by Pamela Fudge
I put my hand out. ‘You must be Ron.’
‘G’day, you must be Evie.’ He beamed and, looking over my shoulder, added, ‘and these must be your kids. G’day.’
He opened the door wide and we all traipsed through, though I assured him we weren’t stopping.
‘Just making sure you have everything you need and letting you know we’re just next door. Have you seen your Dad?’
‘Only arrived about an hour ago.’ Ron picked up a key from the coffee table and held it up for us to see. ‘Would you believe, I still have the original key to this place, and it still fits?’
‘and your family, are they with you?’ I found myself asking all the questions because the children were unusually silent in the presence of this tall, tanned Australian.’
He shook his head. ‘It seemed like a good idea at the time, bringing them all over, but it’s difficult to get flights right after Christmas and, as my lovely wife so rightly pointed out life in Australia can’t just be dropped at a moment’s notice. I work for myself, so I can please myself.’
‘Well, you Dad is going to be so happy to see you.’ I smiled. ‘He talks about you and your family all the time and with such pride. He’s doing really well and should soon be home. Now, we’re going to make ourselves scarce,’ I turned and ushered the others, still oddly silent, before me. ‘The bed has been freshly made up and you’ll need to sleep off the jet-lag, but I’m right next door. Once you’re up and about, come round, any time.’
Ron stood on the step watching us go, so I kept quiet until we reached our own front door. Then, I hurried them inside, saying crossly, ‘Well, you were a big help, weren’t you? No help at all, in fact. It made me wonder how you would have behaved if he had turned out to be a burglar. Come on, cat got your tongue?’
‘I didn’t know what to say,’ Mai confessed.
‘Neither did I,’ Ella agreed, ‘especially as Arthur probably wouldn’t have had his accident if we hadn’t become distracted by the snow and kept him waiting on Christmas night.’
‘You seemed to be doing quite all right without us anyway,’ Connor pointed out. ‘I’d have quite liked to ask him about Australia, but it didn’t seem like the right time.’
I shook my head despairingly at the three of them and went to put the kettle on. I did wonder if they were going to ask me about Australia and my proposed trip. I dreaded it, because what on earth was I going to say to them? I had already decided, the minute I opened the envelope and viewed the contents, that I wasn’t going anywhere near Australia. After all, what would have been the point? I didn’t intend to give the matter another thought.
*
I was up early the following morning and out in the park with Gizmo as soon as it was light. My intention was to be back at home and cooking for my departing lodgers a hearty breakfast before they left for their other lives. No one had been stirring when we left the house, yet the park was already a-bustle with dog walkers, all looking exceedingly cheerful despite the chill in the morning air and the frost on the grass.
I was quickly joined by Poppy’s owner, and the friendly Boxer dog and Gizmo were soon taking it in turns to sniff the various trees and going off together to meet and greet other four-legged regulars.
I was able to assure everyone who asked that Arthur’s operation had gone really well, that he would soon be home and out in the park again, and they were all pleased to hear that his son had arrived.
Walking home with Gizmo, I was feeling at peace with the world and smiling at his efforts to get me to walk faster He was straining at the lead but was so light that his weight was barely noticeable.
‘You look happy.’
I looked up to see Owen coming towards me and immediately realised that had been whey Gizmo was so keen to get ahead. I watched him bounce round Owen’s denim-clad legs and then scrabble to be picked up.
Well, I am. Happy I’m going to get my house back to myself today.’ I joked, then added immediately, ‘not really. I’m going to miss the children. I like to feel needed.’
He bent to pick up the tiny dog and tucked him securely under his arm. Gizmo managed to look so smug that I found it really funny.
‘They’ll always need you,’ Owen assured me. ‘We all will. Did you have a nice walk?’
I laughed and said, ‘Yes, I’m getting into this dog-walking lark.’ I indicated the Pomeranian snuggled so contentedly under his arm and teased, ‘Suits you, sir. Paris Hilton, eat your heart out.’
‘Paris who?’
‘Don’t you ever read the newspapers, Own? You’re such a philistine. She’s the celebrity who is famously credited with making these small dogs fashionable.’
‘Explains why I’ve never heard of her, then.’ He grinned, then explained, ‘I only ever read the sports pages.’
‘Philistine,’ I taunted again. ‘What brings you out at this time of the morning, then?’
‘Two reasons. The first is that I had a suspicion you would be producing a full English breakfast with all the trimmings and thought that you might just have enough to feed one more. The second is that my house was already turning into a war zone at first light. It got so bad that the volume was in danger of making my ears bleed. I had a quick shower and here I am.’
‘What on earth is going on with those two?’ I asked worriedly. ‘I thought they were supposed to be in love.’
‘Well, if they are that have a mighty funny way of showing it, that’s all I can say. They don’t seem to be able to agree on anything these past few days.’
‘Oh, look, there’s Ron.’ I was quite glad of the distraction because I really didn’t know what to say about Alice and Jake. ‘You know,’ I went on, ‘Arthur’s son. He arrived last night while we were at the restaurant.’ I waved and he waved back and waited by the gate for us. I noticed he was wearing one of Arthur’s coats against the chill of the morning, though it was much too small for him and the one button he’d managed to fasten was straining across his chest. It looked set to ping undone at any moment.
‘G’day,’ he greeted us when we reached him.
‘Good morning,’ I said, adding, ‘I didn’t expect to see you about so early. Thought you’d be sleeping off the jet-lag until midday at least. This is Own, by the way... erm ... a good friend of mine.’
The two men shook hands and Ron said, ‘I set the alarm for British time because I’ve been told that’s the sensible thing to do. Apparently, if I go to bed at the normal time tonight and resist the urge to take a nap I think I might have cracked it.’
‘Well, now that you’re up and about, how do you fancy joining us for a traditional full English breakfast? The perfect start to the day and you’d be very welcome,’ I assured him.
‘Really?’ Ron’s blue eyes, so very like Arthur’s, brightened and he positively beamed. ‘That would be great, Evei. I used to love Mum’s cooked breakfasts, but I haven’t had a real English one like it in years. When shall I come round?’
Whenever you’re ready – now, if you like. You’ll meet the kids from last night again, they might even have a bit more to say this time. There’ll probably be a couple more as well.’ I was sincerely hoping that Alice and Jack had reconciled their differences as I spoke.
‘They’re all going back to jobs and unis today,’ Own explained. ‘You know, after the Christmas break, so peace will reign again.’
‘You won’t appreciate an interloper sharing your last meal, surely, and neither will they.’ Ron was suddenly looking doubtful and obviously beginning to have second thoughts
‘Nonsense,’ Owen said with a laugh. ‘The more the merrier, honestly, and we could do with another guy to even the numbers up. The kids will be so keen to hear about Australia that you might start to wonder if you aren’t paying a high price for what will undoubtedly be a great breakfast.’
‘If you’re sure, I’ll be round in two minuted,’ Ron said, not even trying to hide his eagerness.
‘We’re sure,’ Owen and I said in unison.
Within a very short time Alice, Jake and Ron had all arrived and joined those already sitting round the table. Soon they were all chatting easily. Owen was doing stirling work with the toaster and I was busily adding fried eggs to the loaded plates when the doorbell rang.
‘I’ll get it,’ yelled Connor from the doorway.
I didn’t take much notice, expecting it to be one of the neighbours who had taken to popping round to check regularly on Arthur’s progress. I knew I could safely leave Connor to deal with that. I had a heaped plate in each hand and was making my way to the table with them when I looked up to find Stuart standing in the doorway.
I was taken aback, not expecting him to make an appearance; in fact I clearly remembered saying I would be busy seeing the children off and we could meet up after they’d left.
‘Oh, hi,’ I managed. ‘Wasn’t expecting to see you today, was I?’
He didn’t reply, just stood there surveying the noisy part sitting round the table chattering and laughing, me with my plates of food, and Owen buttering toast as if his life depended on it.
In the end I put the plates down in front of the intended recipients, and went back for more, saying over my shoulder, ‘You’re welcome to join us, Stuart. Connor, bring the folding chair from my office.’
‘Don’t bother,’ he said coldly. ‘It looks to me as if everyone was welcome except me.’
‘We’re just having breakfast,’ I said evenly, bringing more plates to the table and noticing how the conversation around it had dried up. ‘Remember, I did tell you that the children are leaving today.’
‘And who is the extra guest?’
Ron stood up and put his hand out across the table. ‘I’m Ron,’ he said, ‘Pleased to meet you.’
The hand was ignored and suddenly I was very tempted to empty the next plate over Stuart’s arrogant head.
‘Ron is Arthur’s son. Remember Arthur from next door, Stuart? Ron arrived from Australia last night.’ I gave Stuart the filthiest look I could dredge up as I made the introduction.
‘Oh,’ he said. Belatedly collecting his manner he put his hand out at long last and said, ‘Pleased to meet you. Arthur is a great guy.’
The chair was brought and Stuart joined the crowd round the table. Soon he was tucking into his hastily assembled breakfast with every appearance of enjoyment. His previous ill-humour seemed to have entirely vanished – along with my appetite. Even the hot, sweet tea Owen had placed in front of me couldn’t disguise the very sour taste Stuart’s behaviour had left in my own mouth.
Chapter Nineteen
In the end it was a very sociable and even enjoyable meal – thanks mostly, I would have to say, to Ron. Every bit as charming as his father, he kept us entertained with tales of life down under. He seemed to have no regrets over his decision to emigrate as a young man – apart from the fact that his own parents had been left behind.
‘It was the other way around for you, Mum, wasn’t it?’ Alice said, bringing up a subject I would much preferred her to leave alone – as if the airline tickets weren’t enough, I thought bitterly. She then went airily on to explain my family history. ‘Her parents and sister went to live in Australia and Mum stayed home because she had just married our biological father.’
Of course, once that much had been said the whole sorry story had to be brought out into the open. How Keven had upped and left me with three children, how I was here in England with no support to be had from my own family, or even Kevin’s, because they had opted out of our lives when he had, and my friends were all busy with their own families.
‘It was much the same for me,’ Owen clarified for Ron’s benefit. ‘My parents were elderly and living in Scotland when Susan died suddenly, leaving me with two young children to care for.’
‘Oh,’ said Ton, ‘I thought you were all one family.’
‘You’d be pardoned for thinking so,’ Stuart muttered, but still loud enough to be heard.
‘Yes,’ I snapped, glaring him, ‘if we hadn’t been so honest – with our children and with anyone else whose concern it was. We got together out of necessity and gave the children a stable upbringing between us. It meant we didn’t have to get by anymore, depending on expensive and unreliable child minders or the benefit system. The arrangement worked perfectly for us all but I can state categorically that Owen and I are no a couple and we never have been.’
I glanced at Stuart and was surprised by the look of such clear disbelief on his face that I felt as if I’d been punched – so hard that it took my breath clean away. I felt such a fool, because I’d truthfully thought that once he’d believed me when I’d said, more than once, that there was not – and never had been – anything of an intimate between Owen and me. He’d said he believed me, but clearly he had been lying and had carried on harbouring his doubts all along.
‘Well,’ said Ron, ‘I think you should both be congratulated, because that’s the most admirable thing I ever heard in my life. You’ve obviously done a grand job between you,’ he beamed round the table at the children, ‘because you have a bonzer family who are a real credit to you.’
I could have kissed him.
Connor smirked. ‘Oh, yes, we are a pretty special bunch, aren’t we?’ We all burst out laughing then, with Stuart the one notable and sour-faced exception.
‘We’re proud of them – all of them.’ Owen nodded and, turning to me for confirmation, added, ‘Aren’t we, Evie? Now they’re settled, with their career plans moving along nicely, we’re also going our separate ways and getting on with our own lives. Just the way we always planned it.’
That’s right,’ I agreed with a sharp look in Stuart’s direction. ‘The only problem we’ve ever had has always been trying to convince other people that our relationship has never been what it seemed. Most have accepted us at face value, but there have always been the doubters and I do get fed up to the back teeth with continually trying to explain something that’s always made perfect sense to all of us.’
That’s their problem, I would say,’ Ron said firmly. ‘I wouldn’t allow it to become yours. In fact, I reckon you ought to write a book, you know, all about your unusual circumstances and how it’s worked out for you. It would make an amazing story.’
‘Mum does write,’ Mai chirped up, but she writes fiction.’
‘That should work perfectly for this story then, Stuart muttered into his cup. It was all I could do not to ask him outright and in front of everybody just what the hell his problem was.
Then I remembered that Ron had just said we shouldn’t let other people’s problems become ours, so I decided to ignore it altogether. I stood up, and starting to clear the table, announced, ‘I’m going to get the dishwasher loaded.’
‘And I’ll help Connor to load his car and then give the girls a lift to the station when they’re ready,’ Owen said.
Jake opted to go with him, joining us both first in collecting plates, and depositing them in the kitchen. The room started to empty as everyone began to make their move.
‘Thanks for the breakfast,’ Stuart said, smiling for what seemed like the first time since he’d come through the door. ‘I’ll pop back later when everyone has gone.’
I couldn’t understand how he could change like that. Slipping so easily from being judgemental and disapproving of a family and a lifestyle that had nothing to do with him, and then back to the charming man I had been so close to falling in love with.
I could scarcely bear to look at him, and simply said shortly, ‘I’m taking Ron to the hospital to see Arthur late, Stuart, and I know how busy you are. I’ll see you tomorrow evening as we already arranged.’
For a minute he looked mutinous and as if he might argue, but then he left without another word and I went back to clearing the table with a feeling of relief that made me question the exact nature of of my feelings for him.
To my surprise it was Alice who remained, offering, ‘I’ll give you a hand, Mum.’
‘I should g
o.’ Ron kind of hovered as if he wasn’t wuite sure what to do with himself.
‘Not unless you have things to do.’ I paused with a teetering pile of plates in my hands. ‘Sit down and I’ll put the kettle on. We like having you here, don’t we, Alice?’
‘Oh, yes,’ she said practically beaming, ‘and perhaps when we’ve all left you can talk to Mum about Australia, because for Christmas we booked flights for her to go and visit her family out there. It was all my idea,’ she added proudly.
She said it so smugly that I found myself becoming incensed all over again, but this time my annoyance was directed at Alice instead of Stuart. I couldn’t help it. Right in front of Ron, who was our guest and who deserved better than to listen to our petty arguments – except this wasn’t petty to me – I demanded, ‘why do you do that, Alice?’
‘What?’
‘Interfere, is what. It’s surely for me alone to decide whether or not I want to make contact with the family who as good as deserted me all those years ago – not you.’
Alice took a step back as if I had hit her. ‘But this family – our family – means so much to you,’ she protested. ‘I never dreamed you wouldn’t want to see your own. I thought that you only lost contact because you were so busy putting us first and didn’t mention it in case it made us feel guilty.
‘All those years you spent making us into a proper family. A family like everybody else’s with us five children and out two parents. You did it so well we could barely see the join and I really thought you’d lost your own family in the process. You’ve worked so hard for us that I thought it would be really nice to do something for you and I really thought I’d got it right for once. I had no idea you wouldn’t want to see them. I can’t ever imagine not wanting to see you.’
She was upset – really upset – and I was horrified.
I reached out a hand, relieved when she didn’t pull away, and looking at her I wondered how on earth I could have got what had clearly been good intentions so wrong.
