‘You might consider – just think about – letting some of that resentment go and allowing her to be a mother to younow. You push her away, you know, and it’s not helping either of you.’
I swallowed, feeling those annoying tears pricking again.
‘I’ll think about it. All of it. Thank you.’
I reached across the table and took her hand. She squeezed mine hard.
‘Let yourself be happy, see where it takes you. And, for some more traditional advice, let me tell you that Alexander is one of the best men I have ever met, and Theo one of the best kids. You’d be a bloody fool to let them go.’
I let my mind bring up an image of the two of them and my heart swelled with hope.
SEVENTEEN
Breakfast the next morning was a quiet affair, with Mum and Douglas away. I hadn’t seen Alexander since our interrupted kiss, as when I had arrived home with Constance after lunch, I spent a couple of hours with Coco, who then suggested going out to a restaurant in York where a friend of hers was working. It had been good to be out and, as I had driven and Coco was staying out to go clubbing with her friend, I had got to bed early, drunk nothing but elderflower cordial and consequently woken up with a clear head and more energy than I’d had in months.
‘What time did you get home last night?’ I asked her, as we carried through the breakfast things.
‘This morning, more like,’ she said, grinning. ‘It was just past two. I hope I didn’t wake anyone up.’
We all shook our heads.
‘I wish I still had that stamina,’ said Constance. ‘Funny now how I can dig and work all day in stupid temperatures and be fine, but if I’m in bed later than ten thirty, I feel it for a week – and show it. You, darling Coco, look as beautiful and fresh-faced as ever.’
Coco put her hands in a ‘v’ shape under her chin and pouted, and Constance laughed.
‘Theo being born did it for me,’ said Alexander, hugging his son. ‘I’ve never quite been the same since. Having worked plenty of nights in surgery, you’d think I’d be perfect for getting up at night with a baby, but it was more punishing, I’m sure of it.’
‘Did Mum get up in the night too?’ asked Theo.
There was a tiny pause. I had rarely heard her mentioned.
‘She did,’ replied Alexander, his voice light. ‘But these things are often a two-person job.’
‘What are you all up to today?’ asked Coco.
My phone pinged.
‘Ah ha!’ I said, reading the message. ‘Well, we are going to be extremely busy, as it happens – if you can bear to forgo a morning at the sanctuary, Theo?’
‘Has the van arrived?’ he asked, his face lighting up with excitement.
‘It’s about five minutes away,’ I said, ‘so we’d better finish up our breakfast.’
We did so, quickly, and the five of us were pulling on coats and opening the front door when the vintage Citroën HY van came slowly up to the front of the house, followed by a small red car.
‘Fallon?’ asked the woman who had been driving the van.
‘That’s me,’ I said, going forward and shaking her hand. ‘And this is Alexander, the proud new owner.’
I introduced the rest of the family to the woman, whose name was Tara, and the man who had followed in the car behind, Greg.
‘Come and see your new van,’ said Tara, and led us around. Alexander and I had, of course, seen plenty of photos, but seeing it for real was exciting. It had been painted in shades of pale green and purple, to represent the heather on the moors, and the painted signs and decals with Alexander’s logo were immaculate. Greg went inside to open up the side flaps and we all oohed and aahed at our first glimpse of the inside of the van.The back wall was tiled with cream metro tiles above a wooden countertop which would soon be filled with bottles. Glasses were stored hanging in racks and there was a fridge under the counter. A small sink was fitted to the left.
‘It’s adorable!’ said Coco. ‘And I love the lighting. I never realised it would be so cool. Can we come inside?’
‘Maybe just two at a time,’ said Greg, smiling, and he came out. I stood back to let Alexander and Theo be the first inside, but Alexander put a warm hand in the small of my back and said:
‘You come, too, Fallon, I’m sure the three of us will fit just fine. You made this happen, you should be one of the first in.’
