‘Even less than I cared about her before,’ muttered Grace. ‘Attention-seeking egotist!’
‘Hear, hear,’ said Teddy.
‘I’ll talk to her,’ said Rosie.Of courseLucinda was fine, she was one of life’s rubber balls, always bouncing back.
‘I wouldn’t bother saying sorry,’ said Grace.
‘No, don’t,’ said Nessa. ‘You were right to say what you said. Sometimes, people need to be told when they’ve crossed a line. And she’s spent a lifetime crossing lines and breaking down people’s boundaries.’
Rosie and Patrick looked at each other for a moment.
Grace turned to the others. ‘If anyone would like a drink, I will be serving Cliff Toppers in my bar. All welcome.’
‘We’re going home,’ said Laurence, firmly. ‘We need an early night, don’t we, Ness? And relieve my mother from babysitting duties. And anyway, early start for me as I will be bringing Nessa breakfast in bed.’ He paused. ‘You like jam sandwiches, don’t you, Ness?’
‘I haven’t had one since I was five,’ she said.
‘Perfect. All the better to rekindle your love for them. As we continue to rekindle ours.’
Nessa rolled her eyes, but then smiled at him, despite herself.
Laurence took her hand and kissed it. ‘I’ve been an unforgivable fool. Immature. Insufferable. An embarrassment. I lost the run of myself. It’s time to grow up. Look, I am going to ask Dad to give me responsibility at the golf club, actual work to do. And if he doesn’t, then I’m going to find something else. And I’m not saying I’m giving up alcohol entirely, but I am going to knock it on the head for a while. Now, let’s go home so I can prove to you that I only love you and the twins. From now on, I’m going to be a model husband and father.’ He looked at Nessa, waiting for her reaction.
‘Don’t change entirely, Laurence,’ she said. ‘I don’t want someone boring. Come on, let’s go home.’ And arm in arm, they walked away, towards the gap in the hedge.
Rosie, followed by Teddy, walked across to Lucinda, where she was cuddling Pedro, now released from his hutch.
‘Lucinda, I’m sorry I told you to shut up,’ Rosie said.
Lucinda didn’t look up, ignoring Rosie, but then she realised that Patrick had followed her. ‘Ah, here he is, my hero.’
‘Lucinda, I’m really sorry,’ Rosie said again.
But Lucinda blanked her, staring at Patrick, her eyes glowing. ‘If you hadn’t gone to all that trouble to find me, God only knows what state I’d be in,’ said Lucinda. ‘Thank you, Patrick. Pedro, remember our hero Patrick? Well, he saved your mummy as well.’
Lucinda obviously wasn’t going to accept Rosie’s apology and was only going to talk to Patrick and Pedro. She needed so much attention, it was draining.No more, thought Rosie.I’m not going to worry about her. I’m going to worry about me.
‘Lucinda,’ said Teddy, with a sharpness in his voice. ‘Rosie just apologised to you. I think you should graciously accept it.’
Lucinda blinked at him. ‘I did,’ she said. ‘I just didn’t say it out loud.’
‘Well, say it out loud, then,’ said Teddy. ‘Now.’
Lucinda gaped at him. ‘I was just about to…’
They waited for a moment, but when it was clear that Lucinda wasn’t going to, Rosie felt a rush of emotion. ‘You need to stop meddling and trying to control everything. You’ve brought a toxicity to this place,’ she said.
She turned to go when Patrick spoke. ‘You haven’t recognised me, have you, Lucinda?’
‘No… I can’t recollect…’ Lucinda’s smile had dropped. ‘Rosie did say that we had met, but I have no memory of it. But thank you again, Patrick. Your gallantry is most appreciated by me and my Ped?—’
Patrick cut her off, speaking firmly. ‘You told me I wasn’t good enough for Rosie. You said I was just a dairy farmer.’
‘It’s a noble profession,’ said Lucinda quickly. ‘I for one support dairy farmers. I love cheese…’
‘But why did you interfere?’ Patrick pressed. ‘Why did you think I wasn’t good enough for her? We were in love. At the time. Yes, we were young, but we were happy. Were you jealous?’
Lucinda’s smile had frozen, her eyes flickering as though life was flashing in front of her like a home movie. ‘Rosie made that allegation earlier, but I don’t recall it. I am sure whatever was said was said with the best and most loving of intentions. I am nothing if I am not a doting aunt who has tried to do the best for my nieces, who has tried to love them in lieu of my late, beloved sister…’ – she flashed a particularly unloving look at Rosie – ‘to whom I was very close. I think Rosie might be exaggerating my influence. I’m merely a poor, inoffensive, ineffectual former party girl with a heart of gold. Ask any of my friends and that is what they would say about me.’ She gave a laugh. ‘Although former party girl sounds like a euphemism. Suffice to say, I still like a little song and a little dance, but all I am now is in service of my nieces and Pedro.’ She gave a quick, tight smile at Patrick. ‘It was a long time ago and if anything was said, it is of no consequence. You look fine and healthy, as does Rosie. You were children at the time. I was the adult, trying to look out for you both. You should be thanking me, not looking for protestations of guilt. Now,’ she said, briskly, looking around, as though the conversation was all done. ‘How will we get home? Ah! The ever-reliable Teddy, my brother-in-law. Will you run me home, Teddy? Room for two little ones?’
