Autumn Leaves at Mill Grange by Jenny Kane (the little red hen ebook .txt) 📗

Sixteen

September 9th

Shaun threw the linen off his bed.

It wasn’t there.

Then he lifted up the mattress and peered beneath.

It wasn’t there either.

He checked the door to his room. It was locked. No one could have come in while he was asleep unless they had a key. ‘Be rational!’ Shaun snapped. ‘Think! Your mobile isn’t where you always put it at night, so you lost it before you came to bed.’

Regretting the extra pint he’d drunk in the bar downstairs the night before, Shaun rubbed his temples, acutely aware of the headache that was only just on the right side of a hangover.

Gulping down a mouthful of water, Shaun talked himself through the previous evening. ‘We finished filming and got back from Bodmin as the dig closed for the night. I had my phone then because I texted Thea to say I’d call later. Then I checked the porta-shed. Everything was where it ought to be.’

Shaun remembered having his phone downstairs when he’d been in the bar. Phil had invited Sophie to join them. Phil had been so pleased with her work on camera that he’d gushed to the point of embarrassment. That, and a nagging edge of guilt that he’d enjoyed the moment, albeit fleetingly, when Sophie’s hand had brushed his knee, had tempted Shaun into having another drink with the AA.

‘My phone was on the table. I’m sure it was because I was going to call Thea as soon as we’d eaten… then…’

An image of Sophie asking for a selfie to mark her television debut wafted through his mind. She’d insisted on everyone being in it, but that hadn’t stopped her throwing her arms around his shoulders, despite both Phil and Ajay being closer. He had a feeling that her request had gone on to develop into something of a selfie frenzy. Shaun rubbed his forehead.

Sophie smelt of coconut and shea butter.

The memory brought Shaun up short as he glugged back a glass of water.

Why am I remembering that? Thea smells of shea butter too. That’ll be why. I was reminded of Thea.

Had the phone been there on the table after that? Now he concentrated, Shaun was convinced it had been on the table in front of him prior to the selfies, but hadn’t a clue about afterwards. I must have left it somewhere.

Shaun gave up trying to work out why he’d all but destroyed his room hunting for a phone he knew wasn’t there, and went for a shower.

As the water pounded against his skull, he wiped the sleep from his eyes. ‘Wake up and get on with the day! You want to finish on time to get back to Thea, remember?’

The thought of Thea reawakened the sense of guilt at how much, against expectations, he was enjoying Sophie being around. But by the time he’d finished washing, he’d convinced himself he had nothing to be guilty for. He simply liked the student archaeologist’s company.

‘You drank too much and left your phone somewhere. Probably by the sinks in the cloakroom, or at the bar.’ Tugging on his working clothes, Shaun picked up his laptop and headed to breakfast. He’d check that his phone hadn’t been handed in, then he’d email Thea.

*

Thea exhaled as she blew across the top of her coffee. Glad that no one had emerged from their quarters yet, she felt a ripple of relief as an email from Shaun pinged into her inbox.

Morning love,

Sorry for lack of call last night – I’ve mislaid my phone. Hopefully I haven’t completely lost it! I recall seeing it in the bar – but the drink was flowing rather more freely than usual. I suspect someone else picked it up by mistake. I’ll ask Sophie and the boys once they’re up.

All okay up at Mill Grange?

We’re a tiny bit behind schedule, but nothing to worry about. The filming itself is on time, just slow dig-wise due to lack of JCB.

Miss you – any chance of you popping down to see the excavation?

Lots of love,

Shaun xx

*

Sophie and the boys? So is she part of the main team now, this Sophie?

Thea felt sad as she typed her reply. She’d love to go and see the site and Shaun, but with so much to do, she knew it was impossible.

Hi Shaun,

I admit I was beginning to worry – it’s not like you not to call when you say you will. I hope the head isn’t too sore this morning! (There’s Ibuprofen in the outside pocket of your rucksack in case you can’t find any.)

Hectic here. The first three guests have arrived – all lovely, although I think Tina is finding it hard to mix with them. They knew Sam from his days abroad, and I suspect she’s feeling a bit left out.

Sam is working hard with Bert to overcome his claustrophobia.

I’m glad to read you’re almost on schedule down there. I haven’t had the chance to tell Sam yet, but Treasure Hunters have upped their offer. I’ll be in touch again when I’ve spoken to Sam.

Helen – my old boss from the Roman Baths – is here. She’s had an idea about sponsorship…

By the time Thea had explained Helen’s idea, and then deleted what she’d written and started again, Ann arrived in the kitchen, fully dressed for the day, and gagging for a cup of tea. Leaping into hostess mode, Thea was soon grilling toast while she learnt far more about the effect of desert sand on the knees if you spent too long in shorts than she thought it possible to know.

*

Sam stared at the calendar on his phone. The date his mother had suggested in her latest letter for dinner at Malvern House, the 26th to the 27th of September, was impossible. Even if he’d made progress with Bert, which he hadn’t, he couldn’t possibly manage an overnight stay by then. He could just imagine what his father would say if he arrived with the tent.

He glanced across the garden at Tina. She was chatting