Among the Stars ✔️ [Completed] [book three]

Chapter 39

While I'm sat at the kitchen table lost in a vision of how I see the advert for Banner Hotels playing out on screen, my phone begins to ring.

I quickly glance at the clock and notice that it's just after ten in the morning before seeing Callum's name on the screen. Daniel's childhood friend and our builder immediately sounds stressed when I answer the phone.

"Lizzie... thank God you answered! Are you available today?"

"Callum? What's up?" Sitting up right in my chair, I take a deep breath for whatever news he has to share from our Cotswolds home.

"I can't get hold of Daniel..." he practically shouts causing me to hold the phone at a slight distance from my ear.

"He's on set today. What's going on?" I respond immediately, desperate to know what's gone wrong.

"Shit! The designer is here ready to complete the order for the home cinema. Daniel made the appointment, but he hasn't turned up and he's not answering his phone. I had a text from him about ten minutes ago that said he was sorry but he wasn't available today. He said you will need to meet with the designer, and that you know what to order!" His tone becomes more frantic with each word. "If this doesn't get sorted today it puts the rest of the project on hold... and I know you both want it all finished before the twins are here!"

My brow furrows deeply, knowing it's unlike Daniel to make an appointment and not keep it. "That's so strange... he knew he was away filming." I stand up and begin trawling through Daniel's design folder with the phone pinned between my ear and shoulder. Placed on the top are the sketches we put together for how we want the room to look, along with printouts of ideas for the decor and materials. "I've found the designs. Can I send pictures for you to go through them with the designer?"

"He's here now, Lizzie. I really think you should come up and talk him through what you and Daniel are looking for! I can't make the kind of decisions that he's going to be wanting from you today."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, not really wanting to drive up to the Cotswolds today when I have so much work to do.

"Please, Lizzie. This guy is really difficult to get an appointment with, so he's not sure when he will be able to come back." Callum's voice is strained. I can practically see him pacing as he talks to me.

"Give me ten minutes and I'll be on my way." I end the call without another word, slamming my laptop shut with a bit too much force.

As I ascend the stairs to get dressed, I repeatedly attempt to ring Daniel. When he doesn't answer for the fifth time, I decide to leave a message. "Hi. It's me. Can you call me back as soon as you get this message please! I'm not sure why you would think it was a good idea to make this appointment for today, or why you've told Callum I can deal with it without talking to me first. It's not a problem, but a heads up would have been nice... I'm busy too, you know!" I sigh loudly. "Like I said, call me back!"

Quickly, I change into a knee length stretchy navy dress and run my fingers through my hair in an attempt to tame the waves. Applying some minimal makeup, I grab my cardigan, the project folder, and make my way out to the car.

Repeatedly I check my phone during the journey, but it just stares blankly back at me. I can feel my frustration with him rising, so I decide to put a cheesy eighties pop playlist on and take some deep breaths. Somewhere between Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance With Somebody and A-ha's Take On Me, I finally realise that I feel calm and at ease.

Turning up our sweeping driveway, I can't see any cars parked outside the front of our house.  "That's strange." I mutter to myself as I turn down the volume of Starship's Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now.