A Family Forever by Helen Scott Taylor

with me, Tim. Then I won't have to go with Dad."
    Pain sliced through Adam. He'd thought they were a team, yet his son didn't want to be with him. Adam had longed for his parents to take him with them when they travelled instead of leaving him at home with a nanny, and later packing him off to boarding school. He'd pledged never to do the same to Harry. But that was exactly what his son had just asked him to do.
    "Why?" He struggled to keep the hurt out of his voice.
    "I want to live at Larchfield, Dad. Then the hedgehogs can stay in the garden, and I'll get to see Soph every day."
    Adam dropped down on the bench and rubbed the burning pain in his neck. He'd known Harry liked Larchfield. He hadn't realized how much.
    "Larchfield Hall is huge, pal. We don't want a home that big."
    "Can we buy a cottage like Soph and her mum have, then?"
    Lord, no. A place that size would give him claustrophobia. He'd most likely brain himself on one of the low beams.
    "Look, pal, once we finish with the Larchfield development, I promise we'll move out of London to a house with a garden. There're plenty of villages in the countryside around the city." The commute to his office would take a little longer, but on the plus side, if he bought a place in the right area, he might be nearer Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
    "That's too far away from Soph."
    Adam patted the back of his son's head, a smile on his lips. Sophie had obviously cast her spell over Harry. His son was growing up so fast.
    "Sorry, pal, we can't live down here. Great Monkton is too far away from London and the airports."
    Harry pouted but didn't respond.
    Adam stood and folded his iPad into its case. He'd let Harry ponder their discussion and, hopefully, he'd realize Adam was right.
    "I have to get back to meet the project manager at Larchfield. Be a good lad. I'll see you both later." He met Tim's eyes over his son's head and the tutor nodded. He'd smooth over any more worries Harry had.
    Before Adam left, he headed into the Plume of Feathers to find the owner. He'd set his team the task of finding out about the farmer, but it didn't hurt to do his own research while he was here.
    The farmer's daughter was wiping down the bar and polishing the beer taps.
    "Morning, Felicity."
    She glanced his way with a smile, her blonde hair piled on her head in a silver clip. She wore a little too much makeup for his taste, but she was an attractive woman. He wondered how miserable Mr. Andrews managed to father a daughter who looked like Felicity.
    "Morning, Adam. Are Harry and Tim okay outside?"
    "Perfect. They'd probably like something to drink in a while.
    "I'll send someone out when you've gone."
    Adam tapped his fingers on the polished oak bar, wondering how to broach the subject of her grumpy father without offending her. "I spoke to your dad about the hedgehogs."
    "Oh, how did that go?"
    "Not too well. Did you know he's being a bit rough on Victoria O'Shea and her daughter?"
    Felicity's eyes widened. "I'd no idea. She's never said anything to me."
    "Any idea why he's got it in for Victoria?"
    Felicity sighed. "I think she's the victim of a grudge that goes back years. It's nothing to do with Victoria herself. Her grandmother helped me when my father tried to make me leave school early and work on the farm. He had a continual battle with the school authorities because he kept me home too much.
    "Victoria's grandmother was my English teacher. She helped me apply for college. My father hasn't spoken to me since the day I left home. He hasn't even acknowledged his grandchildren. As far as they're concerned, they don't have a grandfather."
    Adam had thought his parents were bad because they rarely saw him. But at least they still talked to him. "I'm sorry."
    "I never dreamed my father would take it out on Victoria and Sophie." She gave a sad laugh. "It doesn't surprise me, though. He's the most selfish, controlling man I've ever met."
    "Do you mind if I explain this to Victoria? She has no