‘I’m sorry, Nance, but I just don’t happen to think Sammie will come to any harm talking to people of her own age. Especially when she’s never out of our sight.’
‘I see.’ Turning away, Nancy lapsed into one of her famous
silences.
‘Oh, for heaven’s sake, don’t go all sulky on me!’
Putting her back to him, Nancy lay on her side.
‘Nancy!’
She ignored him.
‘Oh, right! So now you’re not talking, eh? Well, that’s just dandy, isn’t it? All four of us, invited out to a special dinner in a special place, and my wife won’t even talk to me. That’s wonderful! Bloody wonderful!’
Nancy swung round. ‘Stop that swearing
and cursing.’
‘Only if you stop the sulking.’
‘So, do you want an ice cream, or not?’
‘Are you offering?’
‘I might be.’
‘Are you paying?’
‘If I have to.’
He grinned from ear to ear, the winner of round one. ‘Go on then, I’ll have a choc ice.’
‘You’ll get fat.’
‘So there’ll be more for you to cuddle, won’t there?’ He peeped at her. ‘What are you having?’
‘Same as you.’
‘Don’t you care
if you get fat then?’
‘Nope!’
‘Well, neither do I.’
He watched her treading through the sand. ‘Oh, Nancy, Nancy!’ he groaned. ‘When will you ever learn that Sammie is a young woman now. Keep crowding her the way you do, and we might lose her altogether.’
The very thought of that made his skin crawl. Sammie was his special person. She was what put the smile on his face and the spring in his
step. His daughter could be unpredictable – deeply caring, yet fiercely argumentative, she was one of the most generous, loving creatures on God’s earth, and Brian Wells was the proudest father alive.
A short time later, Nancy came back carrying the cornets, with the ice cream dripping over the backs of her hands, ‘Quick!’ Handing him his one, she then proceeded to wrap her tongue around the
steady trickle of ice cream, meandering down the side of her cornet.
‘Mmm!’ Easing herself into the deck chair, she fished a hankie out of her bag and handed it to Brian. ‘Look at the state of you,’ she grinned. ‘The chocolate is all round your face. You’re worse than the kids!’
Brian called her attention to the string of donkeys travelling across the beach in front of them. ‘Look there!’ He
pointed to the donkey at the back of the line, a great lump of a thing with huge sticky-up ears and a long tail that brushed the sand as it went along.
Shading her eyes with the palm of her hand, Nancy peered through the sunshine. ‘It’s our Sammie sitting on it!’ Horrified, she stood up to make sure. ‘Whatever does she think she’s doing?’
‘She’s enjoying herself.’ Brian drew her attention to
their son, who was kicking a football about with a group of youths. ‘David and Sammie are making the most of their last day, and so should we,’ he advised. ‘Leave them be for another hour or so. Then we’ll pack up and head back, all right?’
His wife nodded. ‘If you say so.’
There were times when she had to give in, albeit reluctantly, because as Brian frequently pointed out, David was more than
capable of looking after himself, and Sammie would all too soon be leaving her childhood behind. It was a terrifying thought.
Nancy consoled herself with the idea that Sammie still had a way to go before she was a young woman, so, until then she meant to keep a firm hand on the girl, whether she liked it or not!
The plane was late landing. ‘I’m not so sure I want to go out tonight now,’ Rita
said tiredly. She did not like airports as it was, let alone hanging about after luggage when they were already over an hour late. ‘Can’t you ring the family and explain?’
‘I’ve already phoned them,’ Mac told her. ‘You saw me go off in search of a phone booth.’
Usually placid and non-argumentative, Rita came back with, ‘Yes, but you only told them we would be late. You didn’t ask them if they
would mind staying in tonight and having fish and chips.’
Mac patiently reminded her, ‘I wouldn’t even dream of it! My brother’s family have been good enough to take care of our property while we’ve been away. Don’t you think the least we can do is take them out for a decent meal?’
His wife felt ashamed. ‘Of course you’re right. I’m sorry if I sounded ungrateful. It’s just that I’m really tired
and fed up. It’s almost seven-thirty now, and there’s still no sign of the luggage.’
Three-quarters of an hour later, they were actually on their way home. ‘Feel better now, do you?’ Mac asked.
‘Yes, thank you.’ Leaning back in her seat, Rita gave a sigh of relief. ‘It’s a good job you rang and changed the time of the restaurant booking.’
‘It will still be a bit of a rush,’ he reminded her.
‘I’ve allowed half an hour for us to wash and change, and another fifteen minutes for the drive to the restaurant. Do you think you can manage that?’
‘Of course.’ Sometimes he had a way with him that made her feel inadequate. ‘If
you
can manage it, then so can I.’
‘Good girl!’
It was just as well he did not see the frustration on his wife’s face.
‘SAMMIE!’ Nancy’s voice sailed up the stairs.
‘Aren’t you ready yet … they’ll be here before you know it!’
‘I’ll be down in a minute!’
‘Oh, look!’ When the car drew up outside the house, Nancy was frantic, ‘SAMMIE! THEY’RE HERE!’
‘All right, all right!’ Giving her hair a final brush, Sammie stepped back to see herself in the mirror. ‘I hope you don’t let anyone down.’ She had taken ages trying to control her wild hair, and even now it
still looked scruffy to her. ‘Don’t forget, you need to be on your best behaviour!’
She wagged a finger at her image. ‘This is the first time you’ve ever been to a posh restaurant.’
When Mac and Rita got out of the car, Brian came out of the house with David, waiting to give a helping hand with the luggage.
Rita was the first to thank them, for looking after the place. ‘It means that Mac and
I can really relax,’ she said, ‘knowing we’ve got family keeping an eye on things for us.’
A moment later they were in the house and up the stairs, with Rita rushing about, searching out a pair of shoes and a clean shirt for Mac. ‘Your stuff is on the bed,’ she told him. ‘I’d best get myself washed and changed.’ She then hurried off to the bathroom, leaving Mac to fend for himself.
In a remarkably
short time, everyone was ready to leave – apart from Sammie. ‘Where
is
that girl!’ Nancy was exasperated. ‘She has more time than anyone to get herself ready and she’s always the last to show.’
When Sammie did finally come down the stairs, Mac was the one to voice what everyone else was thinking. ‘My Lord!’ He appraised her from head to toe; the calf-length blue fitted dress, and darker blue
shoes with a heel. Her usually unruly hair was sleek and shining, the natural burnished curls teasing about her face and neck. She looked so grown-up.
‘Oh Sammie, you look beautiful!’ Rita smiled on Sammie with genuine affection. ‘I can’t believe you’re the same girl,’ she said.
‘WOW!’ David was well impressed. ‘Is that really my little sister?’
Brian was equally proud. ‘Who is this young woman?’
he wanted to know.
Laughing, Sammie launched herself at him. ‘I’m still your little girl!’ she protested. ‘Only I’m all dressed up to go out.’ She had been so excited about the prospect of going to a ‘posh’ restaurant that she had even raided her savings for a new outfit.
Up until then, Nancy had said nothing. Seeing her daughter looking all grown-up had a strange, disturbing effect on her.
‘I want you to go and change!’ She said it almost without realising.
Like everyone else, Sammie was shocked. ‘Why? What’s wrong? Don’t I look nice, Mum?’
Aware that everyone was hanging on her every word, Nancy mentally shook herself. ‘Oh, I’m sorry, sweetheart,’ she said. ‘It’s just that you took me by surprise. You look so … so …’ Suddenly she was stumbling for words.
‘So different?’ Brian
discreetly rescued his wife. ‘I’ll be the proudest man in the restaurant tonight.’ He looked directly at Nancy. ‘So now, shall we go?’
On the whole, the evening was a great success. Lovely venue, choice wine, good food and delightful company.
Everyone chatted and laughed; Mac was extremely entertaining, even though a little inebriated. Brian teased Sammie about riding the donkey; Rita had a
little moan about the plane being late, and David relayed a few tales of scary exploits.
Nancy, however, was noticeably quiet, her gaze constantly straying to Sammie.
When in an unguarded moment she caught her mother looking at her in that certain way, Sammie asked teasingly, ‘What’s wrong, Mum? Have I got gravy on my chin or something?’
Nancy forced herself to laugh out loud. ‘Keep waving
that fork about and we’ll
all
be covered in gravy!’
Nancy’s well-chosen comment had the desired effect of shifting the focus from herself, and on to Sammie.
But there was no doubt about it, Nancy had been deeply affected by Sammie’s appearance. She was no longer the impossibly mischievous tomboy. Her daughter was fast becoming an attractive, confident young woman, with strong ideas, and a powerful
thirst for life’s adventures.
There was something else too. Something Nancy had not noticed. Until tonight.
Try as she might to enjoy the evening, she was too deeply unnerved by the thoughts swimming through her head. For her, the evening was ruined, though she hid her fears as best she could.
‘Well, do you want it or not, before my arm drops off?’ Brian had been holding the wine bottle over
her glass for a while, before Nancy realised.
‘Oh, sorry! Yes, please.’ She then astonished him by instructing, ‘Fill it up, right to the very top.’
‘That’s not like you,’ he remarked quietly. ‘Half a glass is about your limit.’
‘Not tonight,’ she said with a smile. ‘Tonight, I just might get tipsy.’
Brian laughed at the idea of his wife being tipsy. He could not even envisage it, though tonight
there was something about Nancy that was beginning to bother him. ‘Are you all right?’ he murmured.
She gave an impatient nod. ‘I’m absolutely fine! I just want to make the best of our special evening out, that’s all.’
Her explanation went only partway to satisfying him. He had no idea what it was that troubled Nancy, but there was definitely something. He knew her too well.
After a glass or
two, everyone was merry. Uncle Mac was the life and soul of the party. David ate everyone else’s leftovers, much to his father’s disgust. Rita got giggly and started Sammie off, though not unduly, as the girl had stuck to one glass of red wine.
As for Brian, he found himself trying to keep up with the flow of conversation, while at the same time keeping a wary eye on Nancy, who to his thinking
was too quiet, and not at all like her usual bossy self.
Nancy made a supreme effort to join in, but it was not easy.
Not when she had seen something that took her back over the years,
to a time she would rather forget
.
All too soon the evening was over and a much-inebriated Mac was shepherding them into the two taxis he had ordered. ‘Squash up at the back,’ he joked. Thrusting Rita in between
Sammie and David, he clambered into the front seat.
Laughing and joking, and being altogether too loud, Mac entertained them all the way home, where they climbed out and made their way up the steps to the front door.
‘Wait!’ Frantically searching his pockets, Mac finally located his wallet and paid the fares, together with a handsome tip which put a big smile on the drivers’ faces. That done,
he scrambled up the front steps to be with the others.
‘Who’s got the key?’ Rita had forgotten to bring her own, and now there followed a brief confusion, when Mac fell backwards down the steps, to be heroically rescued by Brian.
Producing the key from her purse, Nancy saved the day. ‘Panic over,’ she said and everyone poured into the house.
Everyone but Nancy that was.
Having drunk more than
she was used to, she watched the others go inside, her worried gaze constantly returning to Sammie. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered brokenly. ‘I’m such a bad …
bad
person!’
Realising his wife had not followed them in, Brian returned
outside to find her leaning over the railings, and sobbing her heart out.
‘Hey!’ Taking her into his arms, he rocked her gently back and forth. ‘What’s all this about,
eh?’
‘I’m sorry.’ Nancy clung to him. ‘I didn’t mean it.’
Brian shook his head. ‘What didn’t you mean?’
‘Nothing.’
‘It’s the wine, I guessed as much.’ Brian had seen it all before. ‘I knew it would affect you. It always does.’
Jumping at the excuse, Nancy quickly agreed. ‘That’s it!’ She wagged a finger. ‘You never should have let me drink wine. It doesn’t agree with me.’
Brian groaned.
‘How did I know I’d get the blame – as per usual?’
‘Because it’s your fault!’ Wiping the palms of her hands over her face, she assured him, ‘I’m fine now. Come on, let’s get inside – see what everyone else is up to?’
Brian had other ideas. ‘It’s such a lovely evening, Nancy. Incredible weather for the time of year. Let’s sit over by the summerhouse for a while, eh?’
‘Why?’ Nancy was not in
the mood for small talk.
Slipping an arm around her waist, Brian explained, ‘I just think it would be nice to end a great evening, sitting together away from the others, just you and me.’
‘But
why
?’
Taking a deep sigh, Brian spoke softly. ‘Because we never seem to have any time to ourselves. We’ve had the most marvellous holiday, and I’m grateful to Mac and Rita for that, but we’ve never once
enjoyed each other’s company without the children around us; or without being frantic when they’re out of sight. The thing is, love, they’re not babies any more. It won’t be too long before they leave home for good, to set out on their own life adventures, and then it’ll be just you and me.’
Without realising it, he had touched a raw nerve. ‘Do you think I don’t already know that?’ she snapped,
and reached for her hanky again.