Granny Viv was at the front door before Kate had got to the boot to retrieve her luggage.
‘Go back inside,’ Kate commanded, giving her gran a brief wave and a smile, accompanied by a solitary bark from Rufus who was now bounding up the steps to greet Granny Viv. ‘It’s freezing out here and this bitter night air isn’t good for you.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Granny Viv, bending down to pet Rufus. ‘It’s bracing. Beth and Rose phoned hours ago to let me know they were at the airport. What’s taken you so long to get here? Was the traffic bad? More road works, I suppose. This country is going to the dogs. Oh. No disrespect to you, my darling boy.’ She patted Rufus on the head. ‘I’ve opened a bottle of wine and put a bowl of water by the fire.’
‘Thanks,’ said Kate, shutting the boot and grinning as she carried one suitcase and Rufus’s bed up the steps. ‘I’ll get the rest later. I’m assuming the wine is for me and the water is for Rufus. And yes. The traffic was horrendous. It always is on a Friday night but I expect lots of people are going away for a romantic Valentine’s weekend, so there’re more cars on the road.’
‘Ah yes,’ said Granny Viv with a wistful sigh. ‘I remember those days. Your grandfather always had something special planned for Valentine’s.’
‘Didn’t you travel by horse and carriage in those days?’
‘Cheeky minx!’ She stepped aside to let Kate pass.
Kate stopped and kissed her on the cheek. ‘They’ll all be in the air by now. Beth promised to text me the minute they arrive in Meribel, and Mum said she’ll send a text once they’re on board the ship.’
Granny Viv closed the front door and Kate and Rufus followed her into the sitting room, Kate depositing her case and Rufus’s bed at the foot of the main staircase on the way.
‘Have you eaten?’
‘Yes,’ said Kate. ‘We both have. But I might grab a sandwich or small snack later, and I’ve got some biscuit treats for Rufus. I’ll give him a couple once we’ve relaxed. Frank has given me strict instructions about food and treats, and I promised him I’d follow them to the letter. I think it was difficult for him to leave Rufus to be honest. But on the other hand, he and Mum did want to go on this cruise.’
‘Do you envy them?’ Granny Viv asked, pouring two large glasses of red wine and handing one to Kate, before sitting in the armchair beside the fire.
Kate flopped onto the sumptuous sofa while Rufus went to the bowl of water and took several loud laps. Kate took a large drink of wine and then slowly shook her head.
‘Nope. Although I wouldn’t mind some warm sunshine. I know it’s the middle of February but it seems to be getting colder. I definitely don’t envy Beth and the snow.’
At least the roaring fire in Granny Viv’s sitting room, along with the central heating, meant that this room was nice and toasty. The rest of the house would be too. The heating bill was sky high but Granny Viv could afford it.
‘Yes,’ said Granny Viv. ‘I’m looking forward to the warmer weather. And lighter evenings. Do you miss Beth living with you?’ She tutted. ‘Of course you do. What I meant to ask was how you are getting on without her?’
Kate had already discussed the subject with Granny Viv during their many phone conversations, but now it had been two weeks since Beth had moved out. She twisted her glass around in her hands.
‘I won’t lie. It’s been … different with her not there. I keep thinking she’s away on holiday and that she’ll be back soon. Then I have to remind myself that she’s never coming back. Gosh! That sounded depressing, didn’t it? I don’t mean it like that. I’m truly happy for her. But it’ll take some getting used to. The house seems … so quiet without her.’
‘I know exactly how you feel. I felt the same when Rose moved out, even though I still had your grandfather. When he passed away, I seriously considered selling up and moving somewhere new.’
Kate sat bolt upright. ‘Really? I didn’t know that. You love this house. What made you decide to stay then?’
‘The fact that I couldn’t decide where I might like to live instead. And the fact that I knew everyone in Bluewater Bay. I was only fifty-nine, well, closer to sixty when he died. Young enough to build a new life, but too old and too set in my ways to really want to. Besides, I wanted a home large enough to have my parties, and friends and family to stay. Moving is such an upheaval.’
‘I know,’ Kate said, laughing. ‘This last couple of weeks have been bad enough, and I wasn’t the one moving, I was just helping Beth and Mum.’
Granny Viv smiled and sipped her wine while Kate stared into the flames of the fire and Rufus spread himself out on the rug, his tummy turned towards the heat.
‘What will you do if Beth decides to move away?’
‘Move away?’ Kate furrowed her brows.
‘Chelmsford isn’t the easiest place to get to if your home is in Meribel. And Rose’s home is delightful, but you’ve seen the photos of Avery’s home, haven’t you? Of course you have. We all have. Beth sent enough photos from her first visit to last us all a lifetime. She adored the place.’
Kate sucked in a breath and shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. ‘I know she did. And yes, I saw all the photos. I adored the place myself just from seeing those. And who wouldn’t want to live in a luxurious chalet in the Alps, surrounded by breathtaking scenery? But honestly? That thought hadn’t even occurred to me. I’m still trying to get to grips with the fact my daughter is engaged and now living down the road from me instead of with me. Do you … do you genuinely believe Beth is considering it? She hasn’t mentioned it to me. Or to Mum, as far as I know. Has she said something to you?’
‘No. Not in so many words.’ Granny Viv shrugged. ‘But it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Chelmsford is no Meribel. And having Avery constantly going back and forth is not ideal. The man will wear himself out.’
‘I think their sex life is doing that!’
Granny Viv and Kate exchanged glances and laughed.
