The Summer Guest

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘Hey,’ Amélie said. She swooped and kissed Lexie, then sat beside her and sighed. ‘Oh, it’s sooo lovely here. Quiet and peaceful with nobody miaowing in my ear. Can I stay tonight?’

  ‘If Mum and Dad say so, of course. How are things today?’

  ‘Strained,’ Amélie said. ‘We had a bit of a chat this morning … Well Dad lectured, Mum looked like she was sitting on a spike, and we all agreed we need to put everything behind us and move forward.’

  ‘What about school? Are you going back?’

  ‘The exams are almost over, so Dad is speaking to the headmaster and I’ve promised to knuckle down in September.’

  Lexie felt so sorry for her niece. ‘Would you like to talk about what’s going on?’ she asked.

  ‘I’m not able to talk about it yet,’ Amélie said. ‘But I’d really like to stay here for a while if I can.’

  ‘You know your room is there whenever you like.’

  ‘I mean I’d like to move in for a couple of months,’ Amélie said. ‘I can’t pay you any rent, but I could work at the gallery instead. Do a kind of barter system.’

  Amélie’s face lit up so much that Lexie thought her heart might break. Even though she and Sam needed to sort through a lot, she couldn’t say no to her niece. She thought of her situation in France. Granted she had been a little older than Amélie at the time, but Lexie would’ve given her right arm then to have someone on her side, someone she’d felt she could trust. ‘If that’s what you really want, I can talk to Billy.’

  ‘Let me call him now,’ she said.

  The conversation went a lot better than Lexie had expected. It seemed Billy and Dee needed a break from Amélie as much as she did from them. Billy was actually relieved his daughter would have a purpose during her summer holidays. ‘Tell her we love her and that we’ll be over in the morning to have a chat, okay?’

  ‘Will do. ’Bye for now,’ Lexie said, hanging up and going back to Amélie. ‘All sorted,’ she announced cheerfully.

  ‘Seriously?’

  ‘Seriously.’

  ‘Auntie Lex, you’re a legend. Thank you,’ Amélie said, throwing her arms around Lexie’s neck. You’d make the best mum in the world, you know. Why can’t mine be more like you? You listen when I talk, but underneath it all you’re only really interested in the stuff you like. You don’t pretend to be someone you’re not,’ she said.

  ‘Thanks.’ Lexie smiled. ‘I try to stay true to myself.’

  ‘You’re all about the gallery. The art and your business come first with you and everything else just kind of slots in around it. That’s so cool.’

  While Lexie nodded she felt cold inside. She didn’t want Amélie to know how hurt she was, but she’d just been given a glimpse of what her niece and Lord knows how many others really thought of her.

  ‘Just for the record, I care about Sam and you and my family more than the gallery,’ Lexie said, trying to keep her voice even. ‘And my friends. All those people are more important than the gallery.’

  ‘Yeah, right!’ Amélie scoffed. ‘Listen, it’s me you’re talking to. I’m totally down with the way you’ve got things sussed. There’s no wasting time with babies and all that stuff. Just because your friends are into the typical wife garbage doesn’t mean you should be.’ Amélie blew out air and flopped her arms out in a T shape. ‘I’m going to suit myself just like you when I grow up. Believe me, I cannot wait.’

  Amélie excused herself and went up to her room for a shower, leaving Lexie feeling winded. Is that what her parents had been trying to tell her? Were they using the softly-softly approach to hint to her that she was cold or callous?

  Panic washed over her and her chest hurt. She wanted to stand up and go outside for air, but her legs had stopped working. She tried to call Amélie but her throat constricted and the room began to spin.

  ‘Lexie?’ She heard Amélie but couldn’t see her. ‘Lexie!’ Before she knew it Amélie had grabbed her shoulders and started to shake her. It was gentle at first but when it yielded no response the shaking became more violent. ‘Lexie! Answer me! What’s wrong with you?’

  ‘I … I … Oh dear …’ Lexie’s eyes hurt, as if someone was shining a really strong torch in her face.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Amélie was looking at her as if she were crazy.

  ‘I have the most awful migraine,’ she said. ‘It’s obviously affecting my speech. That can happen when it’s a really bad one,’ she explained. ‘I need to lie down for a bit.’

  ‘Can I get you anything?’ Amélie asked.

  ‘No thanks, hon. I’ll be fine in a while.’

  ‘Let’s go upstairs. I’ll be in my room right across the landing, so you just yell if you need something.’

  ‘I will, thank you,’ Lexie managed.

  She shut her door and leaned against it. Once the tears began to fall, she couldn’t stop them. Sliding down onto the floor, Lexie grabbed two handfuls of her hair at either side of her temples and tugged hard. The pain was mildly comforting.

  She’d never felt so confused in her entire life. Several weeks ago, she had been blissfully happy. She loved Sam. Sam loved her. They had enjoyed their life both socially and at work. She hadn’t realised she was existing in a universe that most others viewed with scorn. She’d thought her parents were being invasive and narrow-minded. She’d genuinely assumed she had a choice about what she did with her life. But now everyone, including Maia and Amélie, seemed alien to her.

  She still had a choice all right. But at what cost?

  She shook her head. The truth was meant to emanate from the mouths of babes. How accurate that was turning out to be.

  Lexie knew Amélie hadn’t meant to hurt her. She understood that her niece had merely been shooting her mouth off. But her words were like shards of broken glass viciously bursting the bubble of happiness she’d been so comfortably living in.

  Chapter 29

  Sam was due into the office that afternoon but on his way back from the airport he decided to call in at the house. He wanted to grab his iPad and a fresh shirt. Knowing Lexie would be at the gallery, he let himself in, went into the kitchen and flicked on the kettle. Then he switched on the sound system and made himself some coffee.

  He was sitting at the kitchen table in a world of his own when Amélie came in. ‘Hey!’ she shouted, over the loud music. ‘How’s it going?’

  Sam jumped. ‘Oh, hey!’

  ‘Sam,’ Amélie looked a little uncomfortable, ‘did Auntie Lexie tell you?’

  ‘Tell me what?’ Sam said.

  ‘That I’m staying here?’

  ‘Sure, you great big goon!’ Sam said. ‘When have I ever minded you being here?’

  ‘Uh, that’s so great,’ Amélie said, visibly relaxing. ‘It’s just slightly different me staying here the odd time and moving in for a few weeks, that’s all.’ She turned away from him to get some cereal out of a cupboard.

  Sam’s jaw hit the floor. Moving in? He gulped his coffee, scalding himself.

  ‘Where is your Aunt Lexie now?’ he asked casually.

  ‘She’s gone to work. She was feeling really dodgy earlier but I presume she’s fine now.’

  ‘I see. I’ve to dash, Amélie. Only a flying visit, busy-busy. See you later,’ he said, rushing up the stairs. As he ripped off his shirt and found a fresh one, he wanted to thump the wall. How could Lexie invite Amélie to live with them and not consult him? Pulling on his shirt and grabbing his iPad, he dashed out of the house and leaped into his car. So they weren’t having kids, but it was fine to take on someone else’s messed-up runaway teen?

  He punched the speed-dial button on his hands-free.

  ‘Caracove Bay Gallery,’ Lexie said, answering the phone.

  ‘Hey, it’s me,’ Sam said.

  ‘Hi,’ Lexie said. ‘Are you on your way back to the office?’

  ‘I was just at home to change and bumped into our new foster child.’

  ‘I was going to tell you later,’ Lex
ie said. ‘You were too busy travelling and all that last night so I didn’t mention it then.’

  ‘Uh-huh,’ Sam said. ‘And you didn’t consider waiting and asking me if it might suit me?’ he fumed.

  ‘Are you annoyed?’ Lexie asked.

  ‘Lexie, how could you take this on without speaking to me?’

  ‘I thought you liked Amélie. I don’t understand why you’re so annoyed.’

  ‘If I moved someone in without consulting you, it would be all cool, would it?’

  ‘Sam, I—’

  ‘Lexie, do you know what? This is a pointless conversation because it’s done.’ He hung up.

  He rubbed his temples and revved agitatedly as the traffic lights went red. Somehow, in the last couple of days, the girl he loved and thought he knew better than anyone in the world had become a stranger.

  Amélie knew she needed to have a very frank conversation with her parents but she couldn’t face speaking to them. Instead she’d decided to write them a letter – and had written several during the night. Each time she read them back, though, they seemed wrong. The latest attempt would have to do.

  Dear Mum and Dad

  First, I’m sorry for putting you through so much heartache. I know things have been weird between us for a while now. But I am sorting it all out in my own head.

  I need some space if possible. Can you let me sit and stew for a few days? Then we can all sit down and have a calm and grown-up chat. There are some issues that I am working through. I don’t want you to worry. I won’t do anything else stupid. I promise.

  Things will work out for the best once we have a bit of breathing space from one another.

  See you in a week.

  Amélie x

  She folded it and stuffed it into her pocket. Her parents would probably arrive at Lexie’s house fairly early so there was no time to waste. She reached her home in record time and slipped the note under the front door. She felt like a small child playing knick-knacks – ringing doorbells and running away.

  Satisfied that she’d bought herself some time, Amélie made her way to the gallery. She’d promised Lexie she’d help and she wanted to keep her word.

  Chapter 30

  The following week flew by. Lexie and Sam were like ships passing in the night. Amélie’s presence at the house meant they had very little alone time, which seemed to suit them. They were sleeping in the same bed, but Lexie certainly didn’t reach for Sam and he seemed to have assumed a new sleeping position on his back where he successfully ignored her.

  Kathleen and Amélie became semi-permanent fixtures at the gallery. They were a marvellous help with setting up Agata’s exhibition. ‘I can’t thank you two enough for all the amazing work you’ve done,’ Lexie said one afternoon, as she treated them to an ice-cream.

  ‘Uh, the pleasure is all mine,’ Kathleen said. ‘I’ve loved learning about the entire process. I’d thought I was too old to deliver flyers. I used to do a paper round many moons ago and it reminded me of that.’

  ‘I’m really into it as well,’ Amélie said. ‘Why can’t school be as fun as this? I understand the number system here now. Mark-ups and profit and all that. It made zero sense when the business teacher rattled on about it. But this is so exciting! I’ll probably scream if you put red sold stickers on the paintings tomorrow,’ she said.

  Lexie laughed. ‘Now you know why I love my business,’ she said. Her smile faded as she remembered how Amélie had assumed the gallery was all she cared about.

  ‘I’m definitely running my own business when I’m older,’ Amélie continued.

  ‘You’ve done an awesome job,’ Kathleen said quietly. ‘What is it they say? Lead by example? Looks like you’ve got a future entrepreneur on your hands here.’

  Sam pulled up outside in a borrowed van. ‘I need one pair of hands to help me collect the last of the paintings,’ he called, rolling the window down.

  ‘I’ll go,’ Kathleen volunteered. Lexie waved to him but didn’t go out to talk, instead busying herself with a pile of fairy lights, which had turned themselves into a tangled mess.

  Things were polite between them, but they certainly weren’t on the same page. Lexie was convinced it was because she’d told Sam about the abortion. Every time she thought of her confession she cursed herself. The secret had been safe, locked away in the recesses of her mind. She’d held it there for years. Why had she ruined everything by dredging it up now?

  Sam was feeling quiet. Kathleen was such easy company, though, that he didn’t feel uncomfortable turning on a music station.

  ‘I love country-and-western songs,’ she mused. ‘They make me grateful I don’t live the lives they talk about.’

  Sam grinned. He loved Kathleen’s take on the world.

  He knew Lexie was busy right now. The exhibition was a big spinner for her and she was trying to help Amélie through her crisis. But he felt like an outsider in his wife’s world and wasn’t enjoying it.

  Only this morning he’d been sitting in his office at his desk staring into space when Rea had arrived with a bunch of documents needing a signature. ‘Is everything okay with you, Sam?’ she’d asked.

  ‘No,’ he’d stated. ‘It’s not. I’m in a kind of no man’s land right now. Maybe it’s a mid-life crisis or maybe I’m hitting a stage when I need to do something new. But my emotions seem to have numbed.’

  He’d said way more than he’d intended. In fact he’d voiced stuff he hadn’t even thought.

  ‘I see,’ Rea said calmly. ‘Would you like to chat?’

  ‘I would, but it’s not ethical if I talk to you, is it? Not if we work together.’

  ‘No, but as I said before, I know someone who is excellent,’ she said. ‘Would you like me to make a phone call?’

  Sam nodded.

  She walked from the room and buzzed him what felt like seconds later. ‘No time like the present. John can see you in twenty minutes if you’re up for it.’

  ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Okay. I’ll do it. Thanks, Rea.’

  She knocked on his door and passed him a Post-it note with John’s name and address neatly written out.

  Moments later, as he’d sat in the slightly musty-smelling prefab, Sam wasn’t sure whether he wanted to laugh or cry. How on earth had he ended up sitting on a horrible brown plastic chair chatting to a randomer about his marriage problems?

  The session had gone better than he’d ever expected. John hadn’t told him what to do or what to say. Nothing like that. But he’d made him talk about how he felt. About Lexie. The baby issue. Work. Amélie. And loads of other stuff …

  Kathleen looked relaxed as they sped through the countryside. ‘This area is unspeakably beautiful, isn’t it?’ she mused.

  ‘Yeah, pretty majestic, all right,’ he agreed. ‘I can see why Agata wanted to come here and paint.’

  Soon they were pulling up in front of Agata’s cottage where she and Britta were waiting outside. ‘Hello, you two!’ Kathleen said. ‘This is Lexie’s Sam.’

  ‘Hello,’ Agata said. ‘Thanks for coming to move the rest of my things.’

  ‘No bother,’ Sam said. ‘Show me where the paintings are and I’ll get them loaded up.’

  ‘She’s a little sweetie,’ Kathleen said, nodding to Britta. ‘You must be so proud of her. Is her father involved at all?’

  ‘I used a sperm donor,’ Agata said matter-of-factly.

  ‘Bet you wish you hadn’t asked,’ Sam whispered to Kathleen, as he shot out of the cottage with a painting.

  ‘Aren’t you going to ask why I used a sperm donor?’ Agata asked, as she plucked Britta out of her playpen.

  ‘Lord, no! That’s none of my business.’

  ‘It’s not a secret,’ Agata said. ‘I was living with a wonderful man. We’d been dating for eight years, sharing a place for five. We’d talked about starting a family. He was as enthusiastic as me. But I sensed he’d changed.’

  ‘In what way?’
/>
  ‘I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew he wasn’t quite the same. I followed him one Saturday afternoon. He told me he was going to the gym but he led me to a café instead. I watched from a distance as he hugged and passionately kissed my longest-standing friend.’

  ‘That’s harsh,’ Kathleen said. ‘A double whammy, you poor love.’

  ‘It was like being punched in the gut, that’s for sure,’ Agata agreed. ‘But it was better to know. At least I had confirmation that my hunch was right. Instinct is a powerful thing, Kathleen. Anyway, I decided I couldn’t let their selfishness ruin my life.’

  ‘Had I been in your shoes, I would have gone barmy,’ Kathleen said. ‘I wouldn’t have known which end was up, let alone how to go about fixing things.’

  ‘Well, I’ve always been practical. Yes, I’m artistic, but I’d like to think I’m not stupid.’

  Kathleen smiled. ‘You’re about as far from stupid as it’s possible to be.’

  As she packed some things into a shoulder bag, Agata continued to chat. ‘So what about you? Do you have children and grandchildren?’

  ‘Neither, sadly,’ she said. ‘My late husband and I longed for a family but it wasn’t to be.’

  ‘Sorry about that.’ Agata held her gaze. ‘I’ve just said all the wrong things. If I hurt you just now, talking about having Britta, I apologise.’ Then she said suddenly, ‘I have an idea. My parents are dead ten years. So Britta has no grandparents. Perhaps you could step into the breach while you’re in Ireland.’

  Kathleen was speechless. Then she recovered herself. ‘But we barely know one another … I … Gosh, that sounds so rude. I’m stunned.’

  ‘I don’t know you well, that’s true. But I told you just now that I trust my instinct. It’s never let me down. I get a good feeling from you. Besides, if you turn out to be a total crazy lady I can always lie and tell you I’m returning to Sweden.’

  ‘You don’t strike me as a liar.’

  ‘Ah, there’s always a first time for everything!’

  They laughed again and Kathleen held out her arms to Britta. The little girl went to her and grinned, showing her new teeth.