Although the memorial was not a religious ceremony the tribute did begin with a prayer offering thanks for the life of Philippe Cambone. Afterwards Bruno introduced various friends of Philippe who described their own differing memories of the man who’d clearly had an enthusiasm for life. ‘He embraced everything with a passion,’ was how one renowned film critic put it. ‘He’ll be greatly missed.’
Sitting there listening, and occasionally laughing at the reminiscences, Anna could only feel a strange kind of happiness creeping over her, knowing that the man she had loved so passionately all those years ago had inspired so many during his life.
She stiffened, as Bruno, once again taking his place on the podium in front of the congregation to begin to wind up the tributes, was joined this time by Teddy holding an envelope and some papers. Her papers.
Bruno smiled as his initial words were drowned out by a loud bang somewhere in the building, followed by a telephone ringing in an adjacent office.
‘I apologize for the “off stage sound effects”,’ Bruno said. ‘But as a film director, I’m sure Philippe would have appreciated them and is probably even now yelling “cut”.’ He paused.
‘We are nearing the end of this official celebration of Philippe Cambone’s life. For many of us he will always live on in our memories. However the final tribute today comes from a man who never met Philippe and to him I extend my heartfelt sympathy. I am so sorry he never knew the man who was my best friend, the man who will leave a huge, empty hole in my life.’ An emotional Bruno moved away, leaving Teddy alone on the podium.
‘As many of you know, I am Teddy Wickham,’ Teddy paused. ‘I am also Philippe Cambone’s son. Unfortunately as Bruno said, I never met my father and until a few days ago I didn’t know my natural mother either.’ Teddy placed the envelope and papers on the table in front of him and looked around at the audience.
Anna, sitting transfixed at his words, felt a flutter of hope and smiled at Teddy as he looked directly at her before turning his gaze back to the crowd.
‘When she did make herself known to me I cruelly rejected her as I believed she’d rejected me all those years ago by giving me up for adoption. There was no way that I was prepared to acknowledge her. Neither did I see any point in telling the world that I was Philippe Cambone’s son now that he was dead. My mother gently informed me that he would have been shouting with joy from the rooftops about me. She also told me how much she was looking forward to getting to know her son and her granddaughter. Again, cruelly, I told her that wasn’t about to happen.’
Teddy paused and poured himself a glass of water from the carafe someone had thoughtfully provided, before continuing.
‘But then two things happened. First, my six year old daughter, Cindy, went missing. Her disappearance for, what, no more than thirty minutes frightened me and made me realize how I would feel if I lost my daughter for real. If all contact was severed. When my daughter was safe, I went to see my mother. She gave me these highly personal papers and a letter that had only just come into her possession, to read.’
Teddy held up the papers briefly before replacing them on the table. ‘I have to tell you I cried when I read them.’ He was silent for several seconds, before visibly taking a few deep breaths.
Anna, fighting back tears, clutched Leo’s hand. ‘D’you think he’s going to forgive me after all?’ she whispered. ‘Even announce my name in public?’
Leo squeezed her hand. ‘Just listen to what he has to say.’
‘The second thing that happened,’ Teddy continued. ‘Was yesterday I read a poem called The Gathering by an unknown author. This poem contains two lines in different verses that stood out and made me question the decisions I was taking.
‘The first line “You can open your eyes and see all that I have left” literally urged me to open my eyes and discover my unknown heritage. The second line, further on in the poem, is one I intend to try and live by in the coming weeks as I get to know my birth mother: “You can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday”.’ Teddy stopped speaking and looked around at the audience, before once again, looking directly at Anna as he spoke.
‘From what has been said here today, I know my father was a popular man. A good man. I will have a lot to live up to as his son, but by acknowledging the woman who is my mother and who was the love of my father’s life, I hope I can begin to live up to the expectations I believe Philippe Cambone would have had of me, his son. Thank you.’ And picking up his papers, Teddy stepped down from the podium.
Hesitating he turned to look in Anna’s direction, and smiled as he saw her already on her feet walking towards him. As she reached his side, Teddy handed her the precious papers. ‘Thank you for letting me read these.’
Wordlessly Anna accepted the papers. Taking a deep breath she took hold of Teddy’s hand and with Leo and Verity alongside them they left the hall together as mother and son.
With no early morning screening or press conference to attend, Daisy had the luxury of a lie in on Monday morning and it was nearly eleven o’clock before she’d showered and went downstairs.
‘Morning Poppy. I could get used to this not working lark,’ she said. ‘Become a lady of leisure or even a lady wot lunches.’ She switched the coffee machine on. ‘Coffee for you?’
Poppy shook her head. ‘No thanks. Nat just phoned. He’s on his way over. Cindy wants to play with Tom one last time apparently before they leave.’
‘Thought he wasn’t allowed to let Cindy darken our door because of Anna?’ Daisy said puzzled.
Poppy shrugged. ‘She’s not in anyway. He’ll be here soon. You can ask him what’s changed. Your mobile has been bleeping for the past hour by the way. Your message box must be full.’
Many of the messages were from friends who’d heard about the redundancies at the paper and were offering sympathy. There was one from an editor she’d worked with a couple of years ago asking if she’d be interested in writing some short features and there was one from Ben. A voice message this time, not a text.
Apprehensively Daisy pressed the listen button and held the phone out so Poppy could hear.
‘Sorry I messed things up, Daisy. You sound so positive and happy in your e-mails. I really hope things work out for you. I’ve cancelled my flight back to the UK. I’ll stay over here for a bit and see if I can make a go of things. Have a good life. Maybe we’ll meet as friends one day. Love Ben.’
‘Well that little problem seems to have gone away,’ Poppy said. ‘Relieved?’
Daisy nodded. ‘Yes. I sort of half expected him to turn up here and try to spoil things with Nat.’
The gate buzzer went. ‘Here is Nat.’ Poppy said pressing the open button. ‘Tom, Cindy’s here to play.’
‘Hi,’ Daisy said as Nat gave her a greeting kiss. ‘This is a surprise.’
‘Cindy was desperate to play with Tom while Teddy and Verity were out this morning. When I rang and Poppy said Anna wasn’t here, I thought, why not.’
‘Uh oh, you’ll be in trouble if Teddy finds out,’ Daisy said.
‘I’ll face that if it happens,’ Nat said. ‘With a bit of luck Anna won’t return until we’ve left so I’ll be able to assure Teddy that Cindy hasn’t had any contact with her.’ With the two children playing happily in the pool, Nat and Daisy sat down to watch them and discuss plans for the future.
‘When does your job with the Wickhams finish?’
‘Officially tomorrow when we get back to the UK. How long you staying on down here?’
‘Mum and Dad will be here the day after tomorrow so I want to be here then. Dan gets back at the end of the week. Think I’ll probably change my flight to Saturday,’ Daisy said. ‘Once I get back I’ll start putting feelers out for work and packing up the flat. And be back down here in hopefully a month. Ready and waiting for you to arrive for a summer in the sun.’
‘Some of the summer might be spent in the States,’ Nat said.
‘Exciting. When d’you—’ Daisy stopped
in mid-sentence as she heard the villa gates opening. ‘Nat – Anna and Leo have just arrived back. And Teddy and Verity are with them.’
‘Cindy, Tom. Out you get,’ Nat said. ‘Mummy and Daddy are here. Run over to the cottage and we’ll get you dry,’ and he hurriedly shooed the children in the direction of the cottage where Poppy was waiting with towels and a worried look on her face.
The children were barely dried and dressed when Teddy came over. Everybody tensed, waiting for the explosion.
‘Hi kids. Enjoy your swim?’
As everyone looked at him surprised he turned to Nat. ‘Would you like to take the rest of the day off? I think we’re going to be busy as a family this afternoon. Cindy, say goodbye to Tom. I need you to come to the villa – we have something very important to tell you.’
‘OK.’ Cindy said. ‘Does that mean I’m allowed to see Anna now?’
‘Yes,’ Teddy said. ‘But I don’t think you can go on calling her Anna. That is something you and she will need to talk about.’
Watching Teddy walk back towards the villa hand in hand with Cindy, Daisy said, ‘Well that sounds as if things on the Anna and Teddy front have sorted themselves out easier and earlier than Anna was expecting. I’m so pleased for Anna.’
EPILOGUE
Four months later. 12 September
Standing in the front bedroom of Leo’s cottage, Anna saw Daisy and Nat hand in hand, making their way under the lynch gate and along the path leading to St. Nicholas In The Field church where in half an hour’s time she would become Mrs Leo Hunter. Five minutes earlier she’d seen Leo’s daughter Alison and her husband tread the same path, and now Poppy and Tom were being welcomed by one of the ushers.
Anna smiled to herself. It was almost unbelievable how things had fallen into place over the past few months just as Leo had insisted they would.
‘It’s because it’s meant to be,’ Leo had teased her twenty-four hours before when he’d moved out to a friend’s cottage in the village so they could follow the tradition of not seeing each other the night before their wedding.
Downstairs a door banged and thirty seconds later Cindy burst into the bedroom.
‘Granny, Granny, we’re here. Can I put my dress on?’
‘Not until you’ve given me a cuddle, young lady,’ Anna said holding out her arms for Cindy to run into.
‘I’m sorry we’re late,’ Verity said, following Cindy into the room. ‘Traffic. Honestly, you’d think we lived fifty miles away not fifteen.’
‘No problem. We’ve got plenty of time. You’re looking very glamorous. I love your hat,’ Anna said. ‘Where’s Teddy?’
‘He dropped us and walked down to the pub to check on Leo and his best man. Make sure they’ve got everything – like the rings! He’ll be back here soon.’
‘Come on then Cindy, let’s get you dressed,’ Anna said. ‘Then you and Mummy can walk to the church and wait for me.’
‘Cindy, you are the most beautiful flower girl I’ve ever seen,’ Anna said a few minutes later. ‘I’m so proud you’re mine.’ Placing the halo of flowers on to Cindy’s head, she gently clipped it into place, before dropping a gentle kiss on the little girl’s head. ‘Go and have a look in the mirror – see how beautiful you look.’
‘Is your dress pink too?’ Cindy asked as she twirled in front of the dressing table mirror.
‘No. I did think about a pale pink one but decided it was really your colour,’ Anna said, crossing to the large wardrobe and taking her own wedding ensemble out.
‘Can I give you a hand dressing?’ Verity asked.
‘Please. Lots of hidden buttons down the back that I can’t reach,’ Anna said, slipping the Grecian style gown made in the palest of pale yellow chiffon off its hanger and over her head.
‘What d’you think?’ she asked anxiously. ‘I wanted something special but felt I was a bit too old for a traditional wedding gown.’
‘Anna, I’m speechless and I know Leo will be too when he sees you walking towards him. You look amazing,’ Verity said. ‘Anything in your hair?’
Anna shook her head. ‘No. I’m just going to carry a simple posy which is in the kitchen with Cindy’s flower basket. Oh I think I can hear Teddy.’
Downstairs, Verity collected the flower basket and she and Cindy kissed Anna before leaving for the church. ‘We’ll see you there,’ Verity said.
Left alone with Teddy, Anna suddenly felt shy and was glad when he took charge.
‘We’ll give them a head start and then we’ll set off,’ he said glancing at his watch. ‘If we walk slowly you should be a fashionable five minutes late.’
Looking at Teddy, handsome and immaculate in his morning suit, as he checked the cottage doors were locked before they left, Anna felt a sudden rush of happiness.
‘Ready?’ Teddy handed her the posy of flowers and ushered her out of the cottage, slamming the front door securely behind them. Together they made their way along the path, through the lynch gate and on into the church.
Standing in the church porch as Verity made a couple of last minute adjustments to Anna’s dress and Cindy jiggled on one foot desperate to start throwing rose petals, Anna saw Leo waiting for her by the altar.
She turned to Teddy. ‘I can’t believe how much my life has changed in the past year. When I met Leo I didn’t believe things could get any better, and then you happened.’ She was silent for a moment. ‘We’ve come a long way in the last few months, haven’t we?’ she said. ‘Who would have thought my own son would be walking me down the aisle to marry the man I love.’
‘It’s a whole new stage of life for us all,’ Teddy said. ‘After years of wondering, I know my roots. Now, I’m sure you are going to be very happy married to Leo but, remember, Mum, I’m here if you ever need me.’
Anna smiled tremulously. ‘I still can’t get used to hearing you call me that, but I do love it so.’
As the organist began a joyful rendition of the Wedding March, Teddy took her by the arm and Anna began her walk down the aisle to marry Leo, at the side of her son and behind her granddaughter joyfully scattering rose petals at her feet.
By the Same Author
Follow Your Star
Copyright
© Jennifer Bohnet 2010
First published in Great Britain 2010
This edition 2012
ISBN 978 0 7090 9725 9 (epub)
ISBN 978 0 7090 9726 6 (mobi)
ISBN 978 0 7090 9727 3 (pdf)
ISBN 978 0 7090 9140 0 (print)
Robert Hale Limited
Clerkenwell House
Clerkenwell Green
London EC1R 0HT
www.halebooks.com
The right of Jennifer Bohnet to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
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