‘Of course.’ Holly nodded. It might help them to build some all-important bridges.
Lucinda pulled her mobile from her bag and spoke quickly to her husband. ‘He’ll be here in about fifteen minutes. That okay?’
‘Perfect.’
‘Would you like to come and see Luke?’ Holly asked.
‘Yes please.’ Lucinda nodded, her eyes bright with anticipation.
They went through to the lounge and found Granny kneeling on the floor next to the play mat. She was trying to unbutton Luke’s tiny jeans but was struggling.
‘These are so fiddly. Luke, dear, do stop wriggling so your great-granny can get you undone.’
‘Granny!’ Holly rushed to her side. ‘It’s fine, let me.’ She suppressed a giggle. If she left Granny trying to change Luke, they could end up with a dreadful mess, and right before lunch too.
‘I could tell he was filling his nappy, so I thought I’d save you a job and change him, but I can’t even do that.’
Holly helped the old lady to her feet. ‘The poppers are fiddly but the jeans look so cute on him. You’d be fine changing him when he’s wearing his dungarees or his little jogging bottoms.’
Granny nodded. ‘I doubt that, but thank you for trying to make me feel better. Does your father need any help in the kitchen?’
‘I think he’s managing. Rich has arrived, along with Lucinda.’ Holly gestured at Rich’s mum, who was standing in the doorway, wringing her hands as if trying to stop herself interfering.
‘Oh hello, Lucinda dear. I didn’t see you there. I was so intent on my mission to clean up the poop.’
Lucinda gave a nervous giggle. ‘Hi, Glenda. How are you?’ Holly knew she was wondering how Granny was coping without Grandpa.
‘I’m fine, dear. I have these two here to keep me busy now. I’ll go and see if I can help in the kitchen.’
Granny tottered off and Lucinda knelt by Holly in front of the play mat. Granny had placed the changing bag next to Luke, so Holly quickly changed him, hoping Lucinda wouldn’t be put off by the nuclear-grade stench. But as she popped the nappy into a bag and tied the top, she sneaked a glance at Lucinda to find her gazing at Luke with an adoring expression on her face.
‘Are you okay to watch him while I take this out and wash my hands?’ Holly asked.
‘Of course. I’d be honoured.’ Lucinda reached out and placed her hand on Holly’s shoulder. ‘Thank you, sweetheart. I know this must be difficult.’
‘It’s fine.’ Holly smiled. ‘We all need to get along now more than ever.’ She didn’t know if the hurt she’d felt at Lucinda’s words would ever leave her, but she also knew that staying angry and bitter wouldn’t help anyone.
She took the bag through to the kitchen, leaving Rich’s mum alone with her grandchild for the very first time.
When she returned to the lounge, Lucinda was sitting on the couch with Luke lying across her knees. She was chatting away to him and he was cooing and babbling in his very cute way. Holly stood in the doorway watching them and her heart expanded. She’d once read that children could never have too many people to love them, and here at Greenacres, Luke would have that joy. Her fears that Lucinda wouldn’t think her baby was good enough slowly dissipated like smoke on the breeze, and she felt herself relax. She was a natural with him, and from the look on her face, she already loved him.
Holly quietly backed out of the doorway. She’d let them have some time to get to know each other, to form a bond that she knew would benefit them both. Lucinda was a good person and she’d been through her fair share of suffering. Hopefully being with Luke would help her to heal. The happy, good-humoured baby had a way of helping those around him to feel better. She’d seen it this week as her granny had spent time with him and her dad had doted upon him. Now Luke had a whole extended family to care for him, and there was a wonderful sense of security in that. She was glad Lucinda had come to Greenacres with Rich today, and glad that Rex would soon join them; then they could eat as a family and start to put the past behind them.
Thinking of lunch, Holly hoped that her Yorkshire puddings would rise properly; it was the one job Dad had allowed her to do.
And no one liked flat Yorkshire puddings…
* * *
‘Well, this is nice!’ Bruce said as he gazed around the table.
‘It is indeed lovely to have company.’ Granny picked up her wine glass. ‘I would like to make a toast…’
Everyone raised their own glasses, and Holly noticed that her granny’s was wobbling. It must be difficult having guests round, with it being the first time since she’d lost her husband. There would be many firsts, but Holly knew that Granny would face each one with the same courage and determination. It made her feel that she should do the same.
‘To present company, and of course… to absent friends.’ Granny pressed her lips together and blinked hard before taking a long drink of her red wine.
‘Absent friends,’ they all responded, then clinked glasses.
‘Thank you so much for inviting us,’ Rex said.
‘Our pleasure.’ Bruce nodded. ‘It’s lovely to cook for company.’
They all filled their plates with meat and vegetables, then Holly held her breath as the Yorkshire puddings made the rounds.
‘I have to apologize for the Yorkshires.’ She got there before anyone could comment. ‘I opened the oven too soon and they… uh… collapsed.’
‘They look fabulous.’ Rex stabbed one with his fork, then placed it next to his potatoes. ‘Lovely and golden.’
‘But like frisbees.’ Holly grimaced.
‘Holly, sweetheart, you are many things, but a great cook has never been one of them.’ Her dad smiled at her. ‘And what does it matter?’
‘Not at all!’ Glenda patted Holly’s hand where it sat on the table. ‘She has other talents, and at least she tries.’
Holly met Rich’s eyes across the table and his smirk made her own laughter bubble. It was as though they were teenagers again, being patronized by their parents. So what if she couldn’t cook? She could do the basics, and besides, Rich had always been better in the kitchen than her, so she’d let him and her dad crack on.
Rich’s mouth widened into a grin, and Holly couldn’t help it; she laughed out loud. It was as though the tension of sitting around the table had built up and now it could no longer be contained.
Lucinda looked from Holly to Rich, then back again, and released a giggle.
‘Is everything all right?’ Granny asked, her fork poised in mid-air. ‘I didn’t fart, did I?’
That made Holly and Rich laugh even more, and soon, everyone around the table had joined in.
When they finally fell quiet and Holly’s sides were aching, Granny spoke again.
‘I do that sometimes, you know, especially when I sneeze, and I’m not always aware of it. Grandpa was always telling me off, but I swear that sometimes it was him, and he used me as a scapegoat. “Glenda!” he’d say. “Ladies don’t fart out loud.”’
‘Oh Granny, stop!’ Holly shook her head.
‘What? But why?’ Glenda looked surprised, but Holly suspected she knew what she was doing. An occasion like this was bound to be tense. A good laugh would help get rid of any residual tension and make them all far more comfortable.
* * *
After lunch, Rich and Rex loaded the dishwasher and Holly made coffee, which they took through to the lounge. Rex sat on the sofa cuddling Luke, with Lucinda next to him.
‘How about opening some of those baby things?’ Lucinda asked.
‘Good idea, Mum.’ Rich drained his coffee, then got up and went through to the dining room, where they’d piled the boxes before lunch. When he returned, he was carrying two packages, which he set on the floor in front of Holly. ‘There you go.’
She looked at Rich, then at his parents, feeling suddenly shy.
‘Go on, Holly, please.’ Lucinda gestured at the parcels.
‘Thank you. You didn’t need to
do this, but we are grateful, aren’t we, Luke?’
Her son was currently patting Rex’s chin and humming at him.
She tore the blue paper away to find a bottle sterilizer.
‘Oh… thank you.’
‘I know you probably have one already, but we thought it’s always handy to have a spare,’ Lucinda said. ‘And it’s top of the range.’
Holly nodded. It was the one she’d originally wanted but hadn’t bought as she was trying to be careful with money.
Rich handed her the next parcel, which she opened to find a set of bottles and dummies. They were decorated with cartoon polar bears and foxes and were designed for babies of three months and above.
‘Again, thank you. These are lovely.’
‘Hold on!’
Rich left the room again and returned with two larger boxes. When he placed them next to Holly, she released a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. This was all proving to be quite emotional. She wasn’t used to being the centre of attention either, and she was terrified of not seeming grateful or of appearing not to like the gifts.
‘Holly…’ Rich put his hand over hers and she met his warm eyes. ‘No pressure. We kept the receipts. Anything you don’t like or have a double of, we can return and get something else.’ He leaned closer and whispered, ‘Mum just really wanted to get a few things, and it made her so happy.’
Holly nodded.
The two large boxes contained an expensive highchair with a beautiful giraffe motif, and a battery-powered baby rocker that played lullabies and also had an activity centre for Luke to play with. There was also a baby carrier that Holly – or Rich – could wear like a rucksack. Rich finished off with some softer parcels that contained nappies, vests, pyjamas and little outfits.
‘It’s like a baby shower,’ Holly said as she gazed at the piles of things around her.
‘Did you have one of those?’ Lucinda asked.
She shook her head.
Rich knelt on the floor next to her chair. ‘She was in Exeter… alone.’
‘Oh goodness, Holly! With no one to look out for you?’ Lucinda pouted. ‘If only I’d known. If only I’d not been such a horrid old bag then you might not have left…’
‘It’s okay, Lucinda.’ Holly nodded. ‘It’s all in the past. We’re home now.’ Seeing Lucinda’s guilt made her sad, and she didn’t want to add to it. She suddenly felt claustrophobic in the lounge, in need of some time out.
‘Do you fancy getting some fresh air?’ Rich asked, as if reading her mind.
‘Uh… what about Luke?’
‘We can watch him,’ Lucinda said, then looked up. ‘Us grandparents together.’
‘I’d like to get a head start on putting some of these fab baby gadgets together,’ Holly’s dad said, picking up the box for the rocker.
‘As long as you’re sure.’ Holly stood up, then went and gave Luke a kiss. ‘The bottles are in the kitchen. He’s due one about—’
‘It’s okay, Hols.’ Bruce held up a hand. ‘I know the feeding times now, and how to make up the bottles.’
‘I used to make up six and stick them in the fridge,’ Lucinda said. ‘Then I’d warm them as needed.’
‘We’re not allowed to do that these days.’ Bruce shook his head. ‘One at a time only, but Holly has this fab machine that makes them almost instantly. I’ll show you how to use it.’
‘Looks like you’ve got the grandparenting thing covered then.’ Holly walked to the door. ‘Any problems, I’ve got my mobile and we won’t be long, will we, Rich?’
‘Not at all. An hour at most.’
Holly went out to the hallway and stuck her feet into her trainers, then located the waxed jacket she’d had since she was sixteen. As she slid her arms into the sleeves, the smell reminded her of the past. The jacket had been stored in the cupboard under the stairs where her granny hung lavender pomanders and mothballs, and the aromas permeated everything they kept in there.
‘You ready?’ Rich asked.
‘Yes. And thank you.’
‘What for?’
‘For getting me out. It’s wonderful having everyone around, but I was starting to feel a bit…’
‘It’s okay, I understand. I needed a break too.’
‘Glad it wasn’t just me. Do you have a coat?’
‘I threw one into the car just in case. I could see there were some clouds coming in earlier so thought it best to be on the safe side.’
Outside, Holly waited for Rich to get his coat, then he joined her and they headed across the yard and through the gate to the vineyards. They walked in silence, not discussing where they were going, being led by habit and the past. They circled the exterior of the vineyards until they reached the next gate, and the next, then they were in an open field. Holly enjoyed the sensation of the fresh air on her skin, relieved to be outdoors where she always felt that she could breathe properly.
They walked side by side up a slight incline to the hiking path.
‘You were right about those clouds.’ Holly peered up at the darkening sky. ‘Perhaps we should turn back,’ she suggested reluctantly.
‘We’ll be fine, Hols. Can we keep going for a bit?’
‘Okay.’
‘My parents are absolutely delighted, you know.’
‘It’s lovely to see them so happy.’
‘It means so much to see Mum smile like that. It reminds me of how she looked when I was growing up.’
‘She has a sparkle in her eyes, doesn’t she?’
He nodded. ‘It’s because of you.’
‘Me?’
‘Yes. You brought Luke back.’
‘Rich, I came back for Grandpa’s funeral.’
‘And for no other reason?’
She thought about it as she walked along. When she’d been planning to return for the funeral, had she, on some level, been considering coming home for good? Had she been hoping to see Rich? She certainly hadn’t thought Lucinda would apologize to her like that.
‘I don’t know, to be honest, although I knew that you and Luke needed to meet as soon as possible. Now that I’m here, though, it’s so much better than I thought it would be. Everything seems different.’
‘Do I seem different?’
‘Yes.’
‘How so?’
‘You don’t look so… pained.’
He laughed. ‘It’s not funny, I know, but did I really look that bad?’
‘Before you left, you looked as though you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. The drinking, the late nights, the sadness in your eyes… it was hard to witness. I’ve tried not to think about all that and it seems like it was years ago, but it was so painful to watch you trying to destroy yourself. I could barely admit to myself that it was happening. I thought that once we had our own home, you’d be happier. I hoped that I could make you happy.’
‘I’m so sorry you saw me like that.’
‘It wasn’t your fault. Not directly, anyway.’
Rich did look so much better now. She hadn’t been able to pinpoint what the difference was at first, but now it was clear. He had a glow about him, as if something inside had been repaired and he was getting back to how he always should have been.
She had a feeling that she knew why, though, that it might be linked to Sam, and that knowledge was hard to deal with.
‘How far shall we go?’ She gazed across the fields. She felt the moisture in the air on her cheeks and her forehead. Rain was definitely on the way.
‘A bit further.’
‘You want to go… there?’
‘If that’s okay with you.’
She stopped walking. ‘I’m not sure. I haven’t been there since that day.’
‘It’ll be okay, Holly. I promise.’
He held out his hand, and she looked at it for a moment before taking it. This probably wasn’t wise, but for a while, even just an hour or so, she wanted to feel as though everything between her and Rich was good. He had b
een her friend, not just her lover, and she had missed him. It had taken being back in his company for her to realize exactly how much.
He was making an effort here, and although she didn’t know exactly what he wanted from her, she needed to believe that he wouldn’t hurt her again.
In fact, she knew that she wouldn’t let him.
Chapter 12
Rich wasn’t one hundred per cent sure that he was doing the right thing heading to Plum Tree Cottage, but when they’d decided to go for a walk, he hadn’t been able to push the idea from his mind. It might be a big mistake, but something inside him was propelling him forward, encouraging him to try this, to see how Holly responded. To see how he responded himself.
They walked side by side, occasionally brushing against each other as they moved to avoid a rock or a cow pat, and it felt natural to be with Holly again. She’d always been so easy to get along with, not at all high-maintenance like some of the other girls he’d briefly dated at high school. Holly was special.
Back last year, their relationship had reached a point where making a commitment had seemed inevitable. Holly had needed more from Rich and he’d felt in a place to offer that, or at least he’d thought he had. Moving in together had seemed the sensible next step. Until that point, they’d been happy enough flitting between Greenacres and Rich’s parents’ home, enjoying the freedom of having money in their pockets and being able to save. They’d each had an ISA, having agreed that it would be a good idea to put a deposit away for when they eventually found a property they both liked.
Then Rich had ruined it because his head hadn’t been in the right place after all.
He glanced at Holly, and shame crawled over his skin. She was lovely and he’d let her down so badly. If only he’d gone away to Ibiza before they’d decided to buy the cottage. She’d had no words for him after that, had cut him from her life completely – except for the child she was carrying.
Pain pierced his heart just as lightning flashed in the sky far out at sea. If she had decided to terminate the pregnancy, he would have had no right to argue with her decision. He hadn’t been there for her, so why would she have thought he’d be there for their child? But she hadn’t done that. In her usual determined way, she had kept on going, delivered their baby and brought him through his first few months of life. She was incredible.
The House at Greenacres Page 13