Saffron looked blank at the very vague ‘nothing’ statement. OK, it was time for Faye to help things along.
‘Saff, I know you wish Dad and I were still together. But things have moved on and, going back, it’s not what either of us want.’
‘It’s what Dad wants,’ Saffron said. ‘Isn’t it?’ Faye watched her look at Matthew like she needed clarification.
‘I think, Saffron, that perhaps where your mum isn’t afraid to embrace change and new opportunities, I’ve been a bit stuck wondering what happens next now I haven’t got anyone to watch episodes ofFaudawith.’
‘But Nan said that she didn’t think Mum was truly happy without you either and that Corfu was just her “reliving her youth”.’
‘What?’ Faye asked Matthew. ‘Did your mum say that?’
‘No,’ Matthew said. ‘I don’t think so. I mean, if she did then she shouldn’t have.’ He wrinkled the napkin in his hand. ‘And Saff, I should have kept my idea to myself and not involved you in it. That wasn’t fair.’
‘It’s a good idea. Dimitria can retire and travel and do what she wants to do and you and Mum can take care of the hotel,’ Saffron said. ‘Maybe I can even work in it. It can be a family business.’
Faye saw the tears in Saffron’s eyes and her heart broke for her. She could see now just how much she longed to have both parents living back under the same roof so she still had that stability and familiarity to come back to no matter where she herself ended up.
‘Saff, Dad and I just don’t work as partners in life any more,’ Faye said. ‘We’ve had the most wonderful time together in our marriage, but we think differently now, want separate things and actually, there’s nothing wrong with that. And, when we’ve got the most amazing daughter together, how can anyone say we’ve failed?’ She smiled. ‘We did nothing but succeed. Yes, our marriage might not have lasted till death us do part but it outlasted many, many things?—’
‘Like Margaret Thatcher’s reign as prime minister,’ Matthew chipped in.
‘And many other things that I promise your dad is not going to list out right now,’ Faye ordered.
‘But I don’t like you fighting with each other,’ Saffron stated, folding her arms across her chest.
‘We’re not fighting with each other, Saff.’ Matthew looked to Faye. ‘Are we?’
Faye sighed. ‘Saff, Dad and I aren’t fighting but I will admit, sometimes I do talk about my frustrations around Dad with you and I shouldn’t do that.’
‘Do you?’ Matthew asked. ‘What frustrations?’
‘God, nothing major, just things like?—’
‘“I wish I’d cut up his clothes and burnt all his golf clubs”,’ Saffron said.
‘You didn’t say that, did you?’ Matthew asked.
‘Well, Dad, I heard you and Nan saying that Mum’s new hairstyle was “far too young-looking for her”.’
Faye didn’t make comment because the whole thing sounded very juvenile on both their parts. Instead she picked up her water glass and looked out across the bay.
‘I don’t remember saying that,’ Matthew said. ‘But if I did, or if my mum did, then I’m sorry. I think your hair looks very nice actually. Different but, you know, nice.’
Faye turned her attention back to the table. ‘And I shouldn’t have said that about your clothes or the golf clubs.’
‘Good. Because you know one of those clubs used to belong to Tiger Woods.’
‘Can we focus on the here and now?’ Faye asked him. ‘Before we all start getting hangry?’ She turned in her seat and took hold of Saffron’s hand. ‘Saff, I think Dad and I have to do better all round. We should be better at communicating with each other and in our relationship with you. You’re the most important person in all this and Dad and I need to act accordingly. Are we agreed on that, Matthew?’
‘Absolutely,’ Matthew answered. ‘One hundred per cent.’
‘I’m sorry if we’ve both been a bit distracted sorting ourselves out and taking part in all this unnecessary point-scoring instead of focussing on what really matters. Instead of taking care of you. But, Saff, I think you can agree that, generally, taking everything into consideration, Dad and I are much calmer, happier people now we’re apart, right?’
Faye watched Saffron’s expression. Her daughter seemed to really take in the words and muse on the statement before she made her reply. ‘I guess.’
‘And how about, instead of buying the hotel, I look at something else we can get involved in together?’ Matthew suggested.
‘A handbag empire?’ Saffron asked, eyes lighting up.
