‘Don’t. She’ll have understood.’
‘It’s why…’ Oliver began, then stopped.
Lucy heard herself speak before she’d decided to. ‘The Wellington development,’ she said quietly. ‘It was about her. A memorial of sorts.’
His gaze snapped to hers and he nodded once. ‘Partly. She used to watch me sail on the old marina that used to be there. And it was also for my grandfather. And partly…’ His mouth twisted. ‘To erase my father.’
Lucy swallowed and nodded. She’d got it all wrong.
‘I remember seeing your grandmother’s photo in the newspaper,’ said Kate. ‘You have a look of her.’
Oliver huffed and looked down as he placed his glass on the table. ‘If I did, I think life has worn it away.’
Kate cocked her head to one side. ‘What a strange thing to say. And sad. Maybe you’ve been on the wrong track.’
‘How do you mean?’ Oliver asked, wariness creeping in again.
It seemed the family held a collective breath as, with only a few words, Kate had dived in and found the nub of things. Lucy too wondered if Kate had taken a step too far.
‘Because that’s what happens when you run a tyre through a track that doesn’t fit. It loses its shape.’
‘Perhaps it becomes its essential shape?’ Oliver suggested. ‘Its core. That’s got to be good, hasn’t it?’
‘I don’t think so,’ Kate gently disagreed. ‘I think its essence is covered by a hardened shell which it had to produce in order to survive.’
All eyes were on Oliver. Even Jen and Augi’s conversation had come to a halt. Watching Kate was like watching a zen master in practice. Somehow Lucy knew that it had nothing to do with age. If Lucy lived to be a hundred she’d never be as wise as her mum.
Oliver gave a smile, as if wanting to agree but not finding the words. He looked choked up as he glanced around. But he couldn’t avoid Kate. She reached out and touched his arm. He looked at her, startled.
‘But I’m talking nonsense, of course,’ said Kate. ‘Tracks and tyres are nothing to do with people.’
He visibly relaxed. And then Kate leaned in to Oliver and spoke so only Lucy could hear.
‘Because people can change. They can grow and re-form, re-find themselves, if they give themselves a chance.’
Oliver nodded and this time gave Kate a genuine smile. ‘I can see why my grandmother became friends with your mother. If she was anything like you, I think she would have thought she’d met a kindred spirit.’
Kate withdrew her hand and sat back again. ‘Yes, maybe. Although anyone looking at our two families wouldn’t have considered us alike. My family was full of single mothers and mysteries and yours was very proper.’
There was a pause and all eyes were on Oliver who was frowning thoughtfully. ‘But “proper” is very superficial,’ he said at last. ‘Doesn’t get to the heart of things.’
Lucy felt her breath catch — then release.
Chapter Nineteen
With her eyes still on Oliver, Lucy got to her feet, compelled by that one glance to go to him. Then Jen coughed and Lucy looked around to find everyone was staring at her as if she’d gone mad.
‘More wine anyone?’ she asked, despite the fact she hadn’t touched her own glass.
‘Yes please, dear,’ said Kate, obviously taking pity on Lucy because she had a full cup of tea sitting in front of her.
Lucy escaped to the kitchen, found a clean glass for her mother, and let her cool palm press to her burning cheek. Brilliant, Lucy. Absolutely subtle.
As she poured Kate a glass of wine, she forced herself to think in facts, not feelings. Oliver had softened when Kate spoke about his grandmother. But she refused to jump to conclusions. He was clearly touched by what Kate had to say about his grandmother, and she was pretty sure that Oliver wasn’t often touched about anything at all. He was too guarded. Was that a sign he was letting his guard down? She didn’t know. But she was determined to find out.
When she stepped back outside, she saw Oliver and Sam down by the garden wall that edged the dunes. They stood shoulder to shoulder, silhouettes against the darkened beach, talking quietly. Lucy hesitated. She’d brought him here to connect with the family. Sam counted as family now he and Jen were engaged.
Instead of going to them, she brought the glass to Kate and kissed her cheek as a wave of affection and gratitude swept over her.
