‘And if we had a big party to tell the world what we’re up to, you’d come?’
‘Of course!’
‘Try to keep us away!’ said Jago.
Helena felt her mother had relaxed a bit as she and Jago went through the house with her looking at furniture. Gilly had already put stickers on everything she wanted to get rid of.
‘Can we say yes to everything?’ said Helena.
‘There are some nice pieces here,’ said Jago.
Gilly seemed sceptical. ‘It’s just a load of old junk, really, and very battered.’
‘I like battered,’ said Jago. ‘And I’d like to restore some things.’
‘But do ask Martin,’ said Helena. ‘I’d hate him to think we’d taken everything.’
Gilly cleared her throat. ‘I’ll ask him. I’m not sure any of this is his and Cressida’s style though.’
‘No, but you know what he’s like,’ said Helena. ‘He’ll get cross if he isn’t asked.’
Gilly sighed. ‘He will.’
‘Are you tired, Mum? You must be. We’ll do the car another time. We’ll get out of your hair and let you find anEscape to the Countryto sleep in front of.’ Helena hugged her mother. ‘Don’t worry about Martin. He’ll come round eventually.’
But Gilly couldn’t relax. After Helena and Jago had gone, Gilly went out through the front door to dead-head her hanging baskets. She was so happy that Helena was completely relaxed about her living with William, but while Martin was upset about it, she couldn’t properly relax.
She was surprised to see her car parked there. She sighed. Its presence implied that someone – probably Martin and Cressida – had delivered it without coming in to say hello.
All her happiness about living with William melted away, leaving her with a feeling of unease. She and Martin had never been as close as she and Helena for all sorts of reasons but while she didn’t always like him, she did love him very much. The thought of him being upset with her was heartbreaking.
She’d gone against Martin with regard to selling her house and releasing some capital so they could upgrade. And while she hadn’t liked to disappoint him, she knew she was right to stick to her guns and keep the home she loved.
But maybe inviting William into that home was going too far. Maybe it was unfair to Martin when he was so against it, and even if Martin was being unfair, she and William were quite happy as they were – or at least, happy enough. Or perhaps the elegant town house near the shops and restaurants should be considered seriously? Should she throw her lot in with William, sell her home and share out the money?
Even though she made herself think about it, she knew she couldn’t do that. But nor could she do something that would make her son so unhappy.
Before she could change her mind she rang William.
‘I can’t do this,’ she said, the moment he answered.
There was a tiny pause. ‘Can you hold that thought?’ he said. ‘I’m coming to see you.’
‘Could you do that?’ Suddenly Gilly yearned for the comfort of his arms around her.
‘Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be with you in half an hour.’
Gilly was thinking about lunch when William arrived. She couldn’t decide between soup or salad or a sandwich and had half made all three, unable to focus because she was so preoccupied with Martin and his feelings about her living with William. She’d always put her children first and felt that was right. But Martin wasn’t a child any more; was she crazy to put his needs above her own?
She got out her phone, tempted to ring Helena and ask her what she thought but realised it wasn’t fair on her. Helena and Martin didn’t always get on that well and she couldn’t risk making that worse. Then her phone buzzed in her hand. It was a text from William.Nearly there.
Delighted, she put down her phone and ran upstairs to check her make-up and to decide if she was wearing the right thing. She ran down again when she heard his car, and was in his arms before he had a chance to get to the door. She felt her tension and anxiety begin to melt away as he held her and she knew she was in the best place in the whole world.
She let him go reluctantly. ‘Can I make you lunch?’
‘Have you reached a point of no return with lunch? I’d like to take you out.’ He smiled a little questioningly. ‘I’d like to take you gliding.’
‘Oh, I’d love to go!’ she said. ‘And no. I can just fling everything back into the fridge. Although I’d better find a jumper.’
