Stella’s eyes were filled with tears, and Jim’s face was grey. He took a deep breath and stared icily at Judith and Paul.
‘Lavender stays as it is – as it’s always been. You might be my family, but I will not let you destroy what I’ve built.’ He stopped, swallowing his anger, and looked at Amy. ‘Tell Matt I want to see him the minute he gets back.’
‘And you’re telling me you knew nothing at all about this?’ Bob faced his mother over the kitchen table. ‘You didn’t have a clue what Matt and Sally were up to?’
It was Saturday morning, nearly a week after Matt and Sally had left for London, and Cicely had been as stunned as the rest of the family.
She sighed. ‘I knew Sally was serious about the aromatherapy business – but I knew nothing about Matt selling his shares. For goodness’ sake, he didn’t need to!’
‘He obviously thought he did,’ Bob said wearily. ‘And as he did it legally, we’re stuck with Paul and Judith – not to mention Dean and Debbie – whether we like it or not.’
Cicely looked at him, at the dark circles under his eyes and the lines etched on either side of his mouth. She knew that Amy looked even worse.
It was their son’s deception that had hurt them, even more than the fact that Paul and Judith now had a say in the business.
She cursed herself for not telling Matt earlier that she would be financing Sally’s Floral Oils.
‘But can Lavender support four extra people?’
‘Hardly!’ Bob gave a short laugh. ‘But at the moment Paul is being very magnanimous, investing his army gratuity in the business. Just until we fall in with his money-making schemes, of course …’
Cicely squeezed his arm. ‘I honestly don’t know where Matt and Sally are. I do know Sally has a potential supplier in London, someone she met on her course, but I don’t know any names. But there is something I should say …’
‘What?’ Bob raised his head. ‘If there’s anything that might help –’
‘Sorry – this won’t. But you ought to know that Matt didn’t need to sell his shares to help Sally. I’d already bought the lease on that empty shop in the High Street. I was going to back Sally, go into partnership with her …’ He stared at her blankly. ‘So why did Matt sell out? He must have known –’
‘He didn’t.’ Cicely shook her head. ‘Sally and I wanted to keep it a secret. We wanted it all to be cut and dried before anyone else in the family found out …’
‘What?’ Bob roared, leaping to his feet and glaring at her. ‘You actually encouraged Sally? Oh, Mother, you’ve gone too far this time! What on earth did you think you were doing?’
‘Helping Sally!’ Cicely glared back with equal ferocity. ‘Because Sally means a lot to me, and she feels that Lavender is the only thing that matters to any of you. She wanted to be her own woman – and I recognised that need. And please don’t roar at me, Bob. Us falling out will help no one.’
‘No.’ Bob slumped back into his chair. ‘Sorry.’
They were gazing silently at the softly falling snow when Amy came in.
‘It looks like it’s going to settle,’ she commented. ‘Which makes my next bit of news even more helpful …’ she finished.
‘Don’t.’ Bob groaned. ‘Not engine trouble? Not an accident?’
‘Nothing that dire!’ Amy gave a tired smile. ‘It’s just that the other members of our family are defecting, too.’
Cicely and Bob stared at her.
‘Apparently there’s a stock car meeting in Warwick this weekend. Mitch, of course, is going – and so is Megan.’
‘Megan?’ Cicely’s eyebrows rose. ‘Good heavens! She’s certainly taken this change of image to heart, hasn’t she?’
‘She’s going as Jacey Brennan’s second,’ Amy said darkly, ‘which in normal circumstances would bring me out in a rash. But I get the feeling that it has a lot more to do with avoiding Peter King than a sudden desire to hurtle round a snow-covered track in a clapped-out car.’
‘You’re laughing!’ Bob made it sound like an accusation, although his own eyes were twinkling. ‘You don’t want Megan to marry Peter at all, do you?’
‘No,’ Amy admitted, and sat down to help herself from the earthenware teapot. ‘If only Mitchell would leave Jacey, and Matt would come back and tell us that it was all a mistake – and Paul and Judith could be captured by an alien spaceship – I’d be the happiest woman on Earth!’
They all laughed, the first time anyone had laughed since Tuesday.
Bob decided not to tell Amy about Cicely’s involvement in Sally’s business yet. Right now, he was delighted to see some of the tension melting from her face.
‘Well,’ he commented, ‘if our children can do it – why don’t we? You were saying that you wanted a break, love. Why don’t we just up sticks and go?’
‘That’s very tempting,’ Amy conceded, ‘but you know it’s impossible right now – though I’ll hold you to it once everything’s sorted out. But I’ve got an even better idea.’
Cicely smiled at them both and stood up.
‘I’ll go and say goodbye and good luck to the youngsters while you two cook up your nefarious plan.’ She shrugged on her sheepskin jacket, then paused in the doorway to look seriously at them. ‘It’ll all work out, you know. Life has a habit of sorting out its own convolutions. Things look bleak at the moment – but this time next year you’ll look back and laugh.’
Amy and Bob looked at her retreating figure and grinned at each other.
‘There goes the eternal optimist!’ Bob observed, and sat back in his chair. ‘Still, interfering old busybody though she is, at least she makes us smile. Now, what’s this cunning plan of yours that’s going to help Lavender cope with the busiest weekend since Christmas?’
‘I think it’s about time our newest shareholders earned their keep.’ Amy swirled the dregs of her tea round in the cup. ‘We’re going to be without all three of our children, so Paul can take over Matt’s driving and help you out. Judith can cover for Megan, driving the supermarket and Oxford pick-ups. Dean can start getting his hands dirty in the garage – and Debbie can begin to learn the radio with me in the office. Let’s see how delighted they are with their new-found status by the end of tomorrow night!’
Bob grinned. ‘That’s the sort of wicked scheme I’d have expected from Mother! But it’s a brilliant idea! They’ll be completely exhausted!’
‘I do hope so.’ Amy smiled slowly. ‘It seems we’re stuck with them for the time being, so let’s show them what hard work Lavender really is!’
Standing at the window, Bob watched as Cicely carefully picked her way across the yard towards the garage, and hoped that she was right. He hoped that in a year’s time all this would be sorted out.
He knew that when Matt returned trouble would start again in earnest, but in the meantime, he was looking forward to watching Paul and Judith having to work for their living.
He grinned as Cicely tugged the garage doors open with a strength that belied her age, and called into the depths, ‘I’ve just come to say goodbye – and good luck!’
Mitch, securing his car on to its trailer, looked up with a grin.
‘Thanks, Gran. It’ll be strange not having you cheering me on this afternoon.’
‘Well, I’ve never considered myself a fair-weather supporter.’ Cicely rubbed her hands together. ‘But I don’t think even my thermals will stand up to these Siberian conditions! Are you coming straight back?’
Mitch shook his head and indicated the far side of the garage where Megan and Jacey were checking their pink and lilac car.
‘We thought we’d make a weekend of it. We’ve booked into a guest house. It should be good fun.’
Megan came over and kissed Cicely’s cheek.
‘I’m really looking forward to this – for all sorts of reasons! How are things with Mum and Dad?’
Cicely smiled. ‘Improving. Don’t worry, Meg, I’ll keep an eye on them. It’s about time you had some fun.
Just bring these two home in one piece!’
‘Right. All set?’ Jacey flicked her long blonde hair away from her face. ‘We ought to get going as soon as possible with this weather.’
‘I’m all ready.’ Mitch enveloped her in a hug. ‘If you take Meg with you, Luke can come with me.’
Megan’s eyes widened. ‘Luke?’
‘Yes.’ Luke grinned as he emerged from the office, pulling on his battered leather jacket. ‘I’ve just phoned Warwick. The meeting’s still on as long as the snow doesn’t get any worse.’
Megan knew she was blushing. She looked at the smiling faces and swallowed.
‘You mean – you’re coming with us? For the whole weekend?’
Chapter Six
An Enchanted Evening
Megan stepped from Jacey’s car, shivering in the icy wind. The stock car circuit looked surprisingly pretty with its light encrusting of snow.
‘As long as we don’t have any more, it should be an exciting meeting,’ Jacey said casually, and Megan looked at her in admiration.
‘Aren’t you ever scared?’
‘Petrified.’ Jacey grinned cheerfully. ‘That’s half the fun. Come on, let’s go and see how the boys are doing.’
Despite her misgivings about Luke’s presence, Megan had thoroughly enjoyed the drive to Warwick. She had felt her spirits lift as soon as they had got on to the motorway. They were four friends off for an exciting weekend. She couldn’t remember when she had last felt this zing of exhilaration.
This was what being young was all about, she thought, as she and Jacey slithered towards the pits. Not being towed in Peter King’s wake, being bored rigid by rugby, and irritated by the infantile behaviour of his friends.
‘There’s a huge crowd!’ Mitch looked up from last-minute checks on his car. ‘And the track is clear. I’ve got a good feeling about this one.’
‘A good feeling about coming second,’ Jacey teased. ‘Because this is one race that I’m going to win.’
‘We’ll see about that!’ Mitchell laughed. ‘Anyway, whoever loses will be buying the drinks tonight!’
‘Looks as though you and I will be treated whatever happens, Meg.’ Luke grinned at her. ‘Anyway, once you’ve got Jacey’s car on the track, come back round here. Then you’ll be on the spot if she needs any repairs or anything.’
Megan nodded, not meeting his eyes. This was ridiculous, she told herself. She’d known Luke for ages, and that kiss, devastating as it was to her, had meant nothing to him, she was sure it hadn’t. Therefore she had decided to act towards him as she always had – friendly and detached – so why was she behaving like a gauche teenager the minute he smiled?
‘Let’s go!’ Jacey grabbed her arm. ‘The marshals are out on the track – it won’t be long now.’
Within half an hour the icy air was torn apart by the roar of twenty engines. Watching Mitch’s red car, decorated with fire-breathing dragons, nudge towards the start line alongside Jacey’s pretty pastel and hearts, Megan pulled on her gloves and hurried to the pits.
She leaned on the snow-covered railings, her face whipped by the biting wind, and Luke grinned.
‘Never fancied doing this yourself?’
‘Absolutely not. I’ve got a great sense of self-preservation! What about you?’
‘I’d love to, but at the moment the money doesn’t stretch to it. Anyway, I’m quite happy playing second fiddle.’
Megan shot him a sharp glance, but his face was innocent.
Before she could say anything else, the flag had been raised and the roar of the engines made speech impossible.
The race was even more manic than usual because of the conditions. Cars were sliding and spinning everywhere as if on a dodgems track.
‘I reckon Mitch could win!’ Luke shouted in her ear. ‘There’s only one more circuit to go and he’s in a good position!’
‘So’s Jacey!’ Megan shouted back. ‘They’re neck and neck!’
The pits were littered with cars that had bitten the dust, and most of the drivers were leaning over the pit rails, howling encouragement.
Megan and Luke exchanged grins as Mitch and Jacey, locked together, rounded the last bend.
‘It looks as though Mitch will be footing the bill tonight.’ Megan laughed. ‘Jacey’s going to win.’
She did, by a whisker. The crowd were ecstatic – especially when they realised that the winner was a very pretty girl.
Jacey proudly collected her trophy, and everyone laughed as Mitch was the first to congratulate her.
‘All I need now is a hot bath, a good meal, and a wild evening’s entertainment,’ Jacey told Megan as they followed Mitch’s car away from the stock car circuit. ‘We’ll have to keep close to Mitch,’ she went on. ‘He’s the only one who knows where the guest-house is. Thanks for your help this afternoon – you were brilliant.’
‘I loved it.’ Megan smiled back, knowing now this friendship was cemented for ever. ‘Maybe we could make it a regular thing.’
‘That’d be great. I can’t believe I ever thought you were stuck-up and distant,’ Jacey said with an apologetic smile as she drove carefully through the snow, keeping a safe distance behind Mitch but never letting him out of her sight. ‘It just goes to show you should never judge on appearances, doesn’t it?’
It did, Megan thought. She had been guilty of that very thing herself.
‘Oh, this must be it.’ Jacey leaned forward and peered through the snowflakes at the sprawling red house with lights glowing warmly from the windows. ‘Looks cosy, doesn’t it?’
Mitch and Luke were already standing on the steps, their hair sequinned with snowflakes.
‘We’ve only booked bed and breakfast,’ Mitch said, ‘so we’ll have to find somewhere to eat. And the sooner the better. I’m starving!’
They trooped into the hall where their landlady was waiting, smiling expectantly.
‘Your rooms are all ready for you and there’s plenty of hot water if you’d like baths or showers. You can make tea or coffee in your rooms and breakfast will be at nine.’ Mitch thanked her and took the keys, throwing one to Luke.
‘Oh, ha-ha. Very funny,’ Megan said.
‘Come on, Mitch. Where’s mine?’
‘Luke’s got it.’ Mitch’s face was innocent. ‘I booked two double rooms.’
Megan felt herself blushing scarlet and was thinking desperately about sleeping in the car or catching the train home when Luke laughed.
‘That’s enough, Mitch. Can’t you see Meg’s about to turn tail and flee?’ He smiled gently at Megan. ‘There are two rooms – one for you and Jacey, the other for me and your rotten brother!’
As Megan smiled gratefully at Luke, Mitch punched him playfully on the shoulder.
‘She obviously isn’t going to be succumbing to your charms! Come on – I’ll race you for the bathroom!’
‘You’ll lose that one, too!’ Jacey shouted, scampering along the corridor.
An hour later, showered, changed, and starving, they were all in the hall again.
‘Jacey and I fancy a pizza and a noisy pub,’ Mitch said. ‘Is that all right with you two?
Megan’s heart sank. ‘Not for me.’ Luke shook his head. ‘I fancy something more substantial – and I’m sure Megan does, too. After all, we’re not running on adrenaline like you two. How about if we find somewhere more sedate to eat and meet up with you later? Is that all right, Megan?’
‘Lovely,’ she agreed, thinking how nice it was to be asked for a change. Peter always just assumed. ‘You two can go and discuss carburettors over your pizza while we –’
‘– discuss the world situation, monetary policy, and the financial viability of Lavender Lane under new management!’ Mitch teased. ‘How boring.’
Still laughing, he and Jacey clattered out of the guest house.
‘Thank you.’ Megan smiled at Luke. ‘I sometimes feel flattened by their exuberance. But I don’t want you to go to any trouble for me. I mean …’
‘Meg – shut up,’ Luke said kindly.
‘I’ve been trying to get you on your own all day, and I really do need something to eat. All right?’
She couldn’t help but return his smile.
They went out into the street, and Megan sighed, entranced by its crystalline beauty. Snow was still falling softly, looking like swirling feathers in the amber glow of the street lamps, and all the buildings had been softened by a blanket of white.
Luke looked at her anxiously. ‘Shall I go back for the car?’
‘Oh no! I love the snow. I’d much prefer to walk.’
Luke grinned. ‘It could be a long way! I haven’t a clue where we’re going.’
Megan didn’t care. She couldn’t think of anything nicer than walking through the snow in this lovely old town with Luke at her side.
Hands linked, steadying each other, they set off in the direction of the castle.
‘Careful,’ Luke warned her. ‘It looks pretty treacherous …’
‘I know I’m older than you, but I’m not quite in my dotage! I can manage – oops!’ Suddenly her feet shot from under her.
Laughing, Luke caught her, and for a second she was held tightly against him, her face buried in the soft leather of his jacket.
She lifted her face and wordlessly they stared at each other before he bent his head and kissed her, his lips sweet-chilled by the snow.
Megan wound her arms round his neck, knowing now what she had suspected before.
‘Meg,’ he whispered. ‘Oh, Meg …’
She moved her icy cheek against his and smiled as the snowflakes tumbled in a white cloud around them. He pulled her even closer.
‘Megan Phillips – I love you.’
Cicely stepped from the train at Paddington and straightened her hat. Because of the snow, the journey had been much slower than she had anticipated.
She looked around at the early evening bustle and sighed. It was all so different from those elegant days of travelling to London by steam train when they’d had proper carriages, with net luggage racks, richly upholstered seats, and framed pictures of Welsh mountains and Scottish lochs on the walls. Now, she thought, tugging her overnight bag more firmly on to her arm, it was as impersonal as an airport.
Lavender Lane Page 7
