Falling in Love Again (39 page)

So he’d tried incredibly hard and managed to lose by only twenty three points which was, all the girls declared, fantastic. He left the house that night (having to be satisfied with a brief kiss on the cheek in the hall with September) wondering if he’d stumbled into an updated version of
Little Women
(something Nancy had made him read once to see how women ticked) and
Oprah
.

And now, six months on, September was pregnant.

‘We’ve got to tell them,’ he had said, terrified when she’d broken the news, and yet ecstatic at the same time. ‘Your father will kill me.’

But September had merely smiled a quiet smile and insisted that she would tell them in her own time but there was really no need yet  because she didn’t even have morning sickness. And no, she really didn’t want to marry him because none of his marriages had worked before and she didn’t want to ruin things.

And now, here he was – off to the final ‘How To Survive’ meeting, leaving his beautiful girl when he really wanted to stay at home.

‘You must go,’ she insisted. ‘I’ll be fine, really.’

If it hadn’t been for the prospect of seeing Alison and Karen again, he wouldn’t have bothered. But they would know what to do, he told himself as he knocked on Karen’s door. They’d know how he could persuade September to change her mind about marrying him. Providing her old man didn’t kill him first.

KAREN

‘No. It shouldn’t go on too long. But it might be best if you didn’t come round until later – so long as you don’t mind.’

Karen listened to the voice at the other end of the phone telling her that of course he didn’t mind. That he’d wait forever for her as he’d told her thousands of times before. And that he couldn’t wait until they were a proper family. His voice still made her smile: still made her feel warm just as it had done at the beginning. He was a good man. No. More than a good man. He was . . .

The doorbell! Surely they weren’t here already?

‘Hello you two!’

Hayley gave her a quizzical look. ‘You’d forgotten, hadn’t you?’

Forgotten? Forgotten what?

‘You were going to have Josh. Remember? So Adam and I could go out to dinner.’

No she hadn’t. She never forgot anything. She was organised. Had to be with her job. It was Hayley who had got it wrong – pregnancy always did that to you – but she didn’t have the heart to say.

‘I’d remembered all right,’ she said, deciding to play along with it so Hayley didn’t feel embarrassed. ‘Only trouble is that I’ve got my group coming along. Still you won’t mind that, will you love?’

She gazed fondly at her grandson who was still sitting up bright and alert in his pushchair as though he didn’t have a bedtime, which indeed he didn’t. Another thing she wasn’t going to make a fuss about. ‘I’ll try and settle him down in his room before they get here.’

Thanks, Karen.’ Hayley gave her a kiss on the cheek which made her glow. Doris had done the same just before she had gone. The memory still made her feel sad but at the same time, it inspired her. Mothers-in-law were important. Even the eccentric ones.

‘This way Josh! Had something to eat, have you love?’

‘Only a snack. And you know he’s always hungry. Like his mum at the moment.’

Karen gave her a fond look. ‘Feeling OK are you?’

She nodded. ‘Great. It’s a good sign, isn’t it?’

Apparently. So were the looks that Hayley was shooting Adam who was still in the car, ready to go. Nice warm looks that suggested everything might be all right after all. Something that, six months ago, might have gone either way.

‘See you later then, love. Come on Josh. Let’s see what we can find in the kitchen.’

53

LIZZIE

‘So, Lizzie.’ Karen flashed her a warm look which always made Lizzie feel better. Karen was such a lovely woman; so caring. Just look at the way she kept popping up the stairs to check her grandson was all right. ‘How’s the new man in your life doing?’

Alison beamed. ‘I’ve heard all about him. How on earth did you find him?’

Lizzie flushed. ‘It was Mum’s idea. She told me to advertise in the paper, so I did. Karen helped me with the wording – you can’t be too careful, can you?’

Ed cut in. ‘I hope you don’t think I’m interfering, Lizzie. But you have to be very careful with that sort of thing. You can meet some real weirdos.’

More laughter. ‘You’ve got it wrong, Ed. Like all the other mothers at school who are dead jealous when Lars turns up to collect the children. He’s not my boyfriend. He’s my new au pair. Lars is brilliant with the kids and it means we’re not so disorganised at home. Especially now I’ve been promoted to editor-in-chief.’

‘Goodness!’ Alison sounded really impressed. ‘That’s amazing at your age.’

‘Thanks.’ Lizzie glowed. ‘Actually, I’ve got something else to tell you. I
have
got a new boyfriend – well I think he’s one although it’s early days.’

Violet’s eyes grew even blacker and beadier. ‘What is his name?’

‘Dan.’

She glanced at Karen who had been the only one who knew about that misunderstanding at the beginning. The one when she hadn’t been sure if she had or hadn’t . . .

‘He’s a photographer.’

Violet sighed wistfully. Was it her imagination or did the woman only have two chins instead of three? ‘I used to have my picture taken all the time. With Robert, you know.’

‘He’s a photographer for my magazine,’ added Lizzie hastily. ‘Does a lot of stuff for the other glossies too. We’re thinking of setting up an agency together.’

She stopped, conscious that she was prattling nervously. ‘In fact, I’ve got to leave early tonight, I’m afraid. He’s coming to collect me.’

ALISON

‘So you see,’ Alison said looking round the group nervously, ‘I don’t know what to do.’

They all nodded. Except Violet. ‘Don’t trust him,’ she said, her mouth full of crumbs. ‘He might go back to those weirdos again. Sell the house; pocket your share and go and buy a villa in Spain. I did that after my first marriage broke up. Still go there. I rent it out if anyone wants to go. You might meet some of my famous friends.’

They all looked at her. Somehow, Violet and Spain didn’t seem to go together and as for the famous friends bit – well, they’d learned to ignore that one months ago.

‘Funnily enough,’ said Alison, ‘he went backpacking in Spain. Said he’d always wanted to do that when he was younger but then we got married and had the children so he couldn’t. It made me feel really hurt.’

Ed jumped up. ‘That’s it! I’ve just had the most brilliant idea.’

And as Alison listened to him, she had the feeling that he might just have something . . .

ED

‘So you see,’ Ed said after Lizzie and Alison had had their say and it was his turn, ‘I don’t know what to do either.’

Lizzie nodded. ‘I can see why she doesn’t want to marry you, Ed. Sorry. But your track record isn’t great.’

Thanks for chipping in. It was Alison and Karen he really wanted to hear from. They were the ones he’d really grown to respect.

‘You need to tell her father,’ Alison said gently. ‘If that was David, he would think more of you for being open.’

Karen nodded. ‘Secrets aren’t good in a family. They come out sooner or later. As for the marriage bit, love, I agree with your lovely September. If it isn’t broken, why mend it?’

Because I want to get married, he wanted to scream. Because I want the stability. . .

‘He wants to get married,’ said Violet steadily, reaching out for another biscuit. ‘He wants the stability. Nothing wrong with that.’

Thank you Violet. He was so grateful that he almost came clean about the famous actor bit but then she started talking again. ‘You’ll just have to wait, Ed, that’s all.’ Those black, beady eyes were really spooky. ‘The right time will come along one day. I think she sounds really nice. Not many women would be happy about taking a stepbrother on board as well.’

It was true. When he’d explained that The Kid’s mother was still unable to look after him, September had said that of course he must continue to live with them. Ed only hoped it would all work out.

‘What do you fancy singing tonight by the way?’ added Violet. ‘I was thinking of 
She’ll Be Coming Round The Mountain
. I used to work with a really famous actress who used to rock our dressing room with it.’ She whispered a name which couldn’t possibly be true, but this time Ed felt sorry for her instead of scornful as he had at the beginning of the course. ‘Said it made her feel ready for anything.’

And then it was Karen’s turn.

KAREN

Actually, someone said, isn’t it Violet’s turn? But Violet had just shaken her head and said that she’d rather not talk but just listen if that was all right with everyone, although she’d still appreciate the singsong at the end.

Karen didn’t like the sound of that – she’d talk to her after the group had gone, perhaps, and just check she was all right. But in the meantime, everyone was looking at her, so she needed to say something even though, in fact, she didn’t want to share it. Not now. Not now things had changed.

‘Rather a lot has been happening, actually. Doris, my mother-in-law, died which was sad.’

There was a murmur of ‘I’m sorrys’.

‘She had a stroke and then just as we thought she was getting better, it happened rather fast.’ Karen stopped, conscious that her eyes had blurred. ‘But not before she had a chance to say something to me which I think I might pass onto the rest of you, because it made a lot of sense.’

Everyone was looking, including Violet. Karen thought back to the day when she’d sat by the side of Doris’s bed, holding her paper-thin wrist and watching her lips as they tried to move. ‘She told me that it was important to make decisions for myself. And not because I thought it would make other people happy.’

Violet nodded. ‘Being true to yourself,’ she muttered through the Rich Tea crumbs.

Karen nodded. ‘Exactly.’

‘And is that what you’ve done?’ Lizzie asked quietly.

Trust a journalist to ask what everyone else was thinking.

Karen smiled, thinking of the blue stone she had pressed into Paul’s hand the last time she had seen him. ‘I want you to have this,’ she had said. ‘To mark a new beginning. Feel it every time you need strength. Stroke it. You’ll be surprised how it can help.’

He’d been touched. She could see that. Touched in a way that the old Paul would never have been.

Now Ed sat forward. ‘You can’t keep us in suspense, Karen. You’re different. I can see that.’ He looked around. ‘We all can. Have you got someone new in your life?’

Should she tell them? Was that professional? She was meant to be helping them – not the other way round. But it had been reciprocal; they had each shown the others things they hadn’t got themselves. So maybe . . .

‘Gran! Gran!’

Karen leaped to her feet. ‘Sorry. I’ll be back in a second.’

But when she came back, it was clear they’d all made a decision. They weren’t going to ask her. They’d decided it would be impolite to probe. And instead, there were thanks and a box of chocolates (Ed) and a huge bunch of flowers that appeared from nowhere (all of them) and two packets of Bourbon biscuits (Violet). And then they all went into the summer night. Laughing and promising to keep in touch.

LIZZIE

‘Tell me,’ Lizzie said quietly after the meal which – despite her arriving late at the restaurant because of the ‘How To Survive’ meeting – had felt so right. So natural. So much so that they’d sat in his car for ages, just talking outside the house. She had fallen for him gradually over the months. The way he made her laugh. The way he made her feel interesting and even beautiful (his words; not hers).  The way he got on with the children without trying to take over.

‘Tell me,’ she repeated, ‘what you remember about that night when you came round last autumn. When I was in such a state?’

He looked at her before gently tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ear. ‘I remember every little bit.’

Help!

‘I had . . .’ she began falteringly, ‘a strange experience afterwards. I woke up in bed, with my nightclothes on. Later, Sophie said she’d seen someone lying down next to me. A man.’ She swallowed nervously. ‘Did something happen that night?’

He looked at her for what seemed like a very long time. ‘Would you have liked it to?’

‘Yes, in one way. But no in another because it would have been too soon. Besides, you’ve had too many girlfriends. How do I know you wouldn’t do the dirty on me too?’

His hand reached out for hers. ‘I’d never do that. Besides, I only had lots of girlfriends because I was looking for the right one.’

She didn’t dare breathe. ‘So, something did happen?’

‘Not necessarily.’

‘You’re teasing me!’

He grinned. A lovely, warm grin that lit up his face and made her want to kiss him again. ‘Maybe. Tell you what. We’ll do a deal. I’ll tell you the truth a few months down the line, shall I?’

A few months down the line? Then he saw them as an item. And not just in business. Live life for the moment, Karen had said earlier that evening. And why not? Right now was, after all, the only thing that was certain. And that’s all right.

ALISON

Children left home? Empty bedrooms getting you down?

What you need is the EMPTY NEST SURVIVAL GUIDE.

Packed with tips on how to find yourself when the last child leaves home, this handy book will help you start life all over again.

For details, contact . . .

Alison looked up from the proof page. ‘You put my name at the bottom!’

Caroline shrugged. ‘You wrote the press release. I wouldn’t have known anything about it. Not really.’

Alison bit back the temptation to point out that not so long ago, Caroline was the one who had told her what to do when Jules had left home, even though her sister didn’t have children of her own.

Since the Hugh incident, her sister had become a different person. Had encouraged her to write more press releases instead of doing admin; even got her to go to a couple of client meetings.

It had been hectic, mind you. And it had helped her realise why David might have found his stressful job – coupled with a rowdy life at home – all too much.

‘I’d like you to take this author on,’ continued Caroline casually. ‘Her next book is about living life alone again. I’m not sure I feel like promoting that one but you’d be good at it.’

‘But you know that I can’t . . .’

‘Can’t or won’t?’ Her sister shook her head. ‘I’m offering you a great opportunity here, Alison. One that most women of your age and little experience would jump at, to be honest. You’re a natural at writing press releases and dealing with clients. You could even become a partner one day.’

Six months ago, she
would
have leaped at the chance. But not now.

‘I’m sorry.’

Caroline shrugged. ‘Your decision.’

Then her face softened. ‘You can always change your mind if it doesn’t work out. And good luck, by the way. Just don’t ask me to look after your bloody dog while you’re chasing your dreams.’

‘Where do you think you’re going?’

Jules’s eyes narrowed as she took in the bulky blue haversack in the hall.

Alison sighed. It was only a couple of weeks since the last group when they’d all told her it was a great idea. It had made her more determined than ever. ‘I’ve told you. Hundreds of times.’

‘But I didn’t think you meant it!’ Jules gave the haversack a shove. ‘People your age don’t go backpacking. It’s not right. Besides, you won’t be able to carry it.’

‘Yes I will.’ Alison tried to hide the doubts in her own voice. ‘And if I can’t, I’ll get rid of some of the stuff in it.’

David came into the hall. ‘Come on Jules. It’s organised. You know that. Mum deserves some time off and you and I will have some time together. Besides, someone’s got to look after Sam.’

Jules’s face softened. But only slightly. ‘Have you got enough jumpers? It’s cold out in South America at night, you know. And what about a first aid pack? You’ll need spare syringes in case you get really ill. The hospitals aren’t that clean. And supposing you run out of money.’

‘Then I’ll just have to manage.’

David squeezed her hand reassuringly. He’d wanted to come too. Suggested they used it as a reconciliation period, but she’d said no. This was something she needed to do on her own. Besides, he had a job now with a charity. It didn’t pay much but it would tide them over until she got back and they could decide what they wanted to do.