,’ said Dave, ‘I just think you need a bit of a slap, Harry, that’s all. And seeing as I can’t go giving you one of those, like, and certainly not here in front of everyone, it was the next best thing.’

Harry was both amused by the thought of one of Dave’s massive hands swishing through the air to connect with his face, and relieved that it wasn’t about to do that, and all because he wasn’t interested in a stag do.

‘The Tan Hill Inn, then.’