‘He’s still working for my dad’s company. He’s the Construction Manager,’ I tell her proudly.
‘Wow! That’s a big achievement.’ Then Alison frowns. ‘Wait, AT Construction was your dad’s company?’
I nod. ‘Unfortunately, Dad had a heart attack at work.’ My voice breaks a little at the memory of how quickly and cruelly my beloved father was taken away from us. ‘But Nick was wonderful. He was such a support to us, he came to tell us personally about Dad’s accident, took us to the hospital, looked after us and organised the funeral. I really don’t know what we would have done without him.’
Alison looks really taken aback. ‘I didn’t realise…I’m so sorry about your dad. How awful for you both.’
‘It was. It was so sudden and such a shock,’ Mum says. ‘And I had no idea what to do with the business, but Nick took control, he literally saved the company and worked hard building it up.’
Alison looks from Mum to me, her eyes wide. Then she turns her gaze to Nick. ‘That was very good of you.’ Was I imagining the edge to her voice?
Nick shrugs and stares awkwardly down at his plate. ‘I had a lot of support, all the staff are fantastic.’
‘Nick is always so modest,’ I say.
‘So that’s how you two met? How fascinating.’ Again there seems to be an edge to her voice.
‘Yes, they quickly became inseparable, and I was delighted when Nick asked Lizzie to marry him. I couldn’t think of a better son-in-law.’ Mum smiles at Nick, and he flushes.
Nick is looking rather embarrassed at all this praise, so I change the subject. ‘It’s been great to meet you, Alison. When do you go back to Spain?’
‘I fly back tomorrow,’ she says. ‘I’m staying over at Aunty Sheila’s tonight so that I don’t cramp the honeymooners’ style. It’s only about fifteen mins’ drive from here to Gloucester.’
Mum looks a bit embarrassed but George laughs. ‘What’s she like?’
‘Well, hopefully it won’t be long before you’re over again and we can all have another catchup,’ Mum says.
Kenny groans. ‘Don’t encourage her or she’ll be here every weekend!’
Alison grins. ‘Wouldn’t you love that.’
I listen to the banter, my mind working overtime at the freaky coincidence that not only has Mum married the man whose wife’s death I was responsible for, but that man’s daughter worked for my dad’s company with my husband. And apparently they were very friendly back then. A friendship that seems to have rekindled today.
Alison was only there for the summer. Dad owned the biggest construction firm in the area and often gave summer jobs to the local students, I remind myself. And it was years ago.
Even so, it gives Alison even more of a connection to my family. And the last thing I want is for her to attach herself to us. I want her to go back to Spain and stay there. That way, hopefully, no one will ever find out what I did.
8
JUDITH
‘Well, we’d better be going before they kick us out,’ George says much later. ‘It’s gone six now.’
I can’t believe it’s that late. It’s been such a wonderful day, the weather has been perfect and everyone has got on so well, which means a lot to me and George. We’re both family people, liking our grown-up kids to pop in whenever they can. It would have been awkward if they hadn’t got on, so we were delighted to see them chatting away happily.
We all get out of our seats and start to gather our things together.
Lizzie turns to me. ‘Enjoy your honeymoon in Prague, Mum. Take lots of photos. And let us know that you’ve arrived safely.’ She hugs me goodbye.
‘I will,’ I promise. I bend down and give Isaac and Grace a cuddle. They’re tired so Lizzie and Nick are going straight home, but Kenny, Alison and Sheila are coming back to have a cup of tea with us.
Everyone says their goodbyes amid hugs, handshakes and cries of ‘See you soon’, ‘Safe journey.’ Then Lizzie and Nick set off home. I’m so pleased how well the day has gone, and am really looking forward to our honeymoon tomorrow. I’ve got aweek off from the bakery where I work part-time, and George has arranged cover for his shop. It will be wonderful to spend a few days together, walking around Prague. Neither of us has ever been before but we’ve researched online and it looks a beautiful city with lots to see and do.
Back home, Alison goes straight into the kitchen, as if she’s lived here all her life, and makes us all a cup of tea.
‘Are you both all packed?’ she asks, bringing mugs in on a tray. She passes me my special mug, the one that Isaac and Grace bought me for my birthday. It says ‘World’s Best Gran’ so it’s obviously mine, it’s very thoughtful of her. Then she hands steaming mugs around to the others. ‘What time is your flight tomorrow?’
‘We have to be at the airport for eleven,’ George tells her.
