Knowing Remi’s family is in our corner makes me believe, just maybe, our friends might come around too, especially for him. Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen how much they mean to him, how deeply woven into his life they are. But also for me, because I don’t want to lose Anne, or the new friendships that are slowly, carefully beginning to grow.
Before any of that, though, there’s one conversation we can’t put off much longer.
We need to talk to Maddie.
Remi’s mum must be reading my mind. She gently steps back from the stream of chatter between him and Ben, something about the horse fair and people they both know, and lays a gentle hand on my arm, her expression warm and full of care.
“How are you, sweetheart? And please, call me Emma… Remi mentioned you've had a rough time at home. You don’t have to say anything, not unless you want to, but I just want you to know, if ever you need someone to talk to… I’m here.”
I instinctively place my hand over hers. “Oh, Emma… you have no idea how much you and everyone else here have already helped me. Honestly, it’s been more than I ever expected. Thank you for the offer and for everything. I promise I’ll keep it in mind. I’m not quite ready to talk about what happened yet… but being here, surrounded by so much kindness, it means everything.”
She smiles, visibly moved. “And to me, it means everything to see my son this happy. Remi’s had his share of hard times, haven’t we all, but I’m so proud of the man he’s become. I don’t think I’ve ever told him that properly. After his father passed,there was a light in him that dimmed. And even with all he’s accomplished, his work, his life in London, I could always tell something was missing.”
She pauses, emotion thickening her voice. “But today, when I saw him walk into this room holding your hand… I saw that light come back. It was shining so brightly, it lit up his whole face. I’ll admit, I was taken aback at first, almost couldn’t believe what I was seeing. But then he held you close on the sofa… and the way he looked at you, Sebastian, it told me everything I needed to know.”
Emma’s emotion is so heartfelt, so real, it makes my chest tighten and my heart swell almost painfully, until Remi cuts in with zero subtlety.
“Mum!!” he groans, pulling me back against his chest with that possessive instinct of his that never fails to make me melt. “Leave Sebastian alone! Don’t start getting all clingy, you’ll scare off my boyfriend!”
At that word,boyfriend, my insides turn to complete mush.
“Oh, give it a rest, Remi,” I tease, grinning up at him. “Your mum wasn’t bothering me at all. On the contrary, she was telling me about you, which I find very enlightening.”
Then I turn back to Emma with a playful smile. “Please, feel free to continue…”
I only say it to wind him up, and it works like a charm.
“Seb, I swear,” he groans again, dramatically. “If you give her an opening, she’ll dig out every embarrassing childhood photo she owns, and we’ll never make it out of the house today.”
Emma laughs and lifts her hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright, I’ll behave! Besides, you two only have a couple of days here, right? It’s only fair you make the most of them before heading back to work.”
She tilts her head with a knowing smile. “So? Any plans for today?”
Remi glances at me with hopeful eyes, then turns to his mum. “I was thinking of taking Sebastian to the coast,” he says. “It’s such a gorgeous day, we could cycle there and have a picnic on the beach.” Then he looks back at me. “If that sounds good to you, baby… uh, Seb.”
I can’t help but blush at the sweet nickname he always slips out, then nod enthusiastically. “I’d love that, Remi. Honestly. I haven’t had many chances to go to the seaside, and I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”
His whole face lights up, and without a second thought, he pulls me into his chest and presses a kiss to the top of my head, completely unbothered by the fact that his family is watching. They look on with such fondness that another lump forms in my throat, this one full of gratitude.
Even Maude gives her brother a subtle nod, and I realize, with a quiet swell of emotion, that it’s her way of saying she approves.
After the harshness of my mum’s words and my dad’s refusal to stand by me, feeling so much warmth and unconditional acceptance from people who barely know me fills my chest with a kind of joy I never thought I’d be lucky enough to feel.
Growing more at ease by the second, I turn to them with a hopeful smile. “Why don’t you come with us? I’d really love to spend the day together.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” Emma says, her voice all softness and affection, “you’re such a darling! Thank you, that’s so thoughtful of you. We’d truly love to, but we’ve been away for a couple of days and have a few things to catch up on. Ben needs to check on the house, and Maude could do with some proper rest, she’s got a meeting in Penzance tomorrow, haven’t you, love?”
Maude nods and adds quietly, “I’d really like to join you, but the fair was… a lot. I need a bit of peace. If it’s alright, I think I’ll head up to my room now.”
She gives a small nod of farewell and disappears down the hall without waiting for a reply. She looks completely spent, like her energy’s been drained and she’s in need of quiet to recharge. I understand that feeling all too well.
Emma watches her go with a flicker of concern, then turns back to me.
“You’ll have to forgive Maude, Sebastian. She can come across as a little distant, or even disinterested at times, but I promise you, that’s not who she is.”
“Please, don’t worry, Emma,” I say quickly. “There’s nothing to forgive. I actually really like her. It’s obvious she cares deeply about all of you.”
Emma’s eyes soften as she smiles. “You’re a treasure, Sebastian. We’re so glad you’re here with us, aren’t we, Ben?”
