Never Too Late (34 page)

“You must understand that this was all at a very deep level. Consciously she has never doubted your love, but subconsciously there was the continual conflict between deep rooted issues and the present. That conflict manifested in her alter personality emerging, the one that equates violence and love, the one that does not accept that making love is very different to being abused. She became violent, to you, and, through you, to herself, because if you weren’t violent then it meant you didn’t love her.”

James sat back, totally stunned, the blood draining from his face as he realised what Keela had been through. “It must have been horrendous for her, reliving all that this past week.”

“It’s not been an easy ride, that’s for sure.” Amelia got up and patted his arm. “I’ll have some coffee brought in for you. Give yourself a bit of time to take in what I’ve said and compose yourself. Keela needs your full support now in moving forward. I’ll bring her in ten minutes or so, then we can discuss what I want you both to do for the next week before I see her in my London office again.”

The coffee remained untouched and was cold by the time Amelia and Keela entered the room. James was grateful that Amelia had been considerate enough to give him time in private to adjust to this new knowledge. He took Keela into his arms and just hugged her tight, trying to tell her everything he felt for her through touch. After a few minutes Amelia sat them down and gave them their instructions for the week. Sexual intercourse was forbidden, but they were to spend as much time as possible naked together. They were to touch, stroke and hold each other, be as intimate as felt comfortable to them both, but their lovemaking must not include penetrative sex.

She had a glint in her eye as she sent them on their way.

*

Elsie Riley had found she actually quite enjoyed helping her mother-in-law more now. She had started when Maggie spent so much time at the hospital after the accident and couldn’t get in so often to help Ada with her housework and gardening. At first she’d felt it would be difficult, what with a full time job and helping out with her grandson, Jules. Her husband, David, wasn’t much help at home either so she always ended up doing everything there. It all seemed just too much to ask of one woman. Now, though, she treasured the time spent at the kitchen table with Ada, chatting over a cup of tea when the house was straightened out to Elsie’s high standards. Ada said near enough was good enough, except when it came to the ritual of the tea pot, but that wasn’t Elsie’s way.

Ada had a unique way of looking at things that somehow put everything else into perspective, though. Her life actually felt a lot easier now. Little Jules loved spending time with his Big Nan too. That had given them all a laugh when he’d named a short arse like Ada Big Nan! She herself was already Nan to him, so once Jules started talking it was Nan and Big Nan, even with Elsie towering over Ada like she did. Eh, the things that boy came out with at times! But as Ada pointed out, Great Grandma was rather a mouthful for a little lad. She checked through the kitchen window that he was OK, then took the newly ironed nets through to the front. He was turning brown as a berry, with helping ‘Uncle’ Ken out in Ada’s garden.

She was just re-hanging the net curtains when she saw Maggie coming out of Ken’s gateway. She opened the window and called out. “Are you looking for Ken, Maggie? ‘Cos he’s in the back garden here showing Jules how to thin out lettuces.”

Maggie walked over but didn’t go in. “Hi Elsie,” she called. “Can you just tell him I won’t be able to take him shopping on Thursday as I’m taking Iain for a hospital appointment? I can do it on Friday instead if he likes.”

“Will do.”

Maggie waved and went to collect Iain from the surgery. Dr Rose had asked him to pop in so he could catch up with his progress and check if there was anything he could do for Iain now he was home. Maggie had already decided that if Iain chose to return to anything like his previous schedule then he would have to employ a chauffeur. Running him around locally was manageable, but every day into London or out onto site was quite another matter.

It was lovely spending time with Iain, although it wasn’t quite the way she had envisaged them slipping into retirement together. There was still the prospect of Iain wanting to get back to work. Come to that, there was still the prospect that he might decide she really wasn’t the woman he wanted to be with. Such a prolonged time in each other’s company was bound to highlight the differences between herself and the sophisticated women he had until so recently spent a lot of time with. Her mind shied away from thinking about how intimate that time had been.

Iain emerged from the surgery with a young man Maggie didn’t recognise. She watched them shake hands in the doorway then Iain came over to the car. She waited until he had strapped himself in then asked who the stranger was.

“That is the new junior partner,” he told her. “Phillipa’s finally persuaded Montie to ease up a bit. I’ll bet she had to make some pretty dire threats to get that much of a concession.”

“Phillipa would never expect him to retire fully,” Maggie put the car in gear and pulled out, “but semi-retirement is an excellent idea for both of them. She won’t hand over the surgery management until there’s a reason to have more free time, and the reason she wants is to have more time with her husband.”

Iain shook his head. “I don’t fancy that at all,” he said. “You’re not one thing or the other, not working fully but not free to do as you please.”

Was now the time to broach what his choice would be in his present circumstances? Maggie’s courage failed her and she kept silent on the matter. Time would tell.

“So what’s his name and does he like it here so far?” she asked.

“How am I supposed to know if he likes it?” Iain demanded. “If you want gossip see your women friends.” He settled his light jacket more comfortably about his shoulders. “Or you could ask him on Saturday.”

Maggie glanced across at him, her eyebrows raised.

“Montie’s introducing him to the patients and I invited the new lad to come along too on Saturday. I’m sure you’ll have a few sausages going spare you can barbecue for two extra guests.”

“Two?”

“Young Neils and his fiancée Kathryn. She’s still working in London but she should be here at the weekend.”

Maggie chuckled. “So you do indulge in a bit of sly gossip.”

Iain raised his chin. “I was merely being polite.”

*

Three weeks they’d been together now. Three wonderful, glorious weeks. How had he ever confused any other type of love with this all consuming passion? They had so much to say to each other, and so much that didn’t need saying because they both already knew. They finished each other’s sentences half the time.

Adam rolled over in bed and lay there for a moment, just enjoying the sight of Schez as she breathed softly in her sleep. Feathery curls spread out across the pillow, thick dark lashes fanned across her cheek and he could see her eyes moving as she dreamed. Was she dreaming of him and their life together?

They had arrived at the end of a week of driving wind and lashing rain, but his parents’ first meeting with his beloved had been very far from stormy. Schez fitted perfectly into his family and they’d had a wonderful evening together. Even his younger sister Zoe, who was well known in the family for being very opinionated and not afraid to speak her mind, had seen how deeply in love they were. At first she was welcoming for his sake, and later friendly with Schez on her own account. Zoe’s friendship, once earned, was staunch.

Schez was the only girlfriend Adam had ever taken home. It was very gratifying that his family approved wholeheartedly of his choice of life partner, and it was for life. Already Schez wore his engagement ring. They neither of them thought it was too soon – why delay when it was so obviously the right choice to make? Besides, Adam doubted she would have had the self-confidence to stay in his old bedroom like this if she wasn’t ‘official’. He couldn’t bear the thought of sleeping with her in the next bedroom, not in his bed.

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him. “What are you thinking?” she murmured.

Adam leaned forward and kissed her before answering. “I’m thinking how utterly gorgeous you are, and how lucky I am, and wondering how fast we can arrange a wedding. I don’t want to give you chance to change your mind.”

“No chance of that – you’re stuck with me whether you like it or not.”

Schez stretched luxuriously and Adam pulled her in close to him. He nuzzled her ear and whispered, “Stuck to you is exactly where I want to be.”

Their embrace very quickly became more intense but with a huge effort of will Adam pulled himself away. “I’m also thinking we’d better get dressed if we’re not to be subjected to too many ribald comments about our lateness getting to Maggie’s barbecue.”

Schez shot upright. “What time is it?”

“Gone two,” Adam replied lazily.

“Oh my goodness! How could we have slept so late?”

“Easy when you ‘sleep together’ but don’t ‘sleep’ until dawn,” he laughed.

Schez’s cheeks flamed scarlet and she jumped out of bed, struggling into her dressing gown and hopping to get her slippers on. “I bag the bathroom first.”

“That kimono looks much more fetching on you that it does on me,” Adam told her as he sat up and plumped up a pillow behind his head to wait his turn.

Schez threw her pillow at him and ran from the room.

In the end they were all ready in time and the five of them arrived together. The Fates were being kind and Saturday had dawned clear and bright. Zoe had told them the whole world felt and smelled newly washed and fresh that morning, and they were lazy slugabeds to have missed such a perfect start to the day. They had their own opinions about a perfect start to this particular day but stayed silent on the point.

The day’s heat had built quickly and it was topping 30 degrees when they walked round to Maggie’s. The barbecue had been set up in the courtyard. Inevitably Iain had taken charge and was busy fussing with the charcoal. Naturally Oliver couldn’t resist going to help him. James and Chloe were settling bottles of wine and cans of lager into an old tin bath that they had set to one side in the shade and filled with ice. Adam and Schez went to join them, and James requested help fetching out enough glasses from the house.

“But first let me kiss the bride to be – congratulations!” James duly kissed Schez on both cheeks and slapped Adam on the back. “You’re a lucky sod, Adam, and no mistake.”

Angela and Zoe looked at each other and smirked.

“OK, Zoe,” Angela admitted, “hands up, you win the bet.”

“Angela, Zoe,” Maggie called with a smile, “lovely to see you. What bet would that be?”

“That the men in my life would do exactly what they just have without even stopping to say hello to you first.”

“Men, barbecues and booze, eh? Would you be absolute dears and lend a hand here? As you can see Keela and I have been left with the preparing and ferrying out of all the non-glamorous bits. We need the salads out, plates, cutlery, oh and I haven’t sorted out any rolls and butter yet if you could do that please, Zoe?”

“No problem.”

Maggie went over to add her own congratulations to Adam and Schez. “I’m absolutely thrilled for you both, two of my favourite people finding love together. It’s like a fairy tale,” she said admiring the ring. She gave them both a big hug, and begged to be allowed to make the wedding cake.

“Only if you teach me how when you make it,” Schez said. “I’m hopeless at cakes and, since a man’s heart is closely linked to his belly, I want to make sure I have every chance of keeping my man interested.”

Adam grabbed her from behind and nuzzled her neck. “I’m interested!”

“Down, boy,” James growled. “At least get the glasses first.”

Angela let Simba off his leash and went into the kitchen to say hi to Keela and lend a hand. Simba and Deefor took themselves off to the garden, away from the noisy activity.

“I’ll bet they come back as soon as the meat comes out.”

“It should be out now,” Iain called. “Come on woman – we’re up to temperature so let’s get cooking.”

“What did your last slave die of? What’s wrong with fetching it yourself?”

“I’m the chef and you’re the kitchen porter, that’s what. Besides,” he looked at her mock beseechingly, “you wouldn’t want me struggling to manage my stick and a plate of meat, now would you?”

“All right, all right, but you’re not going to get away with that excuse for ever.”

“Certainly not,” chimed in Montie Rose as he arrived with Phillipa.

“Montie, Phillipa, I’m so glad you could come.” Maggie turned her attention to the young man with them. “We haven’t actually met yet but I saw you at the surgery last Wednesday, Neils. I’m Maggie, Iain’s wife. Welcome to Holmsford.”

“Good to meet you, Maggie, and thanks for the invitation today. I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Kathryn.”

“Welcome, Kathryn. I’m very pleased Neils brought you today.”

“Thank you. When he mentioned the barbecue I was a bit concerned I’d be bordering on the status of gate-crasher,” Kathryn said as she shook Maggie’s hand.

“Not a bit of it. Come with me, both of you, and I’ll introduce you round.”

Maggie eventually left them with Chloe to choose their drinks and went to welcome Sharon. They went together to the kitchen to sort out the first lot of meat for Iain to cook.

“So how’s it going?” Sharon asked as she loaded up a plate with sausages and chops. “Iain certainly seems a lot fitter and more mentally sharp than I’d expected after what he went through.”

Maggie selected some steaks thoughtfully. “It’s getting better every day in general. His concentration span is improving, but he gets awfully frustrated when he can’t do things as easily as he used to.”

“He’s never been a patient man, has he?”

“The question is, will he be pragmatic about it if the therapy doesn’t get him back to his previous physical and mental fitness?”

“Only time will tell I suppose.”

When they got back outside they found the last of the guests had arrived – Richard and Joanne with their children, Amy, Peter and Jonathan, and the vicar, Carl, his wife Veronica and their children, Liane and Andrew.