by Peter Martin
Garry noticed that she seemed quite taken by the family on the whole, especially Adam.
In the corner at the back of the room stood a small kiosk-type structure, with a roller shutter down the front. Lena pulled up the shutter, then stepped behind it. At the front of the kiosk was a wonderful array of goodies, including bags of sweets, crisps and drinks, and in the middle was a large glass container full to the brim with popcorn. Adam’s eyes widened with pleasure when he saw what was on display. There was so much choice. He pondered for a while, before Lena pushed him a little for a decision, saying, ‘So what’ll it be Adam?’
‘Can I have a big popcorn and a coke please?’
‘Coming up.’ She shovelled a generous measure of the popcorn into a cardboard tub. Then quickly opened a bottle of coke, placing two drinking straws in the top, before handing it to her grateful recipient.
No one else wanted anything so Lena got herself a drink before taking three boxes of DVDs from the shelf containing all of the films she’d starred in. She encouraged her guests to select one which might interest Adam. Adam, however, was more interested in counting them – there were fifty-two.
Eventually, it was decided that ‘Single Mum’, a film in which Lena had been nominated for an Oscar would be best suited to them all.
‘I remember seeing this when I was a little boy of only four. The boy in the film was four years old too and he died. It was a while ago ‘cos… I’m six now.’ Adam said, blinking as if to reinforce what a big boy he was.
Lena just looked at the small boy, who was after all her great-grandson and smiled, saying, ‘If we’re ready Benson will start the film. I’m quite looking forward to this, it’s one of my favourite films.’
They all shouted ‘yes’ in unison and the lights were dimmed. Benson put the DVD in the machine and within seconds the wide screen came to life as the film started. The family along with Lena, who must have seen the film a hundred times, sat back and prepared to enjoy it.
Garry found the film one of the best she’d ever made. And even though Lena hadn’t won an Oscar for it, he thought she should have. Maybe a bit of a sentimental tearjerker, but the part she played couldn’t have been portrayed better by anyone else.
A few snivels could be heard towards the end of the film, from the female members of the audience. But as the lights came on Adam too looked a little doleful.
After the film had finished Lena stood up and her audience clapped.
And it was Cassie, who spoke first, ‘What a wonderful film! It’s one of my favourites, and your performance was brilliant, Lena.’
‘Yes, it was so touching,’ Jane agreed.
‘I wish that little boy hadn’t died,’ Adam said, red-eyed.
‘I can’t believe you didn’t win an Oscar for that – you took the part brilliantly,’ Garry said shaking his head.
‘I don’t understand it either Garry, but what do those idiots at the Academy know. It’s bums on seats that count, and they came to watch my film in their droves. If I remember right, it was the biggest grossing film of the year, but it never got the recognition it deserved. Instead, the best actress award went to an unknown actress in an obscure film that never did anything at the box office. Unbelievable, isn’t it? Especially since that actress never made another film of any note – perhaps it was poetic justice.’ A hint of bitterness was apparent in Lena’s voice.
‘Never mind. There are more important things in life than winning silly Oscars.’ Garry said, secretly thinking how over the top she was with that remark.
‘That’s very true Garry, and you and your family being here proves your point.’
‘Good, I’m so glad we’ve been able to bring something to your life.’
‘Right then, it’s getting late. I expect you’ll want to go to bed now – it’s been a long day for all of you.’
‘Oh, can’t we see another film Mum?’ Adam enquired, yawning.
‘Adam, you’ve stayed up late enough. Don’t worry, there’s always tomorrow – all right?’ His mum impressed upon him.
Adam pulled a face.
‘Come on now Adam,’ Chris said. ‘We don’t want to outstay our welcome, now do we?’
‘Don’t be silly, Chris. It’s a pleasure to have a young lad running about the place. Don’t get me wrong, children do visit with their parents, but this is different. The last time I spent this much time with a child was... well, when Garry was young. Now is there anything else I can get you before you go to bed?’ Lena asked.
‘No, no, we’re fine,’ Garry answered for everybody.
With that Lena went over to open the door, and as they made their way out she hugged each of them in turn. But when Garry reached her side, she hugged him in her arms, whispering ‘Goodnight, Garry. Sleep well my darling.’ As he pulled away from her, she said, ‘I thank God we’ve been brought back together again.’
‘Me too,’ Garry agreed. ‘I promise I’ll never be out of your life ever again.’
‘Let’s hope not,’ she replied and turning to the others said, ‘Please sleep as long as you like, everybody. Once you’re ready for breakfast come downstairs and ring the little bell on the table outside the dining room. Benson will get your breakfast for you. I’ll see you sometime after lunch when we’ll discuss what we might do together. Please feel free to make this house your home.’
She disappeared up the stairs, waving to them and blowing kisses. Garry smiled to himself, her exit had been as dramatic as her entrance earlier and so reminiscent of a final curtain call, but he didn’t mind, he was so glad to have met his mother. He’d always remember this day – and perhaps from now on a wonderful friendship would develop between them.
Chapter Thirteen
They walked towards the stairs, exhausted after such a long but memorable day.
‘Grandad, Lena seems really nice. Can we stay here forever like she said, and watch all of her films?’
‘We’ll have to see, Adam, but we will stay as long as we can. Bet you never dreamed you’d come to a place like this?’ Garry squeezed his hand.
‘No, never ever. I’m going to dream about all this tonight. Just think, we didn’t know Lena was related to us. I mean when we saw her at the pictures, did we Grandad?’
Garry dearly loved all his family but was unable to put into words what he felt for his grandson.
‘Better say goodnight to grandad. Come on now – bed,’ Chris winked, then said jokingly, ‘If you’re really good, you might get to meet Spiderman.’
Adam pulled a face but did what was he told looking whacked.
After wishing everyone good night in the corridor, Garry smiled at his wife as he closed their bedroom door behind them. Then took hold of her hand and kissed her.
‘What was that for?’ she asked, looking at him with amusement.
‘For being you and always being there for me,’ he told her in all honesty.
‘Now you’re being silly.’
‘No, I mean it. If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be here now. And I wouldn’t have such a lovely family around me.’
‘Oh, get on with you. Come on, let’s get to bed,’ she yawned switching on the light.
Garry looked around the room, almost purring at the luxury oozing out of the furnishings. Every feature in the room, from the carpet to even the wallpaper was exquisite.
‘This is the most fantastic room, Deel,’ he said, sitting on the enormous four poster bed.
‘Yes, but like Lena said you can’t buy happiness, can you?’
‘No, but it’s a help.’
‘Anyway, enough of that, I’m exhausted. I’m more than ready for bed after the day we’ve had, but first, I intend to try some of those luxury toiletries Lena’s left for us. God alone knows how much they cost. And you never know I might walk out of the bathroom looking ten years younger.’
‘Why not indeed, that’s what they’re there for. But I wouldn’t change you for anyone.’
Delia disappeared into the bathroom a
mid towels and nightwear. Garry heard the water running into the jacuzzi, and wondered what it was like. He’d try it out himself at some point but now wasn’t the time. Instead, he undressed and switched on the television while waiting for Delia to return. About half an hour later she came back, dressed in a thick terry robe and a towel on her head.
‘I bet you feel refreshed after that?’ Garry asked.
‘Sure do, that jacuzzi is something else – so relaxing. It seems to accentuate the perfume from the bath oils. Aren’t you going to try the bath out yourself?’
‘Not tonight, it’s too late, but I will another night. I’ll be a few minutes,’ he told her as he went into the bathroom for a wash and to brush his teeth.
On his return, she was in bed. The television and main light were turned off, the only light in the room came from his bedside lamp. Getting into bed, he could see Delia had fallen asleep.
No wonder she’s dropped off already, he thought, this bed’s as comfortable as ours at home. As he moved up close to her, he sensed a slight movement.
‘All right, darling? Are you asleep?’ he whispered in her ear.
‘Mm, I’m not now.’
‘Hasn’t it been a wonderful day? A day I never dreamed would come.’
‘Nor I. Glad we’re here now?’
‘Of course. Lena genuinely seems overjoyed at meeting all of us. And, I know it’s early days, but she seems such a nice person. I felt dubious at first, not knowing how anyone could give up a child – but now I can see what happened, and the circumstances surrounding it, I kind of feel sorry for her. How about you, what do you make of her?’ Garry asked, staring up at the ceiling, eagerly awaiting a reply.
‘Hard to say. She looks to be a sincere person, but it’s early days. I did wonder if it’s a case of ‘a new broom’. But to answer the other part of your question, she’s got lots of money, and has had a successful film career, but they’re materials things. What else has she got? Not happiness, that’s for sure. She’s never married, and comes across as a rather sad, lonely figure.’
‘That’s where we can help. Her life would be a lot happier if we visited her from time to time. She really likes us, Adam especially – although perhaps that’s because she realises she missed out on such a lot of my childhood. Do you believe everything she’s told us?’
‘I suppose I do, but I worry about her getting too clingy. She’s already dropped a couple of hints about us stopping with her indefinitely when it’s obvious that isn’t possible.’
‘Well, we don’t have to say yes. But it’s a nice thought, isn’t it?’ Garry said yawning.
‘If you say so. But I don’t think living with such a ‘fairy tale’ lifestyle, as she does, is living in the real world.’ She squeezed his hand, but Garry hardly recognised this gesture, as he’d drifted off to sleep.
<><><>
Sometime during the night, he woke. With the atmosphere hot and clammy, sweat poured out of him, suddenly he recalled vividly the dream he’d been having. In a strange open place, he’d heard voices. To the left of him were the sounds of his mum and dad, calling to him, begging him to come back to where he belonged. Then to his right came Lena’s voice, urging him to go to her; he was a small lad again and unsure of where to go. His mum and dad loved him so much, he knew, they’d done everything for him over the years, but Lena began to cry, and in the depths of his mind, knowing she was his real mother, he moved towards the sound of her voice. Getting ever closer until she was almost within touching distance, he tried to grab hold of her hand but slipped and falling into a dark abyss woke with a sudden jolt. His body was shaking as if with ague and wouldn’t stop.
Delia, lying next to him was still asleep; he thanked God she hadn’t witnessed the state he was in. He breathed heavily; felt like screaming out loud. In his panic, he had to get out of bed, and approached the window to see scudding clouds cross the sky. He opened the window for a few seconds to cool off.
Still haunted by his dream, he finally got back into bed, his wife’s warm sleeping form bringing him a sense of security. But it didn’t last long. Restless again, he thought he’d heard someone scratching the door. Very odd. It was no good he’d have to get up or he’d never be able to sleep. By the time he’d reached the door, the scratching had stopped. He opened it, but there was no one to be seen. Then switching on the landing light, he found it didn’t come on. There was nothing else to do but go back to bed. No sooner had he pulled the covers over him when the scratching noise started again. This time, he got up, quietly, only to find the bedroom light wouldn’t come on either. When the scratching stopped, Garry opened the door in time to see a dark figure scurrying away.
‘Hey! What’s your game?’ he shouted but got no answer. The figure disappeared down the corridor. Garry followed, but in the dark was unsure which room he went into and on returning to his own room heard a strange cackling noise echoing along the corridor. He shut the bedroom door turning the key in the lock. What was going on?
Once again getting into bed, he tried to shrug off what had happened. But lay awake, puzzled over what he’d encountered. No way would he tell Delia, she’d be suspicious and worry when there might not be anything to worry about. After what seemed an age of trying to forget about it, he eventually fell asleep.
Just after nine o’clock he woke, to see Delia’s beautiful face gazing down at him. She smiled lovingly with those sparkling hazel eyes of hers.
‘Did you sleep well?’ She asked.
‘Not bad,’ he lied. ‘You?’
‘Brilliant, the best night I’ve had in ages. This bed is so comfortable. I had to pinch myself when I opened my eyes before I realised where we are – it seems unreal.’ Delia laughed. ‘But then it’s only a house and a bedroom, nothing more.’
‘But what a bedroom – don’t you wish we had one like it at home?’
‘I don’t know. I’m quite satisfied with our home. I admit we all probably feel in awe of this place.’ She waved her arms as if to encompass the whole house. ‘Although it could never be ‘homely’ and once the novelty has worn off we’ll want to go home. Anyway, let’s get washed and dressed, I’m hungry?’
‘You’re probably right, of course. We’d better hurry up and get some food inside us before we do anything else.’
<><><>
Within half an hour they were ready to go downstairs.
‘Wonder if the others are up yet?’ Garry said.
‘I’d say Adam’s having a long sleep after being up till midnight last night.’
But when she opened the door, the whole family, including Adam, were waiting on the landing for them.
‘We wondered where you’d got to,’ Tom said.
‘Nowhere. We just overslept because we were so tired. Must be old age catching up with us.’
‘Hey, you speak for yourself,’ Delia said, slapping him on the shoulder.
On the way down to breakfast, the whole house seemed deserted.
Now standing outside the dining room Cassie asked, ‘Shall we go in, Dad?’
‘No. Isn’t there supposed to be a bell on a table somewhere?’ Garry remembered.
Adam saw it first, and rang it very loudly; within a few seconds, Benson appeared.
‘Good morning everyone,’ he began. ‘I trust you had a good night’s sleep. I imagine you’d like breakfast? Please go in the dining room, sit yourselves down – I’ll bring the food presently.’
Opening the door, as Benson stepped aside everyone filed passed him, instinctively making for the same seats as the night before, waiting for the food. Benson arrived five minutes later pushing a serving trolley laden with food, and following closely behind was a maid carrying a large coffee pot. Everyone’s tastes were catered for from a full fried breakfast to cereal, fruit juice and a pot of tea. Garry was glad to see Adam helping himself to the sausages, in fact from the looks of it, they’d all woken up famished. The only downside came with Chris’s comment about crossing the world to eat an ‘English Breakf
ast’. Cassie glared at him in disbelief.
‘Miss Matthews sends her apologies,’ Benson told them. ‘She’s had to go out for the morning to meet someone, another guest. She’s asked me to tell you she’ll be back sometime this afternoon and hopes you can entertain yourselves until then. As you’ve probably already seen, there are plenty of activities here at the house.’ Which was true, they were spoilt for choice.
‘I’m going in the swimming pool.’ Adam said between mouthfuls. ’But I hope she won’t be long because I wanted her to see me coming down the slide and splashing into the pool. What about you, Grandad? What are you going to do?’
‘Don’t really know Adam, nothing too energetic, though, but I’m sure Lena won’t be long.’
‘No, don’t worry young Adam, Miss Matthews will be back soon enough,’ Benson assured him.
By mid-morning the family had separated. Garry and Delia went for a leisurely walk through the gardens, talking of old times. At the far end was a seating area affording panoramic views of the shoreline below.
In the quiet of the morning squeals of joy could be heard coming from the play area; where his grandparents knew, Adam had persuaded his parents to take him, no doubt thinking he could go for a swim later.
Tom and Jane had opted to play golf, a pastime they both enjoyed back home.
After an enjoyable lunch, they decided to take a break to miss the heat of the midday sun. Now, late afternoon gathered on the patio, Garry sat back relaxing watching his family, thinking of what he’d be doing back home – he’d most likely be clock watching waiting to leave work and get home. It really was poles apart from here.
But on hearing a girlish laugh, he was brought out of his daydream and looked up to see Lena beaming and waving to them with delight. Walking alongside her arm in arm was a man who appeared much younger than her. He had jet black hair greased back, olive skin, his tall, muscular build giving the impression he worked out, which was emphasised by the tight-fitting white tee shirt and blue shorts. As they got nearer Garry nudged Adam, realising just who this man was, saying, ‘Can you remember where you saw Lena’s friend before?’
