Vee took a long, shuddering breath. She was still hiccupping slightly even though the storm of crying had abated. ‘I hope you’re right. And as I said, it’ll be good to have no secrets any more.’
Rick didn’t answer. He was happy beyond measure that he’d been able to comfort her, but the last statement had been like a punch in the stomach. Yolanda had held on to her information for years before deciding to share it but there was still one more secret from his own and Vee’s past that she was bound to know. The question was, how long would it be before the temptation to share it became too much for her?
34
The next three days passed much too quickly for Beryl’s liking. She could easily have stayed another week if she’d had the choice, partly due to her affection for the village and the pension and also, if she was honest, because going home would mean telling everyone the news about her engagement.
Beryl wasn’t in the least ashamed of her decision to marry Frank but the thought of people congratulating her in public and then privately having a good laugh at two people of their age getting together was making her edgy. She tried hard to reassure herself that Anthea, Maurice and Frank didn’t seem to have any problem with all this, but the vaguely uncomfortable feeling refused to go away.
It was strange that Yolanda didn’t come to see the group after that first welcome, but Simone more than made up for it. She organised a trip to a local vineyard one day and a chateau the next, which kept everyone amused. However, on the third day, Beryl knew that she needed to find Yolanda. Never a day had gone by since Patrick’s death without her thinking of him, and there were still unanswered questions about his life in Willowbrook as a teenager. In Beryl’s opinion, Yolanda was the only possible person who might be able to answer them.
The other problem was Vee. Ever since she’d made that startling demand for them all to go home early, there had been a distinct lack of communication between Vee and the rest of them. She’d grudgingly agreed to come on the trips with the others after expressing a preference to stay behind at the pension by herself. Rick hadn’t let her get away with that one, thought Beryl approvingly. He’d insisted Vee shouldn’t opt out of Simone’s entertainment, and to give the girl her due she’d thrown herself into the visits fairly enthusiastically once they were underway.
The subject of why Vee had suddenly wanted to go home was skirted around, with the only rather vague explanation being that she’d had a message that a family visit was on the cards, and she needed to get her house ready. Beryl had been suspicious of that one right from the start. As far as she was aware, the house next door to hers was as ready as it would ever be. Who could the mysterious visitor or visitors be? There was clearly more to this than met the eye.
‘What is everyone planning for the last full day of your little holiday?’ Simone asked as she provided fresh croissants and bread that morning. ‘I suggest another gentle walk around the village, lunch at the café and then a long siesta. Remember that tonight is the ukulele festival evening in the square. It’s organised by your aunt, Venetia, so it will be excellent. I know how much you all enjoyed the singing.’
A chorus of approval met this reminder. ‘I’m going to have another swimming lesson with Winnie before we go for a walk,’ said Sid. ‘I nearly managed a width yesterday.’
‘You’re doing splendidly,’ said Winnie, squeezing his hand.
Beryl looked over her sunglasses at Winnie. She was getting very touchy-feely these days. ‘Are you up for a walk with me, Frank?’ she asked. Frank said he’d be delighted to accompany her. ‘And what about the rest of you?’ Beryl added.
Rick said that he’d promised Simone to do a few odd jobs around the house before they left so he’d better get on with that. ‘Want to help me, Vee?’ he asked.
Vee opened her mouth to reply but Simone got in first. ‘Oh, I’m sure we can manage perfectly well,cherie,’ she said sweetly. ‘You enjoy your relaxation. Maybe you’ll be wanting to go and say goodbye to your aunt?’
There was no answer to this from Vee. Anthea suggested that they should invite Yolanda for lunch with them, but Vee said that she expected her aunt would be busy getting everything ready for the evening’s entertainment. They carried on with their breakfast, and Beryl thanked whatever guardian angel was looking after her for making sure her false teeth had withstood the efforts of biting into the crusty baguettes every day. It would be back to soft brown bread when she got home, but for now, this was heaven. She took another dollop of apricot jam and beamed round at everyone.
‘This road trip has been my best excursion ever,’ she said, through a mouthful of bread. ‘And that’s saying something, because we’ve been on a fair few trips together, haven’t we, ladies?’
The other two Saga Louts nodded their agreement, both too busy munching on pains au chocolat to answer.
Frank cleared his throat and stood up. ‘I have something to ask you three,’ he said to Beryl. ‘Well, we all have. Us blokes, I mean.’
‘Go on then,’ said Beryl, intrigued. ‘Let’s have it.’
‘I… we… were wondering if you would consider extending the Saga Louts trio to include three more, plus Rick and Vee, of course, if they’re up for it. We’ve been thinking that we make such a good team that it’s a shame not to keep it going. For holidays and such, I mean. We wouldn’t try and muscle in on your regular film nights and so on.’
‘No, you’d better not do that,’ chipped in Anthea, frowning at him. ‘Our film nights are sacred.’
‘But for jaunts around the country and abroad, wouldn’t it be good to have some extra company? We’d assist with carrying bags and ordering taxis and… and so on… wouldn’t we?’ Frank’s voice petered out and he glanced at Maurice and Sid for support, but they were both looking down at their plates.
‘We don’t actually need any help,’ said Winnie. ‘We’ve coped perfectly well for this long.’
Beryl regarded her two friends thoughtfully. There was doubt on their faces, but the men were looking so downcast by now that she felt she had to take pity on them. ‘We could give it a try when we plan the next city break. Barcelona, didn’t we suggest?’ she said to Anthea and Winnie. ‘On the understanding that if it doesn’t work out, we’re not obliged to do it again?’
The other ladies looked at each other and then back to Beryl. ‘I’m happy with that,’ said Winnie. ‘Anthea?’
‘So long as I still get the window seat on the plane, I’m in,’ said Anthea, grinning at Maurice. ‘And no single beds if we’re sharing.’
Maurice was very pink in the face by this time, but he led the whoops of delight from the men. ‘What about Rick and Vee?’ he said, when the excitement had died down a little. ‘Do you fancy another jolly with us oldies or does that fill you with a deep sense of dread?’
Rick smiled at Vee. ‘Depending on work commitments, I’m up for any kind of holiday with you lot, although I need to keep some time free in case I get a chance to visit my sons in Germany. It’s… not easy with all their new commitments,’ he said. ‘Also, I think Vee might need a bit of settling-in time getting used to her new home before she takes any more trips?’
Beryl winced. It wasn’t right for him to answer for Vee, surely, but she was looking at him with more gratitude than annoyance. ‘Maybe the one after,’ she said. ‘Providing you don’t strangle each other in Barcelona. It’s lovely of you to ask though.’
With breakfast cleared away, everyone began to prepare for a more relaxing day. Beryl took Frank to one side. ‘Iwillbe going for a walk later,’ she said. ‘That much is true. But there’s something I need to do first. How about you wait for me here and I’ll be back as soon as I can?’
