‘Looks like you’re in the middle of a class,’ Imogen managed at last.
‘Oh, don’t worry about that,’ Finn said. ‘I think they could do with a bit of time to practise.’
Imogen looked over his shoulder and saw the men and women still struggling on their surfboards, emitting loud bursts of giggles as they fell to the ground yet again.
‘You might be right,’ she said, smiling in spite of her nerves.
‘Is everything OK?’ Finn asked. ‘It’s been kind of quiet.’
‘Sorry,’ she said, thinking of the texts and calls she had been ignoring. ‘It’s just been a busy week.’
‘Look, I’m probably going to regret this,’ Finn said, looking her right in the eye. ‘But I’m going to lay my cards on the table anyway. I really like you, Imogen, and I’ve had an incredible time with you over the last few weeks. So that’s why I haven’t given up. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I’m still not giving up.’
‘So,’ he continued, ‘if I was less deluded I’d definitely have accepted that you’re not interested. But the truth is I’d really like to see you again.’
Imogen stood in silence on the pebbled beach. Waves crashed, laughter continued to drift over from the surf group, and a gang with a ghetto blaster walked by – but the words she wanted to say escaped her.
‘Thanks,’ she mumbled finally.
‘Thanks?’ Finn echoed, a smile of surprise on his lips. ‘Not quite the response I was hoping for, but it could have been worse.
‘I’d better get back to the group,’ he finished, glancing over his shoulder as a cheer went up from the students. One of them had mastered the pop-up move and the others were applauding him. ‘Looks like they’ve been making progress without me.’
‘Listen … ’ Imogen started. She couldn’t let him walk away when she was due to fly off in less than a fortnight. ‘Tonight. Come by the house? I’ll cook you dinner and we can talk.’
The light returned to his eyes. ‘I’ll see you at eight,’ he said, then turned and jogged back towards the water.
Imogen brought the shopping bags into the hallway and closed the door of Vivien’s house behind her. It was strange preparing things for her dinner with Finn, as if this were the start of something rather than the end.
She sat down in the armchair next to the fireplace, darkgreen velvet, with springs that you could feel through the fabric in places. Next to it was a framed photo of her grandmother holding hands with Imogen and Anna when they were little. As she looked at Vivien’s face, her gentle features and neatly styled hair swept back into a loose bun, she thought for a moment she could feel her presence in the room. She looked at the photo, and asked in a low whisper. ‘I’m doing the right thing, aren’t I, Granny V?’
Imogen wondered, for the first time in her life, whether she might have too much worth keeping to risk walking away.
Imogen poured Finn another glass of wine. It wasn’t a night for skimping on the units, she thought to herself as she watched the red liquid flow out.
‘So you’ve already booked your ticket?’ he said.
‘Yes, well, I already had a return flight booked, but I only fixed the date yesterday.’
‘And it’s one-way?’
‘Yes,’ Imogen said, pouring herself a glass and then sitting down at the table. ‘I’m sorry. I know it must seem sudden, but it’s been on my mind for a while that I want to get back and finish the set of photos I showed you. If it hadn’t been for what happened with Granny V, I wouldn’t be here at all.’
He shook his head. ‘Wow, I really made an idiot out of myself this morning then, didn’t I?’
‘No,’ Imogen replied. ‘You were honest. Maybe we could all do with being a bit more honest. I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you, Finn.’
‘I just didn’t expect … ’ He took a sip of wine, then set the glass back down on the table. ‘I don’t know what I expected to happen tonight – but it wasn’t this.’
‘I know,’ Imogen said. ‘I really like you, and it wasn’t an easy decision. Anyway, I didn’t want to leave without saying a proper goodbye.’
‘Goodbye,’ Finn said, with a wry smile. ‘Right.’
After dinner, they moved into the living room, each holding a plate laden with apple crumble and ice cream. Since they’d changed the subject from Imogen’s future plans the atmosphere had lightened.
‘I didn’t make the ice cream,’ Imogen said, ‘so there’s nothing for you to worry about. It’s courtesy of Sainsbury’s, that one.’
‘Thanks,’ Finn said. ‘Although I’m sure you’re an expert by now.’
‘I don’t know about that,’ Imogen said. ‘I leave the cooking to Anna nowadays.’
‘Listen. Obviously I’m trying to be really cool about this whole you-going-away thing, but actually I’m gutted.’
‘You want to know something?’ Imogen replied, Finn’s frankness allowing her to speak her own mind. ‘I am too. But you seem really settled and I can’t stay here, knowing I’ll always have what if’s. That wouldn’t be fair on either of us.’
‘There is one possibility we haven’t talked about.’
‘OK, go ahead,’ Imogen said, her curiosity piqued.
‘I’m thinking out loud here, and you may hate the idea. But I’ve wanted to take a break for a while. For six years, I’ve been working flat out with no holidays getting the business off the ground. Andy’s always saying he wants more responsibility, and I’m sure he could handle running it on his own for a while.’
Imogen began to piece together what he was saying and a smile crept onto her lips.
‘How would you feel about some company?’ Finn said. ‘A few months on a beach – I can’t think of anything better than that – or anyone I’d rather spend the time with.’
Imogen let the words sink in and become real. Finn – Finn and her – in Thailand. Together.
‘It would give us a chance, wouldn’t it?’ Imogen said.
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘Plus it would be fun. And if it doesn’t work out – fine – we go our separate ways. But something tells me, I don’t know, a sneaky suspicion … I have a feeling it just might.’
‘You know what, Finn,’ Imogen said, a huge smile on her face now, ‘I think it’s a brilliant idea.’
Chapter Thirty-Four
On the specials board – Champagne Sorbet
‘A double waffle cone with hazelnut and pistachio, please,’ said Julie, a woman in her fifties who was fast becoming a regular a Vivien’s.
Since sending Matteo her recipe, Anna had heard nothing back from him. With Imogen and Finn’s leaving party that evening, and the prospect of running the shop on her own fast becoming a reality, she had plenty of more important things to focus on.
But it had been over a week. Ten whole days since she’d written. And for some reason it was all she could think about. That, and what Matteo had said in his earlier message.
‘Right, yes,’ Anna said, drifting out of her reverie. ‘Coming up.’
‘What’s going on, love?’ Julie asked. ‘Only you look like you’re in another world this morning.’
‘I am a bit,’ Anna admitted. ‘I’ll snap out of it. A few things on my mind, that’s all.’
‘Well, you’re not alone there,’ Julie laughed kindly. ‘Maybe you should treat yourself to a little of your own medicine.’ She pointed at the ice creams in the glass cabinet. ‘Certainly helps me.’
Julie took her cone with a smile, and left. Perhaps she’s right, Anna thought. She didn’t normally eat on duty, apart from the odd experimental taster. But today, when she needed some comfort she could count on, seemed like the day to make an exception. She took a cone and scooped out a generous serving of chocolate macadamia, then settled on a stool to eat it. The alternating chunks of chocolate and nut gave it the most addictive texture. As she absorbed the flavours, savouring them, any thoughts of Matteo or the potentially challenging months to come at the shop, faded away.
/> ‘Eating your way through the profits?’ a familiar male voice said. It was one she knew as well as her own. She looked up and saw her father’s welcoming smile. He had a few new lines around his eyes, but other than that, looked just as he’d always been.
‘Dad. You’re here!’
‘Of course I’m here. Wouldn’t miss Imogen’s leaving party. Me and your mum have been wanting to come and visit for a while, but I haven’t felt well enough. I’m sorry,’ he said. Anna reached out and took his hand in hers, giving it a little squeeze.
‘You look better, Dad,’ Anna said. ‘Do you feel it?’
‘Getting there,’ he said, with a smile. ‘With no small thanks due to your mum. She’s my rock. Anyway, she’s been so excited about the party, especially seeing as we haven’t met this new man of Imo’s yet.’
‘It’s lovely to see you. And where’s Mum now?’ She glanced towards the door.
‘She’s just doing her hair at the hotel. We’re staying at the Grand. Thought it would be easier, all round, than staying at the house, with all the memories. Anyway, I couldn’t resist popping down right away to say hello.’
Anna reached out her arms and her dad hugged her. In an instant, her twenty-eight years dissolved into eight. She felt protected in his strong arms.
‘You got ice cream on my jumper,’ her dad laughed, and brushed off a chunk she’d accidentally smeared on the sleeve of his woolly sweater.
‘Oops, sorry. Occupational hazard,’ Anna laughed. ‘But talking of ice cream – what do you think of this place?’ she said, opening her arms wide to show off all of the changes the shop had undergone.
‘It’s just incredible,’ he said. ‘You’ve worked so hard, both of you. It looks even better than in the photos you sent.’
‘Not bad, eh?’ Anna said, feeling a rush of pride.
‘Your grandmother would be really proud,’ Dad said. His lips were tight, holding in the emotion, and Anna touched his arm gently, knowing that if he cried, it would be certain to set her off too.
‘You’ve done what she dreamed of, haven’t you?’ he went on. ‘It still looks like her place, but you’ve brought it right up to date.’
‘I’m glad you think so,’ Anna said. ‘I have to admit, there were days when I wondered if we could do it.’
‘We always had faith in you,’ he said. ‘And there was no way in hell I was going to let Françoise trip you up.’
‘I loved it when you gave her what for,’ Anna said.
Tom smiled. ‘That woman had no place bullying any of us.’
‘What did Martin make of it all?’
‘You won’t believe it, but he’s finally shown Françoise the door.’
‘He hasn’t,’ Anna said, her hand going to her mouth.
‘Yes, he has. Martin said that when he saw how upset and angry I was, it was the confirmation he needed that she wasn’t the woman for him any more. You know how the two of us are, Anna. We’d never argued before. Anyway, he said he should have done it a long time ago.’
‘Good for him,’ Anna said. ‘And good for you, Dad,’ she smiled. ‘How’s he coping?’
‘He’s having a grand old time, considering,’ Tom laughed. ‘Barely off the golf course, and not without his fair share of admirers. Not that he really notices that.’
‘And there’s another thing,’ her dad said. ‘With Françoise gone, he seems to have gone right off the idea of selling Mum’s house.’
‘He doesn’t want to sell it at all? To anyone? That’s terrific news, Dad.’
‘Oh, it’s even better than that, darling,’ he said. ‘Martin is moving in. But I’ll let him tell you about that when you see him.’
‘See him?’
‘Yes. Before Imogen’s party tonight, there’s something Martin and I wanted to do. And I’m hoping you and your sister will be able to join us.’
Martin and Tom were standing facing the sea, the urn containing their mother’s ashes held tightly in Martin’s hands.
Jan stood between her daughters nearby. Sunlight glistened on the quiet stretch of sea in front of them. Anna held Hepburn’s lead while he lay calmly on the pebbled beach, as if he had some sense of why they were there and was showing his respect.
‘She’ll be part of the sea she always loved,’ Martin said, looking over at his brother. ‘And this is where we can all come to visit and think of her.’
‘She used to talk about it,’ Tom added. ‘How she’d be free, but able to keep one eye on the shop too,’ he said, smiling in his daughters’ direction.
Martin carefully lifted off the lid of the urn and took a couple of steps towards the water. Tom walked out beside him. Martin scattered some of Vivien’s ashes into the sea, and then passed the urn to his brother. ‘Goodbye, Mum,’ Tom said. Gently, he tipped the urn and let the remainder of the ashes be carried out by the tide.
They walked back silently to Vivien’s house. The ceremony seemed to have given them all a chance to let go. It was Imogen who spoke first.
‘So, what’s all this Dad says, Uncle Martin?’ she asked him. ‘About you moving into Granny V’s house?’
‘It won’t be right away,’ Martin said, ‘but now that Françoise has gone … ’ He paused, and looked sadder than he had all afternoon. ‘It feels like time to come home. I don’t know what I was thinking, letting her talk me into selling to those awful developers. Mum’s house is going to stay right where it’s always been. But there are going to be a few changes.’
‘Changes?’ Anna said.
‘Yes. You know how Mum always loved company – how her door was never shut, at the shop or the house.’
‘Yes,’ Imogen said.
‘I’m going to convert the place into a B&B. Even with me in there, there’ll be four spare bedrooms, and you know how spacious they are. Plus I could do with a bit of company myself, now that I’m a single man again.’
‘What a nice idea,’ Anna said. ‘You’ll be sure to tell them where they can find the best ice creams in town, won’t you?’
‘Bon voyage!’ Imogen’s family and friends all raised a toast. They were packed into Finn’s front room, drinking champagne and eating canapés, the floor-to-ceiling sea view providing a dramatic backdrop.
Anna looked over at her sister kissing Finn with abandon, oblivious to the other people in the room.
For once it was Imogen who knew where she was going, and who with. It was Anna’s life that was the blank canvas.
‘So what do you think of him, then?’ Anna’s mum whispered to her.
‘Finn? He’s a gem,’ she replied.
‘He’ll take good care of her, won’t he?’
‘Of course he will, Mum. He’s a really kind, straightforward guy,’ Anna said. ‘He’s good for her.’
‘That’s nice,’ Jan said. ‘I know she can’t see it, but I do admire her. I just wish sometimes that she could be a bit more like you, sweetheart, less inclined to put her life in danger. But perhaps one day that will come.’
‘Don’t rush it,’ Anna said, taking another sip of champagne. ‘Come on, Mum, who wants two of me? And I think we’d all miss the entertainment.’
‘Perhaps you’re right,’ Mum said, considering it. ‘And you, darling,’ she continued. ‘I was so sorry to hear about what happened with Jon.’
‘Oh, don’t be,’ Anna said. ‘It was for the best. Better now than dragging it out. And I can’t begrudge Alfie the chance to have his real parents back together. I know how much it meant to me to grow up with you two.’
Jan smiled, and touched Anna’s arm.
‘On that note,’ Anna said, ‘it sounds like things are a bit better between you?’
‘Yes. Together by the skin of our teeth, but still somehow together,’ she laughed. ‘I know I didn’t do anything right when he was ill. I’m not the best listener, and I just wanted him to be back to normal. But it was hard to see him so down, distant. Then when he told Françoise to back off over the shop, it was like a flash of the Tom I loved cam
e back, and he’s been getting steadily better since then. I’ve never loved him more, Anna.’
After the party, Anna drove Imogen and Finn to Gatwick Airport, with Tom and Jan travelling with them.
‘So, what will you do for money when you’re over there?’ Jan asked Finn from her position squashed into the back seat of the car. Anna was driving, but her mum had been directing from the back seat since they set off. Anna was relieved that she’d now turned her attention to extracting as much information as she possibly could from Imogen’s new boyfriend.
‘I’ve got some savings to tide us over,’ Finn said. ‘The business has been solid for a while now, and when you work the hours me and Andy do you don’t always get the chance to spend the money you make. But now –’ Finn glanced over at Imogen with a smile – ‘I have the perfect excuse.’
Anna’s dad caught her eye. They both knew that it was only a matter of time before Jan was bowled over by Finn’s easy charm. It wasn’t just his personality that was winning everyone round, it was his effect on Imogen, the way he seemed to bring about a sense of contentment in her none of them had ever seen before.
‘Well,’ Mum said, clearly holding back on giving her full approval before the car journey was over, ‘if you do run out of money, you’ll just have to come back home, won’t you?’
‘Mum,’ Imogen protested, ‘give it a rest, will you? Finn’ll probably change his mind before we get there at this rate.’
They neared Gatwick Airport with a gentle buzz of chatter about Thailand from Imogen and Finn, what they were looking forward to doing first. But as they reached the junction for Gatwick, there was another peep out of Jan.
‘What about Christmas?’ she said. ‘Are you going to be away for another one?’
‘We’ll Skype you from the beach,’ Imogen said. ‘We’ll find a way to be there.’
They parked up in the airport car park and made their way towards the check-in desks together.
‘See you in six months, sis,’ Anna whispered into Imogen’s ear as they hugged. ‘Have fun.’
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