by T A Williams
‘Hi, Al. Just thinking.’
‘Business or pleasure?’
Suzie looked up and smiled. ‘A bit of both, I suppose.’ And she told Alex about Michael’s name on the list of possible trustees.
‘Brilliant. That’s bound to bring him back to Verona.’
Suzie nodded. ‘Maybe so, but it isn’t likely to bring about a change of heart.’
Alex wasn’t going to be discouraged. ‘Don’t you believe it. He’s been back in the UK for weeks and weeks now, and that’s a long time if you’re missing someone. You wait and see. I bet he comes back, cap in hand, and tells you he can’t live without you.’
‘Some hopes…’ Not for the first time Suzie gave herself a mental kick up the backside and changed the subject. ‘By the way, still no word from Rafe about him sitting down and talking to your father about Melanie?’
Alex shook her head in annoyance. ‘He’s going to chicken out, I know it. Every time I speak to him I have a go at him, but old habits die hard. He’s so used to doing everything Father says, he’s going to need a real push.’
Suzie nodded. ‘Well, I tried my hardest when we spoke back in October. Here’s hoping. Anyway, how’re things with you? Are you going out this evening?’
‘Yes, but not socially. I’m working tonight and tomorrow.’
Alex’s English/Italian conversation sessions with Beppe and his wife had led to employment for her in the restaurant kitchen on busy nights, doing everything and anything from mopping the floor or washing the dishes to dicing carrots, peeling potatoes and filling salt cellars. To Suzie’s delight, she had taken to it like a duck to water and Beppe and his wife expressed complete satisfaction with her. As this was effectively the first ‘real’ job Alex had ever had, this was a very good sign and Suzie was delighted for her. The extra income wasn’t massive, but coupled with the steady stream of money coming into her PayPal account as her designer clothes were snapped up by fashion-conscious Italian women looking for a bargain, Alex had been able to make ends meet so far without asking Suzie for a sub. Suzie was proud of her and she could see that Alex was equally proud of herself. The big unknown, of course, remained what her father thought of her.
‘Isn’t James supposed to be coming back this weekend, Alex?’
‘Not this weekend, but next, along with Rafe. You and I are invited to the villa for the weekend if we want.’
‘If you want, Al. You decide. I’m always up for some free food and the chance to go windsurfing, but you’re the one who’s trying to keep James at arm’s length.’
‘Like you say, it’ll be free food, so of course I’m up for it.’ She grinned. ‘I haven’t eaten meat for a few weeks now, so a nice juicy steak would be perfect. I’ll text him and say yes for both of us. He can send the car to pick us up.’
Now that they were no longer living in the hotel with its private parking, Suzie had returned the Mini to the professor, as parking spaces in the city centre were in very short supply. On the occasions when she visited him at the lake, she took the bus and found it quite easy. She nodded and smiled. Getting into the Rolls would be a little blast of nostalgia for Alex after all, although she had settled into life as a ‘normal’ student remarkably well.
Back at the flat, Suzie was just checking her emails when her phone rang. It was her mother, and suddenly everything changed.
‘Suzanne, darling, I’m afraid your father’s in hospital.’
Suzie’s blood turned cold. ‘Why? What’s happened?’
‘He’s had what they’re calling a “heart event”. He was feeling very unwell overnight and I had to call 999 this morning. He’s in the RD&E and he’s having an operation this evening or first thing tomorrow morning.’
Suzie knew the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital well. As a teenager she had broken her arm falling off a horse and had ended up there. ‘What sort of operation?’
‘They tell me it’s nothing too major, although it sounds a bit scary. They insert a camera into an artery in his groin and follow it up to the heart to see what’s wrong and then they fix it.’ Her mother’s voice trembled a bit and Suzie knew what she had to do.
‘They can do wonderful things for heart disease these days, Mum. Try not to worry. Listen, I’ll get a flight to Bristol tomorrow and come down on the bus to Exeter. I’ll come straight to the hospital and I should be there by late afternoon.’
Her mother put up token resistance but finally accepted the offer gratefully. As soon as Suzie put down the phone, she dashed next door and explained to Alex what had happened. Alex was quick to offer reassurance in her turn.
‘Father had that a couple of years ago. It’s called an angioplasty and it’s really quite routine these days. When the camera comes to a blocked bit of artery it slips in a little sleeve to reopen it. Father had two and he was fine again within a day or two.’
Suzie hoped she was right. She phoned the professor who told her to take all the time she needed and then she booked a seat on the flight from Venice leaving early the following afternoon.
* * *
As she was sitting at Marco Polo airport next day, waiting for her flight to be called, she had a pleasant surprise. Her phone beeped and she saw she had a message from Alex.
Rafe will meet you at Bristol airport and give you a lift to the hospital. Try not to worry. Good luck. XX
Suzie texted back, trying to object, but Alex replied that the offer had come from Rafe himself and that he was adamant he wanted to help. Suzie was touched. She was also mightily impressed when she walked down to the pick-up area of Bristol airport a few hours later to find Rafe waiting for her in a luxurious sports car with the Aston Martin badge on the bonnet. She hugged him and thanked him warmly, but Rafe waved away her thanks.
‘I had to take Melanie up to Bristol for a few days and I was planning on heading back to Devon today or tomorrow anyway. The airport’s en route, so please don’t worry.’
As they drove down to Devon, they chatted and Suzie was glad to talk about something other than her father’s state of health. The subject turned to Alex, and Suzie was pleased to be able to report how well things were going for her.
‘She’s as happy as a sandboy. She keeps getting top marks and she’s just had a couple of paintings accepted for a regional art contest. The way she’s going, she’ll be the next David Hockney.’
‘Father’s still amazed that she’s managing to adjust to life without all the frills.’
‘You can tell him that Alex bought herself a new bra at the market for five euros the other day and she says it fits just fine. And what’s more – she did the whole transaction in Italian. She’s made the transition to art student remarkably painlessly and she’s just so happy doing what she’s doing.’
‘She owes a lot to you, Suzie.’
‘Not at all. She’s very determined. She’d have managed it without me, I’m sure.’ She glanced across at him. ‘But the best thing is how much more self-confident she’s becoming. Irrespective of how well her art career goes, this is doing her so much good and her father needs to know that.’
‘That’s really good to hear. I’ll be sure to tell him what you’ve said.’
‘And do tell him that she hasn’t gone all bohemian. She’s a sensible girl and she’s working hard.’
Rafe dropped Suzie at the hospital at just after five-thirty and she hurried up to see her father. She found him awake, with her mother sitting at his bedside. She rushed over and kissed them both before settling down on the edge of the bed, her father’s hand in hers.
‘Have you had the operation, Dad? You look so well.’ For somebody who had just been under the knife he was looking remarkably sprightly. He smiled up at her and she felt his hand squeeze hers.
‘Yes, all done, and good as new – or so they tell me.’
‘The surgeon’s been round and he says the operation was a complete success.’ The joy on her mother’s face was a delight and Suzie felt a great sensation of relief sweep over her. For a mom
ent she felt her eyes stinging with emotion, but she wiped the tears away.
‘So you’ll be coming out soon?’
‘Tomorrow or the next day, I believe.’
It seemed incredible and Suzie gave him a big kiss on the cheek. ‘I’m so, so glad.’
‘Now tell us about you, Suzanne. How’ve you been?’ Her mother’s face was pale and drawn, but the smile on her lips reassured Suzie that she, too, was recovering from the shock of events.
At seven o’clock they left the hospital and Suzie drove her mother home in the car. Neither of them was feeling particularly hungry so they had tea and toast and Suzie spent much of the evening telling her mother all about Verona. In the course of the conversation she mentioned Michael as a windsurfing friend, but her mother must have managed to pick up something in her voice.
‘And you like this man?’
Suzie answered honestly. ‘I like him a lot, Mum, but nothing’s going to happen there.’ Under cross-examination, she revealed what had happened to Michael’s wife and saw her mother wince and shake her head in sympathy.
‘Poor, poor man. How awful.’ After a pause she looked up. ‘But give him time. Time’s a great healer, you know.’
Their conversation was interrupted by Suzie’s phone. It was Rafe, asking for news about her father. She gave him an upbeat report on his health and then was not totally unsurprised to hear what he had to say next.
‘That’s excellent news. I’ll tell Father. By the way, Suzie, he asks if you might have a moment tomorrow morning to see him. I could come and pick you up if you like.’
Suzie assured him she could drive up to the manor in her parents’ car and agreed to be there at ten o’clock, wondering what sort of mood he would be in.
When she arrived in Lord Tedburn’s study, she found him far less intimidating than the first time. He actually got up from his desk, came across, shook her hand, and then kissed her on the cheeks – which, needless to say, immediately started glowing as a result.
‘How kind of you to come, my dear. Can I offer you anything? Coffee? Tea? Sherry?’
Suzie thanked him but shook her head and sat down in one of the armchairs while Lord Tedburn took a seat opposite her and asked about her father. He looked delighted to hear the good news and asked her to pass on his best wishes. Then, formalities completed, he changed the subject.
‘Suzie… you don’t mind if I call you Suzie, do you?’ Suzie shook her head, quite amazed at the distinct thaw in his demeanour. ‘Suzie, I wanted to see you to offer you my heartfelt thanks for staying on in Verona to be with Alexandra.’
‘Not at all. I’ve managed to find myself a fabulous job with free accommodation, so no thanks are necessary. The flat’s easily big enough for two.’ At his insistence, she went on to tell him more about the new research centre and he expressed considerable interest.
‘I’m very pleased for you, Suzie. That sounds like an exciting new challenge. I wish you and the research centre well. But Alexandra made it clear that you decided to stay on with her even before knowing about the new job. I won’t forget what you’ve done for us.’
Suzie was particularly pleased to hear him use the pronoun ‘us’. Clearly, there was no question in his head of any lasting Shakespearian-type rift between father and daughter. Hopefully, the same would happen as and when Rafe took the bull by the horns and told him his intentions as far as Melanie was concerned. She hadn’t dared ask him in the car the previous day, but she felt pretty sure he still hadn’t found the courage to speak up.
Lord Tedburn went on to ask her for news of Alex, and Suzie replied honestly that all was going well, mentioning the fact that she was working part-time and selling her expensive clothes to make ends meet. He appeared impressed, particularly when Suzie showed him photos of the two of her paintings that had been selected for the prestigious regional art exhibition scheduled to take place in mid-December in the magnificent Castelvecchio in Verona. By the end of their chat, she distinctly got the impression that he was both relieved and maybe even unexpectedly proud of his daughter. Suzie felt sure this boded well for a rapprochement before too long. As he bade her farewell, he took an envelope from the top drawer of his desk and pressed it into her hands.
‘Here, I’d like you to have this. It’s not right that you should be paying for my daughter’s lodgings.’
Suzie glanced inside, saw a sheaf of green one hundred euro notes and made a quick decision. Handing the envelope back to him, she refused as politely as possible.
‘Thank you, Lord Tedburn, but there’s no need for this. Alex and I are friends and I’m happy to help her. If I’d needed to be paid, Alex would have found the money somehow, I know. She wants to be self-sufficient and she’s succeeding. So, thank you very much, but this isn’t about money.’
She gave him a smile and left the study, knowing she had done the right thing. There was no disputing that the extra money would have been useful, but accepting it would have run contrary to Alex’s expressed desire to stand on her own two feet, without any help from her father. Hopefully the message would not be lost on him.
Chapter 23
Suzie’s father walked unaided out of hospital next morning and she flew back to Italy the day after, relieved and satisfied that he was on the road to full recovery. Although she had planned to take the bus to the airport, this was rendered unnecessary by Rafe who insisted on giving her another lift as he was on his way to pick Melanie up again. As they headed north, Suzie gave it a little while and then asked him what he had decided as far as his future with her was concerned. His answer confirmed what she and Alex had already imagined.
‘I’ve been putting it off and putting it off, but I am going to speak to Father about it. In fact, I’m planning on having it out with him this week. I just want to talk it through with Melanie one more time first.’ He managed a grim smile. ‘So wish me luck.’
‘Good luck, but I’m sure he’ll want you to be happy.’ Without giving him a chance to disagree, she hastily changed the subject to Tommy and was rewarded by a little smile from Rafe.
‘He sends his love and asked me to tell you that his offer still stands.’
Suzie smiled in return. ‘Do, please give him my love and tell him thanks, but my answer remains the same. And also you can tell him the research centre should be open for business by mid-February if he or any of his colleagues are interested. I’ll let him know when I’ve got a definite date.’
‘He’s really cheesed off that he can’t come over with James and me at the weekend to see you. He said to tell you it’s the fault of one of his mates from the army who’s getting married, and Tommy’s his best man.’ He glanced across at Suzie and winked. ‘I know he’d rather be with you.’
It came as no surprise to either of them when Suzie’s cheeks lit up like traffic lights.
At Bristol airport she kissed Rafe warmly on the cheek and repeated her good wishes for the forthcoming confrontation with his father. She had her fingers crossed as she left him. She didn’t envy him the experience.
Back at the flat in Verona that evening, she shared a pizza and a bottle of supermarket red with Alex and related everything that had happened in Devon. In particular, Alex listened spellbound as Suzie recounted her meeting with Lord Tedburn and applauded her decision to refuse his offer of money to pay the rent. Suzie could see from the expression on Alex’s face that she was greatly relieved to know that her father was no longer breathing fire and fury, and maybe even beginning to realise that she really could stand on her own two feet and work hard. Alex then asked if Rafe had said anything about talking to his father and Suzie told her what he had said in the car.
‘He’s worried your father’s going to go all Shakespearian on him, so he’s been putting it off until this week. He told me a while back that there’s always been a Tedburn at the manor ever since 1616. By the way, do you realise that’s the year Shakespeare died? That’s quite some tradition to uphold.’
‘Tradition’s all wel
l and good, but without happiness it means nothing.’ Alex was in no doubt. ‘This week, you say? I just hope he doesn’t lose his nerve. I’d hate it if he ended up having to marry somebody he doesn’t love.’
‘Like you and James? Or are you coming round to thinking that James might be the one for you after all, maybe?’ He had been over for a quick visit that weekend while Suzie had been in the UK.
Alex shook her head, but Suzie got the impression it was with a bit less certainty than before. ‘I do like him a lot, Suzie. It’s just the whole sex thing…’
‘Have you tried again?’
‘I’ve barely kissed him.’
‘But you have?’
‘Well, yes.’
‘And how was it? They say you can tell a lot from just a simple kiss.’
‘Well, to be honest, it was rather nice.’
Suzie gave her a wink. ‘Well, that’s a good start, isn’t it? And he’s coming over again this weekend, isn’t he? You can’t say he isn’t making an effort. That’ll give you time for some more practice.’
After dinner, she logged onto her work computer and was surprised to see an email from Michael. It was addressed to the professor and copied to her, and it was a formal reply to the request for him to act as one of the trustees of the new charity. To her delight, he accepted with pleasure and indicated that he would be happy to come over to Verona for the opening, whenever that would be. She shot off a reply, thanking him and adding as an aside how happy she would be to see him again. As it was a work email, she avoided putting a little x before her name.
Next day she took the bus to the lake and met the professor, assuring him that all was now well again with her father. He expressed delight at her news, and the Labrador appeared to share his sentiments as he made a concerted effort to climb onto Suzie’s lap while Mack was out of the room. Suzie dissuaded him gently and Dogberry was once more laid out on the floor when his master returned, but with one eye open, studiously watching every move that Suzie made in the hope that she should decide to get up and take him for a walk.