Lavender Lane

by Christina Jones

  ‘Dean’s been offered a place in the youth orchestra,’ Debbie confided. ‘We’ve agreed to tell Mum and Dad at the same time. Sort of halve the explosion …’

  ‘Or double it!’ Megan laughed. ‘Oh, I’d love to be a fly on the wall.’ She glanced at the clock and her face dropped. ‘I’ve got to go.’

  She slithered across the powdery snow and collided with Jacey Brennan, who had just got out of her car.

  ‘Hey!’ Jacey grinned. ‘Where’s the fire?’

  ‘There’s no fire but there’s likely to be a murder!’ Megan giggled. ‘When my aunt and uncle find out what their offspring have been up to. Debbie’s just cheered me up no end. Mitchell’s in the garage, by the way.’

  ‘Well, Luke obviously isn’t, otherwise you wouldn’t be running in the opposite direction.’ Jacey laughed. ‘How are things going, anyway?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Megan shrugged. ‘Since we came back from Warwick and Dad had his accident, Luke and I have hardly spoken on a personal level. I don’t know what’s happening with my life.’

  ‘You need a night out,’ Jacey said, flicking snow from the ends of her scarf. ‘Why don’t you and Luke come out with me and Mitch tonight? There’s karaoke at The Cat and Fiddle.’

  Megan shook her head. ‘I don’t think that’s my scene somehow. I’ve got a voice like a strangulated crow. And I don’t know if Luke would like it … I know so little about him.’

  ‘Then it’s time you found out.’ Jacey stamped her feet as the wind howled across the yard. ‘I hope we’ll be able to get back on the stock car circuit soon, then you and Luke can have some time together – away from all the prying eyes.’

  Megan shivered. ‘I’m so confused. I know how I feel about Luke, and I know what he said in Warwick, but so many things have changed since then. And there’s still Peter.’

  ‘It must be tough.’ Jacey was sympathetic. ‘Mitch and I are lucky. At least we’ve got no complications.’

  ‘My life is one big complication.’ Megan laughed. ‘That’s the trouble with being part of a big family, I suppose.’

  ‘I’d love it.’ Jacey pulled a face. ‘Oh, there seem to be hundreds of us Brennans, but we don’t live together – not like you Phillips. We all pass like ships in the night. At least you all care about each other, and your parents are great, even if your mum doesn’t approve of me. They’re proper parents, always there, always ready to listen.

  ‘You ought to count your blessings, Meg. At least you’ve got that … and you always will have.’ She turned towards the garage, her long blonde hair swirling about her face. ‘I’d give anything to be part of it … Oh, well. Better go and root out Mitch before I turn into a block of ice. And good luck with Peter!’

  ‘Thanks.’ Megan turned back towards the bungalow. She did have a lot to be grateful for – she knew that.

  She smiled to herself. Debbie and Jacey – so different – had both cheered her up considerably. And once she’d spoken to Peter maybe – just maybe – she’d know where she was going.

  She pulled the door open as soon as she saw Peter’s car turn into the yard. She hoped to be able to let him down gently, to tell him that she had simply outgrown their relationship. The last thing she wanted was to hurt him …

  Her hands were trembling as he hurried towards her.

  ‘Hi! Come in – it’s freezing! There’s a fire in here …’ She knew she was talking far too quickly as he followed her through the hall to the family sitting room. ‘Do you want tea or anything?’

  He shook his head and made for the fire, holding his hands out to the flames.

  Megan sighed. They had known each other for ever, but right at this moment they were like strangers.

  ‘I know this is difficult.’ She swallowed. ‘I mean – things like this are never easy. I hope we can say things to each other and stay friends.’

  ‘So do I.’ Peter spoke for the first time. ‘I’m sorry, Megan. About your dad and everything. There’s never going to be a right time for this sort of conversation … so I’ll say my piece and then –’

  ‘No. Let me.’ She turned away and switched on the standard lamp, casting a warm pool of light throughout the big, cosy room. ‘Whatever happens, I want us to stay friends. I really mean that. Dad’s illness has made me realise that things change, even when you think they’ll stay the same for ever, and that in some situations there’s no turning back. I’ve had to grow up and take stock. And although it’s painful …’ She faltered. She was going to cry.

  He moved away from the fire and sat on the sofa, patting the cushion beside him.

  ‘Meg, I’m so sorry … I had no idea this would happen. I suppose I thought we’d always be together.’

  She perched beside him, feeling lost and bewildered. This wasn’t how she had expected him to be. She had expected him to be full of bluster and bravado. This wasn’t the Peter she knew.

  He picked up her hand. ‘I always thought we’d be married. Always. All my dreams – the house, promotion at the bank, the rugby dos – I could never see myself sharing them with anyone else.’

  ‘Neither could I.’ She blinked back her tears. ‘But then, I could never see Dad being too ill to work, or Sally and Matt abandoning the business, or Mum’s sister appearing from nowhere –’

  ‘It’s just as well we can’t see into the future, isn’t it?’ Peter shrugged. ‘I expected you to yell and shout at me. I’m glad you’re taking it like this … Who told you? Was it Matt?’

  ‘Told me?’ Megan’s face was perplexed. ‘Matt hasn’t told me anything.’

  ‘Oh.’ Peter sighed. He was still holding her hand. ‘I was sure he would. Still, Appleford is such a tiny place it was bound to get out. I only hope you’ll forgive me. I should have told you straightaway …

  ‘I met her at the Blue Boar,’ he went on, not looking at her now. ‘You know, after the match. At first we just chatted about rugby – her brother plays. Then she came to a couple of the games …’

  ‘Who?’ Megan felt as though she was in the middle of a play and had been given the wrong script. ‘Peter, who are we talking about?’

  ‘Lauren Daniels.’ He met her eyes again. ‘Oh, Megan, I’m so sorry – but I love her …’

  Megan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and ended up doing both.

  ‘Peter – are you telling me – I mean, am I being –?’

  ‘Yes.’ His voice was low, his face anguished. ‘I’m sorry, Megan. But things weren’t right between us, I can see that now. I honestly didn’t mean it to happen. I wouldn’t have dreamed it was possible – but Lauren and I …’

  He stopped. Was Megan laughing?

  Pulling away from him, she walked to the window. It was snowing again.

  He quickly crossed the room and put his hands on her shoulders.

  ‘You’re all right, Megan, aren’t you? Oh, I wouldn’t hurt you for the world, you know that. It’s just that this time apart has made me realise how much we’ve changed. And then … well, meeting Lauren …’

  ‘I’m fine.’ Megan bit her lip. ‘And, yes, you’re right – we were just making each other unhappy.’ She gave a little laugh. ‘I just imagined that I’d be the one who would say goodbye!’

  She turned and looked at him, and he smiled gently at her. They had shared so much and had been happy enough.

  ‘I’ll go now.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘Take care of yourself, Megan.’

  ‘Yes. Of course. You too …’ Her voice was a whisper as her feelings threatened to engulf her. She had wanted to finish with Peter, she knew she couldn’t stay with him. There were so many things she’d meant to say – and he hadn’t given her a chance to say any of them.

  Once she heard the roar of his car dwindle into the distance, she walked to the mirror that hung above the fireplace. Her face was pale and her eyes looked huge and woebegone.

  She gave herself a tremulous smile. ‘Well, Megan Phillips,’ she told her reflection, ‘this is what it feels like to be jilted
…’

  ‘We’ll never be straight in time!’ Sally gazed round the shop. There were boxes, packing cases, bottles, and jars everywhere. ‘It’s a mess!’

  ‘An organised mess,’ Matt corrected her. ‘Gran Phillips and Sam are doing a sterling job in the stockroom, and there are still two days to go before we open. Stop panicking.’

  Sally grinned. Sally’s Floral Oils was at last a reality. The sign was outside to prove it. Now all they had to do was break the news to Matt’s parents that they would be moving out of the Lavender Lane bungalow into their own home next month, and everything would be perfect.

  ‘You’ve got some lovely stock.’ Cicely, her hair tied up in a brightly coloured scarf, emerged from the back of the shop. ‘You’ll do well, my dear. Aromatherapy’s all the rage these days and if you do up that back room into a treatment room, you can offer massages and …’

  ‘Hold your horses, Gran!’ Matt laughed. ‘Let’s get off the ground first, oh, I suppose you think that’s a pun considering how you and Sam met …’

  ‘Very funny.’ Sam grinned broadly as he appeared from the back. ‘I’m beginning to feel as though I’m some sort of guilty secret. Your grandmother hasn’t seen fit to mention my presence to the rest of the family yet.’

  ‘It’s hardly been the right time, has it?’ Cicely said, still smiling, ‘what with Bob being so poorly and Amy rushed off her feet. But now things seem to have calmed down a bit, I must get round to it. Maybe we’ll invite them round next Sunday.’

  ‘I think you ought to tell them before that.’ Sam was unpacking little bottles of lavender and patchouli. ‘It’s hardly fair to welcome them in, tell them dinner will be in about half an hour, and then say, “Oh, and by the way, this is Sam. He’s moved in with me”, is it?’

  ‘You make me sound like the scarlet woman everyone thinks I am!’ Cicely punched Sam playfully. ‘I think you should make it clear to these impressionable children that we have separate rooms.’

  ‘Anyway, we’d better break our news first.’ Sally took Matt’s hand. ‘We really are going to have to tell them pretty soon – they’ll want to know what to do with our part of the bungalow.’

  ‘They’ll probably give it to Megan,’ Matt guessed, ‘as soon as she comes to her senses and decides to marry Peter King.’

  ‘Oh, I don’t think so …’ Cicely observed. ‘No – Peter’s quite wrong for Meg.’

  ‘And you think Luke Dolan is acceptable, do you?’ Matt frowned.

  ‘Absolutely.’ Cicely beamed. ‘He’s young, handsome, spirited, and adores Megan. He’s just what she needs. I hope she realises it …’ She broke off. ‘Is that someone at the door?’

  Matt tugged at the door and was almost knocked off his feet by the howling gale.

  ‘Goodness!’ he exclaimed when he saw his parents standing there. ‘You’re the last people I expected to see! Come in and see how we’re doing.’

  Bob and Amy stepped into the chaos, and Matt laughed. ‘You look like abominable snowmen! When did this lot start?’

  ‘About ten minutes ago.’ Bob brushed snow from his coat. ‘It’s turning into something of a blizzard.’

  Amy shook the snow from her scarf. ‘Did I hear your gran’s voice? Is she helping – or interfering?’

  Bob grinned. ‘Both, if I know your mother.’

  They made their way through to the shop, both halting in surprise at the sight of Sam, swinging Kimberley above his head, much to her delight.

  He put her down and held out his hand. ‘You must be Bob and Amy. Cicely’s told me all about you.’

  Bob and Amy exchanged mystified glances, and Sally giggled.

  ‘Gran! Come out here and make the introductions!’ She appraised her father-in-law. ‘Well, I must say, you look fighting fit. Are you feeling better?’

  ‘On top of the world. Better than I have for years.’ He cast another puzzled glance at Sam. ‘I feel I should know you …’

  Cicely bustled out of the stockroom. ‘You might have seen a photo. This is Sam, and it’s a long story.’

  ‘But before Gran gets going for the rest of the night – there’s something we’ve got to tell you …’ Sally said.

  Amy linked her arm through Bob’s and smiled at them all.

  ‘For once, you can all wait your turn, because we’ve got something to tell you.’ She squeezed Bob’s arm tightly. ‘Haven’t we?’

  ‘We have.’ He grinned. ‘And I think you’d all better sit down.’

  Amy lifted Kimberley into her arms as the others scrambled for packing cases to sit on.

  ‘Now, are you sitting comfortably?’ Bob was grinning. ‘Then I’ll begin …’

  He looked so much better, Amy thought, ten years younger, and the worried, grey look that had been part of him for so long had disappeared.

  Sally and Matt looked happier, too.

  There had been a time when she had feared for their marriage, but now this little shop, their own business, had brought the sparkle back. Just, she admitted to herself, as Lavender Cabs had to her and Bob all those years ago.

  But how would the rest of the family react to what they wanted to do now? And was it really going to be that easy, after so many years?

  As though echoing her thoughts, Bob began to speak.

  ‘Your mum and I have been talking, and although we’ll have to discuss it with Megan and Mitch and, of course, Gran and Granddad Foster – we’ve reached a decision about our future. First of all – Matt, would you like our part of the bungalow?’

  Matt and Sally exchanged glances.

  ‘Actually, Dad,’ Matt said lamely, ‘we were going to talk to you about that. Sally and I have – we’re buying a house on the Larkspur estate. We’ll be moving out.’

  ‘We would have told you sooner,’ Sally joined in quickly, ‘but with you being ill and everything … ’

  Amy gasped. She hadn’t expected this. She shot Bob a worried glance. He’d been counting on Matt and Sally. Would this throw a spanner in the works before they had even started?

  But Bob was smiling. ‘Well, congratulations. That’s fine – yes, I’m delighted for you. You’re doing something that I should have done years ago, Matt – putting your wife and family first.’

  ‘I’ve been happy with Lavender,’ Amy protested. ‘It’s given us stability in an uncertain world, and given the kids the security they needed.’

  Bob was laughing now. ‘It’s given us everything you said, and more. But the art of survival is knowing when to let go and move on. Some people never get the chance – we’re lucky, and so are Matt and Sally.’

  ‘But where exactly are you going?’ Cicely looked at her son. ‘I gather you’re retiring from the business, but to do what?’

  ‘Mother!’ Bob gave her a mock frown. ‘I know patience is not one of your virtues, but just hold your horses. We’ve still got a lot of thinking to do. Anyway –’ he looked at Sam and grinned. ‘Haven’t you some explaining of your own to do?’

  ‘I think we should do all that later, over a nice meal at The Seven Stars,’ Sam replied. ‘After all, our news seems pretty small beer in comparison.’

  ‘Right,’ Amy said briskly. ‘We’ll book a table at the pub for Saturday night – Matt, will you ring the others arid organise it? We might as well have everybody together.’

  ‘Does the invite stretch to Aunt Judith and Uncle Paul?’ Matt was smiling widely, relieved that his news had gone down so well. ‘Are you making them guests of honour?’

  Amy shook her head. ‘Indeed I am not! The invitation stretches to immediate family only. And, of course, Sam.’

  ‘What about Mitch and Megan’s partners?’ Cicely put in. ‘Aren’t you going to include them?’

  ‘I’d rather not share a table with Jacey Brennan – you know I don’t like her. And Megan and Peter would be at daggers drawn …’

  Cicely smiled mischievously. ‘You’re behind the times, Amy. I don’t think Peter’s in the picture any more.’

  ‘Really
?’ Amy was abashed. She knew she hadn’t talked properly to Megan for ages, and she felt guilty at the surge of delight Cicely’s news had caused. When had Megan had the sense to call off her relationship with Peter? She really was going to have to make time for a proper chat.

  ‘So who does the grapevine have her paired off with now?’ she asked.

  ‘Luke Dolan,’ Matt said shortly. ‘Who would be about as popular at the dinner table as poor Jacey.’

  ‘Luke?’ Amy and Bob chorused. ‘Surely not!’

  ‘I think you should ask Megan,’ Cicely said. ‘Don’t listen to gossip.’

  Matt grinned at her. ‘Gran! You’re the biggest gossip in Appleford!’

  ‘Maybe,’ Cicely acknowledged, ‘but I’ve been on the receiving end, too – and I know how painful it can be, especially when it’s not true.’

  Bob was shaking his head. ‘I think in your case, Mother, it was always true, wasn’t it? You’d have been very disappointed if it hadn’t been!’

  They all laughed, and Amy, looking on, sighed. She was going to miss this.

  Sally, sensing her sudden sadness, squeezed her arm.

  ‘Don’t have any doubts,’ she whispered. ‘The world is very small. We’ll never be too far away.’

  ‘Heavens!’ Amy returned her hug. ‘We’re not emigrating! We’re only going to Devon!’

  There was a silence as Amy and Bob looked at each other. This was what they had wanted without being aware of it, and they both knew it. Starpoint, the little coastal village where they had taken holidays, the place where they had dreamed of spending their retirement …

  ‘Devon,’ Bob said softly. ‘Yes, we are, aren’t we?’ He cast a quick look round the shop. ‘We’ll leave you to your hard work, folks. I think your mother and I have got plans to make.’

  Outside, the snow was whirling and dancing, and Amy clung to Bob’s arm as they slithered towards the car.

  ‘We’re being as reckless as the children!’ She grinned, sliding into the driving seat. ‘Can we do it, Bob? Just up sticks and go to Starpoint?’

  ‘We can do anything we want!’ Bob said, with a carefree note in his voice that she hadn’t heard for years. ‘Life is too short to have “if onlys” in it. Let’s go and tell everyone else before we get cold feet.’