by Karen Aldous
‘Oh yes, I’ve heard of it, sounds nice.’
‘It’s a great place, but I’ve outgrown it now. Ideally I want to study in London. A friend of mine, he lives in New York, he’s going to study there.’
‘You need to go for the best courses that will suit you and the path you’re taking, like I said before. I don’t suppose Nantucket is big enough to provide that anyway.’
‘No. And I want to get away from…everything really. I mean, it’s kinda crushing me. The place, the people, my mom.’ Jack hooked his eyes over at Cal opposite who was chatting to Jes. Lizzie swiftly averted her eyes. It was good to hear Jack chat about himself but she didn’t want him to know she was eavesdropping.
Angus continued, ‘I reckon this place would suit you better. You’ve got the climate, the culture, and presumably you sail coming from a small island?’
‘Yes. Oh, God, I practically went from my pram to a boat.’
‘Enough said, though you have the mountains here too. Do you ski?’
Jack’s eyes widened. ‘Oh cool, I forgot about that. Yes, the Alps are just here aren’t they! I don’t ski but I’d love to. I’ve always wanted to snowboard.’
‘Well you can practically go every weekend if you lived here. I ski what, twice a month in the season. You’re quite athletic, a few lessons and you’d be fine.’
Marie-Claire who had been listening the other side of Jack chipped in. ‘Yes, I’d come and ski with you, Jack. I’d like to learn too.’
Cal hadn’t heard any of this but Lizzie was trying not to jump in her chair. Angus was doing a great job selling this place to him, and she could kick herself for not thinking of it earlier. They could have spent a few days in a ski resort, OK it would have to be a high one at this time of year, but Jack could have got a taster whilst he was here.
With so much chatter and choice on the menu, it was a while before the waiters took drink and food orders, but ten minutes later Thierry’s pasta was in front of him and drinks had arrived.
‘I like pizza and pasta,’ he told Rose. ‘I’m having pasta today. Cal makes me pasta.’
‘It looks lovely, darling. You blow it won’t you, in case it’s hot,’ she said, then squeezed his tiny shoulders. ‘He is adorable, Lizzie.’
Suddenly Jack scraped his chair backwards and stood. Looking around the table he lifted his small beer. ‘Can I just make a toast?’ His cheeks reddened slightly as he cleared his throat. ‘I really thought I should say thank you to you all. One, for making this such a great trip by making me welcome, and for helping me realise some important things. I just can’t believe how much my life has turned in a week. Spending time with Angus here, I’ve discovered I want to be a cosmetic surgeon like him and like Sophie so I shall be going back revising madly on the plane and for the next few weeks so that I get the good grades I need. So thank you, everybody. Santé.’ He lifted his glass before ditching his rear in his seat.
‘Aww,’ a few voices sounded. ‘Santé, Jack,’ they all cheered raising their glasses.
Cal walked around the table and, placing his arm around his shoulder, squatted beside his son. ‘I’m proud of you, Jack. Well done. You keep the hard work up and I’ve no doubt you will get what you want.’
‘This week has blown me away, Dad. Thanks.’
Lizzie felt her eyes well up as she witnessed Cal wipe his eyes returning to his seat. As the chatter resumed, she said, ‘That was impressive. He has so much confidence.’
‘He’s probably watched Kelly countless times at charity events. He’s chairman on the debating society too, he’s no doubt used to conducting himself in public. But, yes. Good on him,’ Cal said. ‘Fingers crossed for the next few weeks eh?’
After taking Rose home, and saying their goodbyes, Thierry had been fast asleep and carried straight to bed when they’d got back. She’d heard Marie-Claire and Jack chat excitedly about his return and the future as she helped him repack his badly organised suitcase. Lizzie and Cal had sloped off to bed using every second available to make love and spend their last few hours together.
Unable to sleep much during the night, Lizzie stayed in Cal’s arms for as long as she could. If anyone had told her six months ago that being in love meant staying awake in fear of being apart from someone, she would have laughed in their face. Yes, it would be at least another six weeks before they would be together again but for God’s sake. How had she turned into such a wimp?
By nine-thirty they were all back together in the kitchen finishing off drinks and breakfast with Cal grabbing his keys and loading the last of the bags into the lift.
‘I’ll get the car,’ he said.
Lizzie stared, half asleep and still coming to terms with the imminent departure. As she caught his eye, he caught her by the waist and pulled her close. She inhaled, wanting to capture his alluring scent and bottle it for each lonely night. She cupped his face.
‘I’m going to miss you.’
‘Not as much as I’ll miss you. Who knows, by some miracle, he may get back to school and love it.’ He tilted his head, momentarily closing his eyes. ‘I doubt it. Just call if you need me and don’t forget, I love you,’ he said and gave her a long lingering kiss and pecked a soft kiss on the nose.
‘Love you too.’
Cal then reached for Thierry who was climbing off his chair. ‘You look after your mummy for me, lil’ man, and Jack and I will be back as soon as we can.’
‘Are you going in the aeroplane now?’ Thierry’s voice rang with a thrill.
‘That’s right. Jack’s going back to school for a few weeks and then we’ll get the aeroplane back to see you. How does that sound?’
‘I want to come.’
‘You’ve got to stay and look after mummy. Promise me you will?’
‘Yes,’ Thierry nodded.
‘Good man. Man hug?’
Thierry threw his arms around Cal’s neck and kissed his cheek. Jack drew up beside them and held out his arms.
‘Where’s my man hug, bud? I’m gonna miss you but we’ll be back soon.’
Thierry rested his head on Jack’s shoulder as his arms splayed out in his best grip.
‘Bye. See you soon,’ Thierry chimed, not realising how he was pulling everyone’s heart strings. Marie-Claire sniffed as she collected him from Jack’s arms.
‘Mummy won’t be long, darling.’
Once the car was loaded, she drove them to Nice airport dropping them at the terminal with one last lingering kiss for Cal and a long hug for Jack. Tears trickled as she watched them disappear into the crowd. With a heart aching already, she climbed back into the car and sped off making her way back to the motorway.
‘Right, now pull yourself together,’ she told herself turning up the CD player and singing along to one of Cal’s Bon Jovi tracks. Maybe she would take Thierry out. A train ride along to Villefranche or Juan-les-Pins. Or Fréjus? They hadn’t been there. She’d been told it was a lovely beach there. Thierry would appreciate somewhere different too and the train ride would add a bit of fun, she decided. It was then she heard his phone. Her eyes dashed to the floor. She turned the music down and leant forward. There on the floor on the passenger side, his phone flashed and chimed.
‘Oh shit. Silly bugger.’ She quickly peered in her mirror and then at the road and then dived to the floor. She bounced back. ‘Shit. I can’t…’ She stretched out further, this time making a punching effort. The car veered, and, whoa, fast, she corrected the wheel, panting. Shit that was close, you can stay there.
As soon as she parked the car, she reached down for Cal’s phone. You minx! Unlocking it, she saw the missed call and tried the number. No answer. There was a voicemail from Cal saying he would get another phone in Boston and get the number to her. Annoying. She wouldn’t be able to communicate with him. Checking the time, she collected her bag. With lots to do in the office, she swung open the door just as a message pinged into Cal’s phone. She opened it.
Hi Cal, the nest is lovely and comfortable for
when you arrive. I’m baking you a delicious steak and kidney pie for when you arrive. I know how much you love it. Making a hot chocolate fudge for pudding. Can’t wait to see you both. Love and miss you K xxx
The nest. Huh! Very cosy. Immediately, Lizzie felt the familiar cramps gripping the lining of her stomach. She scrolled upwards. More messages.
Hi Cal, Hope you guys are ok. It was great to hear Jack’s doing so well and he has found a new option for a career. I’m sure he’ll do us proud. I bought you both a little something, a surprise for your homecoming! I’ve also managed to buy a few dresses. Can you believe, I’ve dropped a dress size? Would appreciate your opinion when you get back. Enjoy your last day. Love and miss you, K xxx
Lizzie held her hand on her belly as every nerve was now pinching but she couldn’t help herself. She scrolled on.
Hi darlings, hope you are ok, haven’t heard from you today. I know you said you want to spend time with L so I understand. I’m off to shop, so many of my clothes are hanging off me lately! Love and miss you both K xxx
Lizzie switched the phone off. She’d read enough. She understands! Lizzie wanted to be sick. These were far more familiar than was comfortable. She wondered how Cal interpreted them. Would he find her suggestive, flirty? Appreciate your opinion! She visualised Kelly twirling in her sexy new number before Cal. Or was her imagination running wild? No, these messages were about her, not her son. Kelly was desperate for attention. Cal hadn’t responded much though. Maybe he was saving it all up for when he returned.
Lizzie opened the car door. She didn’t want to think about the office. She didn’t want to think about Kelly, she just wanted Cal. She didn’t want to lose him or his affection, his love. But she had no control, not now he was heading back to her. And he was planning his life with her and Thierry and even Jack to live at their home, the beautiful manor on the vineyard he’d said was going to be their home. They were going to be a family, and she was sure he was sincere. Everyone knows Cal is sincere so why would she doubt him? No, it wasn’t him she suspected of ruining everything she’d dreamed of, it was Kelly. Kelly had the capacity and control to lure him. He loved her once and she can make him love her again. Was that her game plan, particularly now her marriage to Rueben was over? This was ridiculous, she couldn’t, wouldn’t go there. She was going to be grown up and totally ignore these messages. Cal was a big boy, he’d invested everything in France for them. He was just in Nantucket for Jack. Her thoughts turned to Sophie’s wise words. Be mature, he needs you! She closed the car door and marched with her shoulders back.
Chapter 21
He’d emptied everything out, trouser pockets, jacket pockets, and his rucksack. Still no phone. He couldn’t have packed it in the case. In fact, Cal was sure he’d had it in the car.
‘They won’t let you go back through security now will they?’ Jack asked.
‘There’s a phone over there, help me with this stuff, I’ll give it a ring. We’ll hear it if it’s here. I’m sure I took it off mute this morning.’
At the booth, Cal dialled his mobile. With the bustle of the terminal, they huddled around their belongings trying to catch some sound or vibrations.
‘Tch, sh… It must be in the car. I can’t even ring anyone, I don’t have their numbers without my phone.’
‘Oh, I’ve got Angus…ah, no, it’s in my case.’
Cal dropped everything to the floor. ‘Damn,’ he said rustling through everything once more. ‘What a doughnut!’
Jack began to tidy up the pile. ‘Can you email her for her number?’
With a screwed-up face swaying from side to side, Cal bent down to help. ‘I’ll have to. I’ll buy a new phone when we get to Boston. I wonder if she has brought it back to the terminal? She may have handed it in. Let’s go to the information desk, they might ring through.’
All signs on the clerk’s face and conversation told him all he needed to know. ‘Thanks anyway,’ Cal said. ‘Let’s go email her.’
Arriving outside Kelly’s in Nantucket town, Cal collected the bags and held his breath. He wasn’t looking forward to facing her but he needed the keys to Reuben’s car and Jack needed some of his clothes.
As Kelly opened the door and rushed to greet her son, immediately Cal observed swelling around her eyes exposing her melancholy. Her frame appeared shrunken and vulnerably hunched.
‘So glad you’re home.’ She held on to Cal for several seconds before lightly kissing him on the lips. ‘I’ve missed him terribly.’
‘I’ve had a great time, Mom. Met some great people and I’m really looking forward to going back.’
Cal wasn’t sure if her expression was mildly pleased for him or pure dread. Her nostrils flared as her lips strained.
‘Great to hear, sweetheart. First things first though, school yeah!’ she brushed his hair with her fingers. ‘It really suits you. Smarter, refined. Harry and Bea will be excited to see you.’
Jack widened his stance, emanating so much more confidence than two weeks ago. ‘Mom, I’m going to study to be a cosmetic surgeon. I’m getting the plan together as soon as I’ve done my SATs.’
‘Architecture of sorts,’ she said as Jack dashed from the entrance hall up the stairs. ‘Great. You can rebuild this crumbling wreck,’ she jested, lifting her brows. ‘I’ll make a coffee.’ she continued leading Cal to the kitchen. ‘Look, I know you’ve not been answering my calls and I don’t blame you, I’m a pretty miserable cow right now, but, just so you’re in the loop, we, that’s Reuben and I, have had our final blow! He came home yesterday. We had the fight of all fights and it got seriously ugly.’
Kelly turned on the coffee machine and heaved her chest. ‘He came home especially to see Jack. He was gonna stay a few days but it seems we can’t stay in the same house any more let alone the same room. He’s gonna sell this place. Says I can find something smaller and keep the beach house for income. Apparently, his funds are drying up and he needs to pay for the kids’ schooling. I don’t believe him of course. I think he’s made a new life and he’s got to pay for it. I mean, living in New York isn’t cheap is it?’
Cal watched as she sunk a capsule into the coffee machine. ‘Don’t worry about Jack’s education. I’ll find the money from somewhere,’ Cal told her, not revealing anything of his own finances. He wouldn’t let anything stand in Jack’s way now. And he would have expected to meet half of the costs anyway.
‘Well, I’m not going to tell Reuben that.’
Cal felt the cutting spike from her tongue. ‘I don’t need to know that, and I would prefer you to keep me on neutral ground the same as you would Jack.’
‘I can tell my friends what I like. He doesn’t have to know.’
‘No. Kelly, I’m not your friend. We stay civil for Jack’s sake. Is that clear?’
Kelly’s eyes extended out and stung him. Right, she was really hanging hopes on his support. Oh God she’s going to burst into tears. Well, she’s only got herself to blame.
‘Cal, I thought you would at least be on my side.’ The tears began rolling down her cheeks. ‘Don’t you care? Isn’t your son’s future stability important to you? His brother and sister?’
He watched her as she sniffed. ‘Kelly, I’m going to take Jack to the beach house where he can revise for his much needed exams. He needs to concentrate. I’ll bring him over here to see Harry and Bea and yourself an hour each day.’ Did he sound unreasonable? ‘Look he needs all the attention on him and I can give him that. He’ll be returning to school and he will be studying. I will be working whilst he is at school so please don’t interrupt me during the day. Once he has completed his SATs we can all sit down and discuss what he wants to do and how he is going to do it. And I would appreciate it for Jack’s sake if you don’t mention your relationship problems until Jack is over all this. It will only hurt and distract him.’
‘But that beach house is mine and I can go down there if I want to.’
‘Fine. I’ll rent elsewhere. Jack can come with me.
He needs to focus.’
She switched off the machine. Indignant eyes searched his. ‘You don’t give two shits about me do you?’
‘That’s the sum of it, Kelly. My mission here is to look after Jack’s welfare.’
Kelly’s self-pity unleashed in tears. ‘You…you are heartless. All you care about is Jack. And don’t think he will be leaving here afterwards.’
‘I’ll meet Jack in the hall,’ Cal said flatly. ‘He’ll be down shortly and I don’t want him to see you like this.’
Cal took his jacket and closed the door behind him. He felt wretched, of course he did, but he knew exactly what would happen if he showed her any sympathy. He wasn’t here to counsel her. And he was fully aware of the tragic consequences the situation could have on Jack. His own experience had taught him that. Discovering his own parents’ breakup was devastating and the last thing he wanted was for Jack to go through what he had.
He was still waiting for Jack five minutes later. She came out of the kitchen just as Jack came down the stairs with a holdall spilling with clothes and books.
‘I think you need two bags, Jack. That’s just going to scatter over the car,’ Cal told him.
Kelly opened a door under the stairs and pulled out a large shopping bag. ‘Here. Take this.’
Jack stared at the bag in disgust.
‘We are going from the car to the beach house. Just put some of that stuff in and let’s go.’ Cal put his jacket on. ‘We’ll be over to see Harry and Bea tomorrow.’
Kelly held her head down. ‘Yes, fine. Here’s the key. I’ve stocked up the fridge. You’ll have plenty for a few days.’
‘Thank you. I, we, appreciate that, Kelly,’ Cal said, helping Jack reshuffle the bags.
‘Bye, Mom,’ Jack said brushing her cheek with a kiss. ‘See you tomorrow.’
Cal opened the door, smiled and gave her a polite wave.
True to her word, Kelly had made the beach house comfortable. The warmth as they entered was welcoming but a pungent fragrance of vanilla was just too much. Cal decided he would have to dispose of several diffusers placed on furniture and polluting the air. Jack, he knew, was keen to get to his station, and he watched him immediately bound up the stairs with his bags. They’d had a lengthy discussion on the flight. Jack had talked non-stop to him all about his plans to organise the spare bedroom he used as his study and set up the new laptop Cal had bought him at the airport.
