‘Sofia,’ she says. ‘Hello. Dave says to help ourselves, so shall we do just that? Baz tells me that you’re looking for a job in Bristol. I live up near the university. How well do you know that part of the city?’
Sofia suddenly finds herself talking about what she does and where she’d like to live and is able to look about her calmly, and she blesses El for her quiet presence, her humour and strength. By the time Baz is standing near them Sofia is able to be close to him without trembling and, as he and El talk about a concert they went to together, she looks at him again without fear of giving herself away. Nevertheless she is utterly aware of him, as he is of her, and occasionally he smiles a tiny private smile and it’s as if he has reached out and touched her hand.
Annabel comes to claim her place beside him, giving Sofia that vague indifferent smile, as if she really can’t remember who this person is, and Sofia wants to laugh out loud as she remembers Baz making love to her in his unmade bed. She moves away and goes to say hello to Miles, who looks odd and distant as if he has sustained some kind of shock, and then hurries to help Janet carry out more of the barbecue feast.
How strange it is after all these years, thinks Miles, sipping his wine, to have fallen so completely out of love. Simply not to mind anything any more.
He stares across the lawn at Annabel, posturing and laughing at Baz’s side, and he frowns slightly as if he is trying to recognize her. To think he has shared most of his grown-up life with this woman and now she seems a stranger to him.
I don’t even like her, he thinks. In fact, I am utterly indifferent. What shall I do? I suppose I could simply walk away …
But he knows that he won’t have the courage to do that. He will take an easy route out of the present situation and he already knows what it will be. He is going to suggest that they buy a flat in Bristol. The idea has been in his mind for some while but now he intends to make it a reality. He guesses that Annabel will see the advantage of this: she will immediately imagine having the opportunity to spend more time with Baz.
And meanwhile, thinks Miles, I will be able to spend more time with El.
And here she comes towards him, her magpie head tilted, smiling at him.
‘How are you, Miles?’ she asks. She looks at him closely. ‘What’s going on?’
He laughs at her perspicacity. ‘Is there anything going on? Well, yes, I suppose there is. I’ve decided to buy a flat in Bristol.’
She opens her eyes at him; those clear, far-seeing brown eyes. ‘Is this a unilateral decision?’
He smiles at her. ‘Oh, Annabel will see the advantages of it.’ He nods meaningfully towards his wife, who still stands close to Baz. ‘And it will give me much-needed freedom. For one thing I should like to see more of Lily and her partner. Annabel won’t invite them here because she thinks the neighbours will talk. But I shall be able to invite them to Bristol. I should like to renew my bond with Lily. I didn’t see much of her as a child because I was so often at sea, but we were very happy during that year in London together. I think the time has come to make changes.’
‘Well, that sounds a very positive kind of change,’ says El.
‘In one way, yes it is. It will be easier for me to get away, too.’ He raises his glass. ‘To the future?’ he suggests.
El clinks her glass against his. ‘I’ll drink to that,’ she says.
More guests arrive, a friend comes to talk to Annabel, and Baz seizes the chance to move away from her. Smiling, stopping to chat, he looks around for Sofia but there is no sign of her in the garden. He pauses for a word with Dave at the barbecue, who refreshes his drink, and then wanders on again, heading for the cottage.
Sofia is alone in the kitchen unwrapping a packet of paper napkins. Baz hesitates in the doorway, looks around him.
‘I see what you mean now that you’ve mentioned it,’ he says. ‘It’s the Store Stump to the life. So cosy and charming and safe.’
She glances up at him and he watches the colour rise in her pale face. It would be so easy to tease her, to make her laugh, but he can see that she is nervous and he is filled with tenderness for her.
‘I have a message for you from Liv,’ he says.
Sofia looks surprised, and relieved. Clearly she wasn’t expecting anything so prosaic.
‘From Liv?’
‘Her brother Andy is driving over from Polzeath tomorrow for the day. She wondered if you’d like to come to lunch. She’d love you to meet him.’ He hesitates. ‘I’m not so sure, myself.’
Sofia looks puzzled. ‘Why not?’
Baz takes a sip of wine, shrugs. ‘Well, you know how it is. He’s handsome, amusing, rich, young. I mean, what’s not to like if you’re a beautiful, clever young woman? I think Liv is planning a bit of matchmaking with her twin brother and her new best friend.’
Sofia puts the Cellophane wrapping in the bin and picks up the napkins.
‘Then she’s going to be disappointed,’ she says.
‘Is she?’ he asks, very quietly, watching her.
Before she can answer, Janet comes in behind him so that he has to move aside for her.
‘What are you two plotting?’ she asks, hurrying to the stove and opening the oven door.
‘I’m delivering a message from Liv,’ Baz answers casually, hoping that Janet doesn’t notice that Sofia is blushing again. ‘Andy’s coming tomorrow and she’s hoping that Sofia will come to lunch. And Matt is arriving on Friday and hoping to stay all next week. It’s all go at the Beach Hut.’
Sofia takes the opportunity to slip past Baz into the garden. Janet dumps a tray of baked potatoes on to a trivet, closes the oven door and turns to look at him.
‘What are you up to, Baz?’ she asks.
He is taken aback by so direct a question but he looks steadily at her and realizes that it would be foolish to dissemble.
‘I’ve fallen in love with Sofia,’ he answers.
Janet leans on the back of a kitchen chair, still clutching the oven cloth. ‘And Sofia? Has she fallen in love with you?’
‘I think you should ask her that question.’
‘I’m asking you.’
‘She says so and I want to believe her. Oh, don’t think I can’t see all the complications and the …’ he hesitates, searching for the correct word, ‘the unsuitability of it,’ he says at last.
Baz continues to meet Janet’s stern, cool gaze, refusing to back down. He rejects the slightly craven desire to point out that Sofia made the first move and waits for Janet to berate him.
‘I can see that she’s probably put you in a difficult position,’ she says, and gives a little snort at his startled expression. ‘Oh, we’re not quite stupid, me and Dave, you know. She left here this morning like a girl with a mission and we had a pretty good idea what it might be.’
Baz is almost speechless. He makes a gesture with his free hand. ‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘Oh, stop being so chivalrous,’ Janet says irritably. ‘If you hurt her, Baz, I shall kill you.’
Baz can’t help it; he bursts out laughing. ‘Oh, Janet,’ he says. ‘You look so fierce. I promise that I shall do nothing to hurt Sofia. I feel only love and gratitude towards her. I can see all the problems. I’m not stupid either. But what would you do, in my place? Tell her to run away and find a nice young man of her own age and have babies together? I think she’s had enough of young men. But, if you want to know, I’m quaking in my shoes. She’ll meet Andy tomorrow and who could be more delightful and suitable than Liv’s twin brother?’
Janet gives another snort. ‘I bet she won’t even notice him. Not if you’re there. You underestimate yourself, Baz, and if I weren’t Sofia’s godmother I’d be cheering you on. Her mother sent her here to recover from one emotional relationship and it seems she’s plunged straight into another one. On the other hand, I’ve never seen Sofia look like this, so I’m counting on you to look after her. Good luck to you both.’
Baz puts down his drink, crosses the kitchen and takes Janet in hi
s arms.
‘I have misjudged you, Janet,’ he murmurs. ‘You’re not a mouse, you are a veritable tiger.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Thursday
‘YOU MEAN YOU actually confronted him with it?’ demands Dave incredulously. ‘You came straight out with it and asked him? Why didn’t you tell me last night?’
‘Because we were tired after all the clearing up and Sofia was upstairs,’ returns Janet. ‘For heaven’s sake. How could I?’
‘And so he just admitted it?’
‘Yes. He didn’t beat about the bush, I’ll give him that. He said that he could see the unsuitability of it. That’s the word he used. Unsuitable.’
‘Poor old Baz,’ says Dave. He feels rather sorry for his old friend, being put into such an awkward position.
‘Why?’ demands Janet. ‘Why “poor old Baz”? Lucky old Baz, I’d say.’
‘Yes, but even so. It must have been very embarrassing.’
‘Well, what would you have done?’ counters Janet. ‘I come into the kitchen and they’re standing here, lovestruck. Sofia’s the colour of the claret you were drinking and Baz is like a tongue-tied teenager. What would you have done?’
Dave is silent. He would probably have made some fatuous remark about the party and hurried out again. He certainly wouldn’t have asked his old friend if he and Sofia were lovers. He looks with respect at his wife, who stares back at him.
‘At least he didn’t try to put it all on her,’ she says. ‘I’ll say that for him. I said if he hurts her I’d kill him.’
Dave gives a snort of laughter. ‘What did he say to that?’
Janet looks faintly puzzled. ‘He said that he’d misjudged me. He said, “You’re not a mouse but a tiger,” whatever that is supposed to mean.’
‘And where is Sofia now?’
Janet shakes her head. ‘Gone off somewhere in the car. Shopping, she said, but probably meeting up with Baz, and then she’s going to the Beach Hut. Liv’s brother is coming today and Matt on Friday, so it’s going to be busy over there.’
‘I suspect that Baz will be wishing he could get back to Bristol once Sofia’s gone at the weekend,’ says Dave. ‘I wonder how it will all work out.’
He wants to be reassured, to be told that his old friend and Sofia will find some kind of happiness together.
‘Well, all I can say is that Sofia looks like one very happy, well-satisfied woman,’ observes Janet thoughtfully. ‘And all in one morning. I think I’m impressed by old Baz.’
Dave begins to laugh. He puts his arms round Janet and holds her tightly. ‘How very practical you are,’ he says.
‘But even so,’ she says, muffled, ‘what did he mean by “Not a mouse but a tiger”?’
‘This is nice,’ says Sofia, sitting with Baz in the garden at Harbour House. ‘It feels good to be on neutral territory. I just hope Annabel doesn’t come waltzing in again.’
‘Much too early for Annabel,’ Baz assures her. ‘No trouble getting away?’
Sofia shakes her head. ‘Dave and Janet are very happy just to sit and recover from last night. Isn’t it wonderful that they didn’t guess?’
She sees an odd expression on Baz’s face and looks at him more intently.
‘What?’
‘Nothing,’ he answers. ‘Nothing at all. But, like you, I shall be glad to get back to Bristol. It’s a bit too claustrophobic here just at the moment.’ He reaches for her hand and holds it tightly. ‘I so hope it will all work out for us, my darling.’
She presses his hand reassuringly. ‘It will. I just know it will. If we take it slowly it will fall into place. I feel sure of it.’
Sofia is surprised at how calm she feels; how strong and sure. To be with him like this, to feel the right to be able to show her love and have it returned so readily and openly, is extraordinary and wonderful. She releases her hand and picks up her coffee cup. She wishes that she didn’t have to meet Andy, that she wouldn’t need to dissemble in front of Liv, but she cannot see any way round it. The prospect of explaining the situation to Baz’s daughter-in-law and her twin brother – not to mention his son – is simply too much to contemplate just yet.
‘So you’ll come to lunch?’ Baz is asking. ‘I told Liv you weren’t quite sure.’
‘No,’ says Sofia suddenly. ‘Not lunch. I’ll come for a cup of tea. Would that do? I’m not sure I can sit through lunch with you and Liv. I managed last night’s event with nobody suspecting, but I’m not sure I could manage lunch. I know it’s cowardly. Tea will be easier.’
‘The twins will help,’ says Baz comfortingly, ‘and you’ll like Andy. But not too much,’ he adds warningly, and they both laugh.
‘And how was it,’ he adds lightly, ‘at the Store Stump this morning?’
Sofia looks thoughtful. ‘Well, it was fine. Janet was very sweet, actually. Gave me a hug and told me to be happy. Don’t know why. They are both such darlings.’ She chuckles. ‘Mr and Mrs Apple.’
‘Mmm,’ says Baz, and she looks at him enquiringly, but he just smiles at her.
‘Darling Baz,’ she says, and leaning forward she kisses him quickly, touching her mouth to his. ‘I’m very happy, actually. Though, to be honest, I’m dreading Annabel’s lunch party tomorrow. I didn’t realize quite how difficult it would be. To be with you but not be with you, if you see what I mean.’
‘I’m so sorry that it needs to be like this,’ he says rather sadly.
Sofia feels remorseful. It’s as if she’s underlined that this need for secrecy is because of the difficulties it might raise with his family and his friends.
‘Don’t be,’ she says quickly. ‘In fact it’s rather fun, in a way. And it’s only just for a short time until we can get to know each other properly in our own space, learning each other, without people giving us advice and trying to spoil things.’
‘It’s OK.’ Baz takes her hand again. ‘I’m still in shock, I suppose. I can’t believe my luck.’
‘Believe it,’ she says, holding his hand tightly and then letting it go. ‘And now I’m going to disappear before Annabel turns up again. I’ll see you later.’
Annabel is making lists. Lists are the only sure way to make certain that a party is a success. As she writes, checks, peers into the fridge, she is aware of Miles hovering behind her and she turns to look at him, feeling irritated by his presence.
‘What is it?’ she asks. ‘Meggie will be here in a minute. Aren’t you going into Kingsbridge to get some more wine?’
‘Probably,’ he says, ‘though I’ve checked and I doubt it’s necessary. I just wanted to say something to you.’
‘What, now?’
She doesn’t hide her impatience and he sighs.
‘I suppose it’s not the best time but it won’t take long and I’d like to share it with you. I’ve decided that we should buy a flat in Bristol.’
She stares at him. Irritation – ‘I’ve decided’ – surprise, and a dawning interest all battle in her mind. Now is simply not the moment to have this discussion but … a flat in Bristol: she thinks about it. There are all sorts of advantages, she can see that, and the main one would be seeing more of Baz. There is no doubt at all that there is something different about Baz this visit; something exciting. She can’t quite put her finger on it though she knows deep down that he is responding much more to her. The idea of a flat seizes her imagination, possibilities occur to her, she feels excitement growing. Miles is watching her. She arranges her expression and nods to him.
‘I think that might be a very good idea,’ she tells him. ‘It would have to be in old Clifton, of course.’
‘Of course,’ he says.
There’s an ironical quality in his voice and she glances quickly at him. He looks just as usual, however, and she smiles.
‘Good,’ she says. ‘We’ll have to get some details of properties.’
‘Oh, I already have,’ he says, and again there’s an odd note in his voice.
But she doesn’t have
time to think about that now, there’s far too much to do.
‘Well, then,’ she says, dismissively. ‘I must get on. But let’s not say anything publicly about it just yet.’
Miles hesitates, says, ‘Oh, by the way, Liv’s brother is arriving today. If he’s still around perhaps we should invite him tomorrow?’
‘That would completely mess up the seating plan,’ she says crossly. Can’t he see that it’s bad enough having to invite Liv and the godchild without an unknown brother? ‘It’s out of the question. Oh, here’s Meggie now. Just let her in, would you, and tell her to make a start in the drawing-room?’
She gets back to her list but the prospect of a flat in Bristol blossoms and flowers at the back of her mind and she feels a new sense of excitement.
Meggie smiles at Miles, puts her bag down on the chair in the hall, and goes to the big understairs cupboard to assemble cloths and polish.
‘I’ll bring Henry,’ Miles says helpfully, and Meggie nods a thank you for his kindness. She doesn’t like Henry. It irritates her to have to drag it behind her, with its silly, smirking face grinning slyly at her as it wedges itself in doorways, on the corners of beds or behind chairs. She likes proper Hoovers she can push along.
‘Let me know when you’re ready,’ says Miles, ‘and I’ll carry him upstairs for you.’
Meggie sniffs. ‘Him’. As if the wretched thing is a real person.
‘Thanks,’ she says, ‘but I think we’re concentrating on downstairs today. The dining-room and the silver have got to be ready for Friday. I’ll just do a quick go round in here.’
It’s only Miles’ kindness that keeps her working for Annabel Carver.
‘Can’t let the captain down,’ Phil says when Meggie complains of Annabel’s rudeness. ‘He needs all the support he can get, poor bugger. There’s only so much time he can spend on the golf course. He needs you to be nice to him.’
Meggie begins to dust but her attention is drawn to a pile of papers on the little davenport desk: estate agents’ details of properties. She bends closer to look and sees the photograph of a nice old house in Bristol. ‘A spacious three-bedroom flat in a much-sought-after area of Old Clifton,’ she reads, and then Annabel’s voice can be heard calling, coming closer, so that Meggie turns away quickly. She wonders if the Carvers are thinking of moving to Bristol and how Baz will like them as neighbours.
Seven Days in Summer Page 17