by Susan Lewis
‘I’m sure you will. Love you.’
‘I love you too.’
It wasn’t until much later in the day that Sarah realised she’d forgotten to tell her mother about the Mckenzies. Still, it wasn’t as though it couldn’t wait, and by then she was too busy helping to ship her things over to the barn for the thought to stay in her head for long.
‘Daphne! Brian!’ Joe shouted.
Daphne and Brian spun round from the barbecue, startled, worried, then relaxing as they realised Joe was pointing a camera their way.
‘Great!’ he told them. Then, waving a hand for them to stand closer together, ‘Now let’s get one of you smiling.’
Obligingly, they stood with Daphne’s arm linked through Brian’s and their best Sunday smiles radiating out to the camera, as Joe pranced and ducked around them like a hyped-up professional.
Watching from where she was setting a table under a giant maple at the far end of the courtyard, Lucy felt a flood of affection for her parents, who were always willing to do anything to make someone happy. Never mind that they were in the middle of deciding which of the various marinated meats to cook first, or that they’d never enjoyed being photographed, if Joe wanted their attention then Joe would have it.
Seeing flames starting to leap from the barbecue, she felt her throat turn dry, and was about to shout a warning when Joe beat her to it.
‘Hey, watch out,’ he laughed. ‘We don’t want you on the menu today. Would you like a hand there?’
‘That would be lovely,’ Brian replied, quickly grabbing the charcoal bag to empty more on to the fire. It was amazing, Lucy thought, how unfazed he seemed by the flames in spite of how much damage they’d once caused to his hands. Still, it was a long time ago, and it was good that he was over it now, or certainly enough to handle a barbecue on his own. However, he was all for being inclusive where his family was concerned, so if Joe wanted to boss him around that was fine by him, and off he went, laughing good-naturedly at Joe’s jokes while marvelling at his flamboyant pirouettes with serving plates and lethal-looking tongs.
Joe was nothing if not an entertainer, Lucy was thinking to herself as she wondered what all the statues, fountains, pillars and benches that were accumulating for the next sale were making of him. What parties had they seen in their time? Who had admired them, or sat on them, or cooled their feet in them? How many secrets had they heard whispered, what illicit liaisons had they watched unfold?
‘Dreaming again?’ Joe shouted, tossing a ball her way.
Catching it, and throwing it back, she went on with what she was doing, knowing that his high spirits came as much from relief that they’d finally made love last night, as from his normal ebullience.
‘Hi! Am I too early?’ Sarah called out as she came through the arched gate into the courtyard. ‘I’ve brought wine and sausages – and the last two rump steaks from Donald’s.’
‘You didn’t have to do that,’ Lucy protested as she went to give her a hug. ‘We’ve got plenty and it’s great that you can bear to spend another evening with us, especially at such short notice.’
‘Oh, the problem I had rearranging my diary,’ Sarah told her, with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. ‘You can’t imagine all the people I had to let down.’
Laughing, Lucy slipped an arm around her shoulders. ‘Come on in,’ she said. ‘Everyone’s looking forward to seeing you.’
‘I really can’t let you keep feeding me …’
‘Oh, just you watch us,’ Daphne interrupted with a smile as she came to greet her. ‘You’re very welcome, my dear, very welcome indeed.’
‘Thank you,’ Sarah replied, giving her a hug. ‘And how are you feeling today? Better now?’
‘Mm, I think so. I’m sorry I flaked out on you all last night, but I slept well, which is one good thing.’
‘Sarah!’ Joe cried over his shoulder from the barbecue. ‘Thank God you’re here, perhaps someone will pop a cork or crack a can at last.’
Chuckling happily, Brian took the hint and after welcoming Sarah in his own friendly way, he went inside to raid the fridge for a couple of lagers and a bottle of white wine.
‘No Hanna?’ Sarah asked, going to set her offerings down on the shady stone ledge next to the rest of the feast.
‘She should be back any time now,’ Joe told her. ‘Better brace yourself though, because she’s bringing a couple of friends.’
‘She is?’ Lucy said, surprised.
‘I got a text about ten minutes ago. I expect you did too, if you look.’
‘It’s great that she’s mixing so well this soon,’ Sarah commented. ‘How did her party go last night?’
‘She hasn’t said much about it,’ Lucy replied, ‘but at least she was back by two and I didn’t detect any signs of a hangover this morning.’
‘I wonder if one of the friends is going to be Lucas,’ Sarah said wryly as she held out a couple of glasses for Brian to fill.
‘I guess we’ll find out soon enough,’ Lucy replied. ‘Mum, shall I go in and finish the salads?’
‘If you wouldn’t mind, dear. No, no wine for me yet.’ Daphne declined Sarah’s offer of a glass. ‘I like to keep a clear head at least until we eat.’
Turning to Brian, Sarah said, ‘And how about you? Are you indulging yet?’
‘I’ll have a beer,’ he told her, popping open a can. ‘Have we heard back from Maureen and Godfrey yet to find out if they’re coming?’ he asked Daphne.
Lucy’s head came up. ‘I didn’t know you’d invited them,’ she said, trying not to sound as though she minded.
Daphne looked uncomfortable. ‘We always do when we light the barbecue,’ she said apologetically. ‘But I think they were going to Maureen’s sister’s today, which is probably why they haven’t got back to us yet.’
Wishing she didn’t feel quite so relieved, Lucy said, ‘Well, if we have two empty places, why don’t we give the Mckenzies a call? Maybe they’d like to join us.’
Daphne’s face started to colour. ‘Oh, no, I don’t think we should. We hardly know them, and …’
‘But you spent yesterday morning with them …’
‘And that’s probably enough for now. We don’t want to seem pushy, do we?’ She was looking at Brian, who loyally shook his head.
Worried that her mother might not be feeling as strong as she was trying to make out, Lucy let the subject drop and promptly winced as a sudden blast of music exploded through the courtyard. ‘Joe! Does that have to be so loud?’
‘Sorry,’ he shouted back, quickly turning the radio down. ‘Better?’
‘Just a bit,’ she said ironically. Then to Sarah, ‘Do you want to come and give me a hand with the salads?’
‘Right with you,’ Sarah assured her, and scooping up two glasses of wine she followed Lucy inside.
A few minutes later they were busy chopping, mixing and sprinkling while out in the courtyard Daphne was clucking and laughing as Joe twirled her round the flagstones to ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’.
‘He has a great relationship with your parents, doesn’t he?’ Sarah commented. ‘I don’t imagine life is ever dull when he’s around.’
Lucy’s smile was wry. ‘Not very,’ she agreed. Then, feeling a sudden need to be truthful, she said, ‘You might find this hard to believe, but we’re supposed to be on a trial separation.’
Sarah’s eyes rounded as she looked at her.
With a sigh, Lucy said, ‘Over the last few years … Well, you don’t want to hear about it all, but things aren’t the same as they once were. He’s changed, or I have … I don’t know. I guess you could say we’ve grown apart.’
A thoughtful silence fell between them, broken only by the squish and tap of a knife going through onions, and the Irish drollery of Terry Wogan coming from the radio outside. Starting to wonder if she’d gone too far when Sarah was clearly still suffering from the break-up of her marriage, Lucy was about to apologise when Sarah said, ‘Do you still love him?’
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bsp; Lucy took a breath, still not sure, out of an ingrained loyalty to Joe, if this was a conversation she should continue, but she wanted to be honest with Sarah, so she said, ‘In a way, I suppose, but definitely not in the way he’d like me to.’
‘Does he know that?’
‘I think he might have an idea, but he’s avoiding it – and to a certain extent I suppose I am too.’
Sarah began to grind black pepper over her salad. ‘So how do you see the future for the two of you?’ she asked quietly.
Lucy could feel her mind going blank rather than try to picture it. ‘To be honest,’ she said in the end, ‘I try not to think about it.’
Sarah nodded understandingly. ‘It seems as though we’re kind of in the same place,’ she said, ‘not wanting to think about where we go from here, or what we’re going to do … Except you have the auctions, of course, and it’s always helpful to lose yourself in work.’
Picking up on this, Lucy cast her a quick glance. ‘Actually, I’m glad you brought that up,’ she said, ‘because I’ve been wondering if you might … Well, I know it doesn’t offer all the glamour and dash of Paris, and it wouldn’t have to be permanent or anything, but if you’re at all interested, I’d love it if you came to work with me for a while.’
Sarah blinked in astonishment. As her emotions got the better of her, her eyes started to flood with tears. ‘Lucy, I’d love to,’ she laughed. ‘Oh, God, you can’t imagine … I was actually going to ask if there was something I could do … I mean, I don’t know anything about the business, but I’m a fast learner and I can come in whenever you like …’
‘I’m talking about fairly full-time,’ Lucy warned. ‘If you’re up for it, of course.’
‘Definitely I am. But are you sure? What about your mother? Is it OK with her?’
‘She’ll be absolutely fine about it when I tell her. It’ll probably be a relief to know that I’ve got some kind of foil between me and the Crumptons.’
Sarah pulled a face. ‘Ah, yes, what about them?’ she asked. ‘If they’re directors now, don’t they have to be consulted?’
‘Not unless I say so,’ Lucy retorted.
Though Sarah’s eyes were sparkling, she gave a grimace of unease. ‘I think we might have to handle it a little more tactfully than that,’ she suggested.
Laughing, Lucy agreed. ‘So you’ll be my right-hand person,’ she declared, ‘and over time, if you find it’s to your liking and it all works out, maybe we could talk about making you a partner.’
Sarah could hardly have looked more thrilled. ‘I really wasn’t expecting this,’ she said, trying not to gush, ‘but I think you’ve just made me feel happier than I have in over five years.’
Lucy dropped her knife and swept her into an embrace. ‘Then it’s worth it just for that,’ she told her. ‘And personally, I think we’ll make a fantastic partnership.’
‘I couldn’t agree more. Watch out Christie’s and Sotheby’s, Cromstone Auctions is a-coming.’
‘What’s all this noise in here?’ Daphne clucked, coming in the door. ‘I thought you were making salad, but it sounds to me as though you’re celebrating something.’
Sarah glanced anxiously at Lucy.
‘Actually, we are,’ Lucy announced. ‘Sarah has just agreed to come and work with me.’
Daphne’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. ‘Well, my goodness, that wasn’t what I expected to hear,’ she commented. ‘Are you sure this is what you want?’
Since Sarah was looking at Lucy, she didn’t realise at first that the question was directed at her. ‘Oh, yes, yes,’ she insisted. ‘I’ve been building up to asking if there might be something I could do, so I honestly couldn’t be happier.’
In spite of the way Sarah was frowning, Daphne started to smile.
‘Are you all right, Mum?’ Lucy asked.
‘Just a bit of a headache again,’ Daphne replied, and taking a hand of each of them, she said, ‘I’m very pleased for you both.’
‘Hang on, Mum,’ Lucy said as Daphne began to turn away, ‘don’t let’s mention anything to Dad or Joe for now, OK? I think we should just relax today and forget about the business.’
Daphne put a finger over her lips. ‘Not a word from me,’ she whispered. Then, turning around again, ‘Now, what did I come in here for?’ She looked blankly about the kitchen. ‘Goodness, I’m nearly as bad as Dad,’ she mumbled to herself. ‘I shall have to retrace my steps, see if it jogs … Ah, bread rolls,’ and with a wink at Sarah she whisked an overflowing basket of baps from the dresser to carry off to the courtyard.
‘She is such a sweetheart,’ Sarah remarked.
Lucy smiled. ‘She has her moments,’ she said fondly. ‘Incidentally, she doesn’t know that Joe and I are supposed to be trying a separation. She’d only get herself all upset if she did, and that’s the last thing I want.’
‘Don’t worry, I know all about mothers fretting themselves silly over things they can’t control. Mine’s just as bad.’
‘Have you spoken to her today?’
‘Of course. She rings every morning.’
Lucy glanced up with a smile. ‘Did you mention the Mckenzies?’ she asked.
‘Actually, I forgot, but I will. Would you believe, she only started trying to pair me off with Michael?’
Lucy’s heart gave a jolt. ‘But isn’t he …? I thought he was married.’
Sarah was busying herself with a lettuce. ‘So did I,’ she declared, ‘until my mother enlightened me to the contrary. Apparently he and Carlotta broke up about a year ago.’
Aware of an odd light-headedness coming over her, Lucy turned to reach a serving bowl from an overhead cupboard. ‘What about the boys?’ she asked, wondering what to put in the bowl.
‘It seems they’re with their mother, in Italy. He must miss them like mad, because he was always very hands-on as a father. I wonder where he’s living now?’
Lucy said, ‘Do you think you’d be interested? He’s obviously a great catch, and you’ve known each other for so long …’
‘Oh, please don’t start siding with my mother. Honestly, I’m so over men after Kelvin and I can’t see that changing any time soon, even for someone as gorgeous as Michael. Besides,’ she shot Lucy a playful look, ‘I kind of got the impression he was interested in you.’
Lucy’s insides gave a wrench. ‘I think you were imagining things,’ she told her firmly.
‘No, I don’t think so. I wouldn’t have said anything if you hadn’t told me about you and Joe – or if I’d thought he was still with Carlotta – but I saw the way he was looking at you yesterday, and unless I’m completely mistaken I think I detected a little frisson …’
‘You were mistaken,’ Lucy assured her.
‘I see,’ Sarah responded.
Neither of them spoke for a moment, then their eyes met and they both started to grin.
‘OK,’ Lucy said, ‘I’ll admit he’s …’
‘Gorgeous, rich, totally irresistible …’
‘Will you stop,’ Lucy laughed. ‘Even if I did find him attractive, and I’m not saying I do …’
‘Actually,’ Sarah interrupted, putting her head to one side, ‘you look a bit like him.’
Lucy almost choked on her drink.
‘You know how that happens sometimes, the way people end up with someone who’s just like them?’
‘I don’t know what you’re on,’ Lucy chided, ‘but I only met the man for an hour yesterday and if Joe were ever to hear even a whisper of what we’re saying … I dread to think …’
‘Mum! Mum! Where are you?’ Hanna cried, running into the courtyard, with Juliette and another girl hot on her heels. ‘Where’s Mum? Oh, Dad, it’s just so brilliant! Where’s Mum, I’ve got to tell her. Grandpa, you’ve got to be in on it too. And you, Granny. We all must. It’ll be hilarious.’
‘What will?’ Lucy asked, carrying a giant bowl of potato salad out to the table.
Hanna spun round. ‘Oh, there you are! There’s onl
y a summer fete going on right here in Cromstone the last weekend of the month,’ she informed her excitedly.
Stunned by so much enthusiasm from such an unlikely quarter, Lucy said, ‘There are posters all over the place, so yes, I did kind of work it out.’
‘No, you don’t get it. We’ve all got to take part in some way. Juliette, Gracie and I are going to put on a fashion show for Tess’s shop and model all her clothes; Juliette’s brother, Tom, and one of his mates are going to dress up as clowns for the kids, if we can find some costumes … But anyway, that’s not it. What is, is that there’s this contest where we all have to put in photographs of ourselves as babies, and then we have to set someone the challenge to go and find us. So you did bring our albums with us, didn’t you? Please say you did …’
‘I’d hardly have left them in London,’ Lucy responded. ‘How young do you have to be in the baby photo?’
‘Two or under. Granny, have you got pictures of you and Grandpa? It would be so cool if you could put yours in too. Dad, you’ll be here for it, won’t you? We’ve got pictures of you … Oh my God, you should see him when he was a baby,’ she said to her friends. ‘He was so cute and fat …’
‘I was not fat,’ Joe protested.
‘A real bruiser,’ Lucy pronounced. ‘Sarah, you have to be part of this too, and I’ll try to guess which one’s you.’
‘I’m up for it,’ Sarah replied. ‘And I’ll try to guess which one’s you.’
‘Oh, no, you can’t,’ Hanna groaned, suddenly deflating. ‘Oh Mum, I’m sorry, I forgot.’
‘It’s OK,’ Lucy told her.
Sarah and the girls were looking baffled.
‘We don’t have any photos of Mum when she was that young, do we?’ Hanna said to Daphne. And before her grandmother could answer she was telling her friends how her grandparents’ house had burned down when her mother was still a baby. ‘They lost virtually everything,’ she informed them gravely, ‘and only just managed to rescue Mum, who was upstairs asleep in bed at the time. Isn’t that right, Mum?’
Lucy nodded. ‘But thanks to Dad, here I am to tell the tale.’
Sarah turned to Brian, realising now why his hands were so scarred.