by Fern Britton
Henry took Debs’ hand and dragged her off into the bushes.
It had got a lot darker when they returned and the fairy lights in the trees transformed the garden into something magical.
Brushing off their clothes they arrived just as Adam and Kit had finished their speeches and the applause was dying down.
A small section of the crowd started calling, ‘We want the bride, we want the bride.’
Ella blushed and waved her hands to say no, but eventually she gave in and took the mic.
‘Hello, everyone.’ She was clearly a bit tiddly. ‘I just want to say how happy I am to be married to Kit and to be Mrs Ella Beauchamp.’ She gave a small, breathy laugh that bounced from the sound system. ‘Mrs Beauchamp. Who’d have thought it? And I know the wedding was a bit quick, but it’s not because I’m expecting or anything … No, It’s because my mum is here and I wanted her to be here when I got married, so she is here and it’s FANTASTIC. Stand up, Mum.’
Sennen cringed, but stood up anyway and waved, then sat down quickly.
‘And she’s brought a new step-dad for me and Henry. Woo yeah. He’s the tall handsome one in the turban.’ She waved at Kafir who bowed his head and acknowledged the other guests. ‘And, she’s brought us a half-brother and sister who are adorable, so cheers to them.’ Jenna and Sabu tried to get up to wave and show off but Aali pulled them down and did a little dance instead.
Ella laughed and continued, ‘But, I just want to ask you all now, to stand up and make a toast to Granny and Poppa who can’t be here tonight because … because they are in heaven. Granny and Poppa!’ She spilt most of her prosecco down the front of her dress as she missed her mouth but she was incapable of noticing and took her bow to whistles and cheers.
Henry raised his glass and watched as Ella sat down with some help from Kit. He dipped his head and said to Deborah, ‘Excuse me. I just need a word with someone.’
He had seen Sennen and Kafir sitting under a garland of bunting, but now Sennen was on her own. Henry walked over and joined her.
‘Hello, Henry.’ She smiled at him. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Not really. Rosemary has just told me that you came back to see Ella and me years ago and that Granny told you to go away. Is that true?’
Sennen looked at her hands. ‘Yes.’
‘So you left us twice?’
‘Granny was very clear that she didn’t want me here.’
‘And you couldn’t be arsed to fight and stay? For the sake of Ella and me?’
‘It wasn’t like that. She said that it would upset you both too much and that I had made Poppa ill and that if I stayed it could kill him.’
‘Granny would never say a thing like that.’
‘I am afraid she did, and it hurt me deeply but I did as she said because I couldn’t bear the thought of you and Ella being hurt and confused again.’
‘You’re saying that to cover your own back.’
Kafir, who had returned, was standing behind mother and son and had heard the exchange. He stepped into their vision. ‘Your mother is telling the truth.’
‘Oh, fuck off,’ said Henry.
‘I don’t mind you using that language in front of me,’ Kafir said firmly, ‘but not in front of your mother, please.’
‘What about me and Ella? What about us?’ Henry was red with anger and drink. ‘She left us. She’s going to leave us again as soon as she can.’
‘Look at it another way, Henry,’ Kafir’s voice was low and grave, ‘your grandmother’s actions were cruel. Yes. But what did that do to both of them? And how courageous is your mother in coming back to make amends?’
Henry’s anger was fading and a small, lost boy emerged. ‘Why did you go? Was it me? What did I do? Was it my fault you left us? Did I do something wrong? Did you go away because you didn’t want me? Why did you stop loving us?’
Sennen took Henry in her arms and held him, whispering maternal words of comfort.
39
She led him into Marguerite Cottage and found a small study where son and mother could speak without being overheard.
‘Henry, I was so stupid and so clueless, I didn’t know what else to do. I was ashamed of who I was. Pointed and stared at. Held up as an example to other stupid young girls. I loved you and Ella so much. It was why I left. I went to find your father and to tell him about you both. I told you, I took you to see him when you were just a baby. But he had gone. I would have run away with you, and gone to find him, but it wasn’t long before I found out I was expecting Ella so I had to stay. Then, as soon as I thought you were both able to be left with Granny and Poppa, I persuaded Rosemary to come with me. I was so cowardly. Running away has no valour attached to it. I even left Rosemary to face the music alone. I ran and ran from you, from myself, from Granny and Poppa.’ She put her head in her hands. ‘Not brave at all. And when I came back I was terrified. But I had no idea about the extent of the damage I had done. Granny stood on the doorstep, wouldn’t let me in, and made me understand I was not welcome.’
‘So why did you come back this time?’ Henry asked.
‘The letter that found me almost killed me. How could my parents be dead? Both not yet sixty. And I had felt nothing. No sign or premonition that they had died years ago. I thought I’d be able to know if anything bad happened and get home in time to be with them, but the threads had been burnt and I had noticed nothing.’
Her voice was breaking. ‘I had pictured them hale and hearty and enjoying life. Proud of their two grandchildren, taking time to paint and potter. While I …’ She laughed bitterly. ‘I was gratefully living my new life, selfishly happy with my second chance.’
Henry rubbed his eyes. ‘And what about my father?’
Sennen didn’t know what to say. ‘Do you mind if we leave that to another time? I don’t know what that would bring up. I didn’t really know him. I was a fool really. I can’t honestly tell if he was a bad man or just the wrong man. And I want to protect you from that.’
Henry shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. ‘What are you going to do with Granny and Grandad’s money?’
‘I promise you I did not come back for that. God’s truth. I came back only for you and Ella. I thought, naively, that I could explain what happened and rebuild the family I have dreamed about these past twenty-five years. But I see it’s not that easy. There’s a lot of work to do on my part, if you’d let me.’
‘We have come this far without you.’
‘Of course.’ Sennen was quiet. Thinking. ‘Ella’s an amazing young woman. And you, you are brave. You always were. When you fell over or banged your knee you never made a fuss.’
Henry swallowed hard. ‘I remember being on the beach, and I think it was you, but, do you remember me getting stung by a bee?’
She nodded. ‘Oh yes. Horrible. It had got in the crook of your knee and as you bent down it was crushed and stung you. You screamed so loudly.’
‘It was you then. I remember you holding me close to you while Poppa sucked the sting out.’
Sennen leant forward and rubbed his head. ‘That was me. I feel your hugs even now. You won’t make the same mistakes I made. I have been so lucky to be given a child who is the opposite of me. If you were like me I wouldn’t like you at all.’ She smiled.
‘So it wasn’t my fault?’
‘None of it was your fault. It was me all the time.’
They stood at the same time and faced each other. ‘May I hold you again?’ asked Sennen.
Henry didn’t wait to give his answer. They embraced with mutual affection and a new trust.
Breaking apart, Sennen hitched the scarf from her sari, back onto her shoulder and said, ‘Now, do you want to come back to the party? Meet Kafir properly?’
‘Maybe tomorrow? Go out for a coffee?’
‘That sounds good.’ She stroked his cheek. ‘See you tomorrow.’
In the garden the wedding party was in full swing. The DJ had pumped up the volume and the disco lights
were flashing their colours all over the dark garden. Sennen couldn’t find Ella or Kit but she spotted Kafir sitting on a garden bench with two sleepy children leaning against him.
‘I’m sorry I disappeared,’ she began.
But Kafir understood. ‘How did it go?’
She sat down and stroked Aali’s hair. ‘He’d like to meet you all properly tomorrow.’
‘I should be delighted,’ said Kafir.
‘Always the gentleman.’ She looked into Kafir’s eyes. ‘Would you all come home with me tonight? I need to be with my family.’
Kafir kissed her gently, on the cheek. ‘I think we would like that very much.’
Back at White Water, Kafir and Sennen each carried a sleeping child up into her bedroom.
‘This was my parents’ room when I was little,’ Sennen whispered.
‘Do you think they would be shocked to see a man in a turban here?’
Sennen giggled softly. ‘Not at all. Very egalitarian, my parents.’
‘But not always kind?’
‘Not always. No.’ She shrugged. ‘But I did push them beyond their limits.’ She smothered a little laugh. ‘In fact, seeing you wouldn’t surprise them at all!’
They laid Aali and Sabu in her big bed and pulled the covers over them. Sennen stood nervously in front of Kafir, alone, with him for the first time since she had told him the truth about her past.
‘Well. Here we are,’ he said.
‘Indeed.’
He looked around. ‘I shall take the little sofa.’
‘No. You are six foot two, you can’t do that. Have the bed.’
‘But you are five foot eleven.’ He smiled at her and put his hand to her hair, stroking it. ‘You can’t do that either.’
‘So what shall we do?’ she asked.
‘We shall sleep on the floor. Together.’
40
Kafir found two blankets on the top shelf of the wardrobe and spread those on the carpeted floor.
Sennen took the top cover from her big bed and two pillows and laid those down too.
In the bathroom they cleaned their teeth, padding around each other softly so as not to disturb the children.
Kafir unwound his turban and let his slightly greying but still glossy hair fall to below his shoulders. Sennen ran her hands through it and then hugged him.
‘I love you so. I need to explain so much to you.’
He pulled her chin towards him and kissed her slowly. ‘We have the rest of our lives to talk. If you want to stay?’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Yes. I’d like to stay.’
He took her hand and led her back into the bedroom.
Lying in just their underwear on the makeshift bed on the floor, they held each other, warm and loving. They slept better than either of them had slept since they had been apart.
Kafir woke to the sound of an American cartoon on the television and his children laughing. He twisted his head and saw Sennen coming out of the bathroom, dressed and ready for the day.
‘Morning, sleepyhead.’ She knelt down to kiss him. ‘I’ll tell Amy, the landlady, that you are all here, and to bring breakfast up for you. I have to nip out. I’ll be back in the hour.’
He caught her arm as she rose. ‘You’re not leaving me again?’
‘Never.’ She smiled at him. ‘Never ever. But I do have something I need to do.
‘What? No secrets please.’
Sennen looked at the children to check they weren’t listening then whispered her plan.
‘That is good.’ Kafir said, when she finished telling him. ‘That is right.’
It took only ten minutes to drive from Trevay to Pendruggan and Marguerite Cottage.
Ella opened the door with a hangover. ‘I know I look awful. I couldn’t be bothered to take my make-up off last night.’
Sennen gazed at her daughter. Her mascara still looked fresh and her cheeks had the bloom of a happy woman. She was wearing an oversized shirt of Kit’s which exaggerated her long, slim legs. ‘You look like the front cover of a glossy magazine.’
Ella threw her arms around her mother. ‘Ohh, Muuuum. Come in.’
Sennen stepped over several pairs of shoes, discarded jackets, a plastic box full of empty prosecco bottles, and a pile of wedding presents on the hall table. ‘’Scuse the mess.’ Ella flapped a hand airily.
‘How are you feeling, darling?’ Sennen asked, following Ella into the kitchen.
‘Fine. Well. No, not totally fine but …’ She twirled with her arms out wide. ‘I’m soooo happy.’
‘Shall I make you a coffee?’
‘I’ve had one. I’m thinking of going back to bed. My husband – that sounds funny, doesn’t it? – my husband is still sparko. Sit down. I’ll make you a coffee.’
‘I’ve only just popped in to make sure you’re all right, but I will be back later and I’ll cook breakfast and clear up for you. Is Henry here?’
‘Yes, he’s here somewhere, maybe the sofa? With Deborah. Did you know they had got it together?’
‘Yes, Rosemary mentioned it.’
‘Oh, Mum, I have something for you.’ Ella opened the back door, and disappeared into the garden. Sennen saw her from the window, skipping across the wet grass. She returned clutching her bridal bouquet. ‘I left it in the garden overnight to stay cool. I didn’t want to throw it to anyone. I want you to have it.’
Sennen was speechless. ‘I’m going to cry again.’
‘That’s all right.’ Ella gave the flowers to her mum and cuddled her.
‘What have I done to deserve you and Henry?’
‘You’ve come back. That’s enough.’
‘We still have lots to say to each other,’ said Sennen, cradling the precious flowers.
‘I think it would be too much to take it all in in one hit,’ laughed Ella. ‘There’s no hurry. Are you sure I can’t make you coffee?’
‘No thank you. I have something to do but I will be back later, if that’s okay with you?’
‘Bloody hell, yes!’
As the two women walked to the front door, Ella popped her head through the lounge door to check if Henry was there. Momentarily unchecked, Sennen achieved her reason for being there and slipped two white envelopes from her pocket amidst the pile of wedding presents. One addressed to Ella, the other to Henry.
Ella came back. ‘Yep, Henry is in there, snoring like a little pig.’
Sennen smiled. ‘Bless him. Now you go back and get some sleep.
‘I will. Thanks, Mum.’
Sennen was soon back in Trevay and walking up the hill towards St Peter’s Church carrying Ella’s bouquet. The sun was bright that morning but an onshore breeze ran a coolness through it. She opened the creaky gate, the rusty spring catapulting it back to its latch, and walked up the path that took her behind the church to the furthest corner of the graveyard.
She found her parents’ graves and sat between them as she had done just a few weeks before.
‘Hello, Mum. Hello, Poppa.’ The wind was blowing her hair into her eyes, and she brushed it away. ‘It’s a bit blowy today, Poppa. Good for the drying though, eh Mum? Remember how you used to have to nag me to put the washing out? I hated that job. I love doing it now. In India, everything dries so quickly and smells of sunshine. Funny how we change, isn’t it?’
The church bell began to clang, calling the early risers to the first service of the day.
Sennen lifted Ella’s flowers to her nose and smelt the sweet freesias and roses. ‘Ella got married yesterday and these are her flowers. She was a truly beautiful bride and I think she and Kit will be happy. He’s a lovely boy. You have done a good job with her. She’s so kind and full of life. What was she like as a teenager? Not as bad as me, I hope.
‘I suspect Henry may have been a handful. He’s been very tough on me, and rightly so, but underneath he’s so gentle. I want to thank you properly for doing the job that I should have done. You have done it better than I ever could at the age I was. Aali
and Sabu have a much better me than the one I was. I know I robbed you of the chance to see me grow up, but then again, you had had enough of me, hadn’t you, Mum? I ask for your forgiveness – and I forgive you for turning me away when I so wanted to come home.’
She placed the flowers on her mother’s grave. ‘These are for you both, but I think Mum will appreciate them more than you, Poppa. And by the way, thank you for guiding me, Mum. I think everything will be okay now. Oh, and I’ve decided what to do with your legacy. I think you’ll be pleased. I love you both very much.’
When Sennen had gone, Ella couldn’t rest and so brewed a pot of coffee, the smell of which soon lured Kit, Henry and Debs into the kitchen.
‘What a wonderful wedding.’ Debs gave Ella a hug. ‘And you were the most lovely bride I have ever seen. Don’t you think, Henry?’
Henry put four mugs on the table and took the milk from the fridge, ‘As sisters go, she looked all right.’
‘Gee thanks,’ said Ella sticking her tongue out.
Kit swung her into his arms and snuggled up to her. ‘Morning Mrs Beauchamp.’
Ella raked her hands through his hair and kissed his neck. ‘Good morning, Mr Beauchamp.’
‘Yeuch,’ said Henry. ‘Not before breakfast!’
Ella and Kit giggled.
‘How about a fry-up?’ suggested Debs.
‘Sausages, eggs, bacon in the fridge,’ Ella said. ‘If you don’t mind doing that, Kit and I shall open our wedding presents.’
Kit and Henry carried in the exciting parcels and cards and Ella armed herself with notepad and pen to make a thank you list.
Much laughter and excitement was had as wrapping paper was eagerly ripped apart revealing presents that ranged from the good, the quirky and the ridiculous.
Ella was now sorting through the envelopes addressed to Mr and Mrs Beauchamp, her new name giving her little butterflies in her stomach every time she saw it. But then she saw two that were addressed differently. Simply, one said Henry, the other, Ella.
She passed Henry his and together they opened and read the contents.
Ella read hers.
Dear Ella,