‘Well, I shouldn’t have gone. It was mad to act so impulsively like that. I’d looked forward to getting to know you all. It sounded from Pearl as if you all needed a break, and what did I do?’
‘Abandon us!’ Shelley teases, and she senses the spark reappearing in those dark brown eyes.
‘Even though things didn’t work out, I’m still grateful to you all. I really am.’
‘You know, we actually loved it,’ Shelley says.
‘I’m glad. But I don’t just mean looking after this place. I mean…’ He pauses, colouring slightly. ‘Those chats we had while I was away. Honestly, I didn’t know what to do with myself. But you helped me to enjoy London…’
‘I’m so happy to hear that,’ Shelley says.
‘I’m just sorry you had to do the chip shop dash that first night,’ he says with a smile.
‘And I’m sorry we forgot to ask everyone to fill in the visitors’ book,’ she adds, and he laughs.
‘Don’t worry about that. Maybe they’ll be back someday, and they can do it then…’ Michael stands up now, and she sees his expression change as he seems to focus on the opening to the pantry.
‘Oh, the beaded curtain’s gone,’ he remarks. ‘I thought it was just pushed aside but?—’
‘Michael, I’m so sorry,’ Shelley blurts out. ‘It was Theo. He chopped it down. But I’m not blaming a five-year-old child. It was our fault really, we should have kept an eye?—’
‘Don’t worry. You had enough to do here,’ he says, shaking his head. ‘And actually, it was from a holiday a very long time ago…’ He smiles then, and despite the fact that her life has been upended, Shelley senses a glimmer of hope somewhere deep in her very core.
‘I’m glad you’re not upset,’ she ventures, and he hugs her reassuringly, as any friend would.
‘No, not at all,’ he says. ‘It was just an old thing. And sometimes it’s good to let things go.’
41
It’s Tommy who meets them at the airport. He’d called Lena, saying they had to talk about the wedding and that he needed to see her as soon as possible. They drop off Pearl first, and then Shelley. She looks pale and stressed as she strides to her front door. But there’s a sense of determination there too, Lena decides as she watches her friend step into her house.
She and Pearl know that Shelley can handle this, and that they’ll be there for her every step of the way. So as Shelley greets her kids, and then whisks Joel upstairs to their bedroom for a talk – to ask him to move out, and give her space for the time being – Lena senses that something is different in Tommy too. Even so, she’s not quite ready to forgive the fact that he lied by omission when she was in Scotland. That’s how she views it; that he wasn’t open with her. It’s so confusing to her, and so unlike the man she loves.
‘It’s just the way I am,’ she says as, alone now, they pull up close to her flat. ‘I suppose I must still be insecure, even though I pretend I’m not.’
Tommy’s eyes gleam with sudden tears. ‘You’re making out this is your fault and it’s not. It’s all down to me and I’m sosorry. There are no excuses, darling. I was just swept along, and I realise that sounds pretty pathetic. I should’ve told you what was going on, and then you’d have been fine.’
They climb out of the car and she glances at him, a wry smile playing on her lips now. ‘Well, maybe notfine…’
He exhales, taking her hand as they make their way to her block and upstairs to her flat. ‘Well, it’s made me realise something important.’
‘What’s that?’ She fixes her gaze on his as they step into the hallway.
Tommy reddens and looks down. ‘That I need to stop snapping to attention when other people want me to do stuff. My parents, I mean. And even Daisy?—’
‘Tommy, I never want to get between you and Daisy,’ Lena exclaims.
‘No, I know that. But even so, I reckon we should do thingsourway now. Me and you. What d’you think?’
She nods. ‘That’s… that’s good to hear,’ she says cautiously.
In the living room now, Tommy pulls her close and kisses her. ‘I missed you so much on Christmas Day,’ he tells her. ‘And I’m sorry you were upset…’
‘Tommy, it’s okay now,’ Lena says firmly. ‘Being logical, I knew Daisy wanted you there with them. You’re her dad. It’s natural. I just…’ She winces. ‘Please, let’s just be honest with each other from now on.’
‘Yes, definitely.’ His dark eyes radiate kindness as he steps back. ‘And you’re right. Daisy wanted me there. But you’re my family too, Leen.’ He glances towards the tree and then goes to pick up a small tissue-wrapped gift from beneath it.
‘What’s this?’ she asks. She and Tommy exchanged presents before she headed to Scotland.
