Eloise (25 page)

Chris was not best pleased about my planned Sunday lunch. He was fond enough of Juliana, but thought the presence of Arthur and Jack would be an uncomfortable reminder of Eloise. I told him that it was only polite to invite them, and besides, he knew Eve had a crush on Arthur. That didn’t go down well, to say the least. Like any other father, Chris was deeply suspicious of boys who liked his sixteen-year-old daughter, and the fact that Arthur was Eloise’s grandchild made him even more uncomfortable. He harrumphed a bit and I laughed at him, and for a while, everything seemed back to normal. Me teasing him, him pretending to be grumpy, the kids happy to see us happy. We had a lovely day that Saturday, actually, and I began to allow myself to hope that Chris wouldn’t sell the cottage after all. We went shopping for the next day’s lunch and later I watched him kicking a ball around with Tom and Sam on the front lawn, and couldn’t believe he would part with this place and its wonderful memories of the children when they were babies. We’d always said we’d never sell; we wanted to
watch our grandchildren grow up here, and to leave the house to our three kids when we finally passed on ourselves.

Evie and I were sitting right at the top of the garden. From here you could see the sea and the church. It was perfect, such a beautiful spot. Eve seemed to pick up on my thoughts. ‘Oh, Mum. I love it here. We’ll never leave it, will we?’

‘Not if I’ve got anything to do with it,’ I muttered.

She looked puzzled. ‘What do you mean? Dad loves it too, doesn’t he?’

I cursed myself for making her anxious. Maybe it would have been more responsible if I’d told Evie at least part of the truth. But what could I say? She knew nothing about Eloise’s roaming ghost, and I wouldn’t dream of involving her. It was bad enough that Sam knew about his mother’s mental problems, without my baby being upset about them too.

‘Yes, of course he does, darling. I just don’t think he loves it quite as much as I do, that’s all.’

She looked knowing.

‘Men!’ she said, in an attempt to sound sophisticated. ‘They really don’t get it most of the time, do they?’

I wanted to laugh.

‘No, dear. They don’t, I’m afraid. Still, they have their uses.’

She cradled her head in her hands.

‘Mum?’ she said softly. ‘Do you think Arthur likes me?’

‘I know he does, baby. Juliana says he’s pretty keen.’

She blushed and giggled. ‘What shall I wear tomorrow?’

‘Something casual. You don’t want him to think you’ve made too much of an effort. Just jeans, I think, and a pretty top.’

She nodded thoughtfully. ‘How long do you think he’ll stay in Cornwall?’

I thought carefully about what to tell her. I didn’t want to raise her hopes too high. On the other hand, Evie might be a useful weapon in my campaign to convince Chris to keep the cottage. So I told her the truth.

‘Actually, love, he’s planning to stay for quite a while. Juliana told me he wants to go to sixth form college in Truro next term. And, if he does, he’ll live with her.’

Evie hugged herself. ‘That’s amazing. So I can see him more or less whenever I want? Maybe even every weekend?’

Whoa, I thought. This could get out of hand quickly unless I put a brake on it.

‘I don’t know about that, sweetheart. There is the small matter of sixth form in London for you.’ She looked crestfallen, and I relented. ‘Look, I’m sure you’ll be able to keep in touch. I mean, you’re mad about texting, and there’s always Facebook.’

‘I know, but it’s not the same as hanging out with him. You’ll come down with me sometimes at weekends, won’t you, Mum?’

‘Course I will,’ I said heartily. ‘Now, what shall we do about supper? Fish and chips from Looe okay?’

Evie couldn’t have cared less.

‘Whatever,’ she said dreamily, and we walked down to join the boys.

That night, after a peaceful evening watching a DVD, Chris and I went to bed. Unlike the previous night, there was no awkwardness. We chatted happily enough about the children, amused by Evie’s crush on Arthur, and read companionably, side-by-side. Eventually, we put the light out.

I couldn’t help but feel tense. I tried very hard to yawn and generally indicate that I wanted to go straight to sleep. But Chris was insistent. He put the light back on and said, very softly, ‘Cathy, we need to get back to normal. Let me hold you.’

‘But you think I’m mad. Why would you want to make love to a woman you have so little respect for?’

‘I have
every
respect for you, Cathy. You are extraordinarily clever and perceptive. It’s just we’ve been through a hard time, and I’m well aware that some of it has been my fault. I love you, and I want us to get back to how we were.’

Somehow, we did.

I went to sleep feeling soothed and happy. And I managed to persuade myself everything was going to be fine. Just one
night with my family, my children harmonious, and my husband loving me, had restored my faith in our future. Us. Just the five of us, as deeply entwined as we had always been.

Eloise’s voice nudged into my sleep.

‘Cathy, tomorrow you will meet Jack. This is it, Cath. He will show you what needs to be done. And he is so wonderful. He was always everything to me.’

Everything? What about her babies, Rose and Violet? Isabella and Arthur? What about Ted, for God’s sake? But these were minor quibbles. Tonight, I felt soft, safe, loved. In Chris’s arms, I was no longer threatened by my friend’s insistent demands.

The next morning was chaos. I had to cook lunch for eight, and I was a lousy cook now. But I’d been really good in the old days and I was determined that the meal I produced today would at least be memorable. I suppose I had a lot to prove.

I’d been careful to get all the ingredients from Fowey, and the beef from Kittow’s Butchers was always superb. But I was on edge, which made me grumpy. The boys teased me about it, which simply made me cross, but Chris, after our tender night, was helpful and attentive, and Evie was a treasure. She peeled the potatoes and parboiled them. Meanwhile I mixed
the batter for the Yorkshire pudding and put it to chill in the fridge. I asked Tom and Sam to lay the table, which they did with much bickering. I felt obliged to try and copy Juliana’s fabulous hospitality, so there had to be vases of beautiful flowers on every surface, three perfect courses for lunch, and port or liqueurs afterwards. But it’s a bit difficult serving up a faultless, aspirational meal in an open-plan kitchen, where all the pots, pans and general detritus of cooking are on general view. Evie told me to stop fussing.

‘What is it with you, Mum?’ she hissed, as I was tearing my hair out about the floral arrangements. ‘Juliana has known you for years. She won’t give a stuff about the table decorations. She knows you haven’t got servants. And for heaven’s sake, Ted and Eloise lived like hippies. I can’t ever remember a meal with them that wasn’t like a rushed, squashed picnic.’

She was right, of course. I was being over-fastidious, not because of Juliana, but because I was nervous about meeting Jack. Eloise had given him a pretty big build-up.

Eventually the house looked presentable, even pretty. Chris had lit the fire, albeit grumpily.

‘But it’s far too warm for a fire today, Cathy. You must be mad.’

I chose to ignore the obvious insult. And, to be fair, he looked at me, stricken, after he said it, and obediently piled the logs onto the hearth.

And suddenly, they were here. Crowded into our sitting room, Juliana, Arthur and Jack. Chris and I busied ourselves with serving drinks. Evie busied herself with staying as close as possible to Arthur.

And then everyone sat down and gathered their thoughts. It was as if some bossy, celestial voice had shouted: ‘AND RELAX.’

There was a small silence. And then I looked properly at Jack. And I knew, instantly, why Eloise had loved him. I almost fell in love with him myself, after that one long glance.

He was gorgeous. Blond and tanned as you would expect of a Cornish boy turned Aussie surf-hunk. With beautiful blue eyes and a wide, generous smile. It was obvious why Eloise had married Ted. She clearly had a type, and Ted had reawakened her passion for Jack when she met him. But as we talked, it became obvious Jack was no beach bum. He had qualified as a doctor in Byron Bay, and had specialised in treating cancer patients. How ironic, I thought. I wish he could have treated Eloise.

We sat around our big oak table, and Eve and I served up the starters, smoked salmon and prawns. Not the most adventurous beginning, but we had an excellent fishmonger in Fowey so I knew it was really good quality. Chris poured the chilled white wine.

Obviously I hadn’t told the children about Jack and Arthur’s relationship with Eloise. As far as my three were concerned, the two men at our table were just distant relatives of the Trelawney family. Juliana seemed on top of the world. She sparkled in a way I hadn’t seen since before Ellie died.

Chris carved the beef. It looked fabulous, pink and moist. In fact, the whole course was a triumph; the Yorkshire pudding was crisp and gorgeous, the roast potatoes, parsnips and sprouts beyond my wildest dreams. Perhaps I should cook more often, I thought to myself smugly.

By now the red wine was going down a treat. I had deliberately seated Arthur next to Evie, and they were lost in a conversation that was, by turns, solemn and giggly. Chris and Jack were in earnest discussion. They were talking about the British NHS, and the way they ran things in Australia. Juliana and I just beamed at each other. What a lovely day, what a perfect occasion.

And then there was a perfunctory knock on the kitchen door. As always unlocked, it then flew open and in spilled two tiny girls, followed immediately by Ted.

Rose and Violet screamed with joy when they saw Juliana, Eve and the boys. We all leapt up immediately to welcome and cuddle them. But Ted just stood by the door, a saturnine leer on his face.

‘Well, well, well,’ he said sardonically. ‘And there’s me
thinking it’s a nice Sunday afternoon, the girls are a bit lonely, I’ll go and take them to visit some old friends. Only to find you all got there before me. Here you all are, having a lovely lunch, and the only person who wasn’t invited was me. And the twins, of course.’ He turned to his mother-in-law. ‘Now, Juliana. Are you going to introduce me? That young man sitting next to Evie is, I presume, the sainted Arthur. Who is going to get so much of my wife’s money. But who is
he
?’ he asked, staring at Jack. ‘Could it possibly be the legendary Jack, her teenage lothario? I think I should be told, don’t you?’

There was silence for a minute. Then Chris stood up.

‘Ted, I think we should go outside. You really can’t come in to our house and insult people like this. I won’t talk to you in here; there are too many people to upset.’

‘Oh, really? You think people can’t bear to hear the ugly truth, eh? Well, you know, so many secrets have been kept from me that I don’t have much sympathy for toeing the line with you bastards right now.’

‘Ted, for heaven’s sake,’ said Chris. ‘ Don’t talk like this in front of your daughters. You should save your grievances for grown-ups.’

‘Right, then. I’ll take you, Arthur and Jack outside right now.’

I was absolutely livid. This was my lunch party he was spoiling.

‘Ted, you’re being ridiculous. Now sit down and have a glass of wine. Please, this just a family lunch. I’m sorry I didn’t invite you but you’ll remember that the last time I saw you we didn’t part on good terms. To say the least.’

‘Oh sure, I remember that. You were screaming about the sea rising up to drown us all, and shouting about Eloise. Really sane, I thought. What a wonderful wife you have, Chris. Mad as a hatter, but still quite pretty. Lucky old you.’

Eve and Tom were staring at me open-mouthed. Eve spoke first.

‘What does he mean, Mum? What’s this about the sea trying to drown us?’

‘Nothing, darling. Look, Ted’s obviously intent on spoiling lunch so would you three mind taking the girls downstairs to watch CBeebies? And Arthur too, of course.’

Arthur grinned, apparently unfazed by the angry stranger in our midst.

‘D’you think I’ll enjoy CBeebies, Evie?’

She turned to him in relief.

‘Idiot,’ she said happily. ‘Well, maybe you will, because it’s for very small brains.’

Laughing, they scooped up the little ones and made for the stairs. Tom and Sam followed, although Sam seemed reluctant to leave. He gave Ted a hard glance. As they disappeared down the stairs, I caught a strange, hungry look on
Jack’s face. Probably the twins reminded him of Eloise, I thought. They did look astonishingly like her.

Again I asked Ted to sit down. Juliana backed me up and poured him some wine. Chris looked belligerent, Jack politely curious. Ted did sit down, albeit with bad grace. He stared at Jack.

‘So,’ he said. ‘You’re Jack, eh? My wife’s first love.’

Juliana leaned forward.

‘Ted, please be careful what you say. Arthur has no idea that Jack is his grandfather.’

‘I know. It’s good old Uncle Jack to him, isn’t it? Don’t worry; I won’t spoil the comfortable illusion by telling him the sordid truth. Which is that you got my wife pregnant when she was just thirteen. Although, God knows, I could have done with a bit more honesty from her. Until a short time ago I had no idea Eloise was a promiscuous adolescent. Nor did I have a clue that she had a grandson to whom she was planning to leave a quarter of her fortune, let alone, of course, a magnanimous bequest to her bastard daughter. Yes, she was very loyal to her progeny. Pity her benevolent instincts didn’t extend to her poor bloody husband.’