One Last Summer

by Connelly, Victoria

  Harrie sat next to her daughter on the sun lounger. She was crying now and Harrie brushed away the tears with her fingers, feeling tears of her own threatening to spill.

  ‘This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I need you on my side, not fighting against me.’

  ‘Oh, Mum!’ Honor threw her arms around her and, suddenly, they were both crying. ‘I’m not fighting against you. I’m fighting for you!’

  For a few moments, the two of them allowed the tears to fall. It was a pattern that kept repeating itself; they’d found that they could only go for so long putting on a brave face to the world and to each other and, every so often, they would just break down, acknowledging the true darkness of the thing that lay between them.

  ‘Listen, Honor,’ Harrie said, leaning back and drying her eyes, hoping that Lisa wouldn’t make an appearance. ‘I can’t change the decision I made in the past. I chose not to tell them and I stand by that decision because I think it was the right thing to do – the kindest thing.’

  ‘But you should tell them now,’ Honor said.

  Harrie gazed out across the blue water of the swimming pool. ‘I can’t.’

  ‘Mum!’

  ‘Honor, listen to me.’ She held her daughter’s hands in hers. They were cool from her dip in the pool and Harrie held them oh-so-tightly. ‘You have to trust me, okay? I’ve got to do what’s right or at least what feels right to me. You do understand that, don’t you?’

  ‘No!’

  ‘Yes, you do,’ Harrie said. ‘I know you do.’

  Honor shook her head. ‘Maybe I do, but I’m not going to pretend that I like it.’

  Harrie leaned forward and kissed her cheek. ‘Just trust me, okay?’

  It was mid-afternoon when Harrie realised that it had been a while since she’d seen Samson. She’d been so wrapped up in her daughter’s arrival and then recovering from their emotional outburst that she’d forgotten her old friend.

  Old friend. She smiled at that. She barely knew the man and yet there was something about him that made her feel as if she did, and she had to admit that she missed her strange one-sided conversations with him. With that in mind, and with Honor keeping Lisa company in the garden, Harrie made two cups of tea and walked through the cloisters to where Samson was working in the tower.

  ‘Hello there! I have some tea for you,’ she called up the scaffolding before actually locating him. ‘Samson? You up there?’

  The raucous call from a jackdaw in the tower greeted her, but there didn’t seem to be any sign of Samson.

  She rounded the corner to the grandest part of the priory and there he was, gazing up at the ceiling.

  He shook his head slowly. ‘Frustrating,’ he said without looking at her.

  ‘What is?’

  ‘All the repairs this place needs.’

  Harrie didn’t know much about architecture, but she could appreciate the beauty of the ancient building from its stone tracery to its fan-vaulted ceiling. The creamy gold of the stone was so lovely but there were so many places where the plasterwork had crumbled to reveal the bare brick behind it and, as beautiful as this hapless disarray was, it must have pained somebody like Samson to see it.

  ‘Is there anything you can do?’ she asked him.

  ‘I’ve just got my little corner to do, but there’s easily half a decade’s work here.’

  ‘Really? As much as that?’

  She handed him the mug and he took a long slow sip, nodding at her in appreciation.

  ‘Do you walk around old buildings assessing the work that needs doing?’

  ‘Pretty much, and this is a gem.’

  ‘Maybe the trust that owns this place will get around to these other repairs one day soon. They’ve done a pretty good job with the rest of it.’

  ‘I was telling my granddad I was working here and he said he could remember it when it was almost completely a ruin. He said that he and his friends would cycle down the lane and throw stones at the broken windows.’

  ‘That’s terrible!’

  ‘It’s what little boys do.’

  ‘But surely you didn’t do anything like that. Not with your sensibilities!’

  ‘I threw my share of stones. Not here, though.’ He took another sip of his tea. ‘Anyway, I’m making up for any damage I might have done now.’

  He gazed up again at the tracery windows high up in the tower. The lower, larger windows had glass in them, but the ones higher up didn’t, which was how the jackdaws and pigeons got in.

  ‘I wish I could get up there and sort it out. It could look so beautiful.’

  Harrie craned her neck back, trying to see the place as Samson might. ‘But it is still beautiful, isn’t it?’

  ‘Oh, sure, but it’s like . . .’ He paused as if searching for the right words. ‘It’s like leaving a priceless painting out in the rain. It seems unthinkable to me that it should be left in such a state.’

  ‘All the same, it’s survived all these centuries and will live long after we’ve gone,’ Harrie said, swallowing hard.

  ‘I know, but it still needs attention.’

  ‘I once read something that said there was no such thing as restoration. Isn’t that depressing?’

  Samson frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘Well, I think it meant that any repair work isn’t the same – it’s not original.’

  ‘Of course it isn’t.’

  ‘It’s a new artist or craftsman’s work.’

  Samson’s eyes had darkened. ‘Are you saying restoration is worthless?’

  ‘No!’ Harrie cried. ‘I’m only saying what I read.’

  ‘But you believe what you read?’

  ‘Not at all. I’m all for saving these places and works of art. I think you’re doing a really important job.’

  ‘If these places weren’t restored, they’d crumble and disappear.’

  ‘I know.’

  He nodded and handed his mug back to her. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘You’re not cross with me, are you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Are you sure? You wouldn’t be the first person I’ve upset today. My daughter’s in the most terrible mood with me.’ She thought, again, of Honor’s tear-streaked face and closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, Samson was heading back towards the scaffolding and Harrie knew that her little slot of time with him was fast coming to an end.

  ‘I told her I was going to do something and now I’ve gone back on my word, but I swear it isn’t my fault.’ She cursed under her breath. ‘I don’t know what’s the right thing to do anymore.’

  Samson paused as he reached the ladder and Harrie could have sworn he was going to say something, but he didn’t.

  ‘Why is life so complicated?’ she went on. ‘And why do you say so little?’

  He looked taken aback at this. ‘I don’t need to say a lot. You do all the talking.’

  Harrie’s mouth dropped open at his cheek. ‘Well, I’ll stop and give you a chance then.’

  He cleared his throat and Harrie waited.

  ‘I guess it’s why I like stone,’ he said after a moment.

  Harrie frowned. ‘What?’

  ‘It’s uncomplicated. You know where you are with a block of stone. People – they confuse me.’

  ‘So you’re not married then?’

  He shook his head.

  ‘You don’t want children?’

  ‘Who says I haven’t got children?’

  ‘Oh, you have?’

  His lips twitched in amusement. ‘Nope.’

  Harrie grinned. ‘Well, I get about as much out of you as I would a block of stone.’

  Samson smiled at that and that made Harrie smile too. She’d finally reached his sense of humour.

  ‘Why are you here all summer?’ he suddenly asked.

  Harrie was surprised by his question. ‘Why not?’

  ‘Well, it’s unusual, isn’t it? I mean, people normally only book these places for a week or two.’

/>   ‘Yes, but I’m not most people,’ she said.

  There was a pause.

  ‘Now who’s proving hard to talk to?’ Samson said.

  Harrie laughed. ‘I’ll leave you to it,’ she said and watched as he slowly climbed the ladder, up to his safe, solid world.

  It was late afternoon when Mike’s car pulled up in the driveway. Harrie, Lisa and Honor were all sitting in deckchairs in the south garden and heard the car at the same time, leaping to their feet in an instant.

  ‘Audrey! We were so worried about you!’ Harrie cried, running towards her friend and flinging her arms around her as soon as she appeared. ‘It’s so good to have you back.’

  ‘It’s good to be back. I really missed this place!’

  ‘Oh, charming!’ Lisa said. ‘She missed the priory but not us!’

  ‘You know what I mean,’ Audrey said, coming forward and hugging her friend.

  ‘I want to hear you say it,’ Lisa insisted.

  Audrey gave her a funny look. ‘Oh, all right then – I missed you guys! There, will that satisfy you!’

  ‘Welcome back, Audrey!’ Honor chimed as she received her hug. ‘How are you feeling?’

  ‘A lot better, thank you.’

  ‘Don’t let her fool you,’ Mike said, coming forward with Audrey’s luggage. ‘She still needs plenty of rest.’

  ‘How are you, Mike?’ Harrie asked. The two embraced.

  ‘Good. You look well, Harrie.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘And Lisa – it’s been a while, hasn’t it?’

  ‘Too long, gorgeous man!’ Lisa said, giving him a resounding kiss on the cheek.

  He laughed. ‘Hello, Honor.’

  The five of them walked into the priory together.

  ‘Audrey’s been driving me nuts!’ Mike confessed. ‘Who would have thought that doing nothing could be so hard?’

  ‘I did!’ Audrey said. ‘Doing nothing absolutely terrifies me.’

  Mike glared at her.

  ‘But I’m learning to adapt,’ she quickly added.

  ‘Let’s get the kettle on,’ Harrie suggested.

  ‘Kettle?’ Lisa cried. ‘Shouldn’t we be opening some wine? You are allowed a little tipple, aren’t you?’

  Audrey looked to Mike and he pursed his lips.

  ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea,’ he said. ‘Not just yet.’

  ‘But surely wine helps you to relax?’ Lisa said.

  ‘A cup of tea,’ he said. ‘For now.’

  Audrey sighed, but nodded.

  ‘Now, let’s get you unpacked,’ he said. ‘Which way is it?’

  ‘Up the spiral stairs,’ Audrey said. ‘Come on. I can’t wait to show you around. I’m still in the same room, aren’t I, Harrie?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Just making sure Lisa didn’t pinch it whilst I was gone.’

  ‘I did no such thing!’ Lisa protested. ‘Although I might have had the odd shower in your en suite.’

  ‘This place is amazing,’ Mike said as he followed her up the spiral staircase.

  ‘You see why I wanted to come back?’

  ‘It’s certainly beautiful.’

  They reached the landing and Audrey crossed towards her bedroom and smiled as Mike whistled.

  ‘You’ve got your own fireplace!’ he cried. ‘And look at that window.’

  ‘I wish you’d stay the night,’ she said to him.

  He put his hands on her shoulders. ‘I wish I could too, but I should get back. But, first, I’m going to get you all sorted here.’

  She watched as he walked across the room and unzipped her suitcase.

  ‘Mike, I can do that, really.’

  ‘It’s okay.’ He took out her clothes and laid them on the bed before opening the wardrobe door and hanging up her dresses. There would be no arguing with him. Even though he had the long drive home, he insisted on her not lifting a finger.

  Finally, he crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her.

  ‘Promise you’ll call if you’re worried about anything. Any time – night or day.’

  ‘I promise.’

  ‘And remember—’

  ‘No working! I got it!’

  ‘I have all my spies in place,’ he told her. ‘The first sign of you sending an email or ringing the school and I’ll be back here in a heartbeat.’

  They returned to the kitchen, where Harrie had tea and biscuits ready on a tray to take into the garden. Mike immediately cut in, taking the tray from Harrie, and they all enjoyed their treat as the sun slowly slipped behind the great tower of the priory.

  ‘Well, I’d really better be off,’ Mike said, getting up at last.

  ‘You sure we can’t tempt you to stay, Mike?’ Harrie asked.

  He looked up at the building behind him and shook his head ruefully. ‘Afraid I’m needed in London. Maybe another time, eh? Be sure and book it again.’

  Harrie smiled at him and nodded. ‘I’ll try and do that.’

  Audrey watched the exchange and couldn’t help noticing Honor glaring at her mother in an odd manner but, before she could question it, Mike was on the move and everyone was saying goodbye.

  She walked with him to his car and they embraced.

  ‘Love you, Aud.’

  ‘Love you, Mikey.’

  They kissed.

  ‘Call me once you’re home.’

  He nodded. ‘And you call me every day and any time you need me, okay?’

  ‘I promise.’

  She watched as he left and then turned and walked back through the garden to her friends.

  ‘Thank goodness for that!’ she said. ‘Right, who’s got a laptop I can borrow? I need to get some work done.’

  Harrie held her hands up. ‘No way, Audrey! I’m under strict instructions not to let you work.’

  Audrey laughed. ‘I was joking!’

  Harrie examined her closely. ‘I can never quite tell with you.’

  Audrey felt restless that first night back at the priory. Mike had rung as soon as he’d arrived home to make sure that she was comfortable and feeling well. It had taken about twenty minutes of constant reassurance before he was happy enough to hang up.

  Switching on her bedside lamp, Audrey got out of bed. The night was warm and she tiptoed across the floorboards to open the casement window, praying for some cool air to find her as she sat on the large window seat. She felt like a romantic heroine from a Tennyson poem and smiled at the notion. It was a long time since she’d felt romantic. That was something which had definitely been missing from her life of late and she knew that the fault lay with her because she’d been so horribly busy.

  All those little romantic things she and Mike used to do together, like taking a walk at dusk along the river or making time to visit a favourite restaurant, had fallen by the wayside when she’d started her school. Just before she’d left for the holiday at the priory, she’d arrived home after nine one night, several hours after the school had closed, to find Mike brooding on the sofa. When she asked him what was wrong, he’d motioned to the kitchen and Audrey had then remembered. It was their wedding anniversary and she’d forgotten. Mike hadn’t forgotten, though. There’d been an uneaten meal in the oven and a bunch of red roses in the sink.

  She still felt awful about that and she’d offered to take Mike out the following night, but he’d declined and, in all honesty, she’d been glad because she had so much to do at work.

  When had that happened, she wondered? When had she started to choose work over her husband? It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with her marriage. They were still very much a loving couple. But it might not always be that way, she warned herself. Not if she continued to put her work first and Mike a very poor second. Maybe her episode, her health scare or whatever it was, was a wake-up call. It wasn’t too late to change things, was it? Mike was still very much there for her, but how long would he put up with things? He’d already told her that things had to dramatically change. He hadn�
�t really gone into any detail about that when she’d questioned him and she had to admit that it worried her. Her work was so much a part of her that she sincerely doubted there’d be very much left of her if it was taken away.

  Hopping down from the windowsill, she pulled on a cardigan and slipped her feet into the comfortable slippers Mike had bought her after she’d come out of hospital. He’d bought her a lot of things: a stack of magazines, a box of her favourite chocolates, a huge bunch of flowers, the silver earrings she had admired in the local jeweller’s as well as the velvety soft slippers. Oh, yes, Mike was still there for her. It was she who had moved away.

  Quietly, opening her bedroom door, she tiptoed across the landing, stopping when she heard a strange noise. It took her a moment to work out what it was. Crying. She cocked her head to one side. It was coming from Honor’s twin bedroom. Moving closer to the door, Audrey hovered, her hand in the air ready to knock, but something stopped her. She didn’t feel it was her place to intrude.

  It was probably boy trouble. Maybe Honor and Benny had been fighting, Audrey told herself, continuing to the kitchen. There she poured herself a glass of water and returned to her room, picking up one of the hardbacks which Mike had packed for her. She smiled. It was one of the books he’d bought her last Christmas. Or was it the Christmas before? She couldn’t remember. But, one thing was for sure, she hadn’t had time to read it. She had time now, though, she thought, as she climbed into bed.

  Audrey wasn’t the only one who was having trouble sleeping. Lisa had opened her window before getting into bed and, although there was a light breeze now, it was still unbearably hot.

  She got out of bed and threw on a light kaftan, padding across the floor in bare feet. The floorboards felt wonderfully cool, as did the stone steps of the spiral staircase as she made her way downstairs. What to do in a priory in the middle of the night, she wondered? A priory with no TV. There were books, plenty of books, that was for sure, but she really didn’t feel like reading. Actually, she was feeling a little bit peckish, she realised, moving towards the fridge. Opening it, and bathing herself in the delicious coolness for a moment, she stared at the contents. There was nothing but salad, smoothies and fruit juices in there.