Victoria let out a great breath of air as she pictured Rick trying to find his way in the world, and questioned whether or not the connection they’d formed would still be there. She’d not seen him or Chris in almost a month. She’d sent a card, but she’d deliberately not called them, aware how difficult Christmas was having lost someone close. As an adult, she experienced the pain with her own mother, even a few years on. How awful it must be for a thirteen-year-old, not having his mum or brother around when the whole world insisted on universal happiness.
She shuffled her papers together and pushed them aside.
New Year would have meant nothing to the Framptons. It wasn’t an opportunity for rebirth. It was a time of intense reflection, regrets and sorrow. It must have been horrible at the castle.
Victoria bit her bottom lip. She should have shown them that someone cared.
It was time to step up to the plate; come out of hiding; be fearless. Chris trusted her enough to ask for her help. All that other stuff in her head would have to go. This wasn’t about her unresolved feelings, or whatever it was Olivia had suggested. This was about Rick. And it was about Seth. Somehow, they went hand-in-hand. She hadn’t worked out how yet – Juliette would say the boys were destined to meet – that their fate was mapped out years ago, and last November, Victoria would have scoffed at the idea. Now, in a totally illogical, inexplicable way, it made sense.
Some things simply happened.
Having dropped Olivia at Chiswell Craft Centre for a ten o’clock Sunday opening, Victoria continued on to Hope Cove Castle. Wriggling with excitement in the back of the car was Seth.
‘Do they know we’re coming?’
‘No. Which means they might not be in.’
‘So why are we going?’
‘We’re being spontaneous. We’re doing something without planning it first.’
Surprised by the castle’s lack of security, Victoria drove the car onto the gravel drive and switched off the engine. ‘If they’re not here, we’ll do something else.’ She smiled into her rear-view mirror. ‘Okay?’ Please be in, she thought. I need you to be in, before I change my mind. ‘Come on. You can get the bell.’
Much to Seth’s obvious pleasure, Rick opened the door.
‘Hi. Great to see you. Come in. Dad’s in the conservatory. It’s that door on the right.’ Rick pointed inside, to where a shaft of light stretched across the floor. Then he focused on Seth. ‘All right, Seth? What do you want to do?’
So natural, like they’d been there yesterday.
‘May I see your bedroom?’
‘Sure. That’s okay, Mrs Noble, isn’t it?’
‘Of course.’ Victoria looked at Seth. ‘Please behave.’
Rick bounded up the stairs, waiting at the top for Seth to catch up, and then they both disappeared round the corner.
Victoria surveyed the entrance hall. Grand came to mind.
‘Hey, Vicky. Come on through.’ Dressed head-to-toe in black, Chris waved her in. ‘Boys gone already? Sorry. Rick should have shown you through. Happy New Year. It’s good to see you.’
He looked tired, dark skin defining his eyes. It matched his clothing.
‘I’m not interrupting anything, am I? It’s okay to drop by?’ Victoria made her way into the conservatory, squinting at the brightness.
‘Well, that depends,’ Chris said, inviting her to sit in the porter’s chair.
‘It does?’ She perched on the end of the seat, wondering what Chris’s conditions were.
‘No.’ He released a gentle laugh. ‘You and Seth are welcome any time.’ He pulled out a chair from under the dining table and straddled it, supporting his chin on its high back. ‘It’s a great view, isn’t it?’
With her eyes now adjusted to the strong light, Victoria could see the horizon. A small fishing boat, surrounded by gulls, caused the only break in an otherwise perfect horizontal line.
‘He’s out there every day, but he’s usually back in the harbour by now. I assume that’s where he goes. I should think he’s got a good catch on board with all those scavengers hassling him.’ Chris turned to Victoria. ‘Have you had breakfast? Can I get you a coffee or tea?’ He stood as if he was about to leave the room.
‘No. I’m fine, thanks. Can you sit down? I’ve come to talk about your offer.’
‘I hadn’t forgotten.’ He slumped onto the chair, returning his chin to the back, but placing his hands either side. He reminded Victoria of a cartoon character Juliette used to draw on the back of her exercise books. What was it called? A Chad. Yes. That’s what he looked like. A Chad. A very, handsome, fit, sexy Chad.
‘Well?’ he prompted, his manner that of a crushed man. ‘Get it over with. My idea of you staying here ranks as the craziest, most idiotic thing you’ve ever heard.’
Victoria smiled. ‘Yes, it’s made my top five.’
Chris’s head disappeared behind the rungs of the chair. ‘Is there nothing I can say that will change your mind?’
‘There’s plenty.’ Victoria rose from the porter’s chair and crossed to the panoramic windows. ‘But I don’t want it changed.’
‘Right.’ Chris’s voice was becoming more muffled by the minute.
His chin must be on his chest, Victoria thought. He’s talking into his jumper. ‘I’ve given it considerable thinking time.’ She coughed, aware of her understatement. ‘And I’ve weighed up the pros and cons. If Seth and Rick are agreeable, and the accommodation is suitable, I’d like to accept your offer. If it’s not too late.’
She turned round to find Chris bolt upright, with his mouth and eyes open to the same degree. ‘Catching flies, Chris.’ She grinned.
He reduced the gaping aperture. ‘Is that a yes?’
‘Yes, it’s a yes. But the boys have to be happy with the decision, and I haven’t said anything to Seth yet.’
Chris dived off his chair and bounded to Victoria’s side. ‘That’s brilliant. I’m so relieved. And pleased. Does that mean you’ve forgiven me?’ His level of energy, and his eyes dropped at the asking of the question.
‘I think it should be me asking for your forgiveness. I misjudged you, and I should have known better.’
‘I have a suggestion,’ Chris said, his tone and head lifting. ‘How about we get to know one another as the tortured adults we are, and we leave the past behind?’
‘Tortured adults?’ Victoria choked on the words.
‘Yep.’ Chris smacked his lips together. ‘I was going easy on us. Come on. Let me show you the annexe.’
His smile, his buoyancy, and his eagerness to show her around, demonstrated his happiness with the situation. And it was contagious. ‘Lead on,’ Victoria said, excited to see what lay in store.
She followed Chris into the hallway, past the dining room, through the kitchen and down three steps to a closed fire door. It opened inward to a narrow corridor.
‘There’s a bedroom either side, the living room there, the bathroom opposite, and at the end, the kitchen-diner. It’s not very big, but you can always eat with us. The last door on the left is the annexe’s private entrance.’ Chris invited Victoria to investigate.
‘In a minute,’ she said. From her initial assessment, it definitely fell within her description of ‘going back to basics’.
‘Well? What do you think?’ Chris bobbed in front of her. ‘It’s probably smaller than you’re used to, but at least you’ll both have your own bedrooms.’
Victoria agreed. ‘I imagine it’s bigger than Dad’s bungalow.’ She rapped her knuckles against the wall and approved of the dull thud. ‘Solid, too.’
‘Yeah. Thankfully, you won’t hear a thing from down here.’ He laughed. ‘Rick likes his music loud.’ He stopped and looked at Victoria, a question hovering in the air. ‘It’s not too remote for you, is it?’
&n
bsp; ‘Remote? No. I’ll be glad of the peace.’ She ventured down the corridor and looked in on the first bedroom. It was carpeted in blue, with matching curtains, spotlights in the ceiling, and white furniture, including a bed. Fresh, adequate. Suitable for Seth. She crossed the hall to the bedroom opposite. This was a little larger, with beige flooring, pink walls and rose-coloured blinds. The furniture matched that of the smaller room. ‘Both single beds?’ she queried.
‘That’s not a problem, is it?’ Chris peered into the room. ‘The realtor was kind enough to organise a few fundamentals before we arrived. I say kind. He still sent me the bill.’ He paused, dwelling on something. ‘Did I say realtor? I meant estate agent.’
Victoria exited the bedroom and wandered down to the kitchen. ‘You’re bilingual,’ she teased. ‘I am too. I speak English and Binary.’
‘Computers feature a lot in your life.’ Chris pulled shut the bedroom door and joined Victoria in the kitchen. ‘I haven’t a clue about them. Rick’s had to show me how to watch Genesis videos through the TV Internet. So, that’s what you do for a living? Work with computers?’
This wasn’t the moment to mention EweSpeak, just as it wasn’t the moment last month, or the time before. It appeared Rick hadn’t discussed it, either. What were the chances Victoria could keep her involvement from Chris? She feigned fascination with the contents of a wall cupboard she’d opened; one box of powdered soups, three small candles, and a pair of rubber gloves. To be fair, it was an interesting if odd assortment. She could answer Chris and then move on. ‘Yes. And you’re still into Genesis?’ Smooth. She gave a miniscule shake of her head.
‘Oh, yes. Greatest band on this planet. Can’t get Rick on board though. His mum wasn’t a huge fan either, but at least she tried. She’d get the words wrong in Follow You, Follow Me, mind you.’
His pause drew Victoria’s attention to him.
‘She’d get the you and me muddled.’ He shrugged and waved a dismissive hand. ‘You don’t know what I’m on about, do you?’
He turned his back, but Victoria had already seen his sad, wistful smile. It didn’t hide the obvious pain his memories had evoked. She closed the cupboard, and changed subjects once more. ‘May I see the bathroom?’ She brushed past him on her way through, and poked her head around the side of the door. ‘No bath?’
‘No. I guess technically I should have called it the shower room. We have a bath upstairs. You’re very welcome to use that.’
Good grief, no. That would never happen. Far too exposed. The thought of Chris seeing her naked, accidentally or otherwise, filled her with dread. She had the body of a thirty-five-year-old, not an eighteen-year-old, as Chris had last witnessed. The shock would kill them both. Or render them insensible. Or render them insensible and then kill them. Whatever, it would be a bad move. A very bad move, and it wasn’t worth the risk.
‘I’m fine with the shower, but Seth might like a bath,’ Victoria said, allowing her hot face to cool before showing it in the corridor. She heard Chris move in behind her.
‘While we’re on the subject of other rooms, I know I said our paths don’t have to cross, but the downstairs of the castle is open to you both. If you’re comfortable with us occupying the same space, so am I. To be honest, it would be nice to have the company.’
Victoria returned to the hallway. ‘Tommy’s still away? Rick mentioned it,’ she quickly added.
‘Yeah. He went away for the holidays.’ Chris smiled. ‘Shall I call the boys down?’ He stepped into the main body of the castle, gestured for Victoria to exit, and then shut the fire door.
Her conscience was troubled by his enthusiasm and look of expectation, and she blocked his path. ‘Wait. There’s something I need to tell you. It might make you change your mind about having us here.’
‘I doubt it. I’m so convinced you’re the one, it would take a juggernaut of an issue for me to go back on my offer.’
‘The one?’ He hadn’t spoken in desirous tones, but it was best to clarify. Like it was best she confessed her part in EweSpeak, before any agreements were made.
‘For Rick. Don’t you see, Vicky? I need you here. For my boy. I’d do anything to get him back.’
‘Of course.’ EweSpeak could wait. She’d have to quash the guilt for a few more weeks. Or as the insurance assessor had estimated, six months.
‘What’s this thing you need to tell me?’
Thinking quickly, she said,’ We’ll be here over Easter. The cottage won’t be dry until late spring, early summer.’
‘Is that all?’ Chris laughed, as he danced passed Victoria into the hall. ‘Then we’ll have plenty of time to get reacquainted. Boys. Come down.’
As Victoria approached the conservatory, Chris held out a hand. ‘I have a confession, too.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I’ve already run my crazy idea past Rick, and he loves it.’
‘He does?’ It must have been a difficult decision to make. ‘He’s okay with a woman being in the place? He doesn’t feel I’m—’
‘Walking in his mother’s footsteps? That’s how you put it. No. He accepts you for who you are. He understands we’re friends, and he gets that you’re not a replacement for Lacey. In any sense of the word. As far as he sees it, we’re helping you out until your home is habitable.’
‘Oh.’ So, he hadn’t told Rick the whole reason for inviting the Nobles there. She was about to ask why, but the boys charged down the stairs and careered into the conservatory. Rick claimed the porter’s chair, before offering it to Seth.
Victoria took the seat Chris had lodged upon earlier, and sat side-saddle. ‘Seth, I have something to ask, but I’d like you to listen until I’ve finished.’ She raised a finger to her lips, then returned her hands to her lap. ‘We can’t move into our cottage until the builders have fixed it, and Pops’ home is too small for us to live there for a long time. Chris and Rick have very kindly invited us to stay here for a while. Is it something you’d like to do?’
She held her breath, waiting for his response; the child who wrestled with change.
Chapter Nineteen
Seth remained silent. His eyes flitted from one person to the next, and he kicked his heels against the solid base of the chair.
‘I want to stay with Pops.’
Here we go, thought Victoria, steadying herself for the verbal melee. ‘His bungalow is too small.’
‘I want to stay with Pops.’ Seth’s feet whacked the chair with every word.
Victoria assessed the situation, deciding whether to slug it out in front of spectators, or continue the fight in the car on the journey home.
This could be the point Chris withdraws his offer, she thought. Although, by the growing anger behind Seth’s eyes, it was more likely to be her reneging on the deal. Time to test whose mettle was the strongest. ‘We’d have our own rooms here.’
Seth’s hands compressed into tight fists. ‘I have a room at Pops’. I want to stay there.’
From the corner of her eye, Victoria saw Chris cast a look at Rick, at which point Rick crouched in front of Seth, tapped his knee and got his attention.
‘I think it’s really cool you want to stay with your pops. That’s your grandpa, right?’
Seth nodded, and his legs stilled.
‘Grandpas are great. I bet he loves having you stay with him.’
Victoria watched in astonishment at the speed with which Seth unfurled his fingers and engaged in conversation.
‘He says I keep him busy and being busy makes him happy.’
‘You keep everyone busy, man.’ Rick rumpled Seth’s hair. He received a passing smile.
‘Being busy makes me tired.’ Seth rubbed his eyes and yawned.
‘Yep. Me too.’
There was a silence, while everyone digested the contents of the exchange. Then Seth spoke.
‘I can’t leave Pops because he won’t be busy, and then he’ll be sad.’
Victoria brought a hand to her mouth to stifle a mounting sob. Seth wasn’t fighting change; he was trying to fulfil what he understood to be an expectation. She chewed on her tongue and concentrated on the pain there. It hurt, but it was nothing like the agony crushing her heart. In a peculiar way, Seth’s logic was flawless.
Rick kneeled on the floor. ‘He’s a lucky grandpa. Do you think I could meet him one day? Maybe when you’re not keeping him busy?’
‘Yes. Do you think he’s sad when I’m here?’
Rick looked to Victoria for assistance.
She composed herself before replying. ‘May I tell you what I think?’
Seth wriggled to the front of the seat, and fastened his fingers together. ‘Yes.’
His direct answer elicited a mewl from Victoria. Without a trace of anger or hatred, Seth was centred on her and nothing else. It was the most significant moment yet, but it was imperative Victoria gave him a response. She reined in her emotions. ‘No. I don’t think he’s sad when you’re here, because he knows you’re happy being busy.’ It was a risky strategy, but one she felt Seth would comprehend.
‘That’s true, man,’ Rick said. ‘Grandpas, and moms and dads are like that. If you’re happy, they’re happy.’
Victoria watched with interest as Seth accepted the statement, and settled into the chair. Rick, on the other hand, with a puckered brow, was studying his father. She could sense Chris willing him to speak. The funny thing was, Rick didn’t need to; his expression said it all. Victoria found him as easy to read as Seth’s bedtime story. He was working through the consequences of what he’d just said.
It was turning into quite a day. A breakthrough moment for both families, and the Nobles hadn’t even moved in.
‘Okay,’ said Seth, hopping off the chair. ‘Will you show me my room, please?’ He held out his hand for Rick to take.
Once the young American had obtained Victoria’s agreement, he was on his feet, leading Seth out of the conservatory.
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