The Summer Guest

by Emma Hannigan

  Lexie accepted a glass of juice from Sam and looked up at Jeremy. ‘Don’t tell me Hannah’s expecting again!’

  ‘Eh, no,’ Jeremy said, blushing. ‘I meant you guys. Sorry. None of my business and I should know better than to make throwaway remarks like that. Forgive me.’

  ‘Don’t sweat it, mate,’ Sam said easily, and clapped him on the back. ‘Enjoy the afternoon with the girls. Let’s all get together soon. If this weather keeps up we’ll be able to use the barbecue. We want to have Maia, Josh and Calvin around as well. Let’s make a day of it soon.’

  By the time Sam had shown Jeremy out and rejoined her, Lexie was deep in thought.

  ‘You okay?’ he asked, sitting beside her.

  ‘Yeah,’ she said, with a heavy sigh.

  ‘You don’t seem it. Did Jeremy’s blunder upset you?’

  ‘No,’ she fibbed. ‘I didn’t give it a second thought.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes, Sam,’ she snapped. There was an uncomfortable silence as Sam stood and sipped from his glass. He sat on the armchair opposite her. She looked at him guiltily. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to bite your head off. I’m a bit stressed today. Poor Kathleen is having a tough time too.’ She sighed.

  ‘Why poor Kathleen all of a sudden?’

  ‘You know her husband Jackson? He’s dead.’

  ‘Whaat?’ Sam was clearly shocked.

  ‘Yup. He died last month. That’s the main reason Kathleen came over here.’

  ‘Ah, God love her,’ Sam said. ‘When did she tell you?’

  ‘Earlier on. I met her as I was coming out of the gallery. She was having a weepy moment, the poor love.’

  ‘Ah dear. That’s awful. How come she decided to fly all the way over here, then?’

  ‘Jackson organised it for her just before he died. Thought it would be easier for her to be away from their home and all the grief.’

  ‘I can see his reckoning, but she’s a brave lady to travel alone, isn’t she?’ Sam said.

  ‘I know. I definitely think it was Fate that we asked her to stay in the basement. I’m so glad we did now.’

  They drank their juice, and Lexie sank into the chair relishing the warm glow of the sunshine. She was just drifting off when Sam’s voice jarred her: ‘Even Jeremy’s passing comment now,’ he said.

  ‘Mm,’ Lexie agreed.

  ‘You know the way we’re meant to be mulling over the baby idea?’

  ‘Mm?’

  ‘Can we chat now?’

  ‘I’m busy dribbling,’ she said.

  Sam walked over to her. He launched himself at her and sat awkwardly on her lap, making her squeal. ‘Ugh, you weigh a ton. You’re going to squash me to death!’

  ‘Well, I have your attention,’ he said, shifting his weight so she could find a more comfortable position.

  ‘So what are you thinking?’ she asked, squinting into the sunlight.

  ‘Honestly?’

  ‘Duh, of course. What’s the point in discussing this if you’re not brutally honest?’

  ‘Okay. Well, I’m kind of leaning towards the idea that it might be nice to have a little Lexie or Sam to fill this garden with laughter.’

  ‘What?’ Lexie said, wriggling free of his arms.

  ‘Would the prospect be so abhorrent to you?’

  ‘Sam, we agreed a long time ago that we wouldn’t have children. You said you felt the same way I did. I have the maternal instincts of marble, remember?’ Lexie said. ‘We have a great life. We have Amélie on loan whenever we need her. We have Calvin as our godson. Mother Nature’s biological clock simply isn’t ticking loudly inside me. I don’t think we should have a baby just because society, my mother, lovely Jeremy or anyone else thinks it’s a foregone conclusion.’

  ‘But you agreed that we both needed to think about it,’ Sam pointed out. ‘Reconsider before the window of opportunity passes us by.’

  ‘Well, I have, and I’m sticking by my original decision,’ Lexie retorted crossly.

  ‘Take it easy, Lex. Why are you getting so hot-headed about this?’

  ‘I’m not,’ she shouted.

  ‘Eh, yes, you are. What’s going on?’ he asked, staring at her intently. ‘I feel like I’m hitting some sort of a raw nerve here. In fact I’m sure of it,’ he said. ‘Lexie, is there something you’re not telling me?’

  ‘Nope,’ she said. ‘I’m just feeling a bit let down by you. I thought we’d agreed. You and I, not anyone else. So where is this all coming from?’

  ‘It’s not coming from anywhere in particular, Lexie. I’ve just been thinking a lot about it lately.’ He grabbed her hands. ‘I’ve seen you with Calvin. I know Maia is like your soul sister and all that, but you turn to jelly when you’re in Calvin’s company. Why not? He’s a special little guy in every sense of the word.’

  ‘I just love his sunny nature and he’s always happy to see me, that’s all,’ Lexie said defensively. ‘That doesn’t mean I want a baby too.’

  ‘Whoa there,’ Sam said, as his smile faded. ‘You’re acting as if having a baby sounds like a life sentence. It doesn’t have to be that way.’

  ‘Doesn’t it?’ she seethed. ‘Since when are you the new Supernanny?’

  He looked like she’d slapped him across the face. Blinking, he dropped her hands, stood up and walked towards the house. Then he turned back.

  ‘I don’t understand why you’re being so aggressive about this, Lexie. It was meant to be an open discussion between two adults. Not a mud-slinging fight.’

  Sam went to the kitchen and poured himself a stiff gin and tonic. He took a gulp, and the fizz burned his nostrils. Sure he was bringing up the whole baby thing because of all the comments. But it couldn’t be ignored. Everywhere he looked, his friends were having babies. It was the done thing, whether Lexie chose to acknowledge it or not.

  He’d honestly thought she’d be her usual level-headed self, take his idea on board and think it through. Nothing could have prepared him for the boiling fury he’d unleashed in his wife. This was a side of Lexie he hadn’t known existed.

  At the end of the day he couldn’t force her to have a baby. But that had never been his intention. It was her body and she was entitled to choose whether or not she wanted to grow a baby inside it. But he was immeasurably shocked by her reaction. He’d never before felt they were anything but equals in the marriage. Now he felt as if a line had been drawn in the sand. From where he was standing, Lexie appeared to hold all the cards and all he could do was wait.

  He hated feeling as if he were at his own wife’s mercy. But that was how it was. Swallowing hard, he realised that if Lexie had made up her mind she never wanted a baby, there was damn all he could do about it.

  Chapter 14

  Kathleen drew the curtains and climbed into her new bed. Nothing felt familiar yet. The new smells and sounds alerted her tired senses. She knew she’d feel better if she could sleep for a short while. Her body was worn out but her mind was on overdrive. Shards of light seeped through the curtains reminding her it was mid-afternoon. She stretched her arms up and folded them behind her head.

  ‘If you’re here with me, Jackson, help, please! I’m struggling, darling. It’s so hard without you. I’m trying my best. I hope you’re proud of me, but it’s getting harder not easier.’

  She stared up at the ceiling. The presence of a single spider in the corner cast her back to the summer before they’d immigrated to America. Her best friend at the time, Betty Clarke, had come to tea. ‘Can we play ghosts in the basement, Ma?’ Kathleen had asked.

  ‘Only if you’re very careful. The dinner will be ready in a few minutes so see to it that you’re back up here. I don’t want to have to come shouting for you. I’ve enough to do with all the packing.’

  Kathleen and Betty had huddled together holding hands, each making the other more nervous. A candle lit the way, the flickers adding to their fear.

  ‘Do you think there are dead bodies down here?’ Betty asked, br
eathing heavily.

  ‘Tonnes,’ Kathleen said.

  She wondered what had become of Betty Clarke. They’d promised to write to one another and stay friends that way. It had worked for a while, but once they’d hit the teenage years the letters had ebbed, then stopped altogether.

  Kathleen made a mental note to try to look her up. Betty might be the friend from the past who would tick Jackson’s box.

  She must have fallen asleep, because she woke with a start. It took her a moment to realise where she was. Swinging her legs out of the bed, she padded towards the main living area. The sun was still shining so she made a cup of tea and brought it to the little yard out back.

  ‘Hi there,’ a voice said, from the main garden. ‘You must be Kathleen.’

  A strikingly pretty girl with cascading golden hair and flawlessly tanned skin was looking down at her. In a simple white lacy cotton dress and navy Converse runner boots, she oozed confidence.

  ‘Yes – and you must be Amélie!’ she responded.

  ‘Auntie Lexie told you about me, eh?’

  ‘Of course. She talks about you plenty. I’ve seen photos of you around the house upstairs too.’

  ‘Can I jump down?’

  ‘I’d love you to.’ Kathleen smiled. ‘Come and see what I’ve done with the basement. I hope you like it.’

  Amélie bounced over the small granite wall and landed in the yard with a thud, having ignored the steps. ‘Hey, this is great. Did Auntie Lexie pick all the stuff?’

  ‘I did, with the help of your uncle.’

  ‘I’m well impressed,’ Amélie said. ‘I’m going to see if I can move in here soon.’

  ‘Good plan, but you might need to finish school first and do some boring stuff, like going to college or getting a job.’

  Amélie shrugged her shoulders and waved her hand to show she wasn’t in the market for considering any of those things right now. ‘I’ve got some stuff going on at home and I might be getting out of there sooner rather than later.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Kathleen said evenly. ‘I found being a teenager really tough, if it helps.’

  ‘It’s nothing to do with my age,’ she said. ‘It’s kind of complicated. Would you mind if I don’t go into it right now?’

  ‘Of course. It’s no biggie. I’m afraid I’m not very good with kids. I never had any, you see.’

  ‘Why not?’ Amélie asked.

  ‘My husband and I wanted them so badly, but it never happened.’

  ‘You might be better off. Kids aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. I’m one and all I seem to do is annoy everyone.’

  ‘I’m sure that’s not true. Your aunt and uncle are so proud of you and they totally adore you. They think you’re pretty awesome.’

  ‘I love the way you say “awesome”.’ Amélie grinned. ‘It’s … awesome!’

  ‘Thanks,’ Kathleen said, handing her a cup of tea.

  ‘You would’ve been the coolest mum. For what it’s worth, I think God has a lot to answer for at times. He gives some total saddo wasters like junkies and murderers a baby and doesn’t let really sound people like you be a mother. That’s just bogus.’

  ‘Who knows why things happen the way they do?’ Kathleen said. ‘It’s a funny old world, isn’t it?’

  ‘How long are you staying here for?’ Amélie asked, as she followed Kathleen back out to the garden.

  ‘Three months,’ Kathleen told her. ‘My husband gave me the ticket as a present before he died.’

  ‘Oh, bummer. When did he die?’

  ‘Last month.’

  ‘That sucks. Were you married for yonks or was he, like, your third husband?’

  ‘We were married for yonks,’ Kathleen said, chuckling. ‘I haven’t heard that word for a while.’

  ‘My mum hates it. Tells me to speak properly.’ Amélie sighed. ‘I’m really sorry about your husband. What was his name?’

  ‘Jackson.’

  ‘Yup, it would be,’ Amélie said, slapping her thigh. ‘Such a mint-bomb name.’

  ‘Mint-bomb?’

  ‘Uh, deadly – amazeballs, then higher than that in the cool stakes comes mint or mint-bomb,’ said Amélie, moving her hands upwards to demonstrate.

  Kathleen laughed. ‘He was totally mint-bomb, so gorgeous when we first met. He was tall, dark and handsome. Just like a fairytale prince.’

  Amélie sat and pondered briefly. ‘I’m seeing this guy at the moment. Among other things, it’s causing rows with my folks. They hate him.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘My dad says he’s too old for me and has no direction. He’s starting a band. It’s sort of meant to be kept under wraps but I’ll tell you,’ she said, pausing for effect. ‘It’s called Satan Goes to Church and it’s going to be totally amazing.’

  ‘Do your parents know about the band?’ Kathleen asked.

  ‘Uh-huh.’ Amélie nodded. ‘Dad says he’s a waster and will never amount to anything. He’s so narrow-minded. As far as he’s concerned any potential boyfriend should be a fully fledged accountant wearing brown cords and a tweed jacket.’

  ‘How old is he?’

  ‘Elton’s twenty.’

  Kathleen pulled a ‘yikes’ face. ‘I know you’re gonna hate me for this, but he is kind of old for you, although three years will seem like nothing when you’re older. But, right now, this guy is out of school and you’re still there. You’re at different stages, that’s all.’

  ‘I know, but none of that matters when two people love each other, right?’

  ‘Yeah, it would be wonderful if the world worked that way, but sadly it doesn’t most of the time. I can see your point and I can also understand that your folks want to protect their little girl.’

  ‘Oh, they don’t want to protect me,’ Amélie said emphatically. ‘They just want to ruin my life.’

  Before Kathleen could answer, a voice interrupted them. ‘There you are! Hello, Kathleen! I’m glad you two have met,’ Lexie said. ‘Amélie, Dee was just on the phone, and said you’re not answering her texts and calls yet again.’

  ‘I’ll ring her later,’ Amélie said crossly.

  ‘I think she’d appreciate if you called her right now,’ Lexie told her. ‘She’s concerned because you’re not studying and she said you skipped out of the house without telling her again.’

  ‘Who cares? She certainly doesn’t,’ Amélie scoffed. ‘I’m the one doing the exams. If I end up sitting there and can’t even write my own name, so what?’

  ‘It might be a bit embarrassing if you can’t answer any of the questions, don’t you think?’ Kathleen said, choosing to ignore Amélie’s rising irritation.

  ‘I hate the school system here,’ Amélie said. ‘If you’re not a swotty Goody Two Shoes nobody wants to know.’

  ‘I agree that the school system sucks,’ Kathleen said, surprising both Lexie and Amélie. ‘It’s all about academics and how many points you can clock up. It has no bearing on the type of person you might be. Take medicine, for example. The grades needed to apply are sky high, yet some doctors are totally unable to have a conversation with a patient.’

  ‘That’s what I think,’ Amélie said, visibly cheering.

  ‘But,’ Kathleen said, holding her hand up, ‘it’s the only system you’ve got. So bend it to your advantage. Work your ass off and use school as a stepping stone to do whatever you like. I know you don’t get the reason why you have to learn some of the subjects, but use this as a tool to show the world you’re smart. It’s your ticket to life.’

  ‘I’ve never thought of it like that,’ Amélie mused.

  ‘It’s a good way of putting it,’ Lexie said. ‘Use the exams as ammunition to show everyone how great you are. After you leave school you don’t ever have to study maps or learn French verbs, unless you choose to.’

  ‘Believe me I won’t!’ Amélie said. ‘Does that mean I have to study?’ Amélie raised an eyebrow and looked at Kathleen.

  ‘If you want to show
the world what you’re made of,’ Lexie reiterated.

  ‘I suppose,’ she said reluctantly. ‘Anyway, I’m going to zip off and meet Elton. I need to give him something and then I’ll shoot on home.’

  ‘Okay, but don’t be too long. Your mum is genuinely worried,’ Lexie said.

  ‘I won’t!’ Amélie said, smiling now. ‘You two are great. I might have to come and live here.’

  ‘Well, you’ll have holidays in a few weeks and you know you’re welcome any time,’ Lexie said.

  Lexie walked her niece to the front door of the main house as Kathleen rinsed the teacups. Amélie was a great kid. Feisty and, no doubt, capable of causing many sparks to fly, but she was smart and knew her own mind.

  Lexie appeared in the garden and called down, ‘I’m going to the supermarket now, would you like to come?’

  ‘I’d love to,’ Kathleen said. ‘I’ll lock up, grab my purse and meet you out front.’ She felt so much better. She wasn’t sure if it was the sleep or the chat with Amélie. Either way, the desolation and sense of doom had shifted considerably. She was very excited about going to the supermarket and stocking up.

  Lexie had the car running by the time she made her way outside. ‘I love these Fiat 500s,’ Kathleen said, lowering herself in. ‘The baby blue colour is just precious – and look at your co-ordinating leather seats!’

  ‘Isn’t it just the cutest thing you’ve ever sat in?’

  ‘Sure is!’

  ‘Amélie thinks you’re mint-bomb by the way.’ Lexie grinned.

  ‘Wow, that’s a serious compliment! She’s a great kid. I couldn’t say it to her, but I’d hate to be that age again. It’s so tough, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, it is,’ Lexie agreed. ‘My brother and his wife are possibly too close to her, but I can’t help feeling they forget the difficulties of being a teenager at times.’

  ‘I reckon they’re doing a pretty good job, though. She’s so friendly and well able to articulate her thoughts. Some of my friends back home have grandkids and they barely grunt, let alone have full-blown conversations.’

  ‘Sam and I adore her. She’s our part-time daughter and it’s wonderful to be able to dip in and out of her life.’