Chapter 1
“Oh... my... God.”
“Lilly...”
“You’re completely off the scale this time.”
“Lilly…”
“Why can’t you be like other deserted wives? Why can’t you just cry a lot?”
“Lilly!”
“Lie in bed all day with the curtains closed?”
“Lilly!”
“Pop a couple of Prozac?”
“LILLEEE!”
“Okay, Mum, take a chill pill.”
“Lilly, please...”
Well, what did you expect?” Lilly raised blue eyes to heaven. “I’m only reacting as any sane person would to your crazy idea.”
“It’s not a crazy idea.”
“WHAT!? Sailing off into the sunset with Captain Birdseye? It’s totally mad. You’re totally mad.”
Christie contained her sigh. “Lilly, can’t we just sit down and deal with this in a grown up manner?”
“Don’t start treating me like a tantrumming two year old, Mum.” Lilly’s brows were down in warning.
“Don’t act like one then.” The rebuke was out before she could halt it.
Christie saw her daughter’s scowl deepen and fought to keep her own rising temper in check. A full blown row at this point would do nothing to help the cause. “We haven’t even had a chance to talk it through yet,” she ventured in more moderate tones.
“I don’t need to talk it through. I don’t want to go - and nothing you say will change my mind.”
Christie gazed at her daughter levelly and after a moment or two’s consideration said calmly, “In that case, we’ll have to talk to Nan. Nan would absolutely love to have you to stay.”
“That’s it, Mum,” Lilly snarled, “fight dirty, why don’t you?”
“So, if staying with Nan isn’t an option, what else do you propose?”
“I could get a flat.”
“A flat has to be paid for.”
“I could stay here in the house.”
“No, Lilly,” it was adamant. “You’re still too young to be left alone. I’d constantly be fretting about what you were up to.”
“Yeah,” the word held a sneer, “like, you’re only worried I’d have wild parties and trash the place.”
“Well, a home to come back to is certainly desirable.”
“I’ll stay with Dad then.”
“Mmmm.”
“Dad’s always telling me he misses me.”
There was a heartbeat of hesitation, which Christie hoped her daughter had missed. “Yes, I know he misses you, sweetheart. But Stella?”
Lilly’s face twisted in disgust. “Yeah, Stella. Okay, I admit it - that painted bimbo might be a problem. However,” Lilly shook her long, blonde locks, and in a voice filled with disdain said, “I know your game. You’re going to use any obstacle you can think of to dis’ my suggestions.”
“That’s absolutely not the case, Lilly. Whether you like it or not, it’s my job to take care of you ’til you’re old enough to do it yourself. And, that time begins when you go off to university.”
“But I would be going to uni’ soon anyway.” It wasn’t quite a whine.
“Listen,” Christie tried a more encouraging tone, “you were thinking about taking a gap year, weren’t you? This is a brilliant opportunity for a language student.” She saw her daughter prepare to interrupt, and rushed on before Lilly could halt her. “You could use the year with us, having fun and polishing up your Spanish.”
“Who said it would be fun? It certainly isn’t my idea of a good time. I mean really? Stuck on some old tub with my mum, my grotty little brother and Captain Birdseye!?”
Christie carried on as if no objection had been raised. “A year amongst the natives would give you a head start before you knuckle down to your studies.” She smiled knowingly. “And think of all those dark eyed, Latin lovers you could practice on.”
Lilly managed a tiny, begrudged grin. Pushing the small advantage Christie said, “You know, if you want to be an interpreter, an extended period living in Europe would look really impressive on your C.V.. And a year’s nothing – it would disappear in no time.”
Lilly didn’t comment but Christie sensed a chink in her armour. Encouraged she went on, “You would learn so much about life in the real France, Portugal, Spain - wherever our travels took us, not to mention skills in navigation and sailing.”
Lilly’s lips pursed and her eyes slid sideways as she considered. Getting to her feet she paced for a moment or two, her head bent, arms folded.
“Well, what do you say?” Christie prodded gently.
“I’ll give it some thought,” Lilly answered dismissively. “But no promises!” And hauling her hotpants over her buttocks, she flounced off.
Discussion over.
*
As she washed her hands, she frowned at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, rubbing her damp finger over a small, red spot on her forehead. God! she should have done something with her face. A bit of slap wouldn’t have gone amiss - ‘cause ’au natural’ certainly wasn’t cutting it.
Ah, what the hell? She sighed as she rinsed the soap from her hands. Stella always made her feel like Godzilla anyway. Even this early in the morning, like something straight from ‘Stepford Wives’, she’d materialised wearing barely there night attire -all sexily tousled and gorgeous. No rumpled pyjamas! No crazy bed head! Not even a mild dose of dog breath! Who the hell rolls out of bed in the morning looking like that? NOT NORMAL!
Christie’s green eyes scrutinised her reflection once more. Get a grip! She poked a tongue at herself, and turned away. Drying her hands briskly she mumbled crossly, “Stop being so bloody stupid. Measuring yourself against ‘Stunning Stella’ is just a form of masochism.”
*
“Where’s Stella?”
David peered at her over his open Telegraph. “She’s gone to get ready.” He nodded upward as if they could both see Stella through the ceiling, “We’re off up to London for some shopping, then dinner and a show.”
Sod never took me to dinner and a show. “What are you seeing?”
“Les Mis’,” David rolled his eyes, “for the third time!”
“Ah, lovely.” A night at the local flea pit was the most I could look forward to.
Christie lowered herself carefully into the easy chair opposite her ex husband. As it had been plumped to absolute perfection. with a cushion placed at a ‘just so’ angle, it felt criminal putting her bum on it.
The whole house was of the same ilk. A big, double storied show piece - all red brick outside – all white and minimal inside. It felt cold and totally unlived in. Or could that be the green eyed monster speaking? Her own abode certainly fell short by comparison. Some might consider it a little tired? A tad messy even? She, however, preferred to think of it as - kick off your shoes comfort. And, in her defence, she had two teenage monsters, whose vocabulary didn’t contain the word tidy.
Anyway, the kids seemed to prefer the more relaxed surroundings of home. Lilly never failed to vent bitterly when a visit to what she termed the ‘Mausoleum’ loomed.
“O.M.G!” she’d clasp her face in her hands dramatically. “It’s a total nightmare. If you accidentally lay a glass down without a coaster beneath it, Stella’s eyes are like lasers burning a hole in your head.”
But, it wasn’t difficult to read between the lines. Lilly was no innocent. Quite clearly her daughter took a certain delight in pressing Stella’s buttons. In fact, she probably did her utmost to rattle her step mother at every opportunity.
As for Jack – well, her good natured son simply shrugged and got on with things. But sunny temperament or no, life in the mausoleum would definitely be more congenial if he could be kept on a leash and tied up securely - OUTSIDE!
Lilly had related, with absolute relish, and graphic facial expressions, how Jack, in typical fashion, had failed to remove his trainers before entering the house, hence treading mud from the garden all over pristine, white, marble floor tiles. On discovering the muddy mess, Stella had, apparently, almost fainted clean away. The incident had resulted in a large sign being pinned to the back door (children’s entrance), clearly instructing that before entering, they must remove their shoes and make their way IMMEDIATELY to the kitchen where they would clean up before entering the rest of the house.
Much to Stella’s consternation, however, a sketch depicting a soldier with slicked down hair and a small, neat moustache had mysteriously appeared below her directive.
David folded his paper and laid it down. Sitting forward in his chair he rested his forearms on his thighs allowing his hands to hang loosely between his legs. “Okay, what’s so important you couldn’t telephone, you had to come all the way over here to talk to me?”
Clearing her throat, Christie forced herself to keep her gaze steady as she met the challenge already in David’s eyes.
“Well, thing is, David, I want to take Jack out of school for an extended period.”
“What the hell are you on about – take Jack out of school? How extended?” David’s voice had taken on a disparaging tone, and his brow was down.
“A year - at least. I’ve got the opportunity to go sailing with the children.”
“Sailing?” David shook his head impatiently. “What kind of hare brained scheme are you hatching now?”
“Please don’t take that attitude, David, before you even hear what I have to say. It’s not hare brained, it’s a wonderful opportunity for all of us. The children will love it, and it will really broaden their horizons.”
“And you’ve told the children? They’re happy to leave all their friends behind for that length of time?”
She’d come prepared to lie if necessary. “Of course.”
David looked sceptical. “What – Lilly?”
Christie sighed. “Okay,” she admitted reluctantly, “Lilly took a bit more convincing.”
“That means she doesn’t want to go.” David sat back in his chair and smiled.
“There’s no point in looking smug, David. Lilly has to come. She can’t stay here on her own. Anyway, she’s agreed to it now, and she’s really beginning to warm to the idea.” Untruths were fairly tripping off her tongue.
David’s eyes narrowed. “Why haven’t you mentioned this before?”
Christie recognised the tone. It always put her on edge. David was definitely going to put up a fight. She’d hoped this meeting would go smoothly, but in her heart she’d known there would be problems.
“I haven’t mentioned it because it’s taken a long time to finally decide that I want to do it.” She paused. “And frankly, until I did decide, there was no reason to discuss it with you.”
“Well, I think you should have.”
“David, we’re divorced. I have no obligation to tell you anything unless it concerns the children. And now that it does – I’m here.”
“What about their schooling?”
“Have you forgotten, I’m a teacher? Lilly can take a gap year and I’ll home tutor Jack.”
Suddenly, as if he’d just reached the conclusion to some conundrum he’d been pondering, David nodded knowingly. “You still haven’t told me who you’re going sailing with.” He fixed her with a penetrating look.
“Drew.”
“Of course,” the nodding resumed, “I should have seen this coming. He’s been working on that flipping boat for years, and the kids told me you were doing some kind of sailing course.” His voice had a sneer in it. “I don’t know why I didn’t put two and two together sooner. It seems obvious now that the pair of you would come up with something like this.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Well, he’s finally got what he always wanted.”
“What on earth are you on about?”
“Don’t play the innocent, Christie. You know damn well, he’s always had a thing for you.”
“Oh, for God’s sake. Drew absolutely adored Kate.”
“That’s as may be, but as soon as she was gone, I’ll bet he couldn’t wait to get into your knickers.”
“Shut up. Right now,” Christie hissed. “You disgust me.”
“Don’t try telling me you two aren’t having it off.”
“Do you have to be so bloody crude? Drew’s a friend and a damned good friend at that.” She suddenly felt defeated and an appeal for understanding was in her eyes. “He helped me through some really tough times you know.”
“Oh, I’ll just bet he did.”
A rush of righteous anger made her snap. “You know, David, you shouldn’t judge people by your own murky standards. Sex isn’t the main driving force for everyone.” She stood and automatically bent to smooth the creases she’d left in the chair. “But even if Drew and I were involved in that way, it would be none of your damned business. I’m not going to live like a nun forever.”
David sat forward once more. “I have a say in who you bring into my children’s lives. They’re at an extremely vulnerable age. I don’t want any old Tom, Dick or Harry influencing them.”
Christie felt her hackles rise some more. “Are you serious? You gave up the right to pass comment on who and when I bring someone into their lives. You never lost a moment’s sleep over your children’s welfare when you deserted them for some home wrecker!”
“Stella’s my wife.”
“She wasn’t then,” her voice was icy. “What bloody affect do you think that had on the kids?”
David fell silent but his expression remained defiant.
How could she have been so blind as to who this man really was? Why hadn’t she realised that he’d only ever been truly interested in himself? He’d bowled her over, promising undying love, vowing to be by her side through thick and thin - and she’d believed him - completely. Senseless with love, she’d failed to see the signs that she now realised had always been there. When, at social functions, she was left to stand on the sidelines whilst he flirted with the most attractive woman in the room – she simply assumed that his good looks and abundant charm made him as irresistible to other women, as he was to her. No point in her complaining - it was the price to be paid for loving such a man. My God! What a first class moron she’d been back then.
“Look,” she shook her head, “I refuse to have one of these conversations with you.”
“One of what conversations?” David raised his voice an octave. “You can’t just walk in here and tell me you’re sailing off with the kids into the blue yonder. How the hell do I know they’ll be safe? I don’t know how able Drew is.”
“Of course you do. You know as well as I do that Drew’s been at sea since he was a boy. From Cadet to First Officer in the Merchant Navy, and after he married Kate, as a Skipper on the Dover tugs.” She shrugged. “You may not be prepared to give him the credit he deserves, but I have one hundred percent confidence in him. Do you really believe I would put our children at risk if I didn’t?“
David considered for a moment. “No.” He stood to face her, legs apart, his posture threatening, “I’m not having it.”
Despite her resolve, Christie felt intimidated. Nevertheless, the hot anger she felt inside, lifted her chin defiantly. “So, what do you intend to do about it? Because, one way or another, this thing is happening.”
David moved a step closer. “Well if you’re hell bent on being a selfish, little bitch, I’ll have the kids here. They can stay with me and Stella.”
“If I wasn’t so bloody furious, I’d laugh.” Her hands twitched with the desire to punch him - straight in his smug, handsome face. “How dare you label me selfish!” she spat. “While you’ve been living the high life here with Stella, I’ve been struggling to hold down a job and cope with two confused, hormonal teenagers.”
“Oh, don’t give me the dramatics. You always did make a meal of everything.”
Christie turned her back on him. “That’s it. I’ve heard enough. I’m out of here.” She bent to pick up her bag. Turning to face him once more, she said, “The kids would never be happy in this great, heartless, show home. And even if you did agree to change the habit of a lifetime, and put others before yourself,” she mimicked David’s nod at the ceiling, “don’t you think you ought to consult Stella first?”
“Did I hear my name being taken in vain?” A perfect Stella materialised, gliding on a waft of expensive perfume. She smiled prettily from one to the other, but then hurried over to David’s empty chair and busily straightened it before bending to retrieve his discarded newspaper. “Tch, tch, who’s a messy boy then?” she patted her husband’s cheek in a reproving manner.
“I think that says everything.” Christie raised an eyebrow at her ex husband. “Don’t you?”
*
The sun shone brightly but a strong wind buffeted her car as she drove through the gates of Dover marina; the familiar clatter of rigging loud, as the assembled yachts shifted impatiently against their moorings.
She spotted the ‘New Chapter’ immediately, her double masts standing tall and distinctive amongst her more streamlined, single masted neighbours.
As always, Christie was struck by her grandeur.
Measuring sixty feet from bowsprit to stern, she had a long curvaceous sweep of belly and towering masts that rose from deep below her decks. Her white planks were topped by dark, richly varnished bulwarks, and this morning, the sun glinted brightly on her polished brass work.
The whole magnificent length of her was testimony to the abundance of love and patience that had been lavished upon her.
It had taken seven long years of hard slog and dogged determination to transform her from the work weary, fishing vessel she’d once been, into the beautiful sailing ship she was today; the incredible make-over a clear statement about the man who’d had both the tenacity and vision to achieve it.
Parking the car, she resolved to forget David and his negativity. She’d done what was necessary. Nothing was going to spoil the good news she was about to impart. Making her way to where the ‘New Chapter’ was berthed, she felt her mood lift.
“Hi there!” she leaned over the quayside rail. “Permission to come aboard?”
“Come on down, Christie.” The muffled reply reached her from below decks.
Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she straddled the rail and manoeuvred herself onto the ladder tied against it.
Before she reached the bottom, Drew appeared at her side, taking her elbow to steady her as she stepped onto the deck.
“Hey, you.” he smiled a welcome.
The last of the tension eased between Christie’s shoulder blades. Thank heaven’s for Drew. After David, he was like a shot of instant, pick-me-up.
“You’re early,” his soft Scottish burr was easy on the ear. “I didn’t expect you for another couple of hours.”
Reluctant to discuss the meeting she’d just had with her ex husband, Christie drew in a breath of the sharp, briny air and told him, “I had somewhere to go before I came here so I got up early.” She threw back her head expansively. “It’s such a beautiful day, I didn’t want to waste a minute of it. Nevertheless, and you’ll be impressed by this - before setting off I found time to load the washing machine and the dishwasher. I even ran the hoover around quickly. That’s where the domesticity ended though.” She rolled her eyes. “What’s the point of chasing my tail? The kids will only get out of their pits and put paid to any order I’ve managed to achieve.” She couldn’t contain her smile. “Much better that I put my time to good use here, since this is going to be home very soon.”
“You’ve actually won her round?!” Drew’s blue eyes held genuine dismay and sweeping his straight, black hair from his brow, he held it there. “That’s fantastic. How on earth did you manage it?”
“I think the threat of living with her nan flipped the coin our way. Love her as she does, Lilly can’t twist my mother around her little finger. Her nan rules with a rod of iron and woe betide the person who crosses her. We’re only the lesser of two evils at the moment. But I’m sure – well, make that sure-ish,” she raised crossed fingers, and with an expression of mock anguish said, “she’ll come around when we finally get underway.”
“Och, stop worrying, woman. Lilly’s going to be absolutely fine.” Drew’s nod was positive. “She’ll have the time of her life.”
Christie shook her head. “I only hope you don’t live to regret taking me and my brood on as crew.”
“Jack is already high as a kite about the adventure, and once Lilly gets into the swing of things, she’s going to love it too.”
Christie remained unconvinced. “I know my daughter - if she takes it upon herself, she could knock the mutiny on the Bounty into a cocked hat.”
Drew only chuckled, but Christie remained serious.
“You’re definitely, one hundred percent sure about this, Drew?” Her brow was creased with concern. “You can still change your mind, you know. I haven’t handed in my notice, or rented the house out – nothing final as yet.”
Drew put a friendly arm along her shoulder. “Quit worrying. It might take a little time, but we’re going to make a great crew. You’ll see, in no time at all, we’ll all be living and working in harmony.”
Pulling in a breath, Christie grinned, “Okay. If you say so, Captain.” And she put her fingers to her forehead in a quick salute. Then, glancing around she asked, “Where have you hidden my boiler suit?”
“Not so fast.” Drew opened the wheelhouse door and stood aside to let her pass. “You’ll have to learn to slow down a piece. Seafarers live at a different tempo – much more laid back. All that slow travel from one port to the next; waiting around for the tide - it forces you to take life at a far gentler pace. So,” he waited until she’d climbed down into the galley before following, “let’s start as we mean to go on.”
Bending, he opened a cupboard door and pulled out a frying pan. “I don’t suppose you’ve had more than a cup of coffee yet?”
“No.”
“Well, let’s get the bacon on. I bought some fresh rolls on the way in. We’ve got time for a cuppa and a bacon butty before we get stuck into the painting.” He raised a questioning eyebrow. “Sound good?”
His bulk filled the confined space. At a towering six foot, three inches, he was almost a foot taller than her and she had to tilt her face upwards to meet his eyes. “I really hope when I’m living aboard, some of that relaxed approach rubs off on me.”
“Your trouble is, you take life too seriously, Christie. I know things have been tough, but all that’s going to change. After all, we’ve jumped all the major hurdles. What on earth could possibly go wrong now?”
Christie pulled her shoulders into an exaggerated shrug. “I can’t imagine.” She let her breath out on a long sigh. “After all, there’s only my mother to win round – and she’s never been one to make a fuss.”
*
Christie patted the bottle of Merlot she’d just bought. £10 was double what she normally paid for plonk, but the price, and the fact that it was her favourite tipple, would go a long way to putting her mother in a good mood. She’d ply her with a couple of large glasses – perch some rose coloured specs on the end of her nose, then broach the subject. That was the plan.
But, this was going to be a difficult conversation. For although Mum liked to believe she was a strong, independent woman and would, in no uncertain terms, pooh-pooh anyone who said otherwise, she’d found life difficult since Dad died three years ago. He’d been the quiet rock she’d relied on through more that forty years of marriage and although, on the surface, Mum still appeared her outspoken - say it as it is, self – underneath she’d lost a little of her old certainty, and a measure of the vast energy she’d always approached life with. Being such a together couple, most of their friends had been mutual and Mum had found it difficult to carve a life without Dad in it. Making new, single friends had not been easy – especially for a nippy sweetie like Mum.
Christie sighed involuntarily. At times like these, it made the burden of being an only child that much more difficult. In truth, she dreaded telling her mum that the twice weekly visits and daily phone calls were about to stop, and that her grandchildren – whom Nan berated endlessly, but who she secretly adored, would not be around to raid her food cupboard and stir up her naughty Jack Russell.
She took a deep breath, mentally bracing herself for the task in hand. A bit of back bone was called for. Mum had to be told. She’d understand – of course she would. She’d see that her daughter needed this adventure – that she hungered for a little excitement – that it was time to break free from the doldrums she was living in.
Was she being selfish? Perhaps a little. But she’d already devoted a huge chunk of her thirty-nine years to suiting others. One small year doing something for herself wasn’t too much to ask for. Was it?
With some trepidation, she lifted the heavy door knocker and rapped it a couple of times
This pretty, little house on Deal’s seafront was the only home she’d known before leaving to marry David. Even then, she hadn’t gone far. In their early days together she and David had rented a flat in Canterbury, close to David’s office. However, as his consultancy business grew and the first of the children came along, David had wanted a home that reflected what he felt was his increased status in life; a place where he could entertain in style; somewhere to impress. So they’d stretched themselves to the limit, investing in a large, country house in a small hamlet close to Folkestone.
The reality was, she’d never lived more than half an hour’s drive from her parents, or the many friends she’d grown up with. If she looked back over her life to date, she had to face it, apart from the trauma of her marriage break-up, she’d led a very cushioned, safe, if contained existence. But here was her chance to ditch timidity! For the first time in her life she was about to cast off – literally!
From inside she could hear the frenzied yapping of Eddie and the equally excited calls for quiet from her mother. It was a couple of minutes before the door opened and Sylvia appeared a harried expression on her round face.
“Hi Mum. He doesn’t get any calmer. Does he?”
“No. In fact, I think the little blighter’s getting worse. One word from me and he does what he likes. Come on in.” The door was held wide. “I’ve got him locked in the kitchen. Make sure you close the door properly behind you. Given half a chance, he’ll be off like a bat out of hell.”
Christie closed the door as instructed and followed her mother down the short hall. “You should take him to doggy training.”
“I would if I thought it would do any good. But Eddie has a mind all of his own. He’d only cost me a fortune and then carry on doing his own sweet thing.”
As soon as the kitchen door opened, Eddie threw himself at Christie, springing off all four paws to almost waist height.
“Calm down, nut job!” She caught him as he bounced clean into her arms.
“Next door’s bitch is on heat. I swear he can smell her from here. The past couple of days he’s had his nose pressed to the kitchen wall - whimpering like an abandoned puppy.” The culprit was treated to a black look. “He’s driving me up the pole.”
Christie put the dog back on his feet and set the wine on the kitchen table. “This is just what you need then. A large glass will put the world to rights again.”
Her mum eyed the bottle with suspicion. “What’s all this in aid of? It wasn’t my birthday last time I looked.”
“Just thought you might enjoy it,” Christie answered innocently.
“Come on, Christaleen. Since when did you splash out on expensive wine like this?” She lifted the bottle to inspect it. “Not that I don’t appreciate it, mind – but there has to be an ulterior motive.”
Christie tried to ignore the use of her Sunday name. She hated it with a passion. It sounded like a cleaning product;
’You’ll wonder where the sunshine’s been,
when you clean your windows with Christaleen!′
“Honestly, does there have to be a reason? Can’t I just treat my mum now and again?”
Reaching into a cupboard, Sylvia pulled out two wine glasses and placed them on the table beside the wine. “Don’t beat about the bush, Christie, I wasn’t born yesterday.” She took the chair opposite her daughter and reached for the wine.
“Only a dribble for me. I’m driving,” Christie warned, watching with dismay as her mother filled her own glass to capacity.
Eddie was running around in frantic circles, a large, rubber chicken dangling from his jaws. He stopped in front of Christie, his legs apart and braced, daring her to try to extricate the toy from his hold. Christie obliged, tugging hard on the chicken’s leg. Emitting a low growl, Eddie held on ferociously, his brows down and his eyes full of menace.
“You’re on to a loser there,” Sylvia laughed. “In old Ed’s mind, that’s the postman’s leg his teeth are clamped around.”
Sylvia sat down in her chair. Immediately, Eddie dropped his end of the toy, leaving the slabber covered chicken dangling from Christie’s hand. Positioning himself at his mistress’s side the little dog gazed up at her beseechingly. People were in the eating position. Something interesting had to be on offer - something even tastier than that old, chicken.
“Right, Eddie, come on up and have a look.” Sylvia patted her knees. “He won’t budge ’til he sees for himself there’s nothing here to eat.”
After some careful sniffing, Eddie decided that his sacrifice had been in vain. No titbit was coming his way. Disappointed, he circled a couple of times and with a sigh of resignation curled into the comfort of his mistress’s ample lap. Nuzzling his snout beneath her hand, he prompted the unconscious petting he knew would follow.
Christie’s gaze was tender as she observed her mother’s obvious affection for the little animal. Eddie had been a gift to her mum, the first Christmas after Dad died. She’d hoped, that having a pet around would, in some small way, fill the long hours each day, and dispel some of the aching loneliness her mum worked so hard to conceal.
At first, Sylvia had been horrified, insisting that the last thing she needed was a puppy who piddled and pooed all over her home, and for just that reason, Eddie had been within inches of his life on more than a few occasions. Just the same, the pair had become inseparable and although Sylvia continually labelled him ‘the naughtiest little dog in the universe’, caring for him had filled a small part of a massive void.
Sylvia tucked one side of her bobbed, grey hair behind her ear and lifted her glass to her lips. After taking a large gulp she challenged, “Come on then let’s be having it.”
Soft soaping her mum further would be a waste of energy so Christie cleared her throat and said with some uncertainty, “You know I’ve been doing my yachtsman’s ticket?”
“Mmmm.”
“And you know Drew has as good as finished working on his boat?”
“Mmmm.”
“Well, he’s asked if me and the children would like to go sailing with him for a while.”
There was a short silence before Sylvia asked frostily, “And he asked you this – just yesterday, I assume?”
Another short silence ensued
“Well, no. Not exactly,” Christie admitted reluctantly. ”We’ve been talking about it for a while.”
“Yes, quite a while, I’d lay odds.”
“I’m sorry, Mum. I wanted to tell you but I didn’t see the point in worrying you unnecessarily if, in the end, it wasn’t going to happen.”
“And Lilly has agreed to this? I’ll eat my hat, if she hasn’t put up a fight.”
“Yep, Lilly has most definitely taken most convincing – after her dad that is.”
“And, I take it, you’re expecting resistance from this quarter as well.”
Tilting her head to one side, Christie answered, “Well, of course I’m worried about leaving you, Mum. I’ve never done it before. In fact, apart from a fortnight’s holiday each year, I haven’t been out of touch with you for more than a day or two in my whole life.”
“But, who is it you’re most concerned for - me - or yourself?”
“You, of course. You’ll be on your own. How are you going to cope?” Christie felt her anxiety levels rise.
Sylvia raised a sardonic eyebrow. “I suppose I’ve always got Eddie.” She patted the dog. “Eh Ed?”
An ear twitch was all the answer she got.
“Aw don’t, Mum. I feel really bad as it is.”
“Look,” Sylvia took another large gulp of wine, “you don’t have to nursemaid me. I’m not in my dotage – just yet.”
Christie waited, unsure.
Her Mum’s chest heaved as she sighed deeply. “Truth to tell, I’ve been expecting this,” she stated flatly.
“What?”
“Christie, you’ve spent more time on that boat recently than you have anywhere else. And, it’s not just a little plastic job for poodling around in. Is it? It’s quite obvious – even to a lay person like me, that it’s designed with faraway destinations in mind.”
“So you guessed what I was planning?”
“Months ago.”
“Why on earth didn’t you say something?”
“Well, if I’m honest, I just plain wimped out.” Sylvia’s expression was full of self disgust. “I didn’t want it to be a reality, so I sat tight, hoping it would go away.”
Christie had rarely seen her mother show vulnerability and moved by it she reached to cover her mum’s hand with her own. “It’s only for a year, Mum.”
Sylvia remained silent.
“And, you can always fly out to wherever we are.”
“Don’t be daft. Where would you stow me on that boat? It’s going to be full to capacity as it is.”
“I’ve already spoken to Drew and he’s happy for you to make as many visits as you feel up to. We’ll always find space for a small one.”
Sylvia smiled. “Not so small,” she said in a disparaging manner. “But it’s nice of Drew to be so agreeable about it.”
“So, what do you think, Mum?”
Sylvia turned her hand over beneath her daughter’s and squeezed. “I think it’s the opportunity of a lifetime.” She was her brisk old self once more. “And it’s one in the eye for that bastard, David – ’scuse my French. It’s no surprise he doesn’t want you to go. He always was a control freak. Played you like a well tuned fiddle, he did.”
“I know, and I thought he was going to be the fly in the ointment this time too. But Stella came up trumps. She pouted and stamped her pretty, little foot – so hard, that in the end, David folded. Without a home to offer the kids, there’s nothing he can do to stop us going ahead with our plans.
Sylvia nodded silently before continuing. “How’s Drew going to cope full time with Jack and Lilly? Has he the faintest idea what he’s letting himself in for? It’s not as if he’s brought up a family of his own, you know.”
“No, but he’s brilliant with them. His patience seems endless. He’d have made a great dad.”
Sylvia nodded sadly. “He must have gone through the mill when Kate died – a beautiful, young woman like that. Tragic.”
“He still has time though, Mum. Forty-two isn’t too old for a man to become a father.”
“Mmmm.” Sylvia looked at her strangely.
“What?”
Her mother smiled benignly. “Oh, nothing more than the meanderings of an old woman.”
“Thanks, Mum.”
“For what?”
“For making this easy. You’ve no idea how worried I’ve been about telling you.”
“For heavens sake, Christie,” Sylvia shook her head impatiently, “I know I’m a bit of a bossy boots, but I’m not a complete tyrant.”
“I know your bark’s worse than your bite, but I was worried nevertheless. I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“Well, it’s high time you did. You and the kids are going to have a ball.” Sylvia refilled her glass to the brim. “I’m going to be lost without you though.”
“Aw, Mum.”
“Let’s not get maudlin now.” Sylvia raised her glass to her lips and said with a grin, “I’ll get this little glass of wine down my gullet and like magic the world will be perfectly rosy again.”
“You’re nothing but an old soak!”
Sylvia swallowed noisily. “Oh, absolutely!”
