A Reunion

by Emily Harvale

  'You have told me the whole story, haven't you? About Dad and everything, I mean. Only I'm getting a very strange feeling that there may be something you haven't told me. Something that you think I might not want to hear. Something that you're worried may upset me. It wouldn't. And I'd rather know. No secrets, remember. That's what we've always said. If there was something bad about Dad, I can handle it.'

  'There was nothing bad about your dad, Kyra. Not one thing. That much I can promise you. And I've told you everything you need to know. Everything.'

  'That sounds as if there's something you think I don't need to know. Mum, what is it? You've never mentioned this before. But there is something, isn't there?'

  Kyra fiddled with the metal strap of the watch Cat had also given her yesterday. It was far too big and it slid around Kyra's slim wrist like a loose bracelet. It had been Kyle's and it was the only thing of his that Cat had. It had a small square and compass and the letter G, the well-known Freemason's symbol on the white face, and of course, the symbols for architects. On the back was etched: 'To Kyle. With all my love. Now and Forever. Cat.' She'd found it in an antique jewellery store on a day trip to London and she'd had it engraved and given it to him for his eighteenth birthday. He'd been so excited he'd insisted they show it to his best friend, immediately. Oddly enough, it had been that very same person who had returned it to her as she lay in the hospital bed a few days after the fatal car crash. Kyle's body had been broken, but his 'new' watch had survived intact. Irony at its worst. Or simply Fate, perhaps.

  Cat let out a sigh. She pulled up in a parking space and turned in her seat to face her daughter. 'It's nothing really. And yet it is. But remember this. I was sixteen when I met your dad. Old enough to legally have sex, but far too young and foolish to fully understand what I was doing, or how to deal with my emotions. I'm worried you're going to be shocked, and hate me if I tell you this, and I couldn't bear that, sweetheart. I really couldn't. But I know you love me so I'm being silly–'

  'Just tell me, Mum. I'll never, ever hate you, no matter what. You know that. Say it. Please.' Kyra took Cat's hands in hers and smiled.

  Cat took a deep breath and smiled back, but rather wanly.

  'OK. The day I met your dad, I was already in love with someone else. Madly in love as it happens. I only went to the bay that day because I knew this guy would be there. I'd been going every day for a couple of weeks, but he couldn't stand the sight of me and he made that very clear on more than one occasion. That day your dad was there, and he, on the other hand, made it very clear the moment we met that he had fallen in love with me at first sight. I'm ashamed to say this. Truly ashamed. But when I first dated your dad it was because he was the best friend of the man I loved. And I did it because I hoped it would annoy him. The best friend, I mean. Not your dad. But I wasn't a complete idiot even then, and I soon realised how lucky I was to have Kyle. I fell in love with him. And the best friend was history as far as I was concerned.'

  'Wow! Is that what you feel guilty about? That you started dating Dad under false pretences? Because that's just silly. As you said yourself, Mum, you were sixteen. I think I was in love with at least three guys when I was sixteen. Don't look so worried. I didn't have sex with all of them. None of them, actually. I still haven't. I told you I'd tell you when I do. And I will. I think your generation was more relaxed about it than we are. Now we're all so aware of all the awful things that can happen, and I don't mean getting pregnant. I mean all the STDs, the sex-shaming on social media etc. I just don't think it's worth it unless you believe you've met the right guy. Or at the very least, a guy who's really important to you.'

  'I'm so proud of you, sweetheart. You're wise beyond your years. Sex-shaming sounds horrendous. Do they really do that on social media?' Cat pulled a face. 'That makes me even more pleased that I'm not on any of it and extremely grateful that the gallery handles all that stuff for me.' She looked Kyra in the eye. 'So, you're not upset about what I've just told you? We're good?'

  Kyra laughed. 'Of course we're good. And no. I'm not upset in the least. I am glad you told me though and I don't know why you haven't done so before. We can't choose who we fall in love with, Mum. Even if, sometimes, we wish we could. Let's go and eat. I'm starving.'

  'Me too. And I had toast before we left.'

  Cat shoved the door open and Kyra came and linked her arm through Cat's as they walked towards the glass doors of the services.

  'Is that how your mum got your address, do you think? Via the gallery.'

  'I have no idea. I called Carrie yesterday morning after you went to get your exam results and she said no one had asked for my details recently. If anyone does, she simply tells them I like my privacy and if that's a deal breaker on purchasing my art, that's tough. She says it isn't. Thankfully.'

  'How did she get it then?'

  'I don't know. But it's certainly something I'm going to ask her.'

  They grabbed a couple of trays at one of the restaurants and ordered Full English breakfasts, coffee and orange juice, along with toast, and two coffees to take away afterwards.

  Kyra sat at one of the tables by the window and stared out into the baking sunshine. Cat sat opposite and studied her daughter's face for a second or two before Kyra looked at her and smiled.

  'Do you think that guy you mentioned still lives in Merriment Bay? What was his name, by the way?'

  Cat glanced down at her plate and didn't answer right away.

  'Mum?' Kyra persisted.

  Cat managed a smile. 'Knowing him, I think he probably does. He loved the place. And his name was Amias. Amias Wells.'

  'Amias Wells. I like the sound of that.'

  Kyra rested her chin on her hands, and her elbows on the table. There was a faraway look in her eyes as if she were trying to picture him.

  'Don't let your breakfast get cold.' Cat picked up her cutlery and stabbed her egg yolk with her knife. 'If he's anything like he was, you probably won't like him. He was sarcastic, rude, opinionated and arrogant. And yet he had the biggest chip on his shoulder imaginable. A complete tearaway. Although he did help out at the WWII Museum, oddly enough. He was fascinated by vintage planes.'

  'What did he look like?' Kyra cut her rasher of bacon into bite-sized pieces. 'Was he anything like Dad?'

  Cat shook her head. 'No. Apart from in height. He was tall, broad shouldered, fit beyond belief, with hair the colour of black treacle and eyes as dark as midnight, yet sometimes, when he smiled, it looked as if those eyes were filled with golden stardust. And his smile. Wow. It was often slow to take hold, as if he really didn't want to look happy, but when it did, it was as though there was nothing else in the world except that smile. Basically, he was so damn gorgeous that the first time I saw him he actually took my breath away.' She inhaled deeply and let it out in a sigh. 'The last time I saw him, I wanted to strangle him.'

  Chapter Four

  Amias shoved the front door open and let it slam shut behind him.

  'Hey gorgeous. Something smells good. I'm starving. I've brought wine but I expect you've already got a bottle open.'

  He strolled into the kitchen and put the bottle on the worktop. Natalia had the phone pressed to her cheek and, pointing to it, silently mouthed, 'Lorna.'

  Amias frowned and shook his head. He kissed her on the other cheek, grabbed a wooden spoon and took a mouthful of chilli, grinning when she slapped him on the hand and glowered at him.

  'No, Lorna. That wasn't Amias. I haven't seen him since last Sunday but when I do, I'll let him know you're worried and I'll definitely ask him to call you.' She placed her hand over the mouthpiece and added, 'Even if I have to dial the number for him because his fingers must be broken or I'm sure he'd call.'

  He flicked his eyes heavenwards and tutted.

  Natalia sighed. 'No, Lorna. All I said was I'll definitely ask him to call. I must go because I think there's someone at the door. Take care now. And don't worry about Amias. He's probably just been busy. Bye.' She hung u
p and, still glaring at Amias, stretched out her arm and the phone. 'Call her. Call her now.'

  He frowned again, took the phone and put it back in its cradle on the wall.

  'Just because I love you it doesn't mean you can tell me what to do. It may work with your husband but it doesn't work with me. Why are we having chilli? It's the middle of August and there's a bit of a heatwave, in case you haven't noticed.'

  'And just because I love you it doesn't mean I'm going to lie to your girlfriends for you.'

  'I've never asked you to. And Lorna's not my girlfriend. She's just someone I'm seeing.'

  Natalia let out an exasperated sigh. 'You asked me to just now when you refused to speak to her. So what do you expect me to do when they call here because they haven't heard from you for days and they're worried sick about you?'

  'Tell them I'm a grown man and you have no control over my actions. And tell them not to worry. Worrying never helps anyone.'

  'Why won't you just speak to her?'

  'You know why.' He threw her an irritated look. 'Because apart from the fact that I'm annoyed with her for blabbing to Mary Devon, I'm also annoyed with myself. And when I'm annoyed, I'm not nice to be around. I may say something to her that she might not want to hear.'

  'Who told you you were nice to be around when you're not annoyed?' She tossed a tea towel at him. 'Make yourself useful and wipe the glasses on the drainer. And don't break them because they're irreplaceable. They were Mum's.'

  He gave a sad little smile and did as she asked. 'What's the special occasion? These only come out on high days and holidays. Are we celebrating something?'

  Natalia poured him a glass of wine from the open bottle by the cooker. A large glass.

  'Drink this. You're going to need it.'

  'Oh? Why?'

  She raised her brows and nodded towards the glass. 'Drink.'

  'Jesus, you're getting bossy. I could really go off you, you know. Wait. Is that why we're having chilli? Because it's my favourite and you're trying to feed me comfort food as well as alcohol.'

  'Give the man a gold star. Ready or not, here it is. Our firm has got the sale instructions for Devon Villa.'

  Amias choked on the gulp of wine he'd just taken and Natalia slapped him on the back. More times than were actually necessary.

  'Thanks, sis.'

  'You're welcome. Do you need a top-up?'

  She grabbed the bottle and waved it in front of him. He took it from her and filled his glass to the brim.

  'When?'

  'When what?' She shot him a confused look as she stirred the chilli.

  'When did you get the sale instructions?'

  'Yesterday. Shortly before I called to invite you round for dinner. And I was as surprised as you are. I don't know when it'll go to the market yet though. She said she may do it up a bit first to get a better price. She's going to let me know in a few days or so but either way, I've got the instruction. You're not going to sulk about it all evening, are you? I know how you feel about the Devons but this is a huge deal for me. I've always wanted to sell that house and if I do get a sale. No. When I get a sale, the commission will be fantastic.'

  He took a deep breath, shook his head and forced a smile. 'Nope. It was a shock, I'll admit, but I'm fine now and it's nothing a few glasses of this won't cure.' He took another gulp of wine. 'Who gave you the instruction?'

  'Who do you think? Viola's in a coma at Eastbourne District General, haven't you heard?' She rolled her eyes at him and added more pepper to the chilli. 'That only leaves Mary. She's got power of attorney. She's had it for a while now. But I couldn't believe it when she came in yesterday. I mean, talk about not wasting any time. Viola only had her accident a few days ago.' She turned and shot a look at him. 'Oh wait. Did you think that maybe the one who can't be named had come home?'

  'Funny.' He smirked at her. 'I've never said she can't be named. I've simply said I'd rather not talk about her, that's all.'

  'And yet here we are again. Talking about Cat Devon as we always do at this time every year. I know Kyle was your best friend, Amias. And I know how much you loved him, but it's been eighteen years. Can't you ever let it go? Mum's been dead for ten years now and you loved her far more than you loved Kyle, yet you don't get anywhere near so maudlin on the anniversary of her death as you do on the anniversary of his.'

  'That's because it wasn't my fault Mum died. I did everything I could for her but if the surgeons couldn't remove the brain tumour, then I definitely couldn't.'

  'Kyle's death wasn't your fault either. You can't stop cars from crashing.'

  'No. But I could've tried to stop him. I could've tried to talk him out of it. I could've made him stay.'

  'What? Talk him out of running away with the girl he loved? The girl who was having his child. I think you overestimate both your charms and your powers, brother dear. Not even God could've talked Kyle Morris out of taking what he saw as the only chance to be with the girl he adored. And you were nineteen, Amias. Nineteen. Why do we have to go through this every single year? Let it go, for Heaven's sake. You deal with it for the rest of the year. Why do these two weeks always have to turn you almost feral? I just don't get it. I really don't.'

  He banged his wine glass on the counter. 'You don't have to go through this. I'll leave.'

  He turned to go but she grabbed his arm. 'Don't you dare. Don't you bloody dare. And don't have one of your moods. This is a special day for me and you're going to sit down and have dinner with me and my husband like a civilised human being. OK? I mean it, Amias. I'm so glad Dad's away so I don't have to deal with his reaction too. Now smile. And be grateful that glass you almost smashed wasn't one of Mum's because if it had been, we'd be mourning you in August every year, too. You bloody moron.' She smiled and gave him a hard shove which took him by surprise and nearly knocked him off his feet. 'Go and sit outside and cool down. I don't want you being like this when Josh gets home.'

  He ran a hand through his hair, sucked in a long slow breath and forced a smile.

  'I'm sorry, sis. I don't know why it does this to me. Perhaps I do need to see someone about it, like you've often said. It's crazy. You're right. I know it is. But this year it feels worse somehow. It feels as if something's going to happen. I can't explain it. But you know Lorna told Mary Devon where Cat lives. And you know that Mary will now get hold of Cat. Because as weird as that bloody family is, they'll still tell one another if something bad happens.'

  'And you're worried Cat might come back? Is that it?'

  Amias shrugged. 'It's stupid. It doesn't matter to me if she does or doesn't. It's Kyra I've been thinking about. When I saw her all those years ago she looked the spitting image of Kyle. She's eighteen this year. Yesterday, in fact. The same age he was when he died. To be honest, I'm not sure if I'm eager to see her or terrified at the prospect. Do I tell her I promised her dad the night he died that I'd look after them? Cat and his then unborn child. A promise I couldn't keep because, first, Cat suddenly refused to see me and then just a few weeks later, once again, the bloody woman decided her best option was to run away.'

  'I don't think you need to tell her that. Although you did track them down. It took you years, not to mention a good deal of money, but you did it. And you discovered they were safe and loved and thriving. So you did fulfil your promise. We have this conversation every single year and each time I tell you the same thing. When will it finally sink in?'

  He shook his head despondently. 'I'm not sure it ever will.'

  'The only bit I'll never understand, is that having found them, you walked away without even saying a word to Cat or to Kyra. But hey. That was your choice and I won't question it. What I do question though, is why, having done that, you still feel so bloody guilty about the whole thing. And as for Lorna telling Mary. Well, considering what happened to Viola just a day or two later, I'd say that it was Fate.'

  'Fate? Seriously?'

  Natalia nodded. 'Seriously. You've known where Cat and Kyra were fo
r more than fourteen years and I know you've been drunk more than once in all that time. And yet never have you ever mentioned Cat's whereabouts to anyone. Not a soul. Not even to me. Until this year. And you pick Lorna to blab to. A woman who, however stunning she may be, is not known for her discretion. I think, perhaps the Universe decided it was time.'

  'The Universe? Really? Time for what? Time for more wine, I think.' He grabbed the bottle he'd brought and opened it.

  'Time to put the past to rest. Time to heal. Time for the Devons to do the same. Time you met your best friend's child face to face. And this time, actually said hello to her. And maybe it's also time you forgave yourself. And Cat. Neither of you did anything wrong. Life's just shitty sometimes.'

  'Thank you, oh great one.' He bowed his head. 'It's time we changed the subject.' He poured them both more wine. 'Marcus Lester managed to stay upright on a windsurfer today for a whole six minutes.'

  'He did? Really? Wow. That is something to celebrate. I feel so sorry for that kid. Imagine having George for a grandfather and Lucas for a cousin. Always being compared to the paragon that is Lucas must be tough.'

  'Yeah. But Lucas is great with Marcus. And Will's a fantastic uncle. It's just the grandparents who are jerks.'

  'Ah yes. I heard about your little disagreement with George and Sybil. Not content with telling them to behave, you called them alcoholics.'

  'I didn't.'

  'You said you knew they'd rather spend the afternoon in the pub. Or did Sybil make that up?'

  Amias grinned. 'No. I did say that. But it's true.'

  'We all know it's true. But some people don't like to hear the truth. You should understand that better than anyone.' She threw him a sarcastic look. 'Now if you've calmed down and don't need to go outside, make yourself useful again and set the table. Josh will be home any minute. Oh. Maybe I should text him and ask him to bring more wine. I've a feeling we're going to need it.'

  Chapter Five