The Summer Guest

by Emma Hannigan

  Kathleen pulled her into her arms and whispered in her ear, ‘Don’t ever lose sight of what an awesome person you are. Be the best big sis you can be.’

  ‘I will,’ Amélie said, and rushed out of the door.

  ‘I hate goodbyes too,’ Kathleen said, with a shrug.

  Kathleen opened the letter. ‘It’s handwritten on gorgeous butterfly paper. I’ll read it out.’

  Dear Kathleen

  It was so great to get to know you this summer. Thanks for the chats and totally awesome stories about Disney and Jackson. I hope your heart doesn’t hurt too much when you go home. I’ll mail you and please try to stay in touch.

  I’d love it if you’d come back some time. You could see my new brother or sister.

  You rock. I hope I end up being like you some day.

  Thanks for ‘getting’ me and being my friend and never looking at me as if I’m crazy.

  Respect, kudos and I hope you know you are totally mint-bomb.

  Your biggest fan

  Amélie

  ‘That is one of the sweetest letters I’ve ever received,’ Kathleen said. ‘She’s a good girl.’

  ‘Before Rodger arrives and we sit down to a delicious dinner I need you to follow me,’ Sam announced.

  ‘What’s all this about?’ Lexie asked. Kathleen grinned. ‘Are you two in cahoots here or what?’ Sam nodded.

  They filed up the stairs towards the messy back bedroom. ‘Close your eyes,’ Sam instructed. Lexie did as she was told and shuffled forward as Kathleen guided her shoulders.

  ‘Open your eyes,’ Sam said.

  Lexie peered nervously into the room and a little yelp escaped her lips. ‘Oh, Sam,’ she breathed. ‘What have you done?’

  ‘It was Maia’s idea and Kathleen backed it up. So if you want to blame anyone you’ll have to line us all up.’

  ‘I’m stunned,’ she said, as she gazed around. All the junk was gone and Sam had installed a massive drawing-table in the room with two easels. Her paints, brushes and charcoals were neatly stored where she could access them easily.

  ‘It’s wonderful,’ she breathed.

  ‘Maia has been ranting and raving saying she wants you to start painting again,’ Sam said. ‘I thought you might be able to do some sort of sketching at least …’

  Lexie hugged him and Kathleen. Then she rang Maia and blubbed down the phone at her.

  ‘Now there are no excuses. I want my portrait.’

  ‘I hear you,’ Lexie said.

  ‘I’ll be over one evening this week so we can start.’

  ‘Jeez, you’re scary bossy today. By the time that child is born you’ll be like a sergeant major.’

  They made their way downstairs where Lexie began to prepare the dinner. She was so excited at the thought of doing some art again. Maia was right: it didn’t have to be the same as before. Perhaps she’d be able to work in a new style.

  Shortly afterwards Rodger pulled up outside.

  ‘Holy cow!’ said Sam. ‘That’s a serious machine he’s driving there.’

  Lexie and Kathleen were momentarily silenced as they took in the top-of-the-range Porsche.

  ‘He didn’t buy that on the wage he earned being a tour guide,’ Lexie said drily.

  ‘Certainly not.’ Kathleen laughed.

  They all went to welcome him.

  ‘Nice wheels,’ Sam said. ‘We’re all wildly impressed here.’

  ‘She’s a beauty, isn’t she?’ Rodger said. ‘I was gutted that I couldn’t drive her for a while. My hip was giving me such gyp I couldn’t manage the gears. But now that I’m recovering I’m zooming about again.’

  ‘It’s stunning,’ Lexie said.

  ‘I bought her just after Claudia died. My daughter was furious with me and said I was behaving like a drug-crazed teenager tearing around the countryside in a younger man’s machine.’

  ‘Don’t mind her,’ Kathleen said. ‘She’s just jealous.’

  ‘I’ve started to realise that no matter what I do, that girl won’t be happy,’ Rodger said, shaking his head regretfully. ‘I had a similar car before which I used at weekends. Claudia was afraid to sit into it. So I know she wouldn’t mind me having it now she’s gone.’

  ‘Indeed she wouldn’t,’ Kathleen assured him.

  They enjoyed their dinner and the conversation flowed. By eleven o’clock Kathleen was yawning. ‘Gosh, I’m sorry, here we are at the last supper and I’m falling asleep into my dessert.’

  ‘You need to take things easy,’ Lexie said. ‘We were trawling the hedgerows at the crack of dawn this morning,’ she explained to Rodger. ‘Little did I know she and Sam had planned to remove me from the house so he could transform our spare room into a studio.’

  ‘What a lovely surprise,’ Rodger said. ‘I should get going anyway. I’ve a long drive back to Howth.’

  ‘Lovely to see you, Rodger,’ Lexie said. ‘If you’re ever out for a spin, call in, won’t you?’

  ‘Thank you,’ he said, then kissed her cheek and shook Sam’s hand.

  Kathleen and Rodger made their way to the front door.

  ‘Rodger, I’ve got to thank you for being so kind to me,’ Kathleen said.

  ‘You took the words right out of my mouth,’ he said sincerely. ‘It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed female company. You’ve made my summer so special.’

  ‘I’ll miss you,’ she stated simply.

  ‘And I you. But we’ll stay in touch, won’t we?’

  ‘You bet. We might be many miles apart but we’re still at the end of a telephone or Skype.’

  They hugged for the longest time and then Rodger strode out to his car. Feeling a little like a lost teenager, Kathleen stood inside the front door and waved until he was out of sight.

  ‘Thank you for sending him to me, Jackson,’ she whispered. ‘In another space, and at another time, he could have been more than a friend. But right now my heart still thinks it belongs to you.’

  Lexie and Sam were chatting about holiday plans when she rejoined them in the kitchen.

  ‘Okay?’ Lexie asked.

  ‘Just about,’ Kathleen said honestly. ‘He’s a darling man.’

  ‘Seems he has a few notes in the bank too,’ Sam joked, elbowing her gently.

  ‘Stop it, Sam, you cheeky article,’ Lexie said.

  Kathleen threw her head back and laughed. ‘You’re dead right, Sam. He’s what my mother might have deemed a good catch.’

  ‘Did you snog him?’ Sam wondered.

  ‘No!’ Kathleen said, in mock astonishment. ‘I’m a lady, I’ll have you know.’

  ‘Pity.’ He sighed. ‘If you don’t want him can I have a shot with him then?’

  They all chuckled and Sam ducked as Lexie swiped at him.

  ‘Lex and I were just saying, if you don’t make it back here soon, we could come and visit.’

  ‘Oh, I’d love that,’ she said. ‘I’m dreading going. If I knew I’d see you two again soon it would soften the blow slightly.’

  ‘Well, let’s make a pact that we’ll meet up with one another in the near future. Your place or mine, only time will tell,’ Lexie said.

  They walked Kathleen to her door.

  ‘I wish you’d let me take you to the airport,’ Lexie said.

  ‘I’ve told you, sweet girl, I’m not dragging either of you out there at four in the morning. I’d never get over the guilt. Besides, I’d only dissolve at the departure gate. I’m happier doing it this way. Honestly.’

  ‘Okay,’ Sam interjected. ‘I’m going to give you a bear hug and leave you gals to your goodbyes.’ He scooped her up and swung her around. ‘Safe journey until we meet again.’

  ‘Thank you for everything, Sam,’ she said.

  ‘It was our pleasure,’ he said.

  ‘Look after this gorgeous girl, won’t you? Look after you two as well,’ she said. ‘Don’t lose sight of what you have. Some people spend their whole lives searching for the magic you’ve found. Don’t waste it. A day wi
ll come when one of you has to depart. Live for the moment and relish the time you have together.’

  ‘We will,’ Sam said gruffly. ‘Now you’re making me all emotional,’ he croaked. ‘I’m out of here. This is not my forte!’

  Kathleen waved as he took the steps two at a time. She held her arms open to Lexie. ‘What can I say?’ They held each other tightly. ‘The angels sent me to you. You’ve been a wonderful friend when I needed it most. I will never forget you for this. Thank you for opening your home and your heart to me, dear Lexie.’

  ‘Oh, Kathleen, I promised myself I wasn’t going to cry,’ she sobbed. ‘I’ll miss you so much. We will definitely see each other soon. Come Hell or high water we will.’

  ‘I know we will. I’ll make it happen,’ Kathleen said.

  Eventually Lexie reluctantly dragged herself back up the steps to the main house and then to her bedroom.

  ‘All okay?’ Sam asked, as she joined him in bed.

  ‘Yeah,’ she said, sighing heavily. ‘She’s a gem, isn’t she?’

  ‘Certainly is,’ Sam mused. ‘She’s right about one thing, Lex,’ he said, pulling her into his arms. ‘We need to make sure we look after us.’

  ‘If I’ve learned nothing else over the last while, I can assure you I know that. Are you happy that it’s just you and me?’ she asked, gazing into his eyes.

  ‘I’ve never been more certain that I am,’ he responded. ‘I thought you’d understand that when I turned the spare room into an art studio.’

  ‘Thank you so much. I’m flabbergasted. I can’t wait to start doing some art again.’

  ‘Are we happy as a family of two, then?’ Sam raised an eyebrow.

  Lexie nodded, feeling as if a massive weight had been lifted from her shoulders. ‘Are you happy with that?’ she asked tentatively.

  ‘Lex, the fear in your eyes is heartbreaking,’ he said. ‘I got so caught up in the baby-boom thing … Everywhere I turned there were pregnant people. I think I had a total panic and felt we needed to conform.’

  ‘And now?’

  ‘I realised I was losing you. That was never the plan, Lexie. We’re a great team. I’m sorry I lost sight of us.’

  ‘I’m sorry for being so difficult,’ she said. ‘But I had to be true to myself. You’ve no idea how happy I am that I’m not going to lose you, Sam. I would’ve had a baby to keep you. If push had come to shove, I would’ve done it.’

  ‘That was actually what turned me. No matter what happens going forward, as long as you and I are together we’ll be okay.’

  It was just after seven o’clock the next morning when Kathleen stared out of the airport window. She wanted to take one last look at the green grass of Ireland before she boarded the plane.

  ‘I’m looking forward to getting away from all this rain,’ she overheard a fellow passenger say, as their flight was called.

  ‘I’ve loved every second of my time here,’ Kathleen said.

  The other woman stopped in her tracks. ‘It’s a beautiful country but I’m craving the sunshine of Florida, I’ve never been so cold,’ she quipped.

  ‘I’ve realised that warmth comes from within,’ Kathleen stated. ‘I was expecting Siberian conditions and I can honestly tell you I found it positively tropical here.’

  Epilogue

  Lexie woke with a start. Sitting up, she looked around the room and reached over for Sam, but he was gone. It was a bright, crisp December morning and, although the heating had come on, the cold was seeping through the bay window of her bedroom.

  ‘Sam?’

  She remembered he had a meeting and needed to be in work early. A smile spread across her face as she thought of the excitement and the flurry of phone calls the evening before.

  ‘I’m a big sister,’ Amélie shouted, as soon as Lexie answered her mobile.

  ‘What flavour is the baby?’ Lexie asked.

  ‘It’s a girl! Mum and Dad have said I can choose her name,’ she said, choking with emotion. ‘She’s so tiny and so perfect, Auntie Lex.’

  ‘I can’t wait to see her.’

  ‘I could be a total nightmare and insist they call her something like Madonna,’ Amélie said.

  ‘You wouldn’t!’

  ‘No, course not. She’s so pure and unscathed by life, Lex. I’m going to do everything I can to be a good mentor to her. I want her to grow up and become this rock-solid, confident yet sensitive woman.’

  ‘I’m sure she will,’ she said. ‘How’s your mum after her Caesarean section?’

  ‘She looks a bit stoned.’ Amélie giggled. ‘But she’s thrilled. Dad is strutting about with his chest out like the king of the peacocks.’

  ‘Good for Billy,’ Lexie said. ‘I can’t wait to see you all. I’ll be in tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Cool. Here’s Dad.’ She passed the phone to Billy.

  He and Lexie chatted for a few moments as she congratulated him.

  ‘It was so different from Amélie’s birth,’ he said. ‘I was just telling her how sorry I am that we allowed our parents to dictate to us back then. We were young and scared and didn’t have the guts to stand up and tell them all to back off.’

  ‘Well, it’s great that all three of you can celebrate with this little girl.’

  ‘I agree,’ Billy said. ‘No more secrets and, as Amélie is saying here, this baby is going to know it all!’

  Lexie texted Agata and told her the great news, then asked if she was okay to open the gallery. A local woman was minding Britta and so far it was going swimmingly. Lexie wanted to pop into Caracove Bay shopping centre and buy clothes for the baby. She couldn’t wait to browse through all the tiny things. Sam had warned her not to go too crazy. ‘She’ll grow at a rate of knots, so don’t buy shedloads or she won’t be able to wear them all.’

  ‘Leave me alone,’ she had said, pouting good-naturedly. ‘It’s not every day I become an auntie. Besides, we agreed I’m allowed to spoil Amélie and this baby as much as I like. They’re our family.’

  ‘Too true,’ he agreed.

  ‘Maia will give us another opportunity to go crazy in the next few months. It’s lucky we’re sticking to our original plan of not having kids or we’d have no money to clothe all these babies.’

  Rodger was about to get into his car and go for a drive when the most extraordinary sight almost knocked him off his feet.

  It was see-your-breath cold yet two beautiful butterflies flapped past him. They circled and fluttered, then disappeared around the side of the house. He turned his face to the sky and waved, then sat in a stunned silence in his car.

  Lexie was just pulling on her warm winter coat when the landline rang. She was so eager to get to the hospital she was going to leave it and hope the person might call her mobile, but something stopped her. Rushing to the kitchen, she managed to grab the call before it went to the answer machine. ‘Hello,’ she said cheerfully.

  ‘Am I speaking with Lexie Collins?’ said a male American voice.

  ‘Yes, this is Lexie.’

  ‘My name is Dr Jim Kenny. I’m calling from Orlando General Hospital.’

  ‘Kathleen!’ Lexie said instantly. ‘Is Kathleen okay?’

  ‘I’m so sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings,’ he said, ‘but your friend Kathleen passed away last night.’

  ‘No,’ Lexie sobbed. ‘How?’

  ‘She suffered a massive stroke. We did all we could but by the time she was brought here by the emergency services it was too late. I’m so sorry.’

  Lexie leaned against the wall and cried silently.

  ‘Ma’am?’

  ‘Yes?’ Lexie managed.

  ‘A member of the ambulance crew handed me a note, which they found in her jacket pocket. She had written several things addressed to a few people. One had your name and number with a short entry. May I read it to you?’

  ‘Okay,’ Lexie sobbed.

  ‘The message reads, “I promised you I would see you soon. Now I can see you any time I like. When you’re lonely
look to the sky and know I’m near by. Thank you for being a friend when I needed it most. Jackson says hello.”’

  ‘Thank you,’ Lexie managed, and hung up. Numbed by sadness, she pulled out a kitchen chair and sat down heavily. How dreadfully ironic that Billy and Dee’s baby girl had arrived to such joy and fanfare as her dear friend Kathleen departed.

  Lexie knew Kathleen would approve of that. She was a great believer in things happening for a reason. That did nothing to ease the pain that was gripping her heart, though.

  ‘Sleep well, darling friend,’ she said out loud. ‘I hope you and Jackson are delighted to be reunited. Thank you for blessing us with your friendship. I’m so glad you got to spend your last summer at Caracove Bay.’

  Once she’d called Sam, Agata, Betty and her parents, Lexie washed her face and willed herself to carry on with her plan to see the new baby, knowing Kathleen would want that.

  Rodger sprang to mind. She didn’t have his mobile number so she couldn’t call him.

  The scene that met her at the hospital a short while later was quite simply beautiful. The smiling faces of Dee, Billy and Amélie were heart-warming.

  ‘Say hello to your auntie Lexie,’ Amélie said, holding the baby up. ‘She’s really cool and buys the best pressies. You’re gonna love her.’

  ‘She’s a little cherub,’ Lexie said.

  ‘Meet Katie,’ Dee said. ‘We all love the name but she’ll be Kathleen on her birth cert.’

  ‘Did Mum tell you the news?’ Lexie asked, trying not to cry again.

  ‘What news?’ Amélie asked, as Lexie took the baby in her arms.

  ‘Kathleen passed away last night,’ Lexie said, and the tears raced down her cheeks.

  ‘We had no idea,’ Amélie said, as she began to sob. ‘We wanted little Katie to have a strong and inspirational namesake.’

  ‘Now we know we’ve definitely made the right choice,’ Dee said, wiping her eyes.

  Lexie brought baby Katie to the window. She had no idea why she felt a sudden urge to look upwards, but the answer was clear as she drank in the spectacle above: a perfect arc of colours adorned the sky.