Callum immediately thought it was a terrible idea. ‘Claire, your father’s got a disease that won’t get any—’
‘My mind’s already made up, Cal,’ she said. ‘I want everyone to come and stay at Trevellin, to spend time with Dad. It’ll bring back memories for him, remind him of all the good times, help him feel like his old self again.’ She paused, tears pooling. ‘I want him to know how much everyone loves and cares for him. He’s been such an amazing father, it’s his turn now. The summer holidays aren’t far away.’ She wiped a finger under her eye. ‘It’s the onions,’ she added.
Callum could tell she’d convinced herself it was a good plan, and, in many ways, she was right. Patrick would gain a temporary respite from his degenerating brain. But she needed to accept that some stupid reunion wouldn’t halt the daily deterioration as his disease took hold. He decided that keeping quiet was best for now.
‘It’s a lovely idea,’ he said, drawing close and wrapping his arms around her waist. But she didn’t respond. She was staring out of the window again. Big drops of rain splatted against the glass and the magical light was gone. Claire’s hair returned to its normal mousey-brown colour and the electric atmosphere in the kitchen fizzled out.
Chapter Four
Maggie was soaking in the bath when her phone rang. She’d swooned when she’d first seen the place with its sunken Italian marble tub, and had virtually melted at the luxury of the entire house when she’d moved in with Gino two months ago.
She stood up, sending a wave of water over the edge as she reached for a towel, drenching the floor when she ran to the bedroom.
‘Hello?’ She caught it just in time. ‘Oh my God, oh my God, oh… my… God…!’
Both women were laughing hysterically.
‘I know, right…’ Claire said down the line. ‘It’s been so long. How are you?’
‘How long have you got?’ Maggie replied, suddenly feeling the need for a cigarette, even though smoking in the house wasn’t allowed. ‘You know better than to ask me that. Anyway, if you got yourself on Facebook, you’d know.’
The two women laughed again.
‘I’m unemployed and living the life of Riley in Gino’s – yes, Gino, I know! – amazing place.’
She heard Claire say something about never settling, about nothing changing. The line was bad but even through the humour and the crackles, it still stung deep.
‘Rain’s fifteen now, can you believe? She has the body of an adult woman with the common sense of a five-year-old. And there’s me with an urgent need to travel the world on the back of a Harley with a man ten years younger than me and an even more desperate need for immediate sex, but my Italian lover is working late tonight.’ Maggie lit a cigarette anyway, blowing out. ‘And how are you, my darling, darling girl?’ She giggled at the stupid accent she’d put on. There was a long pause. Maggie wondered if Claire had hung up, if her flippancy had overstepped the mark. Perhaps she was calling with bad news.
‘I’m fine. Still working at the estate agency.’
‘That’s fantastic, Claire.’ Maggie didn’t think she sounded very enthusiastic. Drying off a little, she lay back on the bed, flicking ash into the wine glass she’d drained earlier.
‘Marcus is doing his A levels and Amy is in her second year at primary school now.’
‘How time flies.’ She’d not seen Claire’s youngest since she was a toddler. She’d always considered Claire her best friend, but as time drifted on, so had their lives, their loves, their jobs and regular contact. ‘And how’s that wonderful man of yours?’
Claire laughed. ‘Callum’s fine. He’s a consultant now.’
‘Mmm, a brain surgeon,’ Maggie replied with a giggle.
‘Sometimes it’s brains,’ Claire said, echoing the laugh. ‘Listen, I was wondering…’
Maggie sat up. She knew there’d be a reason for the call.
‘Are you free at all during the summer holidays? I thought it would be nice if…’ Claire was hesitant.
‘Spit it out, Claire, for God’s sake. I’m going to say yes anyway.’ Maggie plumped up her pillows, drawing in on her cigarette.
‘I have some sad news first, I’m afraid. Dad’s not been well.’
Maggie felt a chill run up her legs and back. She’d always adored Patrick. He’d been a second father to her – sometimes a first father.
‘He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six months ago.’
Maggie sighed heavily. ‘Christ, I’m so sorry to hear that, Claire. How rotten for him. How rotten for you all.’ She found it hard to imagine the workhorse of a man, the long-limbed climbing frame of a father she’d loved as her own, struck down by any illness, let alone this. ‘If there’s anything I can do…’ She meant it.
‘That’s why I’m calling, actually.’ She heard Claire swallow. ‘I’m organising a reunion. Mum’s decided to sell the farm. It’s too much to cope with as well as looking after Dad. So I thought getting everyone together would be good for him. It’ll be just like old times.’
There was silence.
‘Oh, Claire…’
‘Say you’ll come, Mags. For Dad.’
Maggie could almost feel their hands clenching together as they used to do as inseparable teens. The passage of so much time so quickly made Maggie sad. ‘Of course I’ll come,’ was her heartfelt reply. In reality, she was wondering how to tell her daughter that she’d be spending some of her precious summer holidays in Cornwall.
* * *
Later, Maggie woke to the sound of the front door banging shut.
‘Rain?’ She glanced at the clock. Eleven thirty. She’d not long dozed off. ‘You’re back early, love.’
Rain was silhouetted in the doorway by the landing light. ‘That’s because I only have one friend in this dump of a town and she’s a loser. No reason to stay out.’
‘Oh, love.’ Maggie reached out to her, but Rain didn’t respond. She stood stiffly, her arms clamped across her chest.
‘Can I go back to school tomorrow? I don’t want to come here at weekends again.’ Rain shifted from one foot to the other.
Maggie knew how hard it was for her to get used to another potential stepfather, settling in a different town yet again. They’d moved around so much it was difficult for her to make local friends. But being a single mother was also hard. Deep down, Maggie knew Rain hadn’t exactly hit it off with Gino, and was best off back at her boarding school. At least she had friends there, even if they were from all over the world.
‘Of course, love,’ Maggie said, patting the bed. ‘Come and sit. I’ve something to tell you.’ The bed dipped slightly as Rain reluctantly planted herself on the mattress. Maggie flicked on the bedside lamp. ‘Good heavens, what happened?’ Rain’s make-up was smudged from tears and her lips looked swollen, almost bruised.
‘I just went to a bar…’ She trailed off, running a finger over the duvet.
Maggie frowned, knowing that something more had happened, most likely to do with a boy. Rain was a troubled soul and she daren’t risk an explosion by asking who or what had upset her. ‘I had a call from an old school friend earlier,’ she said, trying to sound casual. ‘Do you remember Claire Lucas… or Rodway as she’s called now?’
Rain shrugged.
‘I haven’t seen her in ages. She was my best friend.’
Something must have struck a chord with Rain because she looked up and listened.
‘Four of us were great friends in Cornwall. We did everything together, but now Claire’s dad is poorly. She wants us to have a reunion for him, to make him feel better.’
‘Cool,’ Rain said genuinely. ‘You’ll have fun.’
‘It’s down in Cornwall, where I grew up,’ Maggie added. She hadn’t visited for twenty years. No point in mixing old crap with the new. Even though it wouldn’t be easy going back, she wanted to show Rain a piece of her past. The time finally seemed right.
‘Where grandma and grandpa used to live?’