Authors: Vanessa Fox
Before Alex could retort, a car appeared around the bend in the drive, purred to a halt behind them, the driver’s door opening, a voice reaching them that made Alex stop, smiling, shake her head in disbelief.
‘
Alex, how are you today my dear?’
‘
Joss. How lovely to see you.’ Alex almost laughed. Jocelyn Blake was developing a habit of popping up where she was least expected. Today, she was wearing another of her tent-like creations, this time navy velvet, the buttons on her swing back jacket, bright red. She looked like she’d just stepped out of the office, her hair skewered in a tidy bun. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’
‘
I had to run some errands, just wanted to make sure you were okay.’
‘
Thanks, you really are kind,’ Alex meant it, ‘I’m fine now. Sore throat and my hair will stink for months, but I slept almost all day of yesterday. Thanks so much for the lift home; and for bringing my phone, the food…and for organising the car.’ How did you thank someone like Joss? Then Alex remembered her manners. ‘This is my dad, Tom Ryan. Dad this is Jocelyn Blake, Sebastian’s PA...’
‘
Afternoon Joss my dear, am I pleased to see you. This dratted daughter of mine has been bullying me all day.’
Alex took a step back, her mouth hanging open. She knew they’d talked on the phone but had had no idea that her dad and Jocelyn knew each other.
‘
Tom, you do look better. A bit of fresh air works wonders doesn’t it?’
Hiding her confusion, Alex went to the back of the car to open the boot, struggling with the wheelchair the hospital had provided. She needn’t have bothered. By the time she had got it out and unfolded it, Tom was half way to the front door of the cottage, leaning heavily on Jocelyn’s capable arm.
‘
Gosh, it’s bit musty in here. How about we open a few windows, let in some of this lovely sunshine? Then we’ll get the kettle on.’ Jocelyn helped Tom through the tiny terracotta porch, ‘I’ve a pint of milk here and some chocolate digestives.’
Following them in, Alex pushed the wheelchair into the living room, left it leaning against the wall. She’d forgotten how cramped the cottage was. The wheelchair had looked small in the hospital, but now, here, against the polished pine and rough plaster it was ugly and ungainly, and huge. Following the sound of Jocelyn’s voice down the narrow passage and into the kitchen at the back of the cottage, Alex found Tom had already collapsed into one of the battered pine kitchen chairs, his face serious.
‘
So what’s the story Joss? Any news from the house?’
Hovering in the doorway, Alex had been about to go up the narrow stairs to open the windows, but waited, desperate to know how Sebastian was, to find out what had happened. She hadn’t spoken to him yet, had woken up mid-afternoon yesterday to find two missed calls from Kilfenora on her phone, but as she sat up in bed, the phone in her hand, her thumb hovering over the speed dial, her courage had deserted her, completely and utterly…what on earth was she going to say to him after…after everything?
Jocelyn filled the kettle and flicked it on, then, pulling a chair out from the scarred pine table, rested her elbows on it, playing with her rings while she found the words.
‘
There’s good news and bad. The assessors have been out and the builders are already starting work to make sure the main house is safe. The Palm House has been destroyed, but the Fire Brigade did a marvellous job, stopped it spreading. There’s smoke and water damage, but that’s nothing that can’t be fixed.’
‘
Good, that’s good. Any idea how it started?’
Jocelyn grimaced, ‘They think it might have been a stray cigarette. The painters had left some paint pots out…’
Tom snorted, an explosive sound in the tiny kitchen. ‘Christ if I’d been there…can’t stand that sort of sloppiness, there’s no excuse. For God’s sake paint’s highly combustible…’
Jocelyn nodded, reached out to pat his arm, calming him down, ‘Lots of things would have been different if you’d been there. Sebastian’s dreading seeing you – he had fertiliser delivered and it was in the Palm House too…’
‘
But I’m always telling him…’
‘
Exactly. He knows…’
Tom rolled his eyes. ‘How is he?’ his voice was gruff, anger tempered by emotion, it could have been so much worse.
Behind them, the kettle boiled. Trying to look busy, like she wasn’t listening, Alex went to pick it up, reaching for the teabags, the teapot; the tips of her ears glowing.
‘
He’ll be fine I hope. He’s shocked, more than he’ll admit. And with poor Lord Kilfenora having another stroke there’s a lot to do.’
‘
Lord Kilfenora?’ Alex spun around, her hand flying to her mouth, ‘I thought…’
Jocelyn sighed, nodding ‘Sebastian told the firemen where to find him, but he was unconscious when they brought him out. He’s in intensive care; he’s conscious now but they think he’s had another stroke. They can’t be sure what the damage is yet.’
‘
Another stroke?’ Alex’s voice was too high, shaky. She might hate the man but it was still terrible to hear. And it could so easily have been her and Sebastian.
Tom shook his head, rolling his eyes like she was being stupid. ‘You heard it lass, another stroke.’ He paused, his weathered face sad. ‘He’s a grand man, has had a good old innings. Still, it’s no way to be is it?’
Jocelyn patted Tom’s arm again, ‘I know. Sebastian will have a lot on his plate now.’
They nodded, joined in their grief like an elderly couple.
‘
That’s the tea on, I’d better open the windows, air the place a bit. The minute it’s shut up the damp comes back.’
‘
Pint’s what I need lass after that news. We need to drink to his health.’
Getting out of the kitchen as fast as she decently could, Alex skipped up the stairs, stopping at the top, forgetting why she had come up. Lord Kilfenora had had another stroke. She couldn’t believe it. She’d been so sure Sebastian would be able to get him out okay. His rooms were in the west wing, away from the worst of the blaze, and with all the fire fighters and paramedics on site, surely…
Downstairs she could hear them talking, her dad’s voice:
‘
He’s a great man, doesn’t feel right…’ And Jocelyn muttering her agreement. ‘So a pint it is, and I need a decent meal, the food in that hospital was only terrible…’
To her right the low-panelled door into her bedroom stood open. Ducking inside, Alex stood for a moment, swayed, reached out for the door frame to steady herself, staring blindly, unable to move. Her dad had painted it a sunshine yellow when they’d moved in, the sloping ceiling bright white, and now it was filled with light, the afternoon sun coursing through the diamond-paned window, falling across her duvet, sprinkled with star-like forget-me-nots, like there wasn’t a worry in the world. So different from last night, so different from Kilfenora. Kneeling on the narrow single bed, Alex reached across to open the window, the scrolled brass catch smooth and warm in her hand. As she opened the window, she was greeted by the loamy scent of the woods, the sound of birdsong. For a split second she felt like she’d never been away, like last night was some sort of bad dream.
But she knew it wasn’t.
Turning, sitting down on the bed, running her fingers into her hair, it took Alex a few moments to realise that she’d stuck her phone into the back pocket of her jeans. It dug into her like an accusing finger, reminding her that she hadn’t phoned Sebastian. He’d be devastated. How could she not have returned his calls, what was she thinking? It was the least she could do after he’d saved her life. Pulling her phone out, Alex looked at the screen. She had four unopened texts. She scrolled through them: Marina, Senor Marquez, Ulster Carpets, and the last one… only sent an hour ago…Will u have dinner w me 2nit? Need 2 talk. Call me at the hse. Seb x
FORTY EIGHT
Alex heard Sebastian’s mobile ring, but a strange voice answered it.
‘
Wingfield.’
She hesitated, ‘Sebastian?’
‘
Alex is that you? I’ve been trying to get hold of you.’
Playing nervously with the curly wire attached to the bedside phone in her father’s room, Alex could hear Tom speaking to Jocelyn downstairs, their voices a murmur through the pitch pine floor. The room was meticulously tidy but had that lonely, empty feeling of a room unlived in.
‘
Yes, it’s me….I’m sorry I missed you yesterday, I slept all day.’ Alex cringed inwardly, that sounded utterly feeble. She moved on quickly. ‘How are things?’
Sebastian’s voice was hoarse, gravely. She heard him sigh. Then, ‘We’re getting there.’
‘
I just heard, I’m so sorry…so sorry about your grandfather, how is he today?’
‘
Much the same.’ The sigh again, ‘They’re hoping he’ll regain some movement but it’s going to be a long haul. Christ it’s all such a mess. How are you?’
‘
I’m fine – almost toast, but this guy I know is a bit of a lifesaver.’
Alex tried to make it sound light, humorous. How could she begin to thank him?
Sebastian’s laugh was throaty, sexy, lost in a shuddering crash somewhere in the background.
‘
What on earth was that?’
‘
Builders. Did you get my text?’
‘
Yes, I…’
He interrupted her. ‘I know it’s a bit of trek back down here, but…but I thought…’
It was her turn to interrupt, ‘It’s fine.’ Should she tell him she was on the estate already? ‘Tonight’s good, what time?’
‘
How about eight, give you time to get organised?’ Jocelyn must have told him that her dad was being discharged, but he would assume they’d go back to Alex’s house from the hospital.
‘
That’s grand…’
‘
Can you meet me at the west gate, near your dad’s place? You don’t need to dress up, but bring a jacket in case it’s chilly later.’
In case it’s chilly? ‘Okay ...that’s grand.’ Now she sounded like a parrot, ‘I’ll see you later.’
‘
Good. Excellent. See you at eight then.’ Alex could almost hear him smiling.
Alex replaced the receiver carefully, her hand trembling, heart thumping inside her chest like a military tattoo, face burning. It was just as well he couldn’t see her. Why had she been dreading that call? Why had it been so difficult? Sebastian had saved her life…but…a wave of exhaustion washed over her, exhaustion and despair. There was still the problem of her dad. They’d have to sort it out at dinner…he was right when he said this was all such a mess. For a moment Alex wondered if she really wanted to have dinner with him. It made the whole thing personal somehow – and Alex knew from experience it was way better to keep business and pleasure separate, very separate. She ran her hand across her eyes. If it wasn’t for her dad she’d be jumping on a plane right now and getting back to Spain, back to the sunshine and her friends and eating outside. Well, she had no choice now.
Turning to leave the room, Alex caught sight of her reflection in her father’s wardrobe mirror, stopped, shocked. She’d lost weight since she’d arrived back in Ireland, her cheeks hollowed, cheekbones even sharper than normal, skin pale. She’d put a cerise jacket on this morning over her black jeans and black skinny t-shirt – anything to make her feel a bit more cheerful. But now it seemed to drain her. And her hair was all over the place – she’d had to wash it twice yesterday to try and get rid of the smell of smoke, not that it had helped, and despite soaking it in conditioner and anti-frizz stuff, it was wild looking. She’d certainly have a few words for Trevor Sorbie if she ever met him…Alex pulled at it, tucking it behind her ears, taking a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. Took another long look at herself. At least she had two earrings in.
But how on earth could she have dinner with Sebastian looking like this?
She needed a shower and a whole new face – there was a lipstick in her handbag, but she was pretty sure it was a shade different from the one she had on. Alex glanced at her watch. It was already two o’clock. There was no way she could abandon her dad and fly back home to change, and she still had all his packing to do. In desperation she pulled her hair back into a ponytail, slipping an elastic tie off her wrist to hold it back, rubbed her lips together and pinched her cheeks. A bit better, but not much…
Downstairs, Jocelyn was gathering her things to leave.
‘
So, I’ll be back at seven and we’ll see what Foley’s has to offer, will we?’
‘
I’ll look forward to it.’ Tom started to get up.
‘
Don’t,’ she waved him back into his seat, ‘I’ll see myself out. You need to have a rest, get those old bones into bed.’
Tom nodded, grinning, ‘Ah, these bones have plenty of life left in them yet.’
Arriving at the bottom of the stairs Alex looked at him, astonished – she hadn’t heard him talk like that in years. Was he flirting with Joss? Was she blushing? Then she realised what they were talking about – dinner tonight – flip…
‘
I’m really sorry Joss but I’m not sure if I can make dinner, I’m…’
Tom interrupted before she could finish, ‘Who said you were invited? You’re the one who keeps going on about how much packing there is to do. I thought I’d get out of your way and let you get on with it.’
Well, that was telling her.
‘
Oh, excuse me.’ Alex said it with as much emphasis as she could, trying to sound put out, disapproving, at the same time fighting a smile.