* * *
During the week that Finn and Rory had been working in Liz’s garden they had worked out a little routine. Liz would make tea and bacon rolls in the morning when they arrived. Tea and biscuits would be dispensed around eleven o’clock. Between twelve thirty and one thirty she would offer them a sandwich and at three thirty when Tammy got home from school they would get more tea and toast or buns, with Tammy and Liz joining them in the garden. Tammy would then help to dig up plants or fetch and carry in the garden until Finn and Rory left just before six.
Today was no exception. Finn was looking forward to seeing Tammy at three thirty as usual. He had a surprise for her. He had prepared a wage packet as a thank you for all her help. She came breezing in through the side gate. She didn’t bother knocking at the front door now she could go straight through to the back. She went over to the table, poured herself some juice and then slumped into one the chairs before letting out a huge sigh.
‘What’s up with you?’ said Liz.
‘I think we need to start planning my birthday party,’ she said seriously. ‘There’s so much to do.’ She looked at Finn. ‘Are you quite sure that the garden will be ready in time?’
‘My word is my bond,’ said Finn.
‘I need to get the invitations out before the end of school.’
‘We’ve still got six to eight weeks yet I think,’ said Liz. ‘Don’t worry. You’re starting to sound a lot like Sasha.’ Tammy pulled a face to reflect her disapproval of Liz’s statement.
‘Will you be able to come to my party with Devlin, and you Rory?’ said Tammy. She was fond of them all but especially Finn as he made a fuss of her.
‘We wouldn’t miss it for the world, sweetheart,’ said Finn. ‘Who else is coming to this party?’
‘I’m inviting my whole class. If they all come that will be thirty children, plus Sasha,’ she looked at Liz.
‘Of course,’ said Liz.
‘And Nick. Do you think he would come?’
‘I’m sure he will if he can,’ said Liz, realising that this was Tammy doing her best to match-make.
‘Plus some of my mum’s family, not sure how many yet.’
‘Now, young lady,’ Finn addressed Tammy. ‘The landscaping will be finished by the end of next week. If Rory manages to finish the lights and the wires in the pump for the fountain,’ he nodded in Rory’s direction. ‘We will also be putting up the summer house. The following week will be the soft planting and then it’s Mother Nature’s turn, and when Mother Nature has a day off I expect you to help water the plants so they will be perfect in time for your party.’
‘I will,’ said Tammy.
‘Good. Now let’s get on with it, we still have some bricks to move.’
Finn and Rory worked hard for another hour or so with Tammy in tow. At a quarter to six they packed up their tools and Finn called Tammy to give her the wage packet. She held the envelope in her hand for a few minutes before opening it.
‘Come on,’ said Rory, ‘what are you waiting for?’ Tammy felt suddenly embarrassed.
She opened it slowly and was delighted to see the money inside but she didn’t take it out. Instead she closed the envelope immediately and gave it back to Finn. ‘I can’t take it,’ she said. ‘I don’t deserve it.’
‘Will you let me be the judge of that?’ said Finn, pushing it back into her hands. ‘It’s not much for all your help and you definitely deserve it. I won’t take it back.’ He turned his head to one side.
‘Thank you,’ said Tammy, before giving Finn a big hug.
‘You’re welcome, sweetie.’ Finn had tears in his eyes. He was such a softy. ‘Come on Rory, time to hit the road.’ He said goodbye to Liz. ‘See you on Monday,’ they shouted as they got into the van. ‘Be good,’ shouted Finn to Tammy. ‘Don’t spend it all at once.’
Monica was just pulling up as the van sped off. Tammy was really excited when Monica arrived and so pleased with herself. ‘Time for tea?’ asked Liz.
‘I have,’ said Monica, feeling relaxed. She was getting so organised. Dinner had been prepared the night before and only needed heating up.
‘Great, I’ll put the kettle on.’
Liz bought the tray out to the garden as it was still quite warm outside.
Tammy told Monica about the pay packet. ‘Can I keep it?’ she asked.
‘I guess so,’ said Monica. ‘I think Finn would be offended if you gave it back.’ Tammy gave a happy little squeal as she opened the envelope and took out the money to count it.
‘Twenty five pounds!’ she exclaimed.
‘Wow,’ said Monica, ‘you are a lucky girl. That is so generous. What are you going to do with the money?’
‘Not sure yet.’ said Tammy. ‘I think I’ll just save it for now.’ Liz poured the tea.
‘Well?’ asked Monica.
‘Well what?’ said Liz, knowing exactly what Monica was referring to.
‘How did it go? Are you friends?’ She made the speech-mark sign with her hands as she said the word friends.
‘We are.’ Liz smiled. ‘I had a wonderful time. Nick is great company and we laughed a lot.’
‘It’s a good sign,’ said Monica. ‘You need to be able to laugh with someone. What was the art like?’
‘There was a real mixture of styles, some of it was terrible. I hate it when you have to read an essay to understand what you’re looking at.’
‘I know what you mean,’ agreed Monica.
‘Other pieces were fantastic.’ She relayed the story of the full frontal assault on her eyeballs as she was confronted by the reclining man. Monica and Tammy both laughed.
‘Did you like Nick’s paintings?’ asked Tammy.
‘He’s very versatile,’ said Liz. ‘His portraits were really good. I wasn’t so keen on the abstract stuff but it seems to sell.’
‘Are you seeing him again, friend or otherwise?’ asked Monica.
‘I am,’ said Liz. ‘He’s taking me out to dinner soon.’
‘Progress indeed,’ said Monica.
‘Can we talk about my party now?’ interrupted Tammy. ‘It’s going to be sick.’
‘Sick?’ repeated Monica.
‘Great,’ Tammy translated. Tammy ran inside to get a pad.
‘She’s very organised isn’t she?’ said Liz.
‘You have no idea,’ Monica smiled.
‘I want to invite everyone in my class,’ she announced as she came outside again.
‘How many is that?’ asked Monica.
‘Thirty, if they all come, but I think that some of them may be on holiday. I also want to invite Sasha and Leo, Finn, Devlin and Rory. Oh, and Nick of course and anyone else you can think of.’
Liz didn’t want to mention her row with Adam in front of Tammy. She felt fairly certain that Adam would not be speaking to her for a while. In any case, knowing Georgina she doubted that Sasha would have been allowed to come to the party anyway. She felt really sad at the prospect of not seeing her granddaughter again.
‘I think we may be looking at around forty five people,’ said Monica. ‘What do you think?’
‘Wonderful,’ said Liz, ‘the more the merrier. I am really looking forward to it. What will we feed them?’
‘I thought about a barbeque at first,’ said Monica, ‘but that entails someone cooking all the time and I’m hopeless so I thought maybe a buffet instead.
‘Cupcakes,’ Tammy announced. ‘I’d like cupcakes instead of a birthday cake.’
‘Well that’s easy,’ said Liz.
‘I thought we’d have a disco too,’ said Monica. ‘Perhaps we can rig up the summer house as the chill-out area. That’s what it’s called isn’t it Tammy?’ asked Liz.
‘That would be great said Tammy, as she sat on Monica’s lap. It’s going to be wicked.’
Chapter 21
Liz woke early on Saturday morning as usual. She hadn’t given the house a good going over for a couple of weeks now. The cleaning caddie had remained in the cupbo
ard under the sink for two successive Saturdays. She was out of her routine. Not that the house was really dirty, most of the time she had cleaned it for something to do, but now she had real things to do and cleaning the house had to fit in.
She had made plans to go shopping with Monica and Tammy. Monica had weighed in on Friday night and was getting closer to her goal weight and therefore in desperate need of a wardrobe overhaul as her clothes were starting to hang on her. They were all going to take a trip to the West End, Liz having recommended the personal shopper, popping into the gallery beforehand so Monica and Tammy could appraise Nick’s artwork for themselves.
As soon as Tammy got up she was on the phone to Sasha to let her know that the garden was on track and that she had been paid twenty five pounds in wages for helping Finn. Sasha was back in her routine and after breakfast would be off with her friends to go riding. She had asked her mother if Tammy could come to stay in the summer holidays but got the customary, ‘We’ll see, darling,’ which Sasha knew meant no. Georgina would never actually say no. She liked to hedge her bets in case she changed her mind. Sasha had to be really persistent to wear her down.
Tammy told Sasha about the disco and the chill out area and the fact that her whole class would be invited, including the boys. This really excited Sasha who attended an all-girls school and, apart from her brother and his friends, knew very few boys. She really had to work on her parents now, not only that but she had to plan what she was going to wear. She would ask for clothes for her birthday and forget Disneyland for now.
‘I’ll do my best to get there,’ she promised.
Tammy wondered whether Liz might have any influence. ‘I doubt it,’ said Sasha. ‘Daddy didn’t tell her he was going to America either.’
‘Perhaps it will be different now,’ said Tammy, ‘now that you have already been to stay and survived the ordeal. I hope you told them what a nice time you had.’
‘I did,’ said Sasha earnestly. ‘I had a great time but now dad has a bee in his bonnet about Nick. He can be such a child.’
‘I know what you mean,’ said Tammy. ‘I’ll call you later.’
‘I have to go too,’ said Sasha. ‘Mum’s dropping me off at the stables in half an hour.’
Liz had also telephoned to talk to Sasha. Now that she was in her life Liz had no intention of letting go again without a fight. She called the house and Georgina answered the telephone. She was surprised to hear Liz’s voice but keener than usual to talk and therefore very pleased to be able to tell her that Adam had gone off to play golf.
‘That’s great,’ said Liz. ‘How are you and the children?’
‘Oh, we’re all fine,’ said Georgina brusquely, keen to get onto the subject of Nick.
‘I wondered if Sasha was around?’ asked Liz. Georgina was delighted to tell Liz that Sasha had gone riding and was then going to her friend’s house for tea.
‘Not to worry,’ said Liz as lightly as she could manage. ‘I’ll call her another time.’
‘How are you, Liz?’ said Georgina warmly. Georgina couldn’t usually wait to get off the phone, and more so didn’t give a damn about how she was, but now she wanted to find out anything she could so launched her charm offensive. Liz was determined not to part with any information but as much as she disliked Georgina she was Adam’s wife and Sasha and Leo’s mother.
‘Really well,’ said Liz. ‘I’m feeling fantastic.’ She knew what Georgina was up to and had no intention of obliging, in fact she decided to tease her a little instead.
‘Nice talking to you,’ said Liz, ‘but I have to go. I have a date.’
Georgina leapt on the word. ‘Date?’ she exclaimed.
‘Yes,’ said Liz after a slight pause, ‘with a personal shopper then the hairdresser.’
‘Oh,’ said Georgina, clearly disappointed.
‘Speak to you soon.’ Liz hung up before Georgina had a chance to ask any more questions.
Liz then called Sasha’s mobile. ‘Grandma,’ said Sasha excitedly.
‘How have you been, poppet?’
‘Great,’ she lied. ‘I’m just at the stables about to go on a hack.’
‘Sounds exciting,’ said Liz. ‘Be careful.’
‘I will grandma. How’s Nick?’
‘Nick’s fine. We had a great time at his preview.’
‘Fantastic,’ said Sasha. ‘Does this mean that he is your boyfriend?’
‘No,’ said Liz. ‘We are still just friends but he is taking me out to dinner soon so you never know.’
‘That’s great grandma but dad doesn’t seem too pleased.’
‘I know, but there is no need for him to worry. Is there any news about the move?’
‘No. Dad hasn’t mentioned anything about it at all.’
‘Perhaps he has changed his mind,’ said Liz hopefully.
‘I doubt it grandma, it’s just that my opinion doesn’t count.’
‘I’m sure that’s not true. I expect it’s because nothing is certain and he doesn’t want to worry you until he is sure.’
‘Nice try, grandma,’ said Sasha, ‘but I heard them. It has already been decided. Dad is just waiting for the date.’
‘It will all work out in the end, you’ll see.’ Liz tried to be optimistic. ‘I’ll call you tomorrow. Have fun.’
Monica and Tammy arrived at Liz’s house just after nine o’clock. It was a really warm sunny day so Liz made tea and they all sat in the garden before heading off to the shops. ‘It’s going to look spectacular,’ said Monica, trying to visualise the garden finished. Tammy was the expert, having spent every evening after school listening to Finn extol the virtues of the planting scheme and the natural materials so she was able to fill Monica in on the minute details of what would be where.
‘It will look even more spectacular at night,’ she said with authority, before going off to water the plants, leaving Liz and Monica chatting at the table.
‘Any news from Kevin?’ asked Liz.
‘As a matter of fact there is,’ said Monica, looking pleased with herself. ‘We are going out to lunch on Tuesday week and then dinner on Friday. I was going to ask if you could look after Tammy.’
‘It would be my pleasure,’ said Liz.
After tea they all piled into Liz’s car for the trip to Crouch End. Parking was even harder on a Saturday morning and Liz had to park several streets away. Luckily it was a beautiful day and walking was a pleasure. When they got to the gallery Nick was deep in conversation with two women and a teenage boy. She recognised one of the women from the painting she had seen at the preview. She felt a little awkward. The older lady looked like an older version of the younger one and Liz guessed that they were mother and daughter. The boy looked to be around fourteen.
Nick waved them over as soon as he clapped eyes on them. Liz was pleased that she was with Monica and Tammy otherwise her courage would have failed her. Nick introduced the two women as Susan, his wife. ‘Ex-wife,’ corrected Susan. ‘Ex-wife,’ Nick laughed, and Heather, his daughter. Both women said hello to Tammy and shook hands warmly with Liz and Monica. Nick then introduced his grandson, Bradley, who barely mumbled hello without taking his eyes away from his phone screen. ‘My granddaughter, Milly, is here somewhere,’ said Nick, ‘but I can’t see her at the moment.’
Within seconds they were joined by another man who looked very much like Nick, only a little older and fuller in the face. ‘This is my brother Patrick,’ said Nick. Patrick shook hands with Liz and Monica.
‘You look so alike,’ Liz was quite taken aback.
‘Yes,’ said Patrick smiling, ‘but as you can see I got all the looks and charm.’
Nick grinned. ‘But I got all the talent.’
‘That you did,’ said Patrick indulgently.
‘We can’t stay long I’m afraid,’ said Patrick, putting his arm around Susan’s waist. ‘We are going to stay with some friends in Bath for a few days.’ Susan said her goodbyes to Heather and Bradley before giving Nick a peck on the
cheek and making him promise to bring Liz over to the house for dinner at the earliest opportunity.
As soon as the introductions were over Bradley sidled off to a bench where he could view YouTube in comfort. Tammy thought about tagging along but suddenly felt shy so she stayed with Monica.
‘I’m just going to see where my granddaughter Milly went,’ said Nick. ‘She was here a moment ago.’
‘Don’t worry, dad,’ said Heather, ‘she’s here somewhere. You show Monica and Tammy around and I’ll take Liz to find Milly. I’d like to introduce her.’
‘I’ve heard good things about your work from Liz,’ said Monica. ‘I am really looking forward to seeing it. You did such a great job in Tammy’s room.’
She caught a glimpse of the huge picture of the naked man to her right and was keen to go off in the opposite direction, wishing to spare her own and Tammy’s blushes.
They were both really impressed by Nick’s painting. He explained about the commission for the wine bars. Monica had heard of them. Apparently they were up and coming on the singles scene, playing host to regular speed dating events. Nadia at work was a big fan.
‘Your daughter is very attractive,’ said Monica.
‘Yes, she is,’ said Nick. ‘She looks a lot like her mother, and just like her mother she really looks after me.’
‘It’s great that you all get on so well.’
‘I think that life’s too short to be bitter, especially if you have children together. Besides, we get on much better now we are divorced.’
‘I bet lots of couples could say that,’ said Monica.
‘You’re probably right. She thinks I’m a lost soul.’
‘Are you lost?’ said Monica.
‘No, not now. I did go missing for a while but I was never lost.’ He laughed.
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