They ate together, and then Laura, knowing she couldn’t face another afternoon playing gooseberry, decided to go out for the rest of the day. As she left, she was aware she was uncomfortable in her own home.
The following morning, Cherry’s last day, Laura felt a little guilty about her churlish thoughts and resolved to make one last effort before she went home.
‘What time’s your flight today, Cherry? Only, I was wondering if you’d like to see some of the smaller villages up the coast before you go.’
‘Oh . . .’ said Cherry, looking to Daniel for reinforcement. ‘I’m actually due quite a bit of leave. My boss has said he’d prefer it if I took it now, rather than in the middle of the summer, when everyone else wants to go away. I know it’s a bit last minute . . . bit cheeky, and please say no if it’s not possible . . . ?’
Laura tried to keep the welcome smile on her face. ‘You mean you’d like to stay a bit longer?’
‘That’s incredibly kind of you,’ said Cherry, her face lit up in the first genuine smile that Laura felt was actually directed at her.
‘That’s OK, isn’t it, Mum?’
‘Of course it is,’ said Laura, recovering just in time. ‘How long . . . ? Do you have a lot of holiday to use up?’
‘A fair bit.’
‘Mum, we were thinking of doing that trip to the vineyard you suggested. Fancy it?’
Laura was still thrown by the revelation that her house guest didn’t seem to be leaving after all that day – in fact, didn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon. ‘No, it’s OK. You go. I might go over and see Isabella today.’
They left soon after and Laura made herself a cup of coffee and took it out onto the terrace. She realized she was distinctly heavy-hearted about the next few days.
Isabella was more philosophical. ‘Darling, it’s nice she wants to stay longer. Shows she’s keen to get on with you.’
‘Does it?’
‘Of course. Otherwise she’d be leaving on the first plane out.’ They watched as the pool boy methodically scooped out some leaves, moving the net slowly through the water. ‘There’s something really calming about him, don’t you think?’ said Isabella. ‘His movements. Like some kind of t’ai chi.’
‘Is he new?’
‘Madame Baudin’s son.’ Isabella smiled naughtily. ‘He’s come of age.’
Laura lowered her sunglasses, both horrified and amused. ‘Isabella, you are not . . .’
‘Oh, darling, relax. I just like to look.’ She turned back to Laura. ‘I rather liked her, actually. Despite my earlier misgivings. She seemed quite charming. Happy to muck in. Anyway, I thought it’s what you wanted. One big, happy family.’
‘Well, yes . . . except I get the feeling she doesn’t want to let me in . . . In fact’ – Laura laughed uncomfortably – ‘I’d go as far as to say she wishes I weren’t there.’
‘Really? Why?’
‘I don’t know. Just a feeling. She doesn’t talk to me much. Open up.’
‘Darling, give her a chance. She’s only just met you. Probably terrified of you.’
Laura looked astonished. ‘Whatever for?’
‘You’re the mother of her new boyfriend. And you always were very protective of him.’
She laughed. ‘What on earth are you talking about?’
‘Come on, you were always the more territorial of us at playgroups. A real tiger mother. Do you remember that time you pinched that little boy? He was only about two.’
‘He bit Daniel on the leg. Drew blood. There was a row of teeth marks on him for days.’
‘And wasn’t there some incident with a kid in his class? I seem to remember a cricket bat . . . and did he not end up crying or something and then . . . didn’t he leave the school?’
Laura’s gaze turned to the pool boy. ‘Do you remember being young? Late teens . . . early twenties?’
‘I seem to remember a lot of parties – at least, going to them, but funnily enough not a lot of detail.’
‘I wonder what Rose would’ve been like.’
‘Beautiful and talented, probably. Like her mother.’
Laura smiled. ‘It’s funny with Cherry. I was hoping . . .’
‘Oh no, darling,’ said Isabella quickly. ‘Don’t hope that.’
‘I know. Silly,’ said Laura. ‘Fanciful really.’
They sat, both enjoying the measured, slow movements of the pool boy, the regular whoosh of the water and the drip, drip, drip as he lifted his net.
When she got back to the house, Cherry and Daniel were still out. Laura made herself a bit of lunch but picked at it. Then suddenly impatient, she realized this was an opportunity she should be making the most of. After all, she had the place to herself and could enjoy the peace. Swim in the pool without feeling like a gooseberry.
She went to her room and changed into a bikini. On the way back, as she passed Daniel and Cherry’s room, she noticed the door was ajar. She stopped and was about to close it, but then propelled by a longing to be closer to her house guest, peeked through the gap. She stood with her feet safely on the neutral territory of the landing and cast her eyes about the room. Two suitcases were stacked neatly against the wall, the clothes hung up in wardrobes. A wayward sleeve jutted through the gap between the doors. Some clothes were cast on the chair, some shorts of Daniel’s and a T-shirt of Cherry’s she’d seen her in the night before. The bed was roughly made, the summer duvet pulled up to reach the pillows. On the dresser were receipts, boarding-pass stubs, their passports and some books. Laura recognized one of her own favourites, and without realizing she was doing so, walked into the room and picked it up. She flicked it open to the folded-down corner and smiled, recalling the passage in the story. Was it Cherry’s? She instantly warmed towards her; there was a reassurance to actually knowing something about her, even something as innocuous as the books she liked to read. See, they had things in common! And there was certainly no need for Cherry to be anxious around her. Spurred on by this cheering information, Laura looked around. Picked up a passport and turned to the back. It was Daniel’s and she laughed at his very serious sixteen-year-old face. She’d taken him to have the photo done for a school trip to Burma.
Should she? Oh, what harm could it do? It was practically an established ritual, comparing passport photos. She picked up Cherry’s. Her photo was equally serious. She flicked through and there was just the one visa entry stamp in there for Australia. Conscious she’d crossed the boundaries of the passport-photo game, she quickly put it back. She stood there for a second, not yet wanting to leave, aware that this was the closest she’d been to Cherry since she’d arrived three days ago and she wanted to know more, to close the gap between them. At the same time, she knew she was trespassing and the insight wasn’t being freely given. She gazed around the room, frustrated that she still knew so little about this girl who’d captured Daniel’s heart, frustrated that Cherry hadn’t let her in.