by Susan Lewis
‘Not much traffic on the road,’ he replied, draping his uniform jacket over the back of a chair before stooping to kiss her. ‘Looks like you’ve had a bit of a party.’
‘Just Dee and Sally. There’s plenty more in the fridge if you’d like me …’
‘I’m fine,’ he assured her, sinking into one of the softly padded chairs and tilting his face up to the sun. ‘I had a late breakfast. Where’s Lawrence?’
She sighed irritably. ‘In his tree house and refusing to come down unless Dad brings back the dog.’
Jerry glanced across the garden to where Lawrence’s private dwelling was only partly visible from where they were sitting.
As she watched him Rosalind hoped that he might go and try to reason with his son, lost cause though it might already be, but when his eyes came back to hers with a strained, almost defeated look she knew he wouldn’t, and wanted to scream or cry, she hardly knew which. ‘Have a drink,’ she offered. ‘It’s amazing how much better everything seems when you do.’
He appeared undecided for a moment, then said, ‘Yes, OK.’
After fetching a clean glass from the kitchen she filled it almost to the brim, did the same with hers, and sat down too. ‘So how was the West Coast?’ she asked, taking a sip.
‘That was last week,’ he replied. ‘I’ve just come back from Mumbai.’
‘Yes, of course, sorry. Oh, and sorry I missed your call on Thursday night, I was over at Dee’s, but I rang back.’
‘I know, you left a message,’ he reminded her. ‘And as a matter of fact, you sounded as though you’d had a few then, and there are two empty bottles …’
‘Please don’t start getting on my case,’ she said tetchily. ‘I’m in my own home, I’m not driving, I don’t have to go anywhere or see anyone for the rest of the day, and after the week I’ve had I think I’m entitled to indulge myself.’
Lifting his glass, he said, ‘Why? What’s happened?’
Just like her father he’d forgotten, but there again why should he remember his mother-in-law’s birthday? ‘Oh, you know, tenants, estate agents, solicitors, cleaning companies,’ she said, trying not to bite out the words. ‘I don’t know what’s the matter with everyone these days. Nothing ever gets done on time, or in the proper way … And now Lawrence won’t speak to anyone, or even eat, until the dog comes back. What am I supposed to do with him, that’s what I want to know? It’s not his dog. He can’t just make up his mind he wants it here and expect it to happen.’
‘Have you told your father?’
‘Not yet, no.’ She knew he wouldn’t want to hear why, but she was going to tell him anyway. ‘Frankly, I don’t want her thinking she can use the animal to worm her way into our family, and that’s what she’s up to, I know it.’
His eyes remained down as he sipped his wine, then putting the glass back on the table, he said mildly, ‘Much mail?’
‘Some. It’s on your desk, and I know you’re trying to change the subject, but …’
‘Rosalind, I’ve hardly been back five minutes …’
‘I’m aware of that, and I’m sorry my issues are so irritating for you, but when it comes to my son and what’s good for him …’
‘You can’t use him in this battle. It’s not right, and it’s not fair either. He likes the dog …’
‘He’s fixated on it. It’s all he’ll talk about. I want Lucy back. I’m not going to bed until Lucy comes back. I’m not getting up until Lucy comes back. I’m staying in my tree until Lucy comes back. It’s driving me insane.’
‘It wouldn’t if the dog belonged to anyone else.’
Her eyes flashed. ‘That’s not particularly helpful, thank you very much. I could do with your support over this, but as we know that’s in as short supply these days as your fidelity …’
‘Oh for God’s sake,’ he snapped. ‘You’re like a stuck record sometimes, and as there’s obviously no point trying to reason with you while you’re in this state I’m going to take a shower.’
‘No! Don’t go yet,’ she cried as he started to get up. ‘I need to talk to you. It’s not about that,’ she promised, as he eyed her warily, probably assuming she was going to throw his affair in his face again. The monstrous jealousy and insecurity inside her wanted to, because it always did, but she needed to force it under control so she could ask his advice about her new concerns regarding her father.
‘So what is it about?’ he asked, sinking back into his chair.
After taking a breath to try to clear the grape fog in her head, she said, ‘Dad was here this morning, going over the books. At least, that’s what I thought he was doing, but when I went to check on him I found him standing at the window staring out.’
Jerry’s eyebrows rose. ‘And?’ he prompted.
‘Well, it just struck me as odd that he hadn’t done anything yet, even though he’d been in there for over an hour, and when I asked if he was all right he didn’t seem to hear me at first, so I asked again, and he shook his head.’
Jerry took another sip of his wine. Then, seeming to realise he’d missed something, he said, ‘I’m sorry, you’re going to have to be more specific.’
‘OK, well, it was like he was miles away when he shook his head, and then he came to and said of course he was all right, but I just know he wasn’t.’
Jerry almost rolled his eyes. ‘So what do you want me to do?’ he asked.
She took a breath. ‘I was wondering if you’d have a chat with him, you know, to try and find out if he’s … Well, if he’s having second thoughts about things, because I’m sure that’s what it …’
‘OK, I’ve had enough,’ he said, getting to his feet. ‘I’m going to take that shower, and perhaps, by the time I come down, you’ll have managed to sober up enough for us to talk about something else for a while. If you haven’t, I’ll be getting back into the car and driving away.’
‘Well, wouldn’t that be a responsible thing to do?’ she shot after him. ‘I don’t expect you’d even bother to say goodbye to your son either. And why would you, when you can’t even bring yourself to say hello?’
He spun round furiously. ‘In case you hadn’t noticed, no one in this house is interested in whether I’m here or not,’ he raged. ‘The minute I get in all you want to talk about is your father. You’re so obsessed with what’s going on in his life that you don’t spare a moment’s thought for me or what might be happening in mine.’
‘You’ve hardly given me a chance …’
‘You’re not interested,’ he yelled. ‘Nor is Lawrence. He either wants David or apparently the dog now. That’s it! I can go over there, if you like, and try talking to him, but we both know he’ll just ignore me, or repeat what he’s been saying to you.’
‘At least you’d be making some kind of contact with him. Carrying on as though he’s not there is hardly going to help matters, is it?’
‘Maybe not, but right now I’m not in much of a mood to be treated like a nobody by my own son, any more than I care to sit here listening to you rant on about your father and Lisa Martin.’
As he stormed off inside, Rosalind snatched up the bottle and refilled her glass. It was more a gesture to spite him than because she wanted more wine, but now it was there she might as well drink it.
After downing half of it she closed her eyes and tried to bring herself down from the heights of anger. She didn’t want to treat Jerry this way, and hated herself when she did, but it was as though she went into self-destruct mode when he was around, especially when she’d been drinking. But for God’s sake, what did he expect when he’d forgotten her mother’s birthday? He had to know how important it was to her, so how the hell was ignoring it supposed to convince her she still mattered to him, that’s what she’d like to know? Maybe she should ask when he came down again, but if she did she knew they’d only end up in another blazing row, and with her father seeming more and more distant these days she had to start trying harder to hang on to Jerry, or she would end up losing
him too.
‘I’m sorry, Jerry, I wish I knew what to tell you,’ David was saying as he and Jerry walked down through a freshly cut meadow towards the lake. ‘I’m as worried about her as you are, but nothing I say ever seems to get through to her.’
Not having expected any other sort of answer, Jerry sighed and grabbed a strand of long grass from a tuft as he walked along. ‘She’s still adamant she won’t come to the wedding,’ he said. ‘It seems wrong to go without her, but I have to be there for Lawrence. And for you,’ he added quickly.
David’s smile was fleeting. ‘Thank you,’ he said quietly. Then, ‘I know I’m to blame for how unhappy she is. I should have waited before announcing my marriage plans, I can see that now in a way I wouldn’t allow myself to before. Lisa kept saying we shouldn’t be so hasty, but I wouldn’t listen and it’s too late now to turn back. Apart from anything else it wouldn’t be fair on Lisa.’
‘No, of course not,’ Jerry agreed, ‘and please don’t think that’s what I’m suggesting.’
David shook his head.
As they reached the lake shore Jerry stared down at the minnows darting about in the reeds, while David gazed out towards the house where he and Catrina used to live.
‘She’s got it into her head,’ Jerry said after a while, ‘that you want to … Well, that you want to change your mind about Lisa but you can’t bring yourself to hurt her.’
When David didn’t respond he turned to look at him, then followed the direction of his eyes.
‘I forgot Catrina’s birthday this week,’ David told him.
Jerry almost groaned in dismay. Now he knew why Rosalind was behaving the way she was with him, because he’d forgotten too.
‘I still miss her,’ David confessed. ‘Having Lisa in my life hasn’t changed that.’
Not knowing what to say, Jerry continued to gaze at the house that held so many of their memories.
‘I know Rosalind’s telling herself that I want to change my mind,’ David said, ‘but I don’t, because if there’s one thing I’m absolutely certain of it’s the way I feel about Lisa.’ Then with a sigh, ‘I only wish I could say the same about everything else,’ and after clapping a hand on Jerry’s shoulder he turned to walk back to where they’d left their cars.
Chapter Twelve
‘COME HERE, MRS Kirby,’ David laughed, as a jubilant Lisa threw her arms around Amy and Theo. ‘It’s me you’ve just married, in case you’d forgotten.’
Flushed with happiness, Lisa flung herself from the doorway of Bristol Registry Office into his embrace and raised her mouth for a kiss. ‘But we’re not supposed to be making a big deal of it,’ she reminded him. ‘Tomorrow is when we really tie the knot. Today we’ve just been made official.’
‘Let’s get a move on,’ Amy urged, glancing around to see if anyone was watching. ‘If we don’t someone’s bound to recognise you, and the next thing we know it’ll be in tomorrow’s papers and that’s definitely not what we want.’
Gripping David’s arm as they hurried along Corn Street towards the Galleries where they’d left the cars, Lisa struggled with the urge to stop for some champagne. They couldn’t risk it though, because they were all driving later, and besides there were still a million things to do. ‘We should be just in time to get to the station,’ she said, glancing at her watch. ‘Heather’s train is due in at four, then after we’ve taken her to the house we’ll have to be back there by six for Sheelagh and Baz.’
‘Remind me who they all are again,’ David said, cocking a teasing eyebrow at Amy as she glanced over her shoulder. ‘I’m hardly going to know anyone,’ he told her.
‘You know us,’ Amy said comfortingly, ‘and if you’re feeling at a loss at all, there’s always Matilda to keep you company.’
‘Now you’re talking,’ he grinned. ‘So, Heather is?’
‘Only the celebrant,’ Lisa informed him in a Roxy-type cant. ‘For heaven’s sake, don’t forget who she is tomorrow. And Sheelagh and Baz are the singers. Royston and his wonderful jazz band are already booked into the Hotel du Vin – are you having dinner with them later?’ she asked Amy and Theo.
‘That’s the plan,’ Theo replied.
‘Then Amy, you’re coming on to spend the night with me at the house?’
‘Correct,’ Amy answered.
‘How’s Roxy getting there?’
‘We’re dropping her off before we go to dinner.’
‘Great. The hairdresser and make-up artist are already there, we know that, and Izzy should have arrived with the dress by now. We left the florist doing her stuff, so that’s under way, and the caterer was about to deliver the tables and chairs as we left – let’s pray it doesn’t rain tonight. The landscaper’s promised me the gazebo will be ready in time …’
‘It will,’ David assured her. ‘It was already up before we left, so they only have to decorate it.’
Turning her focus on him, she said, ‘You’ve got everything you need, haven’t you? Your and Lawrence’s suits are at Rosalind’s?’
‘Jerry picked them up yesterday, so yes, they’re there.’
Trying not to worry about how at risk they might be in Rosalind’s house, she said, ‘How are you doing with your lines? Do you think you’ve memorised them yet?’
‘I’m getting there. What about you?’
‘About the same. We should have a couple more run-throughs before you leave tonight. What time are you going?’
‘I’m not sure I’ve worked that out yet, but I expect you’ll tell me if I look as though I’m hanging around too long.’
Laughing, she hugged his arm, then reached into her bag for the phone. ‘Twelve text messages,’ she cried as she turned it back on.
‘Will that be in addition to the five hundred and sixty you’ve already received?’ Amy enquired archly, ‘or including?’
‘In addition, of course,’ Lisa retorted. In reality she’d received more than fifty good-luck messages by now, mostly by email, and could only imagine how many more might arrive tomorrow. Then there were the dozens of cards that had come flooding in during the past week, and the donations to the Children’s Hospital had already gone over ten thousand pounds. Whatever the final figure turned out to be, she and David had pledged to match it.
She and David. Mr and Mrs Kirby. Lisa Martin Kirby.
Thrilling as it was, it was feeling strange to think she had another name now, as though there was a new part to herself that she hadn’t yet had time to discover. She wondered what it was going to be like, being one half of a partnership after so many years of never having had to consult anyone but herself. She didn’t seem to be doing badly so far, after all she and David had been living together for a little over eight months and apart from the odd lapse when he called her Catrina (only to be expected, but never welcome), or her annoying habit of not hanging up her clothes as soon as she took them off – apart from when they were about to make love – as far as she was concerned they were rubbing along very well together. Which was a lot more than she could say for the tempestuous attempts she and Tony had made at existing under the same roof, seven months being the longest stretch without a break, as she recalled. But his was a different personality altogether, and clearly one that didn’t bring out the best in hers, at least not these days, so it was definitely a good thing that they’d finally gone their separate ways.
An hour later they were back at the house with Heather safely installed in one of the guest rooms and what seemed like an army of other people coming and going from a whole range of vehicles, with flowers, tables, linens, glasses, tureens, dishes of all sizes, silverware, menu cards, microphones, camera equipment and heaven only knew what else being transported back and forth in various trunks and trolleys.
‘David! Where are you?’ Lisa shouted, running down from the bedroom where she’d left Izzy sorting out the dress.
‘In here,’ he shouted back.
She found him in the spa, watching a cascade of crystal water rushing into an
already half-full swimming pool.
‘It’s a shame it won’t be ready for anyone to use over the weekend,’ he commented, as he put an arm around her, ‘unless they want to brave it unheated, that is.’
‘It’ll be ready for when we get back,’ she reminded him, thinking what heaven it was going to be having their very own pool to exercise in each day. ‘I really love you for this,’ she told him meaningfully. ‘It’s the most beautiful home anyone could ever wish for.’
He gazed lovingly into her eyes. ‘And you’re the most beautiful wife,’ he said softly.
Wife. It sounded as though he was talking about someone else, someone who didn’t fit her persona at all. Wife. She’d had no idea until now how much she’d enjoyed not being a wife, but on the other hand she had all the time in the world to start loving it. And slipping her arms around him, she murmured longingly as his mouth came to hers.
A moment later a crash outside brought them back to their senses. They waited for shouts of dismay or anger, but fortunately none came, so assuming there was no crisis, she said, ‘OK, now, why was I looking for you? Ah, I know. Please don’t go upstairs before we leave for the station, or if you do, no going into our bedroom, because my dress is hanging from one of the picture hooks and you’re not allowed to see it …’
‘… until tomorrow,’ he finished. ‘Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten. In fact, if it’s all right with you, I was thinking about leaving you to it now, unless you need me for anything else, of course. I’ll leave the car for you to go and pick up … the singers …’
‘Sheelagh and Baz. Why the rush?’
‘No rush. It’s just that Rosalind will be expecting me at some point, and I thought if you’d rather I was out of the way now …’
Understanding how torn he must be feeling, she smiled tenderly as she said, ‘Go on, we can manage from here, and take the car if you like. I can always go to collect the singers in a taxi.’
‘Sheelagh and Baz,’ he said, tweaking her nose. ‘Are you sure you don’t mind?’
