The Idea of You

by Amanda Prowse

  They trod the stairs and walked into Lucy and Jonah’s bedroom. Camille sat on the bed and giggled. ‘This is all very mysterious.’

  ‘I wanted to give you this.’ Lucy reached up and lifted the nearly empty wicker basket from the top of the wardrobe.

  ‘What? Not your wicker hamper! That’s your most precious thing!’ Camille sat back and watched as her stepmother opened the lid of the box with its irritating creak and pulled out the envelope and the little pink sock.

  ‘I’ll keep these,’ Lucy whispered.

  ‘How many kisses are in there now?’ Camille asked, quietly.

  ‘Twenty-six,’ she replied, before touching the sock to her cheek and then placing the two items in her bedside drawer. ‘I want you to have it, use it to store your special things, keep them safe. Letters, memories, whatever – this box is a good keeper of secrets.’

  ‘Do you think’ – the girl paused – ‘do you think I’m doing okay?’ She looked up, biting her bottom lip.

  ‘Oh, Cam, you are doing more than okay. You are incredible. Just look at Hector – he is so happy and that is down to you, that’s all that matters!’ she enthused.

  ‘Thanks, Bibbit.’ Camille smiled. ‘I really don’t know how I would have coped without you.’

  Lucy batted away the compliment.

  ‘Yes,’ Cam insisted, ‘I have you to thank for everything. I thought you would blow my family apart and instead, look at us, all sat on the terrace drinking iced tea, while my son plays on the grass with his cousins. You did the opposite; you brought us all together.’

  Lucy felt the emotion rise in her throat. ‘I am very proud of you, Camille. I admire you,’ she confessed. ‘And I love you.’ The words now tripped easily from her mouth.

  ‘I love you too. Thank you for the hamper. I shall treasure it.’ Camille ran her fingers over the creaky wicker lid. ‘I was going to ask you . . .’ She hesitated.

  ‘What?’ Lucy prompted. ‘You can ask me anything.’

  ‘Do you think you might teach me how to knit?’

  Lucy heard her gran’s words loud and clear in her head, as if she was standing next to her. ‘Something magical happens, Lucy, just by adding more loops, and with more twists of the needle you can make all kinds of wondrous things! Like scarves for people you love, and most important – baby clothes.’

  ‘I’d be honoured to.’ She swatted the tears that cascaded down her face.

  Jan popped her head around the door.

  ‘Well, my darlings, here you are.’ She spoke quietly and gave a small nod. ‘What are you two plotting?’

  ‘Nothing.’ Lucy sniffed. ‘We were just talking about knitting.’

  And for some reason, this struck the three of them as very funny, and they chuckled.

  ‘People are asking after you. I think everyone’s getting a bit peckish. I told them that if they were all really lucky, you might rustle up some of those chicken Kiev ice lollies that you make so well.’

  ‘Very funny!’ She pulled a face at her mum. ‘Come on. Let’s get back to the party.’ Lucy reached out and took Camille’s hand and the two walked slowly down the stairs behind Jan.

  Jonah was in the kitchen, putting on his apron and preparing to impress their guests. ‘I don’t know about anyone else, but I think it’s about time we cracked open that champagne!’ he boomed. A ripple of laughter spread among them. He greeted his wife with a smile. Jan and Camille ambled on to the terrace, where the family happily sipped their drinks, laughing. Fay and Geneviève were deep in conversation about shopping. Camille winked at Lucy as she sat down between her parents across from Rory. This was quite some occasion.

  Jonah placed his arm around his wife’s shoulders. ‘What are you thinking about, Bibbit? You look lost in thought.’

  ‘I was just thinking how happy I am, and how very lucky.’ She smiled.

  The duo stood in front of the kitchen cupboards, their doors covered in things that Hector, Maisie and Rory had made. Her grandson’s little handprints were smeared across a page in red and blue paint, and there was a colourful Christmas picture with sparkles and glitter all over it. Rory had drawn them a rocket, and Maisie had gifted them a collage – it was a riot of colour with pom-poms and bits of macaroni stuck randomly on.

  Lucy looked up at the pictures, these glorious creations that would turn any house into a home, a home with a love of children at its heart. And that was most certainly the home she wanted to live in.

  ‘Bibbit!’ Hector called from the lawn.

  ‘Yes, come on, Bibbit! You are needed out here! That ball isn’t going to fetch itself,’ Camille yelled.

  Lucy and Jonah moved to the wide patio doors and gazed out over the garden at their family.

  ‘Would I do, Hector?’ Jan asked hopefully. ‘Can Great-Granny fetch it for you?’

  ‘No!’ Hector stamped his foot. ‘Bibbit!’

  Jonah laughed loudly. ‘Oh boy, he takes after his mum. Stubborn and wilful!’

  Camille tutted, as Geneviève rolled her eyes. ‘C’est vrai.’ She nodded, smiling at her ex-husband. ‘C’est vrai.’

  Jonah looked at his wife and bent close to her face. ‘I don’t think I have ever been prouder or loved you more than I do right now, Mrs Carpenter.’

  ‘The feeling is entirely mutual.’ She laughed.

  ‘Bibbit!’ Hector’s call drew her attention.

  ‘I think you are needed.’ Jonah kissed her nose.

  ‘On my way!’ she called.

  Lucy made her way out into the garden with a spring in her step. She was indeed very lucky. She really did have it all.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again to my fantastic editors, Sammia and Ms Tiffania Teaseblossom.

  Thank you once again for your insightful, clear, genius ideas that massively enhance my stories. Working with you feels far more like fun than I’m sure it should! I would also like to thank the whole incredible team at Amazon, all of whom brilliantly produce their piece of the jigsaw, ensuring that when we put it together at the end it is just about as perfect as it can be.

  I send love as ever to my family, who support me and love me unconditionally as I do them. I send special love to my husband, Simeon, who has shared the loss of all our little babies who left us too soon. Our grief made us stronger.

  BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS

  Did Lucy’s story alter your view of miscarriage? If so, how?

  Which member of the Carpenter family did you most sympathise with and why?

  Has The Idea of You changed you or broadened your perspective? If so, how?

  For you, what was the book’s main message?

  In a movie, who would play each of the characters?

  Lucy and Jonah reach a number of emotional crossroads. How do you think that they coped at these times? How well do you feel they supported each other?

  Did any parts of the book make you feel uncomfortable? If so, which parts and why?

  What will be your overriding memory from The Idea of You, the one incident or paragraph that will stay with you?

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Photo © 2012 Paul Smith of Paul Smith Photography at www.paulsmithphotography.info

  Amanda Prowse likens her own life story to those she writes about in her books. After self-publishing her debut novel, Poppy Day, in 2011, she has gone on to author sixteen novels and six novellas. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages and she regularly tops bestseller charts all over the world.

  Remaining true to her ethos, Amanda writes stories of ordinary women and their families who find their strength, courage and love tested in ways they never imagined. The most prolific female contemporary fiction writer in the UK, with a legion of loyal readers, she goes from strength to strength. Being crowned ‘queen of domestic drama’ by the Daily Mail was one of her finest moments.

  Amanda is a regular contributor on TV and radio, but her first love is and will always be writing.

  You c
an find her online at www.amandaprowse.com, on Twitter at @MrsAmandaProwse and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amandaprowsenogreaterlove.