Never Too Late (15 page)

“Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed. “Just look at the time Deefor. If we don’t make a move now I won’t have time to groom you before meeting Chloe.”

She scrambled to her feet and was sure there was a look of regret in Deefor’s deep brown eyes.

“I wonder what Chloe wants that seems important enough for her to take a day off work, and meeting up so early in the day too.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead. “I know, you can’t tell me,” she laughed at herself and Deefor actually gently waved his tail.

Progress at last!

She could hardly wait to tell Schez and Liz.

*

Adam stretched carefully, knowing he was going to ache the next day, but very happy to have been part of the team that had created Maggie’s wonderful surprise in just one long, hot day. They made their farewells to the crew of six garden centre staff they had hired, with equipment, to help them achieve the near impossible, then he grinned across at James and unstuck his shirt from his sweaty back.

“You should have taken your shirt off like I did,” James grinned too.

“What, and been sunburned as well as stiff tomorrow?” Now, though, as they went back up the garden towards the house he undid the shirt buttons, glad that James had warned him to bring a change of clothes for the party so that he could shower and prepare here rather than have to go back home first, even though it was just down the road.

“Tell you what, let’s inspect the facilities offered in this rather splendid marquee,” James suggested. “I believe they have the lager set up and chilled.”

“I’m with you on that one my friend,” Adam readily agreed.

They were sprawled on a couple of loungers on the patio, shaded from the late afternoon sunshine by a large parasol, when Chloe and Maggie came out and joined them.

“Mater dear,” James got up and greeted her with a kiss. “Happy Birthday! You look absolutely stunning.”

“And you, my boy, look and smell like a navvy. What have you been up to?” She looked over at Adam. “Both of you I see. Not another of the pranks the two of you were always getting up to I hope?”

James waved a hand airily towards the marquee and garden. “Just helping get ready for your party.”

Maggie held her clasped hands up to her mouth. “I was hoping someone was going to mention that tent in case I was hallucinating.”

“Tent?” Chloe squealed in horror. “It’s a marquee!”

“Whatever, Chloe. Oh, I do love surprises! A party - for me!” Tears started to her eyes and she had to blink rapidly. “Oh thank you!” she took James’ and Chloe’s hands. “All of you,” she added, smiling her thanks to Adam.

Adam flushed slightly. “You’re very welcome, Margaret. Happy Birthday.”

James surreptitiously winked at him for they both knew the direction was the same as he’d indicated but the main surprise was hidden well beyond the ‘tent’.

Chloe tucked her mother’s arm under hers. “Come along, let’s go and see what they’ve set up while the boys get half way decent.”

“The guests won’t start arriving for hours yet,” James protested. “We’re not women who need half a day to slap on a bit of mascara.”

“OK, finish your drinks,” she conceded, “but I don’t want to see any sweaty bodies here after we’ve seen the marquee.” As she glanced over at them, though, she found her tongue running inadvertently over her bottom lip as she ran her eye over Adam’s finely muscled chest with its fuzz of delicate fair hairs.

Is that the way the wind is starting to blow,
Maggie wondered? If so, nothing would please her more for she loved Adam as a son already, having watched him grow up alongside James.

The two women walked over to the marquee and paused in the entrance, astounded at the sight that greeted them. Chloe tried to act the woman of the world who had seen it all before.

I ordered it, for goodness’ sake, I knew what to expect. But this is seriously good!

It would be absolutely magical when it was darker and all the fairy lights were on, both inside and out.

The hired staff were bustling round still, putting together the finishing touches, but it was quite stunning already.

“My goodness, they’ve come on a long way since my wedding,” Maggie exclaimed, for that had been the last time they’d had a marquee. Then it had seemed only one step removed from the church summer fete tent. This was a work of art.

From the patio a polished wood walkway was bordered by lamps fashioned like Victorian gas lamps, with fairy lights strung between them. Inside the marquee the whole area was covered with a smooth, polished wood floor apart from a scarlet carpet leading from the entrance to the dance floor. Behind that was the area for the band.

Good as their word, Swing Low had turned up in plenty of time to get their set ready and there was quite an amazing array of instruments placed neatly at the back of their area. The success of the seven strong group was that they played whatever the audience wanted, from Big Band to modern pop and most things in between. They never accepted bookings that involved the more extreme modern tastes though, having first decided to draw the line at punk. Currently they were fortifying themselves for a long evening with the food Chloe had arranged to be left for them in the kitchen.

On either side of the carpet circular white wrought iron tables and chairs were arranged, with small floral arrangements and a candle waiting to be lit on each one. Instead of table cloths white satin swags with bows and flowers dipped from the tables between each of the chairs. Down one side of the marquee long tables were laden with a sumptuous buffet and a fully stocked bar was along either side of the entrance. The thing that really amazed Maggie, though, was the white fabric ceiling with its intricate pleats and ruches, and the swags of material hanging down giving definition to the sides of the marquee like curtains in a room, hiding the posts in the process. There were two chandeliers, small coloured spotlights on the dance area, and little flame bulb lights around the ‘walls’.

“I think I’m going to cry,” Maggie admitted.

“You can’t cry on your birthday,” Chloe laughed at her and hugged her. “It’s not allowed.”

Maggie laughed with her and brushed at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’m just so happy! You’ve gone to such trouble for me, and it looks like you’re expecting a lot of people to come. Do I really know enough people to fill all these tables?”

“That many and more,” Chloe assured her. “We’ve had to ration tickets to the most sought after bash in the village in years.”

She turned to mother. “Joking aside, I must admit I didn’t realise quite how well loved and respected you are around here.” She looked deeply into her mother’s eyes, very serious for a moment. “Why do you always belittle yourself so?”

“Pardon?”

“The tales I’ve heard the past two weeks about what you do in the village, I think the place would collapse without you. You’ve made a big difference to a lot of people’s lives.”

Maggie turned away, embarrassed. “Get on with you, I’ve only done what any neighbour in this village does for another.”

“So you don’t give the children dancing lessons in their after school club? Or take Mr Jenkins shopping and cook the odd meal or dozen for him? Or help with the church cleaning and flowers? Or do gardening and a bit of housework for Mrs Riley now she can’t manage it herself? Or...”

Maggie gently slapped at her hand and cut her short. “Get on with you. I’m only being neighbourly. We all help each other here, that’s why it’s such a nice place to live.” Her cheeks were aflame and she covered them with her hands. “I must be starting the menopause – hot flushes no less! Come on – if I have guests due I must get changed.”

Chloe caught up with her and impulsively Maggie kissed her daughter. “Thank you for this and for getting me all beautified for it.” They hugged a moment. “But you shouldn’t have spent so much just for me. I know money’s always tight for you and James with those huge mortgages you had to take out.”

“Hey, what’s the point of earning if you can’t use some of it to enjoy yourself? Anyway, it’s been fascinating finding out about all the people you know, and it’s lovely to have the chance to say thanks for everything you’ve done for me and James too, Mummy.”

For a moment she felt ashamed of how selfish she had been in so many ways. There was also a moment’s guilt that she hadn’t let on that her father’s credit card had paid for everything. Changing the subject quickly she said, “So tell me how you got to be so involved in everything.”

“Well,” Maggie paused, thinking back over the years, “It all started with Dr Rose and the mums I met in the baby clinic. Then there was your school, of course, getting to know the teachers and other parents. And don’t forget the church, and all the people I met through your hobbies.” She paused. “And the garden centre staff…”

“Thank goodness!” Chloe butted in. “There was a part of your life that didn’t revolve around us.”

“Well I did want a nice garden for you both to play in,” Maggie said innocently, but with a twinkle in her eye. It took Chloe a moment to notice.

“Oh, you…!” She linked arms with her mother. Chloe felt far closer to her mother than she had for a long time. Companionably they returned to the house, deep in discussion about what accessories would go best with their new dresses.

*

The garden was bathed in a golden glow as evening fell. Maggie emerged from the house after greeting yet more guests and headed with them to the marquee. There were high spots of colour on her cheeks and she felt quite overwhelmed with the number of gifts which were now piled high on the dining room table. James came over as she reached the entrance and bowed formally to her.

“May I have the pleasure of this dance?”

Swing Low were, indeed, ready to play, waiting only for the nod from James. Maggie blushed even more furiously as there was a drum roll and someone announced “Make way for the birthday girl!” and there was a general raising of glasses and calls of “Happy Birthday!” and someone started singing “For she’s a jolly good fellow” which everyone soon joined in, accompanied by a band member on the saxophone.

As they reached the dance floor she heard the opening bars of one of her favourites – a Tommy Dorsey number, Swingin’ on Nothing. Many a time she and Iain had danced to this together in the days when they both had time to go to the dance nights at the sports centre, arranged for the people who still loved the older band music. Her contemporaries of the time were all to be found down the Palais, but it was this type of music which always got her feet twitching. James had learned to dance well, too, and they shimmied their way across the floor as the guests tapped their feet and clapped in time.

“Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers reborn,” Adam commented in Chloe’s ear as the dance came to an end to thunderous applause.

“Actually, she always held Cyd Charise in higher regard than Ginger,” Chloe told him.
Where did that memory spring from?
“Where’s Daddy though? He promised me he’d be here.”

“He’ll be here,” Adam soothed her. “In the meantime, shall we?”

He held out his hand and led her to the dance floor, which was quickly filling now that proceedings had been officially ‘opened’. He was determined to avail himself of as many dances as Chloe would agree to where he could hold her close, knowing that as the evening wore on and the older guests started drifting home the music would move to the present era. The tempo and volume would go up and he would no longer have the chance to dance with her as a couple, holding close as the rhythm took over. Maybe he’d manage the last few smooch numbers with her, the ones which the band always played to wind down the evening.

Maggie was in constant demand and her energy seemed limitless as she danced with one after another of her guests.

“Thank you so much for that lovely bird bath, Richard.” She smiled at him, looking like a young girl in her excitement.

“I can’t take the credit I’m afraid,” Richard admitted. “It was Joanne who spotted it, and I’m very glad she did if it’s earned me a dance with the most beautiful woman here.”

“Oh go on with you!” she giggled girlishly. “I’ve just remembered, I also owe Joanne thanks for that perfume.”

Richard was puzzled. “What perfume was that then?”

“The perfume she gave you to pass to Iain to give to me because it doesn’t suit her,” Maggie explained. “Don’t say you’ve forgotten already! Anyway, I do use it as it happens so it was most welcome.”

Richard found it difficult to keep in time with the music for a few bars while he controlled his annoyance with his boss. It was bad enough to be used as cover so often, but to nearly be caught out because Iain hadn’t thought to inform him of the latest lie was just too much, especially as he was now going to have to involve his wife in the deception with the sound of it.

“Do you and Iain always travel separately to the sites?” she asked him.

“Pardon?”

“I just wondered,” Maggie said. “If you were both going on site today I just thought you might have shared a car – go green and all that – but obviously you didn’t or you’d have got here together.”

“I, er, went home after work,” he muttered. “I suppose Iain must have gone to the office to tie up some loose ends before the weekend.”

Richard had been in the office all day, not on site. Iain had told him, before going to Aylesbury yesterday, that this was a make or break trip for him and Natasha after their last less than perfect tryst.

Maggie looked so sad for a moment Richard would cheerfully have strangled Iain if he’d been in reach. Didn’t he realise what a lovely, sincere, caring and above all devoted wife he was turning his back on? Didn’t he realise what he could so easily lose? He didn’t buy in to Iain’s claim that she didn’t love him or even notice him any more. You just had to watch the expressions flitting over her face as she talked of him to know differently. She cared very deeply, and she was hurting deeply too. Thank God she didn’t know what her husband got up to.

James danced past them with Keela. She was laughing up at him, from some shared joke, her eyes bright. He looked relaxed and happy, too, holding her close. Maggie once more told herself not to worry about their relationship. Whatever she thought she’d seen on other occasions was obviously just her imagination, and she promised herself she would try again to get to know Keela better. She knew they would both like children. Perhaps Keela had just felt a bit frustrated at not conceiving in the first year of their marriage. She knew all too well what it was like to long for a child and not get one. Mentally she chided herself, for hadn’t she been blessed with two lovely children?