‘He’ll come,’ said Susan. ‘He’ll come down on that noisy motorbike of his, you’ll see.’
Meg smiled at her gratefully. ‘Well, if he’s late, it doesn’t matter. I’ve made a coffee cake, Ambrosine’s favourite. When she’s properly settled in, we can concentrate on the theatre party.’
‘Colin’s here already,’ said Louise. ‘He arrived late last night, after you’d gone to bed, Meg.’
Susan harrumphed. ‘Trust him to come when we could have done with having his room for the theatricals.’
Although Meg knew Louise completely agreed with this statement, she said, ‘Well, Nightingale Woods is his as much as it’s Andrew’s. He has a perfect right to be here.’
Susan’s expression spoke for them all; none of them liked Colin.
They went to collect Ambrosine immediately after breakfast. They were given strict instructions about her medication, which seemed to take ages, but at last she was safely loaded into the front of Andrew’s car. Meg was driving it and felt her responsibility keenly. She would have preferred Andrew, or even her mother, to carry out this delicate task, but Ambrosine had wanted Meg, and so Meg it was.
‘It’s so sweet of you to collect me,’ said Ambrosine as they left the little town.
‘It’s sweet of you to trust me when I’m driving Andrew’s big car. I’m used to the Mini, which is perfect for the lanes,’ said Meg.
‘I have complete confidence in your ability to do anything you choose to.’
Meg laughed. ‘When I think of what you’ve done in your life, nothing I do – or have done – really compares.’
‘We all have different rows to hoe, my dear. And you are hoeing yours very well.’ Ambrosine patted Meg’s knee. ‘Now, when I’m back I’d like to gather everyone together for a little meeting. I know I’ll needto go to bed for a while today, but before I do, there are things I need to tell people.’
Meg took a breath to tell Ambrosine that she didn’t need to tell anyone anything today, that there would be plenty of time to do that when she was properly settled in and completely herself again. But she kept silent; Ambrosine knew what she wanted and wouldn’t be persuaded otherwise. Besides, once the theatricals arrived (everyone referred to the theatre party in this way now), every minute would be spoken for.
‘I’m sure we can do that,’ said Meg. ‘Justin is hoping to be there to greet you, but it will be quite an early start for him, coming from London.
‘If he says he’ll be there, he will,’ said Ambrosine. ‘I know he can be a bit bossy and overbearing, but at heart, he’s a very good man.’
Meg laughed. ‘Only a bit bossy and overbearing?’ she said. ‘More than just a bit, I think.’
Ambrosine joined in the laughter but shook her head. ‘He’s wrapped round your little finger, if you did but know it.’
Andrew, Louise, Susan, Bob and Cherry were all waiting for them on the steps of Nightingale Woods. There were hugs, a few discreet tears, a lot of carrying of cases and eventually Ambrosine was ensconced in the drawing room.
‘You’re really sure you don’t want to go to your room straight away?’ asked Louise, not for the first time.
‘Quite sure,’ said Ambrosine. ‘When I’ve said my piece, I’ll retire to my room, but not until.’ She said this with a firmness that left no one in any doubt of her intentions.
Soon, everyone was assembled except Justin. While she was not really expecting him and had already resigned herself to his absence, Meg couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
Colin was the last to appear. He sat on a chair next to Meg (the one she had been saving for Justin) and said to the room, ‘Where’s Justin?’
‘He’s in London,’ said Meg, looking firmly ahead.
‘Oh,’ said Colin. ‘Probably seeing that Laura. She was a nice girl.’
Meg pursed her lips and said nothing.
Then, when Andrew had filled glasses with sherry and Louise had poured coffee and handed out cake, a familiar sound reached Meg’s ears. It was the roar of a motorbike.
Moments later, Justin came in, dressed in black leather and looking particularly dangerous and sexy. He came over to Meg and pulled her up out of her chair, put his arms around her and kissed her until she was dizzy.
‘Well, I think that deserves a round of applause,’ said Andrew, grinning.
Ambrosine was also amused. ‘Now sit down, Justin. I’ve got something to say and I haven’t got much energy. I’ll need a nap in precisely five minutes.’
‘We’re all listening, Ambrosine,’ said Justin, who’d moved to a sofa with Meg, who was so happy she forgot to be embarrassed by his kissing her so publicly. Sitting next to him, her leg lightly touching his (although she knew he wouldn’t feel it through his motorbiking gear), she couldn’t help looking forward to the evening, after the play, when she’d be able to invite him back to her room in the little flat.
