The Summer Getaway_A feel-good romance novel perfect for holiday reading

by Tilly Tennant

  But then Haydon turned up again and, to her consternation, he looked as if he was already on his way to a state of advanced tipsiness. Not only had Maurice been showing him the wine cellar, it seemed he’d been persuading him to sample a good deal of it too. As Ashley looked across at the tiny wooden stage, Haydon was being nudged towards it, laughing, by Molly. Then, after a brief exchange with the band members, Haydon took the cello from its owner and Molly borrowed the violin and they began to play.

  They’d obviously agreed on a piece they both knew well at some point beforehand because they were perfectly in synch, the mellow tones of the cello adding warmth to the sweet, soaring strings of Molly’s violin. Ashley vaguely recognised it as a classical piece Molly had spent a lot of time learning, though she’d have struggled to name it. Despite the circumstances, Ashley was filled with pride to see her talented daughter play so beautifully, but it was a bittersweet thing. There she was, playing with her father in a way that suggested they were connected on a level that was almost telepathic, and yet neither of them had a clue just how connected they really were. The irony of the fact they’d both been attracted to string instruments was not lost on Ashley. They even wore the same expression of concentration as they played.

  She glanced away, hastily wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, to see her own mother looking pointedly at her. It wasn’t hard to guess what Sue was thinking. Ashley looked quickly away, back to where Haydon and Molly played together, and she wondered if the fact that they looked like father and daughter was registering with anyone else at the party. Then her gaze wandered down the line and fell on Ella. Haydon’s other daughter played piano, didn’t she? Ashley had never heard her play, of course, but she was sure it had been mentioned at some point. Perhaps she was feeling left out that there wasn’t a piano at hand for her to play along (apart from the old dusty one in the house that was far too big to transport out to the garden). Whatever it was, Haydon’s younger daughter looked strangely forlorn and lost as she watched the performance. Ashley moved along the line of people gathered to listen and sidled up to her.

  ‘Perhaps we can get you on the piano inside later,’ she whispered. ‘So you can show us what you can do. Your dad says you’re really good.’

  Ella shrugged, never moving her eyes from Haydon and Molly. It was uncanny, the way she looked at them, and for a startling moment Ashley wondered whether she’d somehow figured out the truth where all the adults around her had failed. But that was ridiculous – surely there was no way she could have done.

  ‘You want a drink?’ Ashley asked.

  ‘No thanks.’

  ‘You’re OK? There’s nothing you want to talk about? Only…’

  ‘I’m fine. Thank you.’

  Before Ashley managed to get another question out, Ella moved away to stand next to Bastien. She appeared to brighten a little as he whispered something in her ear, but she still looked far from the happy-go-lucky girl she had always appeared to be – at least from what Ashley had seen of her this week.

  ‘What’s the matter with her?’ Sue asked, moving into the space next to Ashley that Ella had just had vacated.

  ‘Don’t know.’

  ‘She looks like someone just took her winning lottery ticket away.’

  ‘She does a bit. Poor thing.’

  Sue turned her gaze onto Haydon and Molly. ‘I presume this friendly little performance means you still haven’t told him or Molly.’

  ‘When would I have had a chance? I didn’t expect him to be turning up here today.’

  Sue clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth but said nothing.

  ‘I am trying, Mum.’

  ‘Yes, you’re that.’

  ‘It’s not easy. It’s alright for you to judge because you haven’t got to do it.’

  ‘I did offer.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous. I couldn’t think of a worse way to break the news to Haydon, or to Molly for that matter. They need to hear it from me – both of them.’

  Sue was silent for a moment, her attention back on the performance. ‘It’s funny,’ she said finally.

  ‘What is?’

  ‘How they play together – how similar they are. Funny how they both ended up with the same interests.’

  ‘I was just thinking the same thing.’

  ‘You never said her dad was musical.’

  ‘I didn’t know. We didn’t exactly discuss it the first night we met.’

  Sue threw her a sideways look. ‘I don’t think you discussed very much at all the night you first met.’

  At this Ashley couldn’t help a small smile. ‘I don’t suppose we did. Certainly not accurate phone numbers for a start.’ She let out a sigh. ‘All those years we missed for the sake of some dodgy digits.’

  ‘If he was telling the truth about that.’

  Ashley turned to see Sue regarding her in a measured gaze. She shook her head.

  ‘He wouldn’t. I might have thought so too, once upon a time, but now I know him better… No, I don’t believe he’d have done that.’

  ‘Age mellows us all. Perhaps he feels guilty about it now. Perhaps he does want a relationship and you look pretty good now he’s on the scrapheap, so he’d tell you whatever you wanted to hear.’

  ‘No.’ Ashley shook her head more forcefully this time. ‘You’re wrong. Neither of us are on the scrapheap either. It’s not our fault we’re both single.’

  ‘It’s absolutely your fault that you are. It’s not like there’s been a shortage of interest from men over the years.’

  ‘I was too busy with Molly – you know that. And then when I tried to have a relationship look what happened.’

  ‘Perhaps you ought to be more picky,’ Sue replied.

  ‘Is that a dig at my current interest?’

  ‘Make of it whatever you will.’

  Ashley folded her arms tight across her chest and stared at the stage.

  ‘Sulking isn’t going to change anything.’

  ‘I’m not sulking and I’m not trying to change anything.’

  ‘Yes you are, and yes you wish you could.’

  Ashley turned to her. ‘Isn’t there a bottle of wine somewhere waiting for you?’

  ‘I’m only trying to help,’ Sue sniffed.

  ‘I know, but you’re not. I’ll deal with this in my own time. Molly has managed this long without a dad so a few more hours isn’t going to make any difference now.’

  Sue shrugged. ‘You get on with it then. You’re right – you don’t need my input at all considering what an amazing job you’ve done of sorting things out so far.’

  ‘Mum!’ Ashley hissed, but Sue just held her hands up in a gesture of surrender.

  ‘I’ll go and see if Maurice needs any help roasting that pig. In fact, I’ll chat to the pig because I’ll get more sense out of it than you.’

  Ashley scowled as Sue left her and crossed the garden to the spit where Maurice was nodding along to the music as he brushed more oil on the huge slab of pork. Her mother was right about it all, of course, but just being right hardly helped matters. Ashley didn’t need any assistance recognising what was right and wrong here, she just needed the moment and the courage to address it.

  The guests began to clap and cheer and she realised that Haydon and Molly’s impromptu performance had come to an end. There were calls for an encore but Haydon simply nodded and gestured to the musicians who were supposed to be playing.

  ‘Far be it for me to deprive a fellow cellist of his instrument,’ he said with a laugh. He was flushed and clearly thrilled to have such an appreciative audience. And then he exchanged such a tender, exhilarated look with Molly that Ashley could barely keep herself from bursting into tears. For a moment she could almost imagine what it would have been like had they always lived together as father and daughter and she wanted to weep for all the times like this that they’d already missed.

  ‘What did you think?’ Molly asked as they came across to her. ‘We weren’t bad, were
we?’

  ‘Very nice,’ Ashley said. ‘I’ve always loved to hear you play.’

  ‘You were incredible,’ Haydon said, beaming at Molly. ‘No wonder the conservatoires are queuing up to get you in.’

  Molly laughed. ‘Not exactly.’

  ‘You’ve got real talent,’ Haydon insisted. ‘In fact, I’d go so far as to say that you’re the most talented musician of your age I’ve ever come across.’

  Molly blushed, a broad grin splitting her face. ‘You think?’

  ‘Absolutely. And with your mum’s permission I’d love to try to help you get a music-school place somewhere. There’s a real shortage of young people wanting to follow the classical route and anyone who shows an interest needs to be encouraged and their talent nurtured.’ He turned to Ashley. ‘Don’t you agree?’

  ‘Of course,’ Ashley said. ‘It’s just that…’

  Before Ashley had time to finish, Haydon turned to Ella as she tugged at his arm. ‘Hey you, how are you enjoying the party?’

  ‘Yeah, it’s good,’ Ella said, though Ashley could see the look again that told her Ella wasn’t being entirely truthful with her answer.

  ‘Did you see Molly play?’ he asked. ‘Wasn’t she amazing?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Ella said, shooting a dull glance at Molly. ‘You were both really good.’

  ‘You want to come and get some food with me?’

  ‘Um, sure, OK.’

  Haydon turned to Ashley. He made a slight move towards her, and then seemed to realise his mistake as he pulled away again with a suddenly awkward smile.

  ‘Can we get you anything from the food tables? Or a drink, maybe?’

  ‘I’m fine. You two go ahead and we’ll catch up with you later.’

  ‘OK.’

  As Ashley watched him walk away with Ella, Molly spoke.

  ‘You know when you asked me before about whether I approve? I’ve decided I do. He’s really cool, Mum. If you have to have a boyfriend then I’m glad it’s him.’

  Ashley gave her a tight smile. When Molly finally learned the truth, would she still feel the same way?

  It wasn’t hard to overfill a plate with all the amazing food on offer. Ella had been a little more reserved as she chose from the buffet tables but Haydon hadn’t been able to resist trying a bit of everything and now he probably had too much – though he was doing his best to get through it.

  ‘Isn’t this the most amazing stuff you’ve ever eaten?’ he asked Ella, who was sitting next to him in a shady corner of the garden. He could see Ashley and her mother deep in conversation across the lawns. From time to time one or the other threw a guarded glance in his direction and he couldn’t help the feeling that he was the topic of their animated discussion, though he tried not to dwell on that possibility or what it might mean if they were. He’d got the distinct feeling throughout the evening that Ashley’s mum didn’t like him. He could only guess that Ashley had told her some of their past and he supposed that it might look bad to a parent. If he’d felt a boy had abandoned Ella in that way he’d probably be furious about it no matter whether it had been done deliberately or not. Still, the idea that he had to win over Ashley’s entire family at the same time as getting Ashley herself to trust him again wasn’t one that filled him with positivity. At least Maurice’s family seemed to like him and he quickly decided to make the most of their gracious invite.

  Getting no answer from his daughter, he looked to see she was staring in the direction of Molly, who was sitting close to Bastien as they dangled their feet in the swimming pool. She hadn’t touched any of the food on her plate.

  ‘Everyone likes Molly better than me – even you.’

  Haydon paused, a forkful of sauce-smothered pork halfway to his lips. He stared at Ella.

  ‘What?’

  ‘She’s so good at everything. And she’s pretty. Everyone likes her better than me.’

  ‘No they don’t.’

  ‘You got so excited playing your cello with her. And you’re always saying how you wished I’d play a string instrument.’

  ‘Only because I’d know more about it. Ella… what’s all this about? You’ve never cared about that before and honestly I love that you made your own choice instead of following me.’

  Ella didn’t reply. Instead her eyes began to water. Haydon dropped the fork onto his plate and hastily put it to one side so he could gather her into his arms.

  ‘You’re my daughter – you will always be the most important person in the world to me.’

  ‘What if Molly was your daughter? She’d be your favourite, I bet.’

  ‘Ella… what’s happened? I thought you liked Molly? Is this about me and Ashley dating? Are you scared of what it might mean for us as a family? Because if it is—’

  ‘No.’ Ella gave her head a forceful shake. ‘I do like her.’

  ‘Then what?’

  ‘Bastien likes Molly. They’re going out – they told me today.’

  ‘But what…’ Haydon frowned. Then the gears slid into place and suddenly everything was clear. ‘Oh, Ella…’ He pulled her closer. ‘You like him?’

  ‘I thought he liked me too. I should have guessed it would be Molly – she’s older and prettier and says smarter things. She even knows a little French and sometimes they speak in French so I can’t tell what they’re saying.’

  ‘Well, that’s rude. I ought to have a word with them about that.’

  ‘No, Dad! That would make it even worse!’

  ‘But if it’s bothering you this much—’

  ‘Please… no. I’m begging you – don’t. I wish I’d never told you now.’

  ‘I’m glad you did and if it’s going to upset you more then I won’t say anything, even though I think I ought to. If someone is doing something that upsets you it’s far easier for them to stop if they know. They probably haven’t even realised they’re doing anything wrong and how are they going to if we don’t tell them?’

  ‘You can’t tell them! They already think I’m an annoying hanger-on without thinking I’m a snitch too!’

  ‘Annoying hanger-on? What the hell?’

  ‘Because I’m younger.’

  ‘And have they said this to you?’

  ‘Of course not. But I know they think it. I don’t even know why I thought Bastien might like me because he’s sixteen and I’m not even fourteen yet.’

  ‘I know. Age gaps can seem massive right now but I promise you in a few years it won’t matter a bit if he’s ten years older than you.’

  ‘He would have fancied Molly anyway.’

  ‘How do you know?’

  ‘Just do.’

  Haydon gazed down at her and wiped a tear away. ‘This is not my Ella. What’s happened to that smiley face and optimism that I love so much?’

  ‘Sorry, Dad.’

  ‘I’m not saying it so you can be sorry! I’m saying it because it makes me sad to see you sad, that’s all. You don’t need to apologise for the way you feel.’

  ‘But you won’t talk to Molly and Bastien about it?’

  ‘Not if you don’t want me to.’

  Ella nodded. ‘OK.’

  As if summoned by the mention of their names, Molly appeared, flanked by Bastien. Ella looked up as their shadows fell across her, alarm etched in her features, but if Molly had overheard any of their conversation then she didn’t show any signs of being concerned by it. She smiled broadly at them both.

  ‘Did you see us play?’ she asked Ella. ‘I had no idea your dad was so good!’

  Haydon gave her a tight smile. While he wanted to gush about Molly’s talent, he sensed that it might be a little insensitive in light of his recent discussion with Ella. She had to learn not to be oversensitive, of course, and that in life there was always going to be someone better-looking, more talented, more successful, and that you had to strive for your own perfection and disregard the negative thoughts that might distract you from your own success, but perhaps now wasn’t the time for that lesson.

/>   ‘You were brilliant together,’ Ella said, and Haydon was instantly proud of the grace she showed, shrugging off the doubts of a few moments earlier. ‘It made me wish I’d taken up the violin instead of the piano.’

  ‘There’s a piano inside!’ Molly said. ‘Show me how to play?’

  ‘I wouldn’t be as good as you are on your violin.’

  ‘You’re younger – I bet you will be when you’re sixteen. Please, show me. I’ve never had a go before.’

  Haydon raised his eyebrows. ‘Never plonked about on an old keyboard in the school music room? I thought everyone had done that at one time or another.’

  ‘Only music nerds like you,’ Ella said. And Haydon was glad to see that she seemed brighter now.

  ‘OK, I hold my hands up. There was a time when I’d plonk about on any instrument I could get my hands on until I settled on the cello. Now I teach it I hardly have time to look at other instruments, let alone play them.’

  ‘Maybe I’ll take up the cello too,’ Molly said, beaming at Haydon. ‘You could teach me.’

  ‘I’d have a long way to come for your lessons.’

  ‘Maybe when…’ She looked coy for a moment and Haydon had to laugh.

  ‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,’ he said. ‘Though I’d be honoured to teach someone who is as much of a natural as you. I bet it would be a doddle.’

  Molly dipped her head and blushed again, but she was clearly flattered by Haydon’s words.

  ‘Come,’ Bastien said, grabbing Ella by the hand. ‘Let us find the piano and you can teach us how to play.’

  Haydon watched, feeling helpless as Ella followed him and Molly inside. He could only imagine how difficult it was for her and he could remember vividly how difficult unrequited love was when he was that age. Thank goodness those days were over, although sometimes when he reflected on his current love life he wondered if they were actually easier after all.

  He was reminded forcibly of this when he looked for Ashley and found her making her way across the lawns to him. But she didn’t look happy or relaxed, and she didn’t look as if she wanted to slow dance to the lazy tunes now being played by the little band from the village.