‘Not bad, eh?’ Anna said, feeling a rush of pride.
‘Your grandmother would be really proud,’ Dad said. His lips were tight, holding in the emotion, and Anna touched his arm gently, knowing that if he cried, it would be certain to set her off too.
‘You’ve done what she dreamed of, haven’t you?’ he went on. ‘It still looks like her place, but you’ve brought it right up to date.’
‘I’m glad you think so,’ Anna said. ‘I have to admit, there were days when I wondered if we could do it.’
‘We always had faith in you,’ he said. ‘And there was no way in hell I was going to let Françoise trip you up.’
‘I loved it when you gave her what for,’ Anna said.
Tom smiled. ‘That woman had no place bullying any of us.’
‘What did Martin make of it all?’
‘You won’t believe it, but he’s finally shown Françoise the door.’
‘He hasn’t,’ Anna said, her hand going to her mouth.
‘Yes, he has. Martin said that when he saw how upset and angry I was, it was the confirmation he needed that she wasn’t the woman for him any more. You know how the two of us are, Anna. We’d never argued before. Anyway, he said he should have done it a long time ago.’
‘Good for him,’ Anna said. ‘And good for you, Dad,’ she smiled. ‘How’s he coping?’
‘He’s having a grand old time, considering,’ Tom laughed. ‘Barely off the golf course, and not without his fair share of admirers. Not that he really notices that.’
‘And there’s another thing,’ her dad said. ‘With Françoise gone, he seems to have gone right off the idea of selling Mum’s house.’
‘He doesn’t want to sell it at all? To anyone? That’s terrific news, Dad.’
‘Oh, it’s even better than that, darling,’ he said. ‘Martin is moving in. But I’ll let him tell you about that when you see him.’
‘See him?’
‘Yes. Before Imogen’s party tonight, there’s something Martin and I wanted to do. And I’m hoping you and your sister will be able to join us.’
Martin and Tom were standing facing the sea, the urn containing their mother’s ashes held tightly in Martin’s hands.
Jan stood between her daughters nearby. Sunlight glistened on the quiet stretch of sea in front of them. Anna held Hepburn’s lead while he lay calmly on the pebbled beach, as if he had some sense of why they were there and was showing his respect.
‘She’ll be part of the sea she always loved,’ Martin said, looking over at his brother. ‘And this is where we can all come to visit and think of her.’
‘She used to talk about it,’ Tom added. ‘How she’d be free, but able to keep one eye on the shop too,’ he said, smiling in his daughters’ direction.
Martin carefully lifted off the lid of the urn and took a couple of steps towards the water. Tom walked out beside him. Martin scattered some of Vivien’s ashes into the sea, and then passed the urn to his brother. ‘Goodbye, Mum,’ Tom said. Gently, he tipped the urn and let the remainder of the ashes be carried out by the tide.
They walked back silently to Vivien’s house. The ceremony seemed to have given them all a chance to let go. It was Imogen who spoke first.
‘So, what’s all this Dad says, Uncle Martin?’ she asked him. ‘About you moving into Granny V’s house?’
‘It won’t be right away,’ Martin said, ‘but now that Françoise has gone … ’ He paused, and looked sadder than he had all afternoon. ‘It feels like time to come home. I don’t know what I was thinking, letting her talk me into selling to those awful developers. Mum’s house is going to stay right where it’s always been. But there are going to be a few changes.’
‘Changes?’ Anna said.
‘Yes. You know how Mum always loved company – how her door was never shut, at the shop or the house.’
‘Yes,’ Imogen said.
‘I’m going to convert the place into a B&B. Even with me in there, there’ll be four spare bedrooms, and you know how spacious they are. Plus I could do with a bit of company myself, now that I’m a single man again.’
‘What a nice idea,’ Anna said. ‘You’ll be sure to tell them where they can find the best ice creams in town, won’t you?’
‘Bon voyage!’ Imogen’s family and friends all raised a toast. They were packed into Finn’s front room, drinking champagne and eating canapés, the floor-to-ceiling sea view providing a dramatic backdrop.
Anna looked over at her sister kissing Finn with abandon, oblivious to the other people in the room.
For once it was Imogen who knew where she was going, and who with. It was Anna’s life that was the blank canvas.
‘So what do you think of him, then?’ Anna’s mum whispered to her.
‘Finn? He’s a gem,’ she replied.
‘He’ll take good care of her, won’t he?’
‘Of course he will, Mum. He’s a really kind, straightforward guy,’ Anna said. ‘He’s good for her.’
‘That’s nice,’ Jan said. ‘I know she can’t see it, but I do admire her. I just wish sometimes that she could be a bit more like you, sweetheart, less inclined to put her life in danger. But perhaps one day that will come.’
‘Don’t rush it,’ Anna said, taking another sip of champagne. ‘Come on, Mum, who wants two of me? And I think we’d all miss the entertainment.’
‘Perhaps you’re right,’ Mum said, considering it. ‘And you, darling,’ she continued. ‘I was so sorry to hear about what happened with Jon.’
‘Oh, don’t be,’ Anna said. ‘It was for the best. Better now than dragging it out. And I can’t begrudge Alfie the chance to have his real parents back together. I know how much it meant to me to grow up with you two.’
Jan smiled, and touched Anna’s arm.
‘On that note,’ Anna said, ‘it sounds like things are a bit better between you?’
‘Yes. Together by the skin of our teeth, but still somehow together,’ she laughed. ‘I know I didn’t do anything right when he was ill. I’m not the best listener, and I just wanted him to be back to normal. But it was hard to see him so down, distant. Then when he told Françoise to back off over
the shop, it was like a flash of the Tom I loved came back, and he’s been getting steadily better since then. I’ve never loved him more, Anna.’
After the party, Anna drove Imogen and Finn to Gatwick Airport, with Tom and Jan travelling with them.
‘So, what will you do for money when you’re over there?’ Jan asked Finn from her position squashed into the back seat of the car. Anna was driving, but her mum had been directing from the back seat since they set off. Anna was relieved that she’d now turned her attention to extracting as much information as she possibly could from Imogen’s new boyfriend.
‘I’ve got some savings to tide us over,’ Finn said. ‘The business has been solid for a while now, and when you work the hours me and Andy do you don’t always get the chance to spend the money you make. But now –’ Finn glanced over at Imogen with a smile – ‘I have the perfect excuse.’
Anna’s dad caught her eye. They both knew that it was only a matter of time before Jan was bowled over by Finn’s easy charm. It wasn’t just his personality that was winning everyone round, it was his effect on Imogen, the way he seemed to bring about a sense of contentment in her none of them had ever seen before.
‘Well,’ Mum said, clearly holding back on giving her full approval before the car journey was over, ‘if you do run out of money, you’ll just have to come back home, won’t you?’
‘Mum,’ Imogen protested, ‘give it a rest, will you? Finn’ll probably change his mind before we get there at this rate.’
They neared Gatwick Airport with a gentle buzz of chatter about Thailand from Imogen and Finn, what they were looking forward to doing first. But as they reached the junction for Gatwick, there was another peep out of Jan.
‘What about Christmas?’ she said. ‘Are you going to be away for another one?’
‘We’ll Skype you from the beach,’ Imogen said. ‘We’ll find a way to be there.’
They parked up in the airport car park and made their way towards the check-in desks together.
‘See you in six months, sis,’ Anna whispered into Imogen’s ear as they hugged. ‘Have fun.’
Imogen smiled back. The sunshine had come back into her eyes already, even there in the air-conditioned airport terminal with nothing but grey clouds visible through the windows.
‘We will,’ Imogen replied. ‘And this summer – well, it’s been … ’ She shrugged, unable to find the words.
‘Quite something, hasn’t it?’ Anna said.
‘Emotional,’ Imogen said with a smile.
Anna thought back over the time they’d shared, setting up the business. As they’d overcome each obstacle they’d learned more about what they were truly capable of, and what mattered. They were both strong, and their whole family was too. Yes, it would always be missing a piece, but
through the shop, and the B&B, they’d found ways to keep Vivien’s memory alive.
‘I’ll miss you,’ Anna said, taking her sister’s hand in hers. ‘Please don’t let Mum put you off ever coming home.’
‘We’ll be back,’ Imogen said, laughing and glancing over at Finn, who was hugging their mum and dad goodbye as if he’d known them all his life.
‘You’ve got a good one there,’ Anna said, nodding towards Finn.
‘Yes,’ Imogen replied. ‘And it turns out that might not be such a bad thing after all.’
‘Of course it’s not. Now be nice to him, and take some brilliant photos out there to give us something to smile about when it’s cold and rainy over here.’
‘I’ll get busy,’ Imogen said. ‘I can’t wait to get back to it,’ she added, patting her camera bag.
‘I look forward to seeing them,’ Anna said. She caught sight of Finn trying to disentangle himself from their mum’s hearty embrace.
‘And you’ll be OK, won’t you?’ Imogen said.
‘Why does everyone keep asking me that?’ Anna laughed. ‘Yes, I’ll be fine, and no – because I know this is what you’re really thinking – I have no intention of getting back together with Jon.’
‘Promise me? No matter what he says?’
‘There’s nothing he could say,’ Anna assured her, feeling bolder now than she had in weeks. ‘It wasn’t right and if I’m honest, I think I was kidding myself for quite a while.’
An announcement blared over the tannoy.
‘British Airways flight 304 to Bangkok is now boarding. Passengers for flight 304 please proceed to Gate 14.’
Imogen reached for her bag, and then for Finn’s hand. ‘Time to go,’ she said.
As her sister walked away through the departure gate, tears came to Anna’s eyes. Imogen said she’d be back in six months, and maybe this time she really meant it. But then again – with Imogen, you never really knew.
Back in Brighton, Anna and her mum and dad were in the reception area of the Grand Hotel.
‘Let’s say goodbye to Anna, and then you can get your glad rags on, Jan.’
‘It’s like that, is it?’ Anna laughed. ‘You haven’t seen your daughter in ages and then once you’re here you can’t wait to get away from me?’
‘You know it’s not that, love,’ Jan said. ‘But it’s not often we get to go out in the city. And your dad’s promised me a meal. We missed out anniversary this year,’ she said, taking her husband’s hand. ‘Well, we weren’t really up for it then, were we, Tom?’
‘It wasn’t the right time.’
‘So we’re going to have our celebration tonight instead.’
‘Great. I’m only joking. Don’t let me stand in your way,’ Anna said. ‘Happy Anniversary, and have a wonderful night. I know you will.’
Anna kissed her mum goodbye. When she hugged her dad he held on to her a moment longer than usual.
Nothing beats an Indian summer, Anna thought a fortnight later, as she looked out of her window on a cloudless September sky. Everyone’s given in, put away their summer clothes, taken in the garden furniture, thrown away the nearly finished bottles of suncream and uploaded their holiday photos, left only with a bittersweet sense of loss.
And then – out of nowhere – it’s back. Anna had opened the curtains expecting to look out on another drizzly September day, and instead had felt the heat almost immediately. The sun was a golden yellow, and even at 8 a.m. the beach was starting to fill up.
Anna put on a gingham teadress and wedges, winding her hair up in kirby grips. She added a slick of lipgloss and a pair of small silver earrings. She was really doing it. Running the business on her own. And it was going well.
She checked the freezer for the ice cream and granitas she’d made the previous night: a rich, comforting praline and a summery fruit granita. She must have sensed somehow that the sun was going to come out. Loading the trays carefully into her freezer bag, she checked her appearance one final time and then left the flat.
At eleven o’clock Vivien’s had a queue snaking right out the door. She was working on her own, and it was hot – a
trickle of sweat traced its way down her spine.
‘Two lemon sorbets, please,’ said a teenage couple.
Anna loaded the scoops into cones she’d placed in the stand and took the money in her other hand with a smile. The till was close to overflowing. Parents had been passing ten-pound notes to her left, right and centre in a hurry to appease their hot, excited, squabbling children with the sweet treats.
The next orders were for two chocolate cones, then a Vivien’s Super Sundae – the special that day, praline drizzled with a salted caramel sauce.
Anna focused on drizzling the sauce into a heart shape on the sundae, her pride and joy. While she got it perfect, the queue could wait.
‘How about a … ’
The male voice broke her concentration.
‘ … raspberry and mango granita?’
The left-hand side of the heart shape went wobbly as Anna’s hand trembled on hearing the new order. It was written up large on the blackboard, but no one had ordered a granita all day.
She looked up from the sundae she was decorating and saw, standing in front of her, the man who’d hardly left her thoughts that summer.
Matteo took the sundae and cones from her and with a warm smile, handed them over to the children who were waiting for them before turning back to face her.
‘I’ve come all this way to try one,’ Matteo said, a cheeky glint in his eye. ‘You’re not going to leave me here to starve, are you?’
July, the following year: New York
‘Come right in,’ Imogen said to a stylish young couple. ‘Here’s a catalogue with details of all the works.’