BooksBarbecue
Back A Place to Call Home Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. Epilogue
  58. Author’s Note
  59. Acknowledgments
  60. More from Fay Keenan
  61. About the Author
  62. About Boldwood Books

‘Frankly, Miles, I’d rather not have you behind me, if you’re planning on stabbing me in the back.’ Charlie’s tone hardened. ‘And you couldn’t get much more offensive than that non-story you leaked to AllFeed, could you?’

‘You can’t prove anything,’ Miles said, his tone unconcerned. ‘That could have come from anyone.’

‘True, but it’s rather a coincidence that you’re withdrawing funding now, having allegedly tried to discredit me personally and politically, isn’t it? And all because I wasn’t prepared to be in your pocket like Hugo Fitzgerald was.’

‘More lies and slander,’ Miles retorted, but there was an edge of steel to his voice.

‘Maybe not, but I think we all know where we stand.’ Charlie’s said, staring evenly at Miles. ‘And if that’s all you have to say, I suggest you stop harassing Holly in, what I’m sure you don’t need me to remind you, is actually her shop.’

Miles paused, staring in undisguised anger at Holly and Charlie, for a moment longer, before nodding briskly and exiting the shop.

‘Christ,’ Charlie muttered.

Holly looked up at him and her heart flipped in concern. His face had drained of all colour, and, still clasped in hers, his hand had begun to shake. ‘Are you OK?’ she said gently. She moved closer to him, to hold him in her arms. ‘I can’t quite believe what you just said to that idiot.’

Charlie buried his head in her shoulder and his voice was muffled. ‘Just between us, neither can I.’ He began to laugh shakily. ‘The constituency accountant’s going to string me up when she finds out I didn’t try to talk Miles back into funding us. He wasn’t joking when he said he was basically financing the local party, you know.’

‘Then it’s about time you found a new generation of donors,’ Holly said stoutly. ‘I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who’ll cough up if you ask them nicely enough.’

‘Says the confirmed Green Party voter!’ Charlie laughed a little more strongly.

‘I think I can lend my support in other ways,’ Holly replied. ‘Now, get back to the table and finish that speech – you said you’d send a draft to Tom, today, remember, before you see him tomorrow.’

‘Absolutely,’ Charlie replied but stopped to kiss her. ‘Screw Miles,’ he said as they parted. ‘I’ve worked out what’s most important, and he definitely doesn’t come close. Not even with that party donation.’

Holly smiled. Charlie’s idealistic streak was something she was beginning to love about him; she just prayed that his inner pragmatist was right on this one, too.

52