by Lotte Moore
“Yes, I expected you’d be off again soon,” Vivi replied, almost in a whisper.
“Oh Daddy, don’t go away again,” Georgie said tearfully.
“I’m sorry darling but Daddy needs to work. Plus, your grandmother lives out there, so I can send her your love. Would you like that?”
“I guess so,” Georgie said, wiping her wet face. “Will you be gone long?”
Theo shook his head. “I’ll be back before you know it.”
Chapter Fifteen
Kensington
Jonty arrived back at about 8pm. “I’ve had some very potent Prince Charles home brew. I’m not used to so much booze on an empty stomach,” he said, almost falling onto the sofa.
“What was he like?” asked Serena excitedly.
“Fascinating. Really enthusiastic too. He’s going to set up a fund for new forests and find unusual species to plant. He has such knowledge.”
Lang stood up grinning with a drink in hand,
“Congratulations, Jonty.” Serena hugged him happily. “We’ve had a good day too.” She tipsily threw a mass of £10 notes into the air. “I backed lots of winners. Whoopee!” As she jumped up her pretty red dress split down the back and she laughed. “Oh hell. Never mind, I can buy plenty more with all this.”
“Let me put some of it into the bank for you,” suggested Lang, eyeing the money on the floor. It wasn’t enough, but it could help.
“What a splendid hat,” said Jonty, as Serena paraded about.
“We’re going to take you to Bessie’s, our favourite little restaurant in about half an hour,” she said.
“Maybe Jonty would prefer something more casual,” Lang said, and Serena snorted.
“Nonsense!”
“What a surprise!” Jonty glanced at Lang “I’ll nip up for a shower if the bathroom is free.”
As he entered the master bedroom he could hear water gushing onto the tiled bathroom floor. Freddie was hanging round the showerhead throwing water bombs at a sunken rubber boat in the bath.
“Quick! Turn that water off! You’re flooding the floor,” Jonty called to him.
“I can’t. The red tap’s too stiff,” shouted Freddie, leaping on to the wet floor.
“Where’s a mop? I can’t have a shower here,” said Jonty. “Maggie will help,” said Freddie laughing.
“Oh my goodness! I thought you were in bed,” exclaimed Maggie who walked in at that exact moment—her face a picture of horror.
Jonty recounted his adventures with Freddie in the car on the way to supper. Lang found it hilarious, while Serena was less than impressed.
As they were greeted by Bessie, Lang glanced around and saw Tom Calder huddled in a corner, deep in discussion with two ‘city people.’ He shuddered. Lang immediately suggested they sit downstairs.
“It’s cosier,” he said, leading them down the steep staircase hurriedly.
“I’m already drooling at the smell of roast lamb,” said Jonty.
Bessie waddled round the scrubbed table handing out menus.
“We’ve told my brother about your fabulous lobster soup,” said Serena, enthusiastic as ever. The intimate restaurant was bubbling with hungry chat. “Oh, I forgot to show you this letter. Mummy’s decided to arrive this Thursday. She’ll be spending three days with us, then go to Vivi for five, and then have a week with you, Jonty, for some fresh air. She hopes to get a lift to Aylesbury. In her scribbled note from Madeira she wrote, ‘As I’m almost seventy, a family party might be fun! Even though most of my friends are dead, there are a few old fogies left.’
“Let’s order a bottle of nice wine.” Lang sighed. The thought of his bossy mother-in-law giving orders all day made him wince.
“Better let Cheryl know,” muttered Jonty, picking up the phone. “Hello Cherry-Berry,” he blew a woozy kiss and said in a stage whisper, “Get ready, the Queen B’s coming from Madeira to stay with us. Better start polishing that desk she gave you. Oh, and it’s the old girl’s seventieth in a couple of weeks…”
Chapter Sixteen
Chiswick
Theo walked from the house into the garden. “I’ve got a surprise for you, darling. We’ve been given free tickets to Glyndebourne on Thursday to hear my friend Alena Kirova sing in Figaro. I last saw her at a recital in Moscow near my mother’s house.”
“How exciting! I remember we heard her sing in Cosi at Covent Garden,” Vivi enthused. “Let me see what clients I’ve got. I’ll just check my diary.”
Theo went over to Georgie who was lying pensively in the hammock. He pushed her gently.
“Daddy, why do you keep leaving us? I only have half a dad and Jago has even less because he’s so little,” Georgie said.
Theo felt a lump in his throat. “All my concerts seem to take me abroad. I love the piano and I have to play it, like you love reading. We can’t stop.” He bent his head to kiss her cheek.
“But other dads don’t play the piano in Russia,” she protested. “Please can we go to the seaside one day?”
Just then, Vivi reappeared. “I’ve managed to change two clients on Thursday. What fun! I must get the picnic hamper out.”
“Can’t I come too?” pleaded Georgie.
“No darling, but you can play with Alicia after school instead. Won’t that be fun?”
“I suppose so,” sighed Georgie sadly.
“Oh, and another thing. I’ve just had an email from Serena saying Mummy’s arriving next week to stay at their house first, then five days here, then Jonty’s. This will be her seventieth birthday. Oh, you won’t be here, will you?” Vivi asked.
“No, probably not,” said Theo sadly. He glanced at Georgie whose bottom lip was trembling. “But maybe I could postpone Friday’s rehearsal and we could all go to Brighton for the day.”
Vivi looked amazed. Georgie jumped up and hugged him.
“Granny Beady will be able to see me being a princess in the school play. Maybe you could fly back too Daddy?”
The next morning Vivi prepared the picnic for Glyndebourne, while Theo shut himself away for three hours of piano practise. She saw clients until 2.30pm, then lay smiling to herself in the hammock.
What a treat to spend all day with my husband at the opera. Fancy him changing dates so they could take Georgie to the seaside, she thought. Maybe now he will put his family first more.
Chapter Seventeen
Sussex
Everything sparkled as Vivi and Theo drove towards Sussex that Thursday. The countryside’s lush green fields and countless different trees in all shades of green caught the sunlight. Theo didn’t talk much.
As he drove, they listened to Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2. The slow movement was one of his favourites. Vivi was looking beautiful in a long patchwork skirt and purple velvet top, her long dark hair flowing round her slim shoulders.
“I think Alena suggested we picnic near the stage door, so she can pop out to see us,” said Theo.
Two hours later they arrived, they were sat upon a rug on grass as soft as moss. Vivi laid out the picnic while Theo strolled round admiring the beautiful flowerbeds.
“Hello, how good to see you!” called an exquisite low voice. There was Alena, already dressed for Cherubino in an hour’s time. They kissed each other on the cheek three times in the Russian way. She chatted animatedly with a slight broken accent. “Oh, this place is glorious, what an unusual setting to sing in and the audiences are so enthusiastic. I’d like to perform in England more!”
Vivi stood up and joined them. “How is your family?” she asked Alena. “Is your mother looking after the children?”
“Yes, and my husband is cross because I’m away. He misses my cooking!” The mezzo laughed. “But I have quite a few concerts in Europe, and guess what? The Met in New York have offered me Aida for just a week!”
“That’s fantastic. I’d like to see you as Amneris. Maybe my concert might coincide with your date,” enthused Theo.
“Are you going to New York? When is that?�
� queried Vivi, rather surprised.
“I’ll tell you later, darling.” Theo turned back to Alena and Vivi frowned. “Will you have some wine? Or don’t you drink before the performance?” he asked.
“No, I just gargle with it!” Alena laughed. “Anyway, if you’ll excuse me, I must dash. I have to warm up before I go on.” She gave a brief hug to Theo and Vivi.
“Good luck,” said Theo.
The performance was wildly received. Alena’s Cherubino was sung with purity, humour and a rich vocal sincerity.
“She’s such a good actress,” whispered Theo, putting his arm round Vivi’s shoulders during the last act.
“What a lovely evening,” purred Vivi, as they slowly walked to the car.
Theo suddenly swung her round and kissed her face, neck and finally lips with great tenderness.
On the journey home Vivi asked, “So, when are you going to New York? You never told me you had a concert there. You must give me an updated schedule.”
“Do you remember I told you that Sergei, my new promoter, has asked me to take the place of someone who’s ill at a St Petersburg concert? Well, there’s another concert after that in New York that I also have been asked to help with,” enthused Theo.
“I wish you had told me,” Vivi muttered under her breath.
*
As he opened the front door Theo whispered, “Let’s have a cosy Jacuzzi together.”
Soon they were sliding over each other, their naked bodies making shadows in the soft candlelight. Theo held her perfectly shaped breast and drew it to his mouth, massaging the other with his long fingers. They were soon passionately entwined, unable to wait for the pleasures of intense arousal and satisfaction. Their sighing and gasping gave way to another united climax of breathtaking power. Vivi lay limply floating on top of Theo.
A few minutes passed before he lifted her up out of the water and wrapped her in a towel.
“That was the first course. Let’s go to the bedroom for the second one,” he said softly, guiding her to the stairs.
Entering the bedroom, Vivi threw off her towel and stretched out on the gold satin throw as Theo slid across the bed stroking her back and buttocks. Running his tongue down her spine, she coiled into the foetal position with both hands between her knees.
Slowly he turned her over to face him. His lips crushed hers as his tongue circled the crevices deep inside her mouth, at the same time entering Vivi whose thighs welcomed him. Every sense became one. It was a unity of complete perfection. They fell asleep utterly fulfilled.
Chapter Eighteen
Chiswick
“Seaside today!”
Vivi and Theo’s bedroom door burst open at 6.30 the next morning to reveal Jago in a bathing suit, banging his bucket and spade together.
Georgie followed carrying a beach towel. The children pulled off the bedclothes and jumped into bed for a hug. Chaos followed as Theo jumped out of bed to have a shower.
“Where are your pyjamas, Daddy?” Georgie asked confused.
After a messy breakfast in which Jago sprinkled the floor with Rice Krispies, and smeared peanut butter on his face and arms, Vivi said, “Bella, could you wipe Jago down please, then dress him quickly. Theo’s nearly ready to leave.”
Georgie had chopped-up hardboiled egg and spread it between two slices of buttered bread sprinkled with a thick tomato sauce that oozed onto her sticky fingers.
“Let me wrap that in foil, while you go and wash your hands quickly. Daddy’s waiting in the car,” said Vivi.
Chapter Nineteen
Brighton
As Theo drove along Brighton seafront, they ran into a large procession.
“What’s that man doing in a tutu? Look, there are two more in miniskirts and high heels.” Georgie laughed whilst Theo pursed his lips in response.
“It’s just a march for people who want to dress up,” said Vivi, turning to smile at Georgie, half-relieved that Jago was still asleep despite all the shouting and singing.
Theo turned up a side street.
“Shall we go to the other end, away from the pier? It should be a quieter beach for the children.”
They drove slowly westwards along the promenade and out of town, Georgie jumping up and down in the back with excitement.
“There’s so much water, Mummy. Is it cold?”
“Yes, it is. Oh look, there’s a good stretch of empty beach, let’s go there,” said Vivi, pointing at the desired space.
Theo drew up behind an ice cream van. Everyone piled out with Theo carrying a sleepy Jago who woke up as the sea breeze stroked his face. Georgie raced on ahead, shouting into the wind. Vivi put up a wind-break and unrolled a large waterproof blanket. Not much use putting up the folding table as the wind would sweep everything away. The sun was certainly not hot enough for the children to need sun cream.
“I’m going to build a sandcastle. Come on Daddy!” said Georgie, pulling Theo along the wet sand. Half an hour later she called to Vivi, “Bring Jago to sit in our lovely castle.”
Vivi traipsed down the beach and lifted Jago into a pool by their castle. There were squeals of delight as Theo dug a huge pit that Georgie jumped into. Vivi pretended to be a dog pawing the sand, trying to cover Georgie up to her neck. She was laughing so much she got hiccups.
A family walked by licking sticky candy floss, their faces a mass of pink gunge.
“Ooh, can we have one of those?” asked Georgie. Her sand-covered arm outstretched.
“Let’s enjoy a paddle first,” said Theo.
They raced towards the sparkling sea. A shallow tide swirled round their feet as they tiptoed in. Vivi glanced at Theo galloping through the water with Georgie in tow. Little Jago was swinging the bucket of water over his head, shivering as it dribbled down to his toes. This was a bonus day indeed, and after the previous night, Vivi felt radiant.
An hour later both children were bouncing up and down on a musical roundabout, Georgie waving and Jago looking rather grim.
“Hold on tight!” shouted Vivi.
On the walk back to the car, Theo relented and bought Georgie a large stick of candy floss to be shared with Jago. By the time they got to the car Georgie’s hair was whirled with pink candyfloss and Jago’s face was almost invisible—only his eyes peeping through the pink mass.
The sound of Vivi’s mobile phone added to the chaos. “Where are you?” asked Serena.
“We’re having a fun day in Brighton en famille,” replied Vivi happily.
“What, with Theo too? Has he brought the piano?” Serena laughed. “Listen, Mum’s arriving next Thursday so we need to discuss a party date and the guest list. Can I come over on Saturday?”
“Yes, of course. Actually, that’s good timing as Theo leaves for Russia that morning so everyone will be rather low. Come at lunchtime and bring the kids too, and they can have sausages in the play tent,” suggested Vivi.
Chapter Twenty
Aylesbury
Jonty pushed open the farmhouse door and fell into an old kitchen armchair.
“Phew, I’m not used to living like they do in London. No one ever stops. Even the kids are always rushing. The pavements are like dirt tracks, cyclists race in-between pedestrians and prams, then leap off the kerb and dash through red lights. Teenagers on scooters almost shave off your toenails. As for traffic jams! It’s like a circus of bumper cars. Everyone lives on their nerves. How are you, my Berry?”
He opened his arms wide to hug Cheryl as she fell into his lap.
“You certainly look exhausted,” she said, stroking the side of his face. “Well, nothing much has happened in our haven except one of the lambs died and a pony bolted into the plantation. He obviously liked the smell of young bark. I had a meeting about the new equestrian centre plans. It’s going to be quite a large centre, Jonty, I’ll need a big team of helpers.”
They sat together quietly with their arms wrapped round each other’s shoulders.
“If I have a soak in the bath, will you
rub my back?” Jonty eventually said.
They both smiled. His twinkling eyes always made Cheryl’s tummy tighten.
An hour later, after back rubbing and more cuddles, Cheryl went downstairs and made cheese on toast and a cup of cocoa. She riddled the Aga, drew the kitchen curtains and walked upstairs, still naked, with the tray.
*
About 5.30am there was a shout beneath their window, “Hey! One of them ponies is chasing the lambs!”
Jonty opened the window and leaned out, “At this time?” he called back to one of the workers, Jacob, then hurriedly put on a raincoat over his pyjamas and stumbled down the wooden staircase.
Jacob was waiting at the door with a torch and led Jonty to the field where a pony was frisking and trying to butt one of four pregnant ewes. Between them they managed to slip a halter over its head and slowly dragged it out of the field back to the stables.
“Looks as though she let herself out,” said Jonty, pointing to the broken latch.
Cheryl was cooking his favourite breakfast when he returned and normality resumed after a chaotic start to the day.
“Tell me about Charlie. Did he have any useful advice about the plantation?” she asked.
“Yes, he’s such an interesting guy. My project has really caught his interest. He warned me about various viruses that attack maples and to keep an eye open for those clusters of stinging caterpillars on the oak trees. Oh, and he said what a marvellous heritage we would leave. He wants to visit the forest within the next two months to see how we are doing.”
Cheryl grinned proudly. “It must be so reassuring to have his enthusiasm,” she said. “I’m going to the site manager’s office now. We need to discuss the size of the riding arena. Also, Serena asked us if the 25th is free for your mum’s seventieth? Will you ring her?”
Jonty groaned and nodded as Cheryl left the room.
