Page 89 of Never Gonna Happen

Emily looked at him in surprise. ‘With your dad?’

Jamie nodded. ‘He’s going out and asked if you wanted to go with him. It seems a shame for you not to go because I can’t. You’ve been making such great progress.’

‘What about Adam? Is he going?’ Emily knew that Adam was back at Bowford; she’d seen him prowling the corridors yesterday like a hungry Dementor.

Jamie shook his head. ‘I shouldn’t think so. Adam rarely rides these days.’

She tried not to let the relief show on her face. ‘What will you do while I’m out?’

‘Hang out with the horses, fold blankets, get insanely jealous that you’re out riding, wait impatiently for you to come back.’

Emily snuggled into his shoulder. ‘You’ll be out with me soon.’

‘I know,’ said Jamie with a smile. ‘But in the meantime you can practise your canter so we can do lots of weekend rides this summer.’

‘That sounds nice.’

‘We can do a tour of all the local pubs.’

Emily smiled at the memory of their first ride together. ‘Maybe just the ones with valet horse parking.’

Emily sat on Rupert’s back waiting for Mr Hunter to arrive; apparently he’d been held up by a phone call with Tanya, who was no doubt demanding more money to fund her LA lifestyle. His horse was a beautiful light bay called Chester, who was currently tied to the rail and waiting patiently. Jamie sat on the mounting block, his booted leg stretched out in front and his crutches hanging loosely on his arms.

‘I’m going home next weekend,’ said Emily. ‘It’s my birthday on Sunday.’

Jamie looked up in surprise. ‘I had no idea. Why didn’t you say?’

‘I don’t know, I guess there’s been a lot going on and I kind of forgot. Now it’s crept up on me.’

‘Is it your thirtieth?’

‘Yeah. I think Mum is planning family drinks at the pub on Saturday night. Nothing fancy, probably just me and Kelly and Mum and Dad.’

‘Am I invited?’

‘Of course, if you want to come. But it’s going to be in a crowded pub and I’m worried you’ll get knocked about.’ Emily had given it some thought and decided it really would be best if Jamie didn’t come, but she hadn’t worked out the best way to word it without offending him.

Jamie thought about it for a moment. ‘I’d really like to be there, but to be honest I’m not sure I can handle that long in a car. Would you be upset?’

‘Of course not,’ said Emily. ‘We can celebrate when I get back on Sunday. That’s my actual birthday anyway.’

‘It’s a deal,’ he said. ‘I’ll cook you something fancy, get some tips from Sam. It’s not every day you turn thirty.’

‘How did you celebrate yours?’

‘Oh,’ said Jamie, blushing furiously. ‘Um, Dad took me out for dinner.’

‘Where?’

‘New York.’

Emily snorted with laughter. ‘I’m a much cheaper date. The kitchen will be just fine.’

‘You have good posture,’ said Mr Hunter, walking alongside Emily towards the large paddock at the south end of the estate. They’d been heading that way for ten minutes, after Mr Hunter suggested it would be a good place to practise cantering. ‘You’ve taken to riding very quickly.’

‘I really enjoy it,’ said Emily with a smile. ‘I never thought I would.’

‘I’m sorry this isn’t quite the beach in Mauritius.’