Thirty-nine
To Rachel’s relief, the guests who arrived to spend two weeks with her were older couples who had stayed there before and didn’t require any special attention, leaving her free to concentrate on Verity.
Since that first evening, on the day Alexander had left three weeks earlier, the little girl had snuck into Rachel’s bed in the middle of the night to cuddle up to her, sobbing, only to fall into a fitful sleep. Rachel hadn’t had much sleep either and had to rise early to prepare breakfast for her guests.
Glad she had a week’s respite before her next lot of guests arrived, Rachel glanced at the sleeping little girl and slid out of bed. Molly would be wanting to go out and she had a birthday cake to make. Today was the twins’ birthday, and even Verity seemed to have become caught up in the excitement.
Rachel let Molly out and filled her bowls, before taking the ingredients out of the pantry. Maybe she could get it all done before Verity was awake. She turned on the radio at low volume and started to make the cake, barely needing to glance at the recipe, as she hummed along to the old favourites being played on the local channel.
The two cakes were out of the oven and had cooled. Having carefully stuck the two layers together, Rachel had just finished adding the remaining frosting to the top and sides of the cake and was about to stick the biscuits around the outside, when there was the patter of tiny feet and a little voice said, ‘Can I help, Grandma?’
Turning quickly, Rachel saw Verity standing there, a pleading expression on her face. ‘Of course you can, darling,’ she said. ‘Watch how I do it, then you can stick some on too.’
Verity watched solemnly as Rachel began placing the alphabet biscuits around the cake. ‘That one’s for Verity,’ she said, when Rachel picked up the biscuit with V on it.
‘Well done. Can you find one for Gemma, and for Indie?’
Verity stared at the biscuits for some time before finally selecting the ones with G and I.
‘Good girl!’
‘My mummy showed me how. She gave me a book with all the letters in it.’ Verity’s eyes misted.
Rachel felt guilty. It had never occurred to her to ask if Verity knew her letters. Anthea must have spent time teaching them to her before she became so sick. ‘We’ll get you another book like that, sweetie,’ she said.
‘It’s okay, Grandma. I like the books I got for Christmas, and the stories you read to me.’ She picked up the biscuits she’d chosen and carefully stuck them into place. ‘Shall we put some on the top too?’ she asked, looking at the picture in the recipe book.
‘Well, I thought we could make a five with M&M’s on top along with five candles.’
‘Yes!’ Verity said, sounding more cheerful.
The party was due to start at eleven, and Rachel had promised to go to Jess’s early in order to help her daughter prepare. When she and Verity arrived, having left Molly at home, the twins were in a state of high excitement, chanting, ‘We’re five, we’re five!’ and managing to get in everyone’s way, only stopping wide-eyed when Rachel placed the cake on the kitchen bench, and saying, ‘Thanks, Grandma,’ before grabbing a bewildered Verity’s hand.
‘Am I glad to see you, Mum,’ Jess said, hugging Rachel. ‘These two have been up since the crack of dawn and I haven’t been able to get anything done.’
Rachel quickly took charge, dispatching the twins and Verity into the backyard with Paul who was happy to supervise them, before making a cup of tea for her and Jess, to calm her daughter down.
By the time the party was due to start, the table in the dining room was covered with plates of fairy bread, slices of watermelon, bowls of chips, little cups of crackers and cheese, and fruit juice poppers. Tiny hot dog nuggets and individual quiches were waiting to go into the oven, and the cake was ready to be produced at the appropriate time. Rachel and Jess were exhausted, much to the amusement of Steph and Chloe who had arrived too late to be of any help.
And I’m going to have to do this all again for Verity , Rachel thought, as a steady stream of small children began to arrive carrying gifts, causing the twins to squeal with delight, and sending Verity to take refuge with Rachel.
*
Luke was preparing to go to the school reunion, already regretting agreeing to attend. ‘What do I want with seeing a lot of old people I used to go to school with and haven’t spoken to for years?’ he asked Nelson, while staring in the mirror. Some days, he felt older than others and this was one of them. There had been another case of poisoning at the clinic today, and he was worried it might not be the last. He’d have preferred to spend the evening at home, rather than with a group of people he barely knew. At least Troy would be there, and Phil Cook. But, so far, he hadn’t come across any others he’d been close to. Troy had told him many of their classmates who had left town intended to return for the weekend, and had planned a barbecue next day, one which Luke had declined to attend, citing a previous engagement. He expected he’d have had enough of socialising with his old schoolmates after tonight.
When Luke arrived at the hall where the event was being held, in a sports centre which hadn’t existed when he lived there, the first person he saw was Lou Chalmers. She was chatting with a group of women and, from the way they turned to stare at him, he got the impression he had been the topic of their conversation. He remembered Troy telling him she owned a bookshop, and he seemed to recollect Rachel mentioning her too. She’d been Becky’s best friend, back in the day, and hadn’t changed much. He didn’t recognise the other women.
‘Hey, mate. Glad you made it.’
Luke turned with relief as Troy slapped him on the shoulder.
‘Let’s get you a beer and you can meet some of the guys.’ He led Luke across the room to where a bar had been set up and where a few faces Luke recognised were standing chatting with glasses in their hands. He’d been right. They’d all turned into old men, some in better shape than others. What was he doing here?
Luke accepted a beer and joined in the conversation, surprised to discover an interest in what they had all done with their lives in the decades they’d been apart. Only a few still lived in Pelican Crossing, and those were the ones who seemed most satisfied with their lives. It gave Luke food for thought. The idea of moving back here had been simmering in the back of his mind ever since he’d met Rachel, but he’d dismissed it as a pipe dream. Maybe it wasn’t such a crazy idea. Maybe… His thoughts were interrupted by Troy calling everyone to be seated and he moved with the others to where tables had been set up. There was a name card at each place. Finding his name, Luke discovered he was seated between Troy and Lou, and wondered if his old friend had been in charge of the seating plan and, if so, why he had chosen to place him here.
During the meal, the conversation at the table was general, focussing on changes to Pelican Crossing since their schooldays and reminiscences of their time there. It was when they had progressed to coffee, that Lou said quietly, ‘I hear you’ve been seeing a friend of mine.’
‘You mean Rachel?’
‘Yes. She’s a good soul, been through a lot. I’d hate to see her hurt.’
‘It’s not my intention to hurt her. We’re…’ Luke paused. How did he describe his relationship with Rachel? They were more than friends, sometime lovers, though, since Rachel’s son had left, there had been few opportunities for them to get together. He was beginning to wonder if he’d dreamt the blissful moments in his bed.
Lou hadn’t finished. ‘I’ve watched Rachel over the years,’ she said, ‘while she brought up three children, cared tirelessly for her husband during his illness, then set up her B&B business. She gives the impression of being full of confidence, able to cope with whatever life throws at her. I know many of her friends seek her help and advice when they’re worried or in trouble. But underneath is a vulnerable woman who has no one to turn to when she’s in need. She’s lonely, Luke, has been since Kirk died, even though she fills her life with B&B guests, grandchildren and her little dog. I’d hate to think you’re taking advantage of her vulnerability.’
Luke shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glad when Troy pulled him into an argument about the old days. But Lou’s words had made their mark, making him wonder if he was being fair to Rachel and to think again about the possibility of staying on in Pelican Crossing.