Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
WINDSOR
The Father
Vic could hear the music of Simon & Garfunkel playing as she approached Lazy Daze . The distinguished-looking white-haired and bearded Jake Turner was sitting in his usual chair outside his beloved narrowboat, making the most of the last rays of the August day. He was drinking a can of ginger beer and as he caught sight of Vic, he put out his cigarette and, singing softly along to the lyrics of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, he stood up, then lowered his hand to help her up on deck.
‘Hello,’ Vic said softly, noticing their identical eye colour, which she had never thought twice about before. And yes, his nose was quite an ordinary-looking one, with a gentle curve, just like hers, but she’d never picked up on that either.
‘Hello, Victoria. Shall we go inside?’
They sat opposite each other on the matching armchairs, Norman asleep at their feet.
‘Your mum made us a lasagne so I didn’t have to fiddle about with food and we could just talk. How are you feeling about all this?’
‘That Mum only ever makes lasagne when I’m around because she knows it’s my favourite.’ Vic smirked.
Jake remained silent.
‘Sorry, I feel a bit nervous. I will always know you as Jake. Call you Jake, I mean.’
‘Of course.’ Jake nodded.
‘I’m not angry or sad. Actually, I don’t really know how I feel. After getting HIV, which I know Mum told you about – well, nothing fazes me, really – not even a newly discovered parent.’ Vic laughed.
‘Always a rainbow,’ Jake added with a smile.
‘And you can understand why I didn’t tell you about that. I nearly did when you told me your devastating news about your parents. Shit, that means my grandparents.’ Vic’s face fell. ‘I’ve just realised that it was my grandparents who died in the fire. We have so much to talk about. I need to find out who I am, where I come from. And so much more about you. The fantastic thing, though, Jake, is that I like you. I like you a lot. You’ve always been there for me, Mum and Albie, and for that I will be forever grateful.’
‘The reason I stayed put in this very mooring spot was for you and your mother. I hope, now, that I’m building my friendship with her, so she can accept more from me.’
‘If you mean financially, she doesn’t need to. I’ve never seen her so happy in her whole life. As devastating as it is for you about Malini, it’s allowed Mum to love you. Because she never wanted to be second best in your life and was always worried that she would fall for you and you would abandon her.’
Jake looked forlorn. ‘She never said that to me.’
‘I’m my mother’s daughter – we clearly have a problem with stating how we feel.’ Vic smirked, again.
Jake got up, went to the kitchen and put the lasagne in the oven to warm. He came back to Vic with three sets of cutlery, which he laid down on the coffee table in front of her.
‘Somebody joining us?’ Vic enquired.
Suddenly, Norman was awake and running outside, and then Vic noticed someone getting onto the boat. Jake went forward to greet their dinner guest with a kiss on each cheek.
Joti grinned as she caught sight of Vic. ‘Hello, sis.’ Tears started running down Joti’s pretty face.
‘Hello.’ Vic was smiling through her tears now too.
‘Dad was right in his letter about me not being lonely,’ Joti blubbed. ‘I’ve got a whole new family here now, and honestly, Vic, I can’t tell you how happy I am that we’re related. I’ve always wanted a sister and I could do so much worse than you.’
‘Me, too,’ Vic laughed. ‘That nosy old tosser of a neighour of ours is going to have a field day when he tries to work this one out!’
‘What? That we share the same dad, I’m half Sri Lankan and now I’m living with your brother!’
Jake looked to the window. ‘There he goes, sprinting to the Windsor and Eton Express offices without his trainers on.’ They all laughed.
‘Oh, yeah.’ Joti started picking at the bowl of crisps Jake had put down in front of them. ‘Not sure if I told you this.’ She started laughing to herself. ‘After the RSPCA incident, I took Chandler out under cover of darkness and got him to shit on the old bugger’s front lawn.’
‘Oh my God, that’s hilarious.’ Vic shook with laughter.
Jake looked on with pride and amusement as his two daughters joyously conversed.
‘Well, you taught me everything I know on that front,’ Joti sniggered.
‘Although my actions were completely indefensible,’ Vic added.
‘I forgive you.’ Joti grinned and added, ‘Well, you better sit down… Dad – as I’ve got something else to tell you both.’
‘Dad. Wow.’ Vic faltered, still finding it hard to believe that she and Joti shared the same father. ‘And what now?’ she exclaimed. ‘I’m not sure if I’m ready for any more surprises.’
Joti pulled a black-and-white shiny-looking piece of paper out of her bag and put it in front of her face.
‘You’re pregnant?’ Vic gasped.
Jake went in to look closer. ‘And there’s two of them!’
‘You’re pregnant with twins?!’ Tears started to run down Vic’s face. ‘And they are my brother’s, I take it?’
‘Yes,’ Joti gasped. ‘I’m not that much of a harlot, and I know I’ve only known him for five minutes, but when you know you know, and I’m not getting any younger, and he was up for it, so we started practising and it happened a lot quicker than we both thought.’
‘I’m so happy for you both.’ Vic took a deep breath, meaning what she said but not denying the pain she also felt at realising that, despite the fact that she had found peace with the decision to not have children, she would never feel this joy herself.
Joti squeezed her hand knowingly. ‘I have to say, when I told him it was twins, Albie did nearly faint, but as you know, my divorce settlement was good and my dad – my other dad, that is – also left me a tidy penny. And I now have a toy boy who is good at DIY, so it’s a win-win really, all around. I love my job and will probably go back, plus Albie can choose his hours if he wants to work. It will be a perfect arrangement.’
Jake kissed Joti on her head. ‘Congratulations to you both.’
‘I think Albie will actually make a really good father,’ Vic added, blowing her nose.
‘And you, dear sister, will make an amazing auntie.’
‘Oh my God, yes.’ Vic’s face lit up. ‘Auntie Victoria. I’m going to be an auntie.’ She laughed.
‘We can share – one each, if you like,’ Joti went on.‘I’m going to need all the help I can get.’
‘Have you told Mum? About the babies, I mean.’ Vic stood up to help Jake .
‘We just did. She was over the moon. In fact, so emotional that Albie is going to stay with her and have dinner whilst I am here.’
‘A new daughter, new sisters and new grandbabies in the family.’ Jake went to the kitchen. ‘We must celebrate. I have some fizzy cordial somewhere.’