‘The main thing is that David is okay. For a second I thought there had been a horrific accident and I was going to be sued.’
‘It’s all good. I’ll send some flowers with our best wishes for a speedy recovery. Now put it to the back of your mind and rest assured that when that ice rink opens tonight it will be a success.’
‘Thanks, Lib, and thank you again—both you and Guy—for agreeing to do the video.’
‘You’re welcome,’ she replied, answering for both of them even though she hadn’t had a conversation with Guy since Flynn saw them skating together and got the wrong end of the stick. ‘Now don’t worry about a thing.’
As soon as Flynn left, Libby’s thoughts turned to Guy and that kiss. She was nervous about seeing him this morning but also couldn’t wait to be close to him again. She looked over Miranda and David’s wedding planning schedule one more time before getting ready to head to the wedding studio. Hopefully the RSVPs would start rolling in soon so she could start working on the seating plan.
* * *
As she locked up the lodge an hour later, she noticed the curtains of Guy’s were still drawn.
Libby decided to take a walk before work, as a jaunt around the grounds of Starcross Manor then through the woods leading to Primrose Park might help her get her thoughts straight. But no matter how hard she tried, there was only one thing on her mind: that kiss. She’d willed it to happen but now she didn’t know what, if anything, would happen next. Was it just an in-the-moment kiss or was it one that would lead to another? Still thinking about how close she’d felt to Guy in that moment, Libby headed towards the frozen lake, which sparked memories of her grandparents’ house. It held a special place in her heart and she was glad the house was still in the family, now owned by her father, somewhere she was able to visit often. In the past, she and Flynn had often talked about one day taking their own children there for holidays. Libby couldn’t wait for Flynn and Julia to have children; they would make the best parents and she was going to be the best auntie.
Then another thought suddenly consumed her. How was she going to feel being on the other side of the world when they did have children? She wanted to share every moment with them. She wanted to be waiting at the hospital when Julia was in labour. She wanted to be one of the first to smother the baby in kisses and cuddles. Libby didn’t want to be one of those aunties that sent a Christmas and birthday card every year and didn’t really know the child; she wanted to be present in the baby’s life.
Trying to shake the spiralling panic, Libby was pleased to see Cynthia up ahead, sitting on a bench. Huddled inside her coat and with her chin buried under her scarf, she was staring out towards the mountains.
‘Hi, Cynthia, how are you?’ Libby asked as she approached Guy’s mum.
Startled, Cynthia jumped. Libby noticed a puffiness around her eyes and couldn’t help thinking she looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to surprise you.’ Libby pointed to the bench. ‘May I sit?’ She didn’t want to pry but Cynthia looked like she could probably use a friend right about now.
‘Yes, of course, it’s a bit nippy out here this morning. Here…’ she said, standing up and spreading out the blanket she was sitting on, ‘you don’t want a cold bum.’
‘You’ve come prepared,’ Libby observed. ‘Thank you,’ she said, sitting down. ‘What are you doing out here?’
‘I just needed some time to myself,’ Cynthia confessed.
‘Of course. I can go, if you’d like? Honestly, I don’t want to intrude.’
‘It’s okay, it’s nice to see a different—happier—face first thing in the morning, if I’m honest.’
Libby assumed she was referring to Guy but didn’t think it appropriate to ask any personal questions. So she stared straight ahead, just as Cynthia was doing.
‘I’m out here to think too,’ Libby finally ventured.
They sat just taking in the view for a while before Cynthia broke the silence. ‘I always thought being a parent was going to be the most wonderful job in the world,’ she said, taking Libby by surprise.
‘I’ve always thought it would be too. Are you saying it’s not?’ Libby asked tentatively, noticing the tears welling up in Cynthia’s eyes. Libby reached inside her pocket and offered her a tissue.
Dabbing her eyes, Cynthia said, ‘I thought at this stage of my life I’d be sitting back enjoying retirement and making memories with my family, but instead I’ve been in the middle of World War Three for a few years and there’s no sign of any side surrendering soon.’
'Are things that bad?’
Cynthia nodded. ‘I’m in the middle of it all, just trying to get through the situation as best I can. There’s nothing worse than seeing your own children feuding, tearing each other apart when you can’t seem to do anything to put it right. I don’t knowhowto put it right.’
For a moment, Libby placed a supportive hand on Cynthia’s knee. ‘Is there any chance that Guy and his sister could put whatever it is behind them and agree to leave it in the past?’ she asked softly.
‘I wish they could, but I really don’t think so. I’m not sure how I would have coped if my own sister had done to me what Guy’s has done to him … and I’m not saying that lightly.’
Libby didn’t have a clue what his sister had done to him but it must have been bad if even Cynthia couldn’t see a way forward.
‘He expected me to cut her off, but she’s my daughter and I still love them both as much as I did before. Your child is your child and the whole thing is breaking my heart. I don’t know what to do.’ Cynthia dabbed her eyes with the tissue. ‘It really is a mess. Lydia has health problems at the moment and I’m overloaded with worry. I’d just like some sort of reconciliation between them.’
Whatever was going on in the family feud, anyone could see that Cynthia couldn’t take much more.
‘I know you don’t know me very well, but I’m happy to lend a shoulder for you to lean on while you’re here.’
