One Last Summer

by Connelly, Victoria

  ‘That kettle boiled yet?’ Audrey asked, waltzing into the room and unpacking her tea cup and saucer before washing it carefully at the sink.

  Harrie quickly closed the cupboard door. Her sumptuous delight would have to wait a little while longer.

  Later that evening, once the dishwasher had been loaded after dinner, Harrie cleared her throat.

  ‘Would you two mind going into the living room?’

  ‘Why?’ Lisa asked.

  ‘There’s something I want to do in here,’ Harrie told her. ‘A surprise.’

  ‘Oh, I love surprises,’ Lisa said.

  ‘A nice surprise, I hope,’ Audrey said.

  ‘Well, of course a nice surprise!’ Harrie said with a laugh. ‘You think I’d arrange a nasty one?’

  ‘I’m just remembering the time Mike arranged a surprise party for me a few years ago and there were all these people from work I couldn’t stand.’

  ‘I promise there will be no awkward encounters with colleagues this evening,’ Harrie assured her.

  ‘Good to know,’ Audrey said, leaving the room with Lisa.

  Harrie made sure the door was closed after them and then went to the cupboard to get the cake. She could feel her heart thumping with excitement as she placed her hands carefully on either side of the box and slid it out, making sure she then supported it underneath as she carried it to the table. How pretty it looked just as it was, she thought. It seemed a shame to unwrap it. Quickly, she took a photo with her phone and then untied the red ribbon and lifted the lid, gasping as she saw the cake for the first time.

  Harrie’s brief had been ‘An English summer garden’ and she was delighted with the result. The round cake was covered in the palest green icing and it was festooned with hundreds of flowers in pretty pastel shades, with tiny bees and butterflies flitting amongst them. It was the prettiest thing she’d ever seen and tears filled her eyes as she gazed at it.

  She’d wondered whether to go for two tiers, but had felt that was much too extravagant and she couldn’t imagine it could possibly be any more fabulous than the creation in front of her now. There was no writing on the cake and Harrie was pleased about that decision now. Wishing herself happy birthday would have been a little bit bizarre and would also have made her uncomfortable because the likelihood was that she wasn’t going to see her birthday. How strange a thought was that – to know that you have seen your last birthday? Those were the kind of thoughts that could darken a whole day if they entered Harrie’s head and so she did her best to shut them out.

  After taking more photographs of the cake from every angle imaginable, she went to find the candles she’d brought with her from home, taking them out of the little paper bag where they’d been hiding inside her handbag and placing them on the cake, careful to avoid breaking the delicate petals of the flowers or spiking a bee in the back.

  Matches were next, again hidden in her handbag. She took one out and, with shaking hands, immediately snapped one. She tried again. This time, she was lucky, but she only managed to light half of the candles before the flame got too close to her fingers for comfort. One more match did the trick. A neat dozen. That was enough. One didn’t want to overwhelm the beauty of the cake.

  Harrie switched the kitchen lights off and walked back to the table, making sure it looked absolutely perfect, which, of course, it did. She took a moment on her own to take it all in. Her first big beautiful birthday cake. It was a shame that it would also be her last.

  No, she told herself. This was going to be a perfect moment. There was no room for negative thoughts. With that in mind, she left the kitchen, mindful to close the door behind her, and walked through to the living room.

  ‘Is that surprise of yours ready yet?’ Lisa asked as soon as she entered the room.

  Harrie beamed her a smile. ‘You want to see it?’

  ‘Of course we do!’ Lisa was on her feet in an instant, closely followed by Audrey.

  ‘Okay,’ Harrie said a moment later as they reached the kitchen door. ‘I want you both to close your eyes.’

  ‘Oh, how exciting!’ Lisa said.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Audrey asked. ‘I don’t want to knock into anything.’

  ‘Oh, ye of little faith!’ Harrie said. ‘Just keep your eyes closed and trust me!’ Harrie led them into the kitchen, guiding them slowly and carefully.

  ‘Let me guess,’ Lisa said. ‘You’ve organised some massage in the dark.’

  ‘Not exactly,’ she said, steering them towards the table. ‘Okay, you can open your eyes now.’

  They both did as they were told and gasped.

  ‘What’s this?’ Audrey asked.

  ‘Whose birthday is it?’ Lisa asked.

  ‘Mine, silly!’ Harrie said.

  ‘But it isn’t your birthday until December,’ Audrey pointed out.

  Harrie sighed. She’d known she’d have some explaining to do when she came up with the idea and she’d hoped her friends wouldn’t question her too closely, but would take it all in the spirit of fun.

  ‘I do know when my birthday is,’ she assured them, ‘and I also know that we’ll never get together for it, nor for yours in January, Aud, or Lisa’s in May. But we are all here now so I thought we’d celebrate all the birthdays we’ve missed in the past and all those we’ll no doubt miss in the future.’

  Audrey was frowning, but then shrugged. ‘I suppose that makes sense.’

  ‘Well, I think it’s a lovely idea and I’ve never been known to turn down cake,’ Lisa said.

  ‘Exactly,’ Harrie said.

  ‘So this is for all of us?’ Audrey asked.

  ‘Of course!’ Harrie told her. ‘But I’m going to blow out the candles.’

  Harrie moved towards the table, her face soon feeling the heat from the flames.

  ‘How many are there?’ Audrey asked.

  ‘A nice neat dozen,’ Harrie said, ‘which is more than enough, I think. I didn’t want to spoil the cake.’

  ‘Or admit to your age! Our ages!’ Lisa joked.

  ‘I thought you were avoiding sugar,’ Audrey pointed out.

  Harrie gave a little shrug. ‘Well, I am mainly but, as I’ll be the first one of us to hit forty-seven, I thought a little sugar might ease the journey.’

  ‘Go on, then – blow them out,’ Audrey said. ‘I want to tuck in!’

  ‘Let’s all make a wish first!’ Lisa said.

  Harrie didn’t need to be told twice and, bending over the cake, closed her eyes. One wish. What could she wish for? Peace? Happiness? Health? They were the top ones, weren’t they? But could twelve supermarket candles really provide her with a miracle cure if she wished for one? Probably not. Best to be on the safe side.

  I wish for quality time with my friends and family.

  She blew. Hard.

  Audrey and Lisa clapped their hands as Harrie turned the kitchen lights on.

  ‘Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!’ Lisa sang.

  ‘Oh, please don’t!’

  ‘Don’t worry – I won’t join in!’ Audrey promised.

  ‘Thank you. A true friend!’

  ‘Happy birthday, dear Harriet! Happy birthday to you!’

  Lisa flung her arms around Harrie and kissed her on the cheek.

  Audrey joined in. ‘Happy birthday for December, darling friend.’

  Harrie closed her eyes as they both embraced her, willing herself not to cry. ‘Come on!’ she said at last. ‘Let’s eat!’

  ‘It’s so beautiful,’ Lisa said. ‘Almost too pretty to eat.’

  ‘Yes, but only almost,’ Harrie said.

  ‘Let me take a photo before it’s all gobbled up!’ Audrey said, and Harrie smiled as both her friends went to find their phones.

  Photographs taken, Harrie grabbed three plates from the dresser and a large knife.

  ‘I’m actually shaking,’ Harrie confessed.

  ‘Want me to do it? I’m very good at cutting extra-big slices,’ Lisa said.

 
But the knife was now hovering over the icing, ready to cut through its pristine beauty.

  ‘Oh, look!’ Lisa cried a moment later.

  ‘Victoria sponge?’ Audrey asked.

  Harrie nodded. ‘My favourite.’

  ‘It looks fabulous,’ Lisa said. ‘You’re just full of good ideas!’

  ‘I hoped you’d like it and wouldn’t think it was too weird.’

  ‘Why would we ever think cake was weird?’ Lisa asked.

  ‘I mean celebrating my birthday so early.’

  ‘It is a little bit weird, but I get it,’ Audrey assured her.

  Lisa suddenly giggled and nudged Harrie.

  ‘What is it?’ Harrie asked.

  ‘I was just remembering Audrey’s thirtieth when Mike hired that gorgeous cottage in the Cotswolds and we both turned up as a surprise!’

  ‘Oh, that was so cool!’ Harrie said.

  ‘I did wonder why Mike had booked such a big place with so many bedrooms,’ Audrey said. ‘I thought he was just trying to spoil me.’

  ‘That was so sweet of him to think of us,’ Lisa said with a soppy smile.

  ‘I think I still have the deflated helium balloon you bought for me,’ Audrey told them. ‘But the cake is long gone!’

  ‘It was a lovely cake,’ Harrie said. ‘I’d never seen a cake in the shape of a windmill before.’

  ‘It was a little reference to our last holiday in the Netherlands,’ Audrey told them.

  ‘So romantic!’ Lisa said.

  ‘I don’t know how he kept it all a secret from me.’

  ‘You sure did get lucky with Mike,’ Lisa said.

  They took their plates through to the living room, which was beautifully lit by lamplight. The thick curtains had been drawn now and the room felt cosy. Each of the women found a seat and there was blissful silence as cake was consumed. Harrie took her time, carefully angling her fork to slice through each perfect layer, admiring the lightness of the sponge and the jewel-bright jam. Lisa was going for it with her fingers and Harrie let out a little chuckle.

  ‘What?’ Lisa asked, her mouth crammed with cake. ‘It’s the only way to eat it. Like fish and chips. Utensils would be a travesty.’

  Audrey shook her head. ‘Can’t take you anywhere.’

  ‘There’s nobody here to judge me,’ Lisa said.

  ‘We’re here,’ Audrey said.

  ‘Yes, but old friends don’t count. You expect the worst by now, surely.’

  ‘And we don’t mind,’ Harrie said.

  Lisa grinned and took another enormous bite. ‘I hope we get seconds!’

  ‘No way! This has got to last us,’ Harrie told her. She looked down at her own empty plate. How had she eaten all that already? ‘Well, maybe just a tiny second sliver.’

  ‘That’s more like it,’ Lisa said, leaping up from the sofa and racing into the kitchen. Harrie and Audrey were quick to follow.

  ‘Just a small slice!’ Harrie cried.

  ‘Yeah, yeah!’ Lisa said. She’d already picked up the knife. ‘Hey, have we got any wine? Or, even better, champagne? Shouldn’t we have champagne for a birthday?’

  ‘There’s some wine in the fridge,’ Audrey told them.

  ‘I’ll get some glasses,’ Harrie said.

  Once the wine was poured, they trooped into the living room with their cake.

  ‘Hey, Lisa – have you had any more yoga sessions with that gardener?’ Harrie asked.

  ‘What’s this?’ Audrey asked.

  ‘Lisa’s been flirting with that young gardener.’

  ‘I have not!’

  ‘What’s his name?’

  ‘Alfie,’ Lisa said, and then frowned. ‘I don’t know his last name.’

  ‘How come I’ve not run into him?’

  ‘Because you’ve had your nose in spreadsheets since you got here?’ Harrie said.

  ‘I have not!’ Audrey cried. ‘Or maybe just a little bit each day.’

  ‘You are incapable of switching off,’ Harrie told her.

  ‘No, I’m not. I simply like things to be moving forward.’

  ‘I’m amazed you’re here at all,’ Lisa said. ‘I mean, that you agreed to the whole summer.’

  Audrey’s expression suddenly changed. ‘Ah, well . . .’

  ‘What does that mean?’ Lisa said.

  ‘Yes, I’m not liking the sound of this,’ Harrie added.

  ‘It’s just – well – six weeks is a long time,’ Audrey stated.

  ‘Not if it’s your only holiday for the last six years,’ Harrie told her.

  ‘I’ve had holidays.’

  ‘Only the odd night here and there. That’s not time to really relax,’ Harrie said.

  ‘Look, I’ll only be gone for four or five nights at the most!’

  ‘What?’ Lisa screamed.

  ‘Oh, Audrey! You’re not really going, are you?’ Harrie said.

  ‘I’ll be back before you know it. There’s just a couple of things I’ve got to deal with, that’s all. I told you, this is a new business venture for me and I’ve got to keep on top of things. I’m the boss. I can’t simply walk away for weeks at a time.’

  ‘But you promised!’ Harrie felt as if she was losing control at a rapid pace.

  ‘I know, and I’m here, aren’t I?’

  ‘Well, some of you is. I think your mind might still be stuck at work a lot of the time,’ Harrie told her.

  ‘But it’ll be better when I return,’ Audrey promised. ‘I’ll be able to relax more.’

  ‘Until the next crisis?’

  ‘You’re not being fair, Harrie.’

  Harrie shifted in her seat. ‘This holiday was all about letting go of our real lives and relaxing together. I thought you understood that. I thought we’d all agreed.’

  ‘I did agree. I don’t know what the fuss is about. I’ll only be gone for five, six nights maximum.’

  ‘You see – you’ve just added a day,’ Harrie pointed out. ‘One minute, you say it’s for five nights, and then you say it could be six. Before we know it, you won’t be coming back at all!’

  ‘Why are you getting so worked up about this?’ Audrey asked.

  ‘Because you made a promise, Aud! I thought friends kept their promises.’

  ‘You’re being spectacularly unfair. I always keep my promises. It’s just that this is a really crazy time for me.’

  ‘You think you’re the only one who’s having a crazy time?’

  ‘No, of course not.’

  ‘You think I’m being selfish and ridiculous wanting us all to spend this time together and that you can just up and leave whenever you want?’

  ‘Harrie – no – I don’t think that at all. What’s got into you?’

  ‘Nothing!’ Harrie cried, suddenly aware that she might be causing more of a scene than she’d intended. ‘I’m just really disappointed.’

  ‘But it’s only for a few days and then I’ll be back for the rest of the summer.’

  ‘Will you?’ Harrie said. ‘Are you sure you won’t just swan off again as soon as the whim takes you?’

  ‘Well, I might if I feel you’re picking on me!’

  ‘Hey, you two – let’s take it easy, okay?’ Lisa said.

  ‘Look, I’m not going right away,’ Audrey added.

  ‘When are you going?’ Lisa asked.

  ‘In a couple of days.’

  ‘And you’ve known from the start?’ Harrie asked.

  ‘I didn’t plan it,’ Audrey said, ‘but I did kind of know that I’d have to go back at some point.’ She sighed. ‘You don’t need me here for the whole summer anyway.’

  ‘That’s not the point, Aud. I very much want you here.’

  ‘And we can always do this another time too, can’t we? Now that we’ve got the ball rolling again, we can get together every summer,’ Audrey said.

  Harrie’s fingers curled into the palms of her hands until her nails dug into the soft skin.

  ‘Anyone for more wine?’ Lisa asked.


  ‘Yes,’ Audrey said. ‘Most definitely.’

  ‘You know, I think I’ll have an early night.’ Harrie got up from the sofa.

  ‘You’re not going to have another glass with us?’ Lisa asked.

  ‘No, thanks.’

  ‘Oh, Harrie, don’t go like this,’ Audrey said. ‘You’re making me feel horrible.’

  Harrie turned to look at her friend. ‘I don’t mean to make you feel horrible. I’m sorry if I did.’

  ‘And I’m sorry if you feel disappointed about me leaving, but I’ll be straight back, I promise. As soon as I can.’

  Harrie smiled. ‘Well, you’d better be, otherwise we’ll come to London and get you. Don’t think we won’t!’

  Chapter 8

  ‘She was pretty mad with you,’ Lisa said as they browsed a rail of clothes in a small seaside boutique the next day.

  ‘You don’t need to tell me that. I was there,’ Audrey replied.

  Lisa’s hand reached out to caress a silver-and-white T-shirt.

  ‘Is this too young for me?’ she asked Audrey.

  ‘Definitely.’

  Lisa frowned. ‘You sure? It’s really pretty and it’s in the sale.’

  ‘I’m sure.’

  ‘Hmmm, I probably shouldn’t be spending money on new clothes anyway – sale or not.’

  ‘Do you think she’s okay?’ Audrey asked.

  ‘Harrie?’

  ‘Of course Harrie.’

  ‘She seems fine to me. Why do you ask?’

  ‘She seems a little strange, don’t you think? I mean, that outburst the other night – I’ve never seen her so upset.’

  ‘She just doesn’t want you to go, that’s all.’

  Audrey sighed. ‘I think there’s more to it than that.’

  Lisa pulled out a tiny pink-and-white striped blouse and put it back when Audrey shook her head.

  ‘I’ve not noticed anything different about her. But she’s lost weight, that’s for sure. Lucky sod.’

  ‘Yes,’ Audrey said. ‘She’s not eating much either.’

  ‘She ate a pretty big slice of cake last night.’

  Audrey smiled at memory. ‘We all did, but she’s not eating much else. She loads her plate up, but she just tends to pick. Haven’t you noticed?’

  ‘No, not really.’ Lisa ran her hands down the front of a fuchsia top.

  ‘Too low-cut,’ Audrey pronounced.