Читать книгу Fern Britton 3-Book Collection: The Holiday Home, A Seaside Affair, A Good Catch - Fern Britton, Fern Britton - Страница 29

Nothing ever goes according to plan with families. The following morning, Connie, who had got Abi and Jem out of the door and off to work, was looking forward to her day out, alone, with her husband. But her plan was to be thwarted.

Once she’d got the kids off she called Greg down for breakfast and spread a coastal map over the kitchen table. They were calculating how long it would take them to drive to Polperro and Fowey when Francis walked in, rubbing his hands together and saying, ‘What a great idea this is. Just the four of us out for the day. Like old times, eh? So, where are we going?’

Greg smiled, ‘Nice try, old man. Very funny. This is a day out for—’

But Francis wasn’t listening. Pru had swept in, in a new Diane von Fürstenberg blue multi-print chiffon dress which, even Greg had to admit, made her look pretty good. He gave her an appreciative wolf whistle and got a punch on the arm from Connie.

‘Thank you, Greg,’ Pru said condescendingly while glaring at Connie. ‘I felt the need to make an effort after looking like a charlady for days on end.’ She glanced at Connie’s rolled-up jeans, Trevay T-shirt and fleece wrapped around her shoulders. ‘I see you’ve gone for comfort over style, Connie. Good for you.’ Connie glowered. Ignoring her, Pru continued, ‘Are we ready for our magical mystery tour? Let’s get going. Greg, you can sit in the front and navigate. I’ll drive.’

Connie, looking horrified, gave Greg a poke. ‘Tell Pru what we have planned.’

‘Ah, well,’ said Greg. ‘You see, Connie and I were hoping to head to Polperro and have lunch in a little place that’s rather special to us.’

‘That’s a marvellous idea,’ said Pru. ‘Francis and I haven’t been to Polperro for years. Let’s go.’ And she was out in the hall collecting her keys and bag before they could stop her.

*

Dorothy twitched her net curtains. ‘They’ve gone. Pru’s driving. She always reminds me of Cruella De Vil when she gets behind the wheel.’

Henry laughed. ‘They deserve a day out. Weather’s looking fantastic for the next few days. I hope it holds for Abi’s party.’

‘Me too. I’m amazed she’s found herself a job. And Jem too.’

Henry nodded. ‘Good for them, I say. Character building. Children have it all handed to them on a plate these days. They’ll know the value of a five-pound note after this summer.’

Dorothy moved away from the window and sat opposite Henry in a matching armchair. ‘This is a different world to the one we grew up in. The grandchildren think we had dinosaurs for pets.’

‘Oh, I’m old-fashioned, I know. But those values still hold good.’

‘Not so old-fashioned …’ She hesitated. ‘After all, isn’t making an honest woman of me one of those values?’

Henry looked uncomfortable, the pattern on the carpet suddenly catching his interest. ‘Don’t start that again. Besides, it’s a bit late in the day now, old girl.’

‘Maybe.’ Dorothy twisted the ring on the third finger of her left hand. ‘I would have liked to arrive at the pearly gates with everything settled, though.’

‘Don’t you worry, St Peter will have you down as just that in his ledger.’

‘Mmm.’

They both sat and looked at each other.

‘I’m only glad neither of us will be around when the girls find out,’ said Dorothy.

‘They’re mature women. They’ll take it in their stride.’

The doorbell gave a cheerful ding-dong. ‘Now who the hell is that?’ sighed Henry.

Dorothy stood up. ‘I’ll get it.’

Henry listened. He could hear a woman’s voice and Dorothy saying, ‘Come in, come in. I’m about to make coffee. Henry’s in the front room. Go on in and say hello.’

Henry moved his eyes to the door as Belinda poked her head in. He liked Belinda. Fun, uncomplicated and rather sexy. He got to his feet. ‘Hello, my dear. Please, take a seat.’

‘Hello, Mr Carew. I’ve just popped in to see if you or Mrs Carew want anything from the shops. Emily and I are going up a bit later.’ Emily came into the room. A tall and pretty but self-conscious teenager. ‘Hello, Mr Carew,’ she said in a quiet voice.

‘Hello, Emily. No need to be so formal. Everyone calls me Henry or Poppa. Which do you prefer?’

‘How nice,’ said Belinda. ‘May we call you Poppa?’ She caught Dorothy’s eye as the older woman elbowed her way through the door bearing a tray of coffee and shortbread. ‘Emily never knew her grandfathers.’

‘I’d be honoured.’ Henry smiled at Emily, who was taking a biscuit from the plate offered by Dorothy.

‘And you can call me Dorothy or Granny.’

‘Isn’t that lovely, Em?’ Belinda beamed at Emily, who was looking embarrassed.

‘Yes. Thank you.’

‘It’s an honour, young lady. Tell me, have you ever played Lawyer, Lawyer?’

‘No.’

‘Oh, Henry, don’t be a bore. Emily doesn’t want to play board games, do you, dear?’

Emily, embarrassed, murmured, ‘I don’t know.’

‘Of course you want to play,’ said Belinda. She looked at Henry, ‘You invented it, didn’t you?’

Henry laughed self-deprecatingly. ‘As a matter of fact, I did. Who told you?’

‘Francis did, ages ago. From what he said, you saved the family business from going under.’

‘Something like that,’ said Henry, getting to his feet. ‘So, Emily, do you fancy a game? I’ll teach you how to beat anyone.’

‘OK,’ said Emily, not exactly brimming with enthusiasm.

Henry got up and went to the conservatory, Emily trailing after him. ‘Come along then.’

Once the doors were safely closed, Dorothy smiled and said to Belinda, ‘They’ll be gone for at least an hour.’ She plumped up the cushion behind her back and settled down. ‘So, Belinda, tell me all about yourself.’

Belinda stirred a large spoonful of sugar into her coffee. ‘There’s not much to tell. Forty-something single mum. Struggling a bit to make ends meet. My cup’s always half-full, though – I try to focus on the positive.’

‘Quite so.’ Dorothy watched as Belinda helped herself to a biscuit. ‘What happened to Emily’s father?’

‘Oh, Brett’s still around. We’re good friends, as a matter of fact. But when he met Steve, he met the man of his dreams.’

It took a superhuman effort for Dorothy to prevent her carefully drawn eyebrows from going into orbit. ‘Steve?’

‘Yeah.’ Belinda took another biscuit. ‘It was a shock, naturally. I’d had no idea Brett was gay. I’d always counted myself lucky that I had such a kind husband with tremendous empathy.’ She wiped the crumbs from her bust so that they bounced off her skirt and on to Dorothy’s carpet. ‘And now I have Brett and Steve, so I am lucky, when you think about it.’

‘Oh dear.’ Dorothy was bemused. ‘Did your family help?’

‘Well, my mum was very understanding. My dad had abandoned her when I was a baby. Only in his case it was for another woman. We never heard from him again.’

Dorothy tutted. ‘How can men be so feckless when a child is involved?’ She leaned forward to offer Belinda the plate of biscuits.

‘Oh, thank you. These are delicious. It’s my breakfast.’

‘Would you care for some toast?’

‘No, no. This is lovely.’ Another crumb fell, but this time into Belinda’s cavernous cleavage. Dorothy wondered if, when Belinda stood up, it would work its way past her knickers and join its friends on her carpet.

‘So, how do you know my son-in-law, Francis?’

Belinda popped the last piece of shortbread in her mouth and wiped her fingers on her skirt. ‘At school. When Em joined year nine, last autumn, I thought I’d help out with the PTA. I’m good at organising and it’s a nice way to make friends. Frankie is a brilliant committee member. Organised and generous with his time. A lovely man.’

‘When you say “Frankie”, you are referring to Francis?’ Dorothy queried.

‘Oh, sorry – yes. It’s a name I started calling him and now a lot of the committee do too. I think it annoys him a bit.’

Dorothy raised her eyebrows. ‘Surely not?’

‘It’s my little joke. Anyway, he and I have got really friendly and when he told me he was coming down here for the summer and that there were cottages to rent next door, I thought, why not? Em deserves a break. I spoke to Big Ben yesterday and it looks as though we can stay right through August; he’s had a late cancellation and has reduced the rent down to almost nothing.’

Belinda drained her coffee cup and placed it on the tray. ‘Which is great, because it means I can get stuck in helping Abi with her party. Which reminds me, I’m going into Trevay to have a look for party inspiration round the shops. Is there anything I can get for you while I’m there?’

‘If you’re sure you don’t mind, there were a few items – I made out a list earlier. It’s in the kitchen.’ She stood and, picking up the tray, headed for the kitchen. Belinda fell in behind her.

Dorothy put the tray down on the spotless work surface and found her glasses, pen and notepad. After adding Shortbread biscuits x2 to the list, she passed it to Belinda. ‘Now then, where did I put my purse …’

‘Don’t worry, we’ll settle up when I get back.’

‘Thank you, Belinda. That really is most kind. You’ve certainly saved me a trip. Now, let’s find Emily and Henry.’

The Lawyer, Lawyer board and pieces were all laid out on the conservatory table, with Henry and Emily hunched over it. Emily was placing a black cap on her head while reading from a card: ‘You shall be taken from this place and hanged by the neck.’

Henry’s laugh rumbled from his chest. ‘Hold on, I only got a parking ticket!’

Emily started to giggle too. ‘It’s the sentence card. I can’t help picking it up. It was at the top of the pile.’

Henry spotted Dorothy and Belinda by the door. ‘Well, the law is an ass. We all know that to be true.’

‘Come on, Em. We’ve got things to do,’ said Belinda, holding out her hand.

Emily put the card and black cap down reluctantly. ‘Can we play again, Poppa?’ she asked Henry.

‘Oh, rather. You just come right over, any time you like.’