‘I always stay at the same hotel,’ she told me as she handed me the keys. ‘And on Christmas Day there’s always a red rose on my breakfast tray. They look after me so well.’ She looked at me, her face serious. ‘Now, you know where everything is, don’t you, dear? And if anything should go wrong I’ve left the number of the handyman on the telephone pad. His name is Fred Gray and he can turn his hand to anything.’
‘I’ll remember,’ I promised. ‘Just you go and have a fabulous time. Albert and I will be fine.’
Outside the taxi hooted and I saw her into it and waved her off then went inside to unpack. The last of my things put away, I felt at a loss. I’d have to go out and do some shopping, stock up with food for the coming week. There’d be no time during the last week of term, what with the concert and everything. My eyes suddenly alighted on the telephone and I thought of Rex and what Mum had said. Maybe I should take the bull by the horns and invite him round. Without giving myself any more time to think about it I lifted the receiver and dialled his number.
‘Hello, Rex Turner.’
‘Rex, it’s me, Sophie. I’ve just moved into this temporary flat and I was thinking – wondering – if you’d like to come round and have a meal with me this evening. A sort of house warming.’ I held my breath.
‘Oh, Sophie, that would have been nice.’ My heart sank. He was going to knock me back yet again. ‘It’s just that I was just about to leave,’ he went on. ‘I’m going up to see my folks for Christmas and as there’s nothing to keep me here I thought I’d make an early start, spend a couple of weeks with them as I haven’t seen them in ages.’
‘I see,’ I said trying hard to keep the disappointment out of my voice. ‘Well, give them my best won’t you?’
‘Of course.’ He paused. ‘If I known sooner I could have gone tomorrow,’ he went on. ‘But they’ll be expecting me.’
‘Yes of course. It was just a sudden impulse,’ I said quickly. ‘It doesn’t matter. Have a lovely time.’
‘Maybe we can meet when I’m back,’ he said.
‘Yes, maybe.’
As I replaced the receiver I felt something soft bump against my leg and I looked down to see Albert rubbing his head against me, purring like an engine. I bent down and picked him up, burying my face in his soft fur. ‘Well, looks like it’s just you and me, Albert,’ I told him.
The carol concert and the nativity play went off without too many hitches and on the last day of term the staff gave a small informal leaving party for John. The new head and his wife came too so we were all introduced. We said our final goodbyes but in the car park, John caught up with me.
‘Sophie, can I have a word?’
‘Of course, is here something I can do for you, John?’
‘It’s just that I went to put the house on the market yesterday but on the way home I suddenly thought of you,’ he said. ‘I know you’re looking for somewhere permanent to live. Any chance that you might be interested?’
‘I don’t know, John,’ I said hesitantly. ‘There’s not a lot I can do about it until after Christmas.’
‘No, of course not. I’ll tell you what though, I’m leaving the keys with the agent. It’s Bruce and Freeman in North Street.’ He took out his wallet and handed me one of their cards. ‘I’ll tell them that you might be interested and if you felt like it after Christmas you could go and have a look round.’
My heart gave a lurch. I’d always liked John’s house, a three bedroom, detached villa in a quiet, leafy road quite close to school. It was just the kind of place that Rex had always fancied. But it would be too big for me to live in alone. If only….
‘Thanks for thinking of me, John,’ I said. ‘It’s certainly something to think about.’
Christmas Day with Mum and Dad was quiet but enjoyable. I told them about John leaving and how he’d suggested that I have a look at his house. Mum was enthusiastic.
‘That’s a good idea. Why don’t you go and look at it over the holiday?’
I shrugged. ‘A small flat would do for me,’ I said. ‘What would I do with a whole three bedroom house on my own?’
‘Well, you never know….’
I silenced her with a look. ‘I’ve got to be realistic, Mum,’ I said. ‘I have to face the fact that from now on I’m on my own.’
When I got back to the flat Albert was waiting for me, or rather for his supper, which he attacked with gusto the minute his dish touched the floor. As I switched on the TV and prepared to watch the evening film I wondered what Rex was doing. I imagined his family with the whole tribe of aunts, uncles and cousins crammed into his parents’ lounge playing silly games and exchanging news and I felt nostalgic and quite envious. I wondered what excuse he had made for going home on his own, or if he had told them that our marriage was over.
On Boxing Day I stayed in bed late, getting up to make myself some breakfast and taking it back to bed. The sooner the prolonged holiday period was over, the better. I felt in a kind of limbo.
The following day I remembered what John had said about looking round his house and wondered if the estate agents would be open. At least it would be something to do. I fished the card John had given me out of my handbag and dialled the number. To my surprise a girl’s voice answered almost at once.
‘Bruce and Freeman’s, estate agents. Can I help you?’
‘Hello. You have a house on your books – twenty-three Lime Avenue. Would it be convenient for me to take a look round today sometime?’
‘The vendor has already moved out,’ she said.
‘I know, actually Mr Harrison was a colleague of mine. He suggested I might be interested.’
‘I see. Well, you can pick up the keys at any time. At the moment we’re running on a skeleton staff so would you mind going on your own?’
‘Not at all. I’ll pick up the keys after lunch.’
John’s house looked abandoned and rather forlorn without him. He had removed all his furniture into storage and as I opened the door and stepped inside there was an empty, impersonal feel about the place. Before the hall had been carpeted and for the first time I realized that the floor was made of stripped oak. I pictured what it would look like polished and scattered with bright rugs. Upstairs I peered into the three bedrooms, all nicely decorated and well proportioned. The bathroom had been updated recently and so had the kitchen. Both were sleek and modern with no garish colours or gimmicky trimmings.
As I went from room to room on the ground floor I was surprised at how different the house looked devoid of furniture or fittings. It was as though it had been reduced to a blank canvas, ready for a new owner to put their personal stamp on it. I pictured our own furniture, imagining how I’d arrange each item; inventing colour schemes and lighting for each room. Looking out through the French windows into the garden I saw myself sitting on the decked patio on a summer evening with a glass of wine. Then with a sigh I reminded myself that if I bought this house I’d be doing everything alone. I turned away. Anyway it was too large and too expensive for one.
As I turned back into the room I heard the scrape of a key in the front door and stopped dead. The girl at the agents hadn’t mentioned that someone else would be viewing today. How embarrassing. Surely she should have waited till I’d returned the keys before handing out the spare set. I hastily gathered up my coat and bag, planning to explain that I was just about to leave anyway. In the doorway I stopped in my tracks, the blood rushing to my cheeks as I stood face to face with the new viewer. He was as surprised as I was.
‘Sophie!’
I shook my head. ‘Rex! What – what are you doing here?’
‘The same as you, I imagine.’
‘This is John Harrison’s old house, my headmaster. He’s left and….’
‘I know.’
I shook my head. ‘You know, but how? It’s only just been put on the market.’
‘It doesn’t matter how. So, you’ve looked round?’
‘I’ve finished now. I was just goin
g.’
‘What’s your verdict?’
‘It’s nice,’ I said. ‘Very nice. Not for one though. It’s a family house.’ I made a move towards the door. ‘I’ll go and let you look round in peace. I think you’ll like it. It’s just your sort of house.’
‘Don’t go,’ he said. ‘You don’t have to. In fact I’d be glad of your opinion. You always pick up more details than me.’
As we toured the bedrooms again I thought how bizarre this whole situation was. We descended the stairs and Rex inspected the kitchen.
‘I like this,’ he said. ‘Nice clean lines and no unnecessary trimmings.’
‘I thought a striped blind would look nice,’ I said. ‘Orange and white. The house faces south-west so there must be sun for most of the day.’
He nodded in agreement. ‘I like the ceramic tiled floor too.’
‘There are French windows in the living room,’ I told him, ‘leading on to a deck. It’d be perfect for eating out on summer evenings.’
He looked at me. ‘You really do like it, don’t you? Even though it’s less than a hundred years old.’
I shrugged. ‘For a suitable family it would be ideal,’ I said guardedly. I frowned. ‘I thought you were spending Christmas with your family.’
‘I was. I came back to look at the house.’
‘You still haven’t said how you knew about it?’ But even before he replied I knew the answer. ‘It was Mum, wasn’t it? She rang and told you I was going to view it.’
He smiled. ‘Something like that, though I had no way of knowing you’d be here today.’
I shook my head exasperatedly. ‘Why can’t she leave things alone? I’d never have told her if I’d thought….’
‘I was coming back anyway,’ he interrupted. ‘I say back because where I’m living now could never be called home in a million years.’ He took a step towards me. ‘I’d go as far as to say that nowhere is home to me without you.’
I held out my hand to stop him coming any further. ‘And yet you said we couldn’t live together any more.’
‘I said I wasn’t sure because I felt you didn’t really know what you wanted.’ He took my hand. ‘Do you know now, Sophie?’
I swallowed hard. ‘I, think so.’
‘No more ancient monuments to restore.’
‘I think I have to admit that wasn’t one of my brightest ideas.’
‘And no more makeovers?’
‘We all have to grow up sometime, Rex.’ I thought of Mum’s remarks on the subject. ‘Anyway, surely you saw more in me than mere clothes. It’s what on the inside that matters.’
He took a step closer, still holding my hand. ‘And what is on the inside, Sophie? Now, I mean.’
His eyes held mine and I couldn’t hold back any longer. ‘I haven’t changed,’ I said, a huge lump in my throat. ‘All I really know is that I miss you. It’s supposed to get better but it doesn’t. It just gets worse.’
‘You don’t have to tell me. We could always give it another try,’ he said. ‘Somewhere new.’ He pulled me close. ‘Somewhere like this, if you really want to, if you’re prepared to give us another chance.’
Before I could reply his lips were on mine, his arms holding me breathlessly close in the embrace that I’d longed for till my heart ached. I had no words to describe what I felt at that moment but I think my response told him all he wanted to know.
Outside it was already growing dark when we locked the front door securely behind us. In the dusky half light we stood and looked at each other.
‘Shall we take the keys back to the office and make an offer?’ Rex asked me.
Reaching up I touched his cheek. ‘Maybe tomorrow,’ I said. ‘Let’s go back to the flat for now. We could ….’
He looked at me enquiringly. ‘We could what?’
I stood on tiptoe to kiss him and felt him smiling under my lips. ‘Catch up,’ I said, returning his smile. ‘There’s an awful lot of it to do. It could take all night.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
FRANCES
Harry was discharged from hospital later that morning and I drove him home. He still seemed very tired and a little disorientated so I tucked him up in bed and left him to sleep, promising his favourite meal when he wakened.
When we arrived home the house was still empty but Charles arrived soon after four o’clock.
‘Where’s Harry?’ he asked without preamble.
‘Up in his room. He’s asleep so I’d rather you didn’t disturb him at….’ But he’d already turned on his heel and by the time I’d followed him into the hall he was already halfway up the stairs. When I arrived in Harry’s room Charles was sitting on the side of his bed.
Harry still looked sleepy and slightly disorientated. ‘Dad – hello,’ he said.
‘Hello there,’ Charles said briskly. ‘What’s all this I hear about you, eh? Sliding down the banisters!’
Harry glanced apprehensively across to me. ‘I – I fell,’ he muttered.
‘So I hear. That was a pretty silly thing to do wasn’t it?’
‘He was being bullied,’ I put in.
Charles shot me a look of pure venom. ‘Of course he wasn’t,’ he snapped. He looked at Harry. ‘What was it, a dare?’
‘I didn’t want to do it,’ Harry protested. ‘We’re not supposed to but they’re older and bigger than me. They laughed and said if I didn’t do it I was a wimp and I’d get a thrashing.’
Charles laughed. ‘Well, that’s what boys do, isn’t it? When you’re a bit older you’ll be doing it to the new boys too.’
‘I sincerely hope not!’ I crossed to the bed and laid a hand on Harry’s forehead. He felt hot. I glanced at Charles. ‘I think Harry has had enough. I suggest we go downstairs and let him rest.’
Charles followed me out of the room and I closed the door. On the landing he turned on me, ‘You’re molly-coddling the boy again. It’s no wonder he gets called a wimp.’
‘He’s nine years old, Charles,’ I said. ‘He could easily have been killed. We should sue the school.’
He laughed. ‘I’ve never heard such a ludicrous over-reaction. St Eldred’s is one of the best schools in the country and….’
‘He’s not going back,’ I interrupted.
He stared at me. ‘Of course he is, as soon as he’s fit and well again. I won’t have my son missing out on his education. I telephoned the head by the way, and apologized for the scene you made.’
‘Any protest I made was justified,’ I told him. ‘The doctor at the hospital was appalled at the bruises on his body. I’m sure he would back me up if necessary.’
‘He won’t get the chance. We’re not dragging some wet behind the ears young doctor into this. It’s hysterical nonsense!’
‘It’s almost the end of term. During the break we can find another school – preferably one nearer home where he can go as a day boy.’ He opened his mouth to argue but I said firmly, ‘I’m not letting this go, Charles. I should never have allowed him to go back after the summer holidays. This time I’m adamant.’
‘Huh! We’ll see about that!’
He set off down the stairs and suddenly I made up my mind. It was now or never. Following him downstairs and into his study I closed the door and stood with my back to it. ‘I’m leaving you, Charles,’ I said quietly. ‘I’ve had enough. Our marriage is clearly over. I’ll be taking Harry with me too. You’ve been seeing Celia behind my back and now I’m giving you the chance to go back to her if that’s what you want. Harry and I will be better on our own.’
He swung round. ‘I don’t need your permission to see Celia if I want to. Go if that’s what you want,’ he said coldly. ‘But don’t think you’re taking my son.’
‘Harry is my son too,’ I pointed out. ‘And I won’t have him abused any longer.’
‘Abused!’ he snorted. ‘What rubbish! You’d rather bring him up as a snivelling little mummy’s boy, wouldn’t you? Well, I don’t think so! My son is going to grow up a man
– learn to face the world and deal with its trials and tribulations.’
‘You mean you want him to grow up a cold, insensitive boor with no thought for anyone but himself,’ I said. ‘That’s what St Eldred’s teaches, isn’t it? And they certainly made a good job of you!’
For a moment I thought he was going to hit me. I saw his fists clench and unclench at his sides then he said, ‘All right then, if that’s what you want, go, and take him with you – for now. You’ve turned him into a blubbing little brat so you may as well reap the benefits. But don’t think you’ve heard the last of it, Frances. I’ll fight you through the courts for custody.’
‘I wouldn’t waste your money. You won’t get it!’
I heard myself standing up to him as never before but I had no idea where all this was coming from. Even though I was shaking like a leaf inside I’d somehow found the courage to stand my ground at long last and there was no way I was going to cave in now.
‘I’ll go and pack,’ I said. ‘I don’t like taking Harry out again tonight but we can’t stay here another night with you.’
‘Don’t worry you won’t have to, I’m going,’ he said. ‘I’m leaving now and the next time you hear from me will be through my solicitor.’
He stormed back upstairs and for a moment I was afraid he might try to take Harry but he didn’t. I heard him opening and shutting drawers and cupboards. Clearly he was packing – presumably he would go back to Celia’s. A wave of relief flooded through me. I went back into the kitchen and after an interval I heard the front door slam and, a few minutes later, the sound of his car roaring down the drive.
I finished making Harry’s meal and went upstairs to see if he was fit to come down. I found him sitting up in bed looking anxious.
‘Mum, I won’t really have to go back to St Eldred’s, do I?’
‘No, I promise.’
‘I heard Dad say I had to. He sounded so cross.’
True Colours Page 22