And Now You're Back

by Jill Mansell

  Red’s eyes widened. ‘How much did they interrupt?’

  ‘We were dancing in the kitchen. I was about to kiss her.’

  ‘Oh well, at least they didn’t interrupt you mid-shag. Still, good on you.’ He gestured for Benny to budge up so he could join him on the bed. ‘She’s a fabulous lady. How she hasn’t already been snapped up is beyond me.’

  ‘It’s taken her a while to get over losing Joe.’

  ‘But now she’s ready to give things another go. You’re a lucky guy.’

  In a burst of honesty, Benny said, ‘I was worried you might be the one to snap her up.’

  ‘Me?’ Red laughed, coughed and clutched his chest until he was able to speak again. ‘In the state I’m in? I’ve got as much chance of seeing Christmas as your average turkey. I’m on my way out, whether I like it or not. If I hadn’t been,’ he added drily, ‘maybe you’d have had some competition. But as things stand . . . well, I’m out of the running. What’s going on downstairs anyway?’

  At that moment, the adverts ended and the jovial male host back in the studio said, ‘Hello again, welcome back, and we’re taking you straight over to rejoin Carol and Rosa, the recipient of this week’s Lovely Person award!’

  ‘The woman who couldn’t afford the doll for her granddaughter,’ Benny explained. ‘The one we said was a con artist. Turns out she wasn’t.’

  Red tut-tutted. ‘Damn, I hate it when I’m wrong and other people are right.’

  Benny sat up and peered out of the bedroom window. ‘They’re bringing someone else up the path.’

  On the TV screen, the doorbell rang and Carol answered it, ushering in a tiny woman in a droopy peach cardigan and a flower-patterned dress. ‘And here she is, this is Pamela, come to thank you in person for being so lovely!’

  Benny winced as Pamela gave Rosa an awkward hug and blurted out, ‘I’ll never forget your kindness, you’re an angel from heaven,’ then promptly burst into tears.

  ‘Ah bless ya, my darling! I know, it’s emotional! Here, you have a cuddle of your granddaughter’s doll and I’ll tell Rosa what we’ve got for her!’

  ‘God, this is embarrassing,’ said Benny.

  ‘Right, first off, we have some lovely flowers for you.’ Carol collected them from an assistant and presented them to Rosa. ‘And a big bottle of champers, my favourite! And best of all, we’re sending you and a friend on an all-expenses-paid three-night break in Paris!’

  ‘Gosh.’ Rosa was wide-eyed.

  ‘You could take that handsome chap you’ve got tucked away upstairs!’ Carol gave another parrot screech of laughter.

  In the bedroom, Red looked at Benny. ‘If only she knew there were two of us up here.’

  ‘So that’s it from me and from this week’s lovely Lovely Person,’ shouted Carol, ‘and now it’s back to you lot in the studio!’ Grabbing Rosa’s hand, she forced her to wave into the camera. ‘Bye-eeee!’

  Within five minutes the TV crew had departed and it was as if they’d never been there at all, apart from the ostentatious bouquet, the champagne, and the phone ringing with messages from Rosa’s friends exclaiming that they’d just seen her on the telly.

  ‘Sorry.’ Turning off her phone, Rosa looked at Benny and Red as they came downstairs. Her cheeks were pink. She was gorgeous.

  Benny said, ‘It’s all fine. We watched you on Red’s TV.’

  ‘I might have known you’d make that doll,’ said Red.

  She grinned. ‘What can I tell you? I’m a sucker for a sob story.’

  ‘And it paid off. You’re officially wonderful. Except we already knew that.’ He coughed, clutched his ribcage and sat down on the sofa.

  ‘You should be resting,’ Rosa told him. ‘What can I get you? Cup of tea? Glass of Scotch?’

  ‘Nothing, thanks. I might have a doze. You two carry on without me.’

  Benny hid a smile, because Red was teasing and Rosa was looking flustered. He held a hand out to her. ‘I told him about us dancing in the kitchen. Now I think we need to leave him in peace and have a dance over at mine.’

  ‘Oh.’ Rosa looked relieved.

  ‘And with luck, this time we won’t be interrupted.’ Benny clasped her soft hand in his, inwardly marvelling at how wonderful it felt; it was as if they were a perfect fit. ‘Shall we go?’

  ‘To your house?’ Rosa glanced at their intertwined fingers. ‘What if people see us?’

  Red gave a croaky bark of laughter. ‘You’re single. He’s single. Who cares if they do? Besides,’ he added, ‘plenty of people are going to see you when you take him with you to Paris.’

  Chapter 36

  Hillcrest was ready. For the last week, Shay had been working all hours of the day and night in order to make the house perfect. And now it was done.

  Watching from the doorway, Didi bit the inside of her lip and concentrated on the pain. Mustn’t cry, mustn’t cry.

  ‘Amazing.’ Red finished gazing around the immaculate kitchen, decorated in the shades of cobalt blue and cream he’d chosen himself. Addressing his audience, he said with characteristic candour, ‘I was worried I might kick the bucket before it was finished. But I didn’t. I’m still here, back where I wanted to be. And my boy’s done a brilliant job. As I knew he would.’

  ‘Thanks, Dad. But you didn’t have to make a speech.’ Shay shook his head, his expression wry.

  ‘I know I don’t have to. But I want to. You didn’t have any intention of coming back to Elliscombe, I know that. You certainly didn’t want to spend your summer slogging your guts out rebuilding the old family home. But you knew it was what I wanted, so you did it. You’re the best son any father could wish for, let alone a terrible old reprobate like me. And you’ll never understand how much this means.’ He suppressed a cough and waved his free hand in the air by way of an apology. ‘Anyway, I’ll shut up now, but you get the gist. It’s been wonderful staying with Rosa and we’ve had a great time, but this is my home now. For the rest of my life.’

  It hadn’t been planned, but the twenty or so people gathered in the kitchen broke into applause. As Didi worked hard to maintain her composure, someone in the doorway directly behind her gave a huge gulping sob like a honking goose.

  ‘Oh God.’ Caz clutched her arm. ‘I haven’t even got any tissues on me and I’m a total wreck.’

  Didi dug a pack of Kleenex out of her shoulder bag and handed them to her. ‘I didn’t know you were here.’

  ‘Just arrived, flew in from Toronto and got my driver to drop me outside. Managed to wangle a couple of days off. How’s everything with you?’ She nodded at the diamond ring glittering on Didi’s left hand. ‘All good?’

  It wasn’t wrong to lie, was it, when you were doing it for the right reason? ‘Great, thanks. Does Shay know you’re back?’

  ‘Nope! But when I heard all this was happening today, I couldn’t resist putting in a surprise appearance. Except I didn’t expect it to be this emotional, and now I look like a melted clown.’

  ‘Here, let me help.’ Out of sight of the rest of the gathering, Didi took a clean tissue and carefully wiped away the non-waterproof mascara sliding down Caz’s cheeks. ‘There, all done.’

  ‘Sure? Am I presentable?’

  ‘You look gorgeous.’

  ‘Thanks, darling. What would I do without you?’ Caz gave a little showbiz shimmy, then made her big entrance through the doorway, exclaiming, ‘Well this was worth flying back for – looks like I got here just in time!’

  Heads turned. Everyone was clearly delighted to see her. Including Shay, Didi observed with a pang of envy. Red said, ‘Cazzy!’ and with a squeal of joy Caz raced into his open arms.

  Of course people couldn’t help going Aaahh and taking photos of the happy reunion as Caz gave Red a gentle yet heartfelt hug.

  ‘We weren’t expecting to see you,’ he said.

  ‘Oh babe, this is your big day. How could I stay away? Look at you, in your dream home! I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.’ She embraced
him again and stroked his thin face. ‘How are you feeling?’

  ‘Happier than I have any right to be. And not so bad, not so bad.’ They all knew he was playing down the ever-present aches and pains. ‘Although I’d better sit down now.’

  It was time for Caz to turn to Shay. Watching them, Didi found herself experiencing a wave of desolation as she held him tight and kissed him full on the mouth, prompting a flurry of good-natured whistles from the crew of builders, decorators and plumbers who had worked alongside Shay to get the house ready on time. When one of the electricians called out, ‘Get a room,’ Caz turned to flash him a cheeky grin and said, ‘Don’t worry, I already have.’

  Didi was working in her office the next day when the door was pushed a little way open and Caz’s face appeared in the gap.

  ‘Hi, are you crazy busy?’

  ‘Just medium busy. What’s up?’

  ‘Could you spare five minutes for a chat?’

  ‘Of course.’ Didi closed her laptop and gestured for her to pull up a chair. She tried not to wonder how many times Caz and Shay had had sex last night. Then again, maybe the answer was zero and their relationship was on the rocks. No, don’t even think that. ‘Everything OK?’

  ‘Don’t look so worried, me and Shay are great!’ Caz’s eyes danced. ‘He’s still amazing.’

  OK, too much information. ‘So what’s the problem?’

  Caz sat cross-legged on the chair, pushing up the sleeves of her navy and white top. ‘Well the thing is, my agent just called about a part in a movie that’s going to be filmed in New Zealand. Apparently the director really wants me to take it. And normally I’d be dead flattered, but it means spending three months over there, plus I have to let them know right away if I’m up for it.’ She looked anguished. ‘The thing is, what about me and Shay? That’s a long time to be apart, and if his dad’s still around when filming starts just after Christmas, I know he wouldn’t leave him . . .’ She gestured helplessly as the words trailed away.

  ‘You can’t ask me,’ said Didi. ‘You need to talk to Shay, see how he feels.’

  ‘But you know him better than I do. He might feel obliged to say the right thing. God, it’s just so hard. I’m rubbish at working out what men really think. All the ones I’ve been with before have been complete bastards.’

  ‘Shay isn’t a bastard.’

  ‘I know. That’s why I’m so desperate for us to work out. Well, and he’s drop-dead gorgeous too. It all helps.’ Caz flashed an appreciative grin, then went on, ‘But what’s your honest opinion about us? Could I trust him if I was over in New Zealand and he was here? Should I ask him to come out and stay with me? Or if he won’t do that, should I just turn down the film? Maybe he’d prefer me to stay here. What do you think?’

  Oh God, this was agonising. ‘OK, you still have to ask him,’ said Didi. ‘But for what it’s worth, he seems to really like you. And you’re lovely, so why wouldn’t he? It all depends on what happens with Red, basically. If he’s still alive, I’m sure you could trust Shay while he was over here. If his dad was . . . well, then he might want to fly over to New Zealand and be with you. And it could do him good to be away from here.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Really.’ It wasn’t what she wanted to say, but it was the truth. She had to be honest.

  ‘Thank you.’ Caz nodded, then said, ‘You’re lovely too. And it’s so good to know you’re on my side. You’re not . . . you know, jealous.’

  Jealous? Didi’s mouth went dry. ‘Why would I be?’

  ‘Oh don’t look like that, I’m not saying you’re desperate to get your hands on him again! It was just something the assistant manager mentioned yesterday evening . . . I hadn’t realised you and Shay were once a couple. He’d never mentioned it, and neither had you. I was surprised, that’s all. And she didn’t say anything bad,’ Caz added hastily. ‘It was just about the time you built a snowman together in the middle of the night in Venice, so I asked her about it and she explained that was how you two first got together. It’s a cute story!’

  ‘We only saw each other for a few months. It was so long ago.’ Didi felt the back of her neck prickling; she was getting hot. ‘We were still at school.’

  ‘I know. Shay told me. I asked him last night.’

  ‘It wasn’t meant to be a secret. It’s just . . . we don’t think about it any more.’ What else could she say? ‘We’ve moved on.’

  ‘I know, of course you have . . . You’ve got Aaron now. You’re getting married soon! Honestly?’ Caz’s tone was earnest. ‘If Shay had come back here and you’d been single . . . well, then I might have thought twice about swanning off and leaving him behind with someone as gorgeous as you around. Because that’s when things can start happening, isn’t it? And then I’d have been the one who was jealous. I’d be in a right state, stuck on the other side of the world, imagining what could be going on without me here to keep him on the straight and narrow.’ She sat back, raking her fingers through her hair and pulling a regretful face. ‘Sorry, should I even be saying this? I can’t help it, I just blurt out whatever’s going on in my head. But the thing is, I know I don’t have to worry, because you’re happy with Aaron, and you’re on my side. So that’s great!’ Her eyes were bright, and she was beaming with relief. ‘When’s the wedding?’

  ‘Um . . . the seventh of December.’ Didi attempted to look like an excited bride-to-be; so much for thinking that the time had probably come to stop wearing the ring and let people know the engagement was off. It looked as if she’d be keeping it on for a while longer after all.

  ‘Fabulous! If I can make it, are me and Shay both invited?’

  Again, how else could she respond? It was probably one of those flippant don’t-really-mean-it remarks anyway.

  ‘Of course you are.’

  Caz’s bangles rattled as she clapped her hands like an excited child. ‘Yay! And if me and Shay get married, you and Aaron are definitely invited to ours!’

  Chapter 37

  Maura had meant to call in on her daughter first, but on impulse she instructed the airport taxi to drive on past the Wickham Hotel and head out to Hillcrest instead.

  Get it over with.

  Red had been in his refurbished home for over a week now. It was certainly looking good from the outside. She rang the bell and waited. How long would it take him to reach the front door?

  Not long at all, evidently. Maura heard footsteps and mentally braced herself.

  But when the door opened, it was Shay Mason she came face to face with. Caught off guard, she said, ‘Oh, hi!’

  ‘Maura.’ He glanced at the overnight case by her feet. ‘This is a surprise. Have you come to stay?’

  ‘No, of course not. How are you, Shay? I’m here to see your father, if he’s here?’

  ‘He is.’ Shay paused, which was unnerving.

  ‘I happened to see him the other week on that TV show. And of course Didi’s kept me updated so I know how poorly he is. I just thought while I’m back over here, it’d be nice to meet up again before, well . . .’

  ‘You and plenty of other people.’ Shay’s tone was dry.

  ‘Is that OK?’

  ‘Let me just check that he’s feeling well enough for a visitor. Won’t be a minute.’

  What he meant was, would Red actually want to see her? Maura waited on the doorstep until Shay returned and beckoned her inside.

  ‘Dad’s in the living room. Go on through.’ He had his car keys in his hand. ‘I’ll leave you two in peace and be back in an hour. Any problems at all, my mobile number’s on the notepad next to the landline.’

  The front door closed behind him and Maura took a slow, steadying breath before entering the living room. They say you never get over your first love. Well, Red might not have been her first, but he’d been her third. Which just went to show, you never got over that one either.

  He was lying on a day bed in front of the French windows that gave an uninterrupted view of the garden at the rear o
f the property. His hair was still dark, if tinged with grey, and his skin was tanned, but the pallor of illness was evident beneath it. There were violet shadows under his eyes, but the eyes themselves were as bright and observant as they’d always been. He was thin, though, very thin.

  ‘Oh Red.’ Her smile wobbled.

  ‘It’s OK, I know I look terrible. How are you?’

  Maura bent over him and he greeted her with a brief dry kiss, the stubble on his jaw grazing the corner of her mouth.

  ‘I’m good.’ She breathed in the scent of him, a mixture of almond soap and a hint of mint. ‘I had to come. You know why.’

  ‘I could probably hazard a guess. Here, sit down. If you want a drink, you’ll have to help yourself.’

  Maura sat. Of course he knew what was on her mind; he wasn’t stupid. She said, ‘I’ve spent years trying not to think about it. But then I thought, if you die, I’ll never find out.’

  ‘And imagine how annoying that would be.’ Red looked entertained.

  ‘So tell me. What happened to it?’

  ‘Nothing. It’s still here.’

  ‘In the garden?’

  Red nodded and pointed through the French windows. ‘Well that’s where I buried it. Over there under the mulberry tree. I mean, I suppose someone could have come along and dug it up while I was away, but no one else had any idea it was there.’

  ‘So you don’t know for sure that it is?’

  He gave her his wicked gambler’s smile. ‘I quite like the idea, don’t you?’

  Was he mad? ‘Not really, no. I thought you’d have got rid of it long ago.’

  Red shook his head. ‘And kept the money, you mean? That would have made me an accessory.’

  She changed the subject. ‘I saw you on that TV programme the other week.’

  ‘And when you saw the state of me, you thought you’d better get in touch pretty damn quick.’

  ‘Not only for the other reason. I wanted to see you again before . . .’ A lump was expanding in Maura’s throat; she’d loved him, after all. Even if it had turned out to be unrequited.