Chapter 24
24
Anya was curled up on the sofa trying to finish off the apron she was making for Ma’s birthday. It wasn’t the most glamorous gift, but she’d never seen Ma in her kitchen without one and Anya had found an old cotton skirt she’d picked up in a charity shop once for fifty pence when she’d been sorting through the bags in the shed. It had a cream background and was covered in beautiful butterflies in every colour of the rainbow. She’d found a pattern online and it hadn’t taken more than a couple of hours to cut out the pieces and stitch them together on her sewing machine. The skirt had been hemmed with white lace and Anya was using that to add a little bit of detail to the front pocket of the apron.
Her phone vibrated next to her and Anya reached for it, expecting it to be Rick calling to say goodnight. They hadn’t had a chance to rearrange a meeting since their aborted lunch date the previous week but they’d spoken every evening after Freya had gone to bed. They’d even watched a movie ‘together’ on Saturday night, using a watch party function on a streaming app. Anya had cancelled all her memberships months before, but Chloe seemed to have a subscription to everything going and had left them all logged in on the TV in the summer house. It hadn’t been quite as good as being able to snuggle up together, but being able to chat and share jokes with Rick had been better than sitting on her own. Freya was showing no ill effects from the events at the regatta and Anya was doing her best not to be to clingy with her. They’d even been back down to the beach for a paddle, because she hadn’t wanted Freya to develop a fear of the water. They’d not gone in deeper than Freya’s knees but it had been enough to reassure them both. Shelly had called into the hotel to thank her and they’d ended up arranging a playdate as Leo would be starting at the village school in September as well. Anya wasn’t sure if they’d ever be close, but she couldn’t afford to be at odds with someone she was likely to bump into frequently at the school gates.
Instead of Rick it was her mum and she was trying to video call rather than just send a text, which had been their usual method of communication since they’d fallen out.
‘Hi Mum, what a lovely surprise!’
She recognised the abstract blue and green print on the wall behind her mother. It was the one hanging in the dining area of the open-plan ground floor of the two-storey villa her mum shared with her husband, Bill, in the mountains above Las Palmas in Gran Canaria.
‘Hello, love, how are you?’
A little surprised, but very relieved that the cold war appeared to be over, Anya crossed her legs and settled down to chat. ‘I’m good thanks. How about you? You’re looking well. How’s Bill?’ She was so excited they were talking again that the questions tumbled out one after another.
Lisa laughed. ‘We’re fine, aren’t we Bill? ’
‘What’s that?’ Anya heard Bill say in the background.
‘It’s Anya, she was asking how you are.’
Bill popped into the background, clutching a spatula. ‘Hello! All good, all good, I’m just making us a spot of supper. Fajitas,’ he added with a wink. ‘Your favourite.’
Of course Bill would remember a little thing like that. He was one of the good guys. She’d always kept him at arm’s length and yet he’d never held it against her. She’d yearned so long for a father figure and still she hadn’t let herself trust him to fill the empty space in her heart. ‘I miss your cooking, Bill!’
‘Bring Freya for a holiday and it’ll be my pleasure to cook for you both every day.’ The way he beamed at her rare compliment was bittersweet. He really did deserve better from her.
Her mum nodded. ‘Yes, do come. We’ll pay for the flights – and no arguments, young lady.’
Anya shook her head. ‘As if I would bother arguing when I know I’m not going to win. Honestly, it would be lovely to see you both,’ She made a point of including Bill in her smile as she said it. ‘We might have to wait until a bit later in the year, though. Freya is starting school, so it would have to be October half-term, or maybe Christmas.’
‘Well I can’t wait until Christmas, so October it is. And how on earth is Freya old enough to be going to school? It feels like only yesterday you were bringing her home from the hospital.’
Anya shook her head. ‘That was a long time ago, Mum.’ They both fell silent and Anya knew she wasn’t the only one experiencing a pang of regret. How delighted they’d all been when Freya was born. How happy.
‘Let us know the dates and I’ll look for flights,’ Bill said, bringing Anya back to the present. ‘I’d better go before I burn my chicken!’ He blew a kiss and disappeared from view .
‘Bill never changes, does he?’ Anya said, meaning it as a compliment. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in a bad mood.’
‘No, he’s like that morning, noon and night,’ her mother said in a voice full of affection. ‘Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky. Speaking of which, are we booking two flights, or three?’
Anya gasped. ‘Who told you?’
Lisa rolled her eyes. ‘Helen, of course, though I must say it’s a poor do when I have to hear from my sister that you’re going out with Rick Penrose of all people!’
Anya frowned. ‘What do you mean “of all people”?’
Her mother waved a hand. ‘Oh, just a turn of phrase, no need to get your back up. I mean he was sweet on you back in the day, but don’t you feel it’s all a bit sudden?’
Sweet on her? Was she the only one who’d had no idea? ‘We’re not rushing into anything, Mum, and we are being careful around Freya for the time being, but he’s been very kind and I really like spending time with him.’
Lisa’s gaze softened. ‘Well, you certainly deserve a bit of kindness after everything you’ve been through.’ She smiled. ‘So we’ll hold off on booking a ticket for him just now?’
Anya laughed. ‘For now.’ She stared at her mum through the screen, wishing she could reach out and give her hug. ‘Thanks for calling, Mum. I’m sorry things have been difficult between us these past months.’
‘I’m sorry too, though I do wish you’d have let us help you. You have no idea how hard it’s been having to sit by and watch you hit rock bottom. I’ve been there myself and I never wanted that for you.’
Anya pressed a finger to the corner of her eye where she could feel a tear burning. ‘I know, but I couldn’t risk seeing you back there again either, and honestly, trying to salvage anything would’ve swallowed every penny you and Bill have. ’
Lisa blew her nose. ‘But you’ve lost everything. Your beautiful home that you worked so hard on.’
Anya sighed. ‘It wasn’t a home though, not really, because the whole thing was built on a false foundation. It was a fantasy, Mum, a Disney castle where I got to play princess for a while.’
Her mum sighed. ‘I was as guilty as anyone for ignoring the red flags, but I so wanted a happy ending for you. It’s been awful seeing you brought so low.’
‘It’s not so bad. I have Freya and she’s thriving. I have a job which is giving me enough to put food on the table, and I have plans for the future.’ She told her mum about her and Chloe going into business together.
‘That sounds wonderful, I’m so proud of you.’ Lisa’s smile faltered. ‘I wish I was there to help you. If Helen hadn’t stepped in, I don’t know what you would’ve done. I feel so far away.’
Anya wagged a finger at the screen. ‘None of that, now, Mum. It’ll be October before you know it.’
Lisa took a deep breath. ‘Yes, you’re right, but a mother’s guilt is something that never goes away. In fact I think it gets worse as you get older because the stakes are so much higher.’
Anya pulled a face. ‘Gee, well that’s something to look forward to.’
Her mother laughed, exactly as she’d intended. ‘My pleasure.’ Her face grew serious as she extended her fingers towards the screen as though she could reach out and touch Anya. ‘The guilt might grow, darling, but so does the love.’
Anya reached out, pressing her fingers to her own screen. ‘I love you, Mum.’
‘I love you too. Speak soon.’
On Saturday morning Anya was up early. Ryan and Helen were hosting a barbeque that evening and the plan was to finally empty the shed so Ryan and Matt could install the shelving and workbenches she and Chloe needed while they helped Helen with preparations for dinner. While Freya finished her breakfast, Anya moved her daughter’s play table and chair outside underneath the shade of a tree. When she came back inside Freya had put her bowl and spoon on the counter next to the sink.
‘That’s a good girl, thank you. Now, do you want to come and choose which crafts you want to do?’
‘Can I do some painting?’
‘You can do whatever you like. Where’s your smock?’
By the time the others walked out the back door, Freya was set up at her table. Picking up a deck chair, Helen set it next to Freya’s table. ‘I’ll keep an eye on her.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Of course. If we all try and empty the shed we’ll just get in each other’s way.’ She turned to Freya. ‘What are you going to paint for me?’
‘A butterfly!’
‘Oh, my favourite. Now then, what colours are you going to use?’
Grateful once again for her aunt’s never-ending well of enthusiasm, Anya left them to it. Ryan handed her a pair of work gloves. ‘There’s probably all sorts of loose nails and splinters so better safe than sorry.’
‘Thank you.’
For the next half an hour Anya, Chloe, Matt and Ryan systematically emptied the shed and ferried the contents upstairs to the box room in the main house. Once the shed was emptied, Matt and Ryan headed back to the shed while Anya and Chloe surveyed the piles of boxes and bags. ‘I didn’t realise I had accumulated so much stuff,’ Anya said with a sigh.
Chloe put her arm around her shoulder and gave her an encouraging squeeze. ‘I’m glad, because it means we’ve got plenty of stock. Come on, it won’t take us long to get it sorted.’
‘Guess who called in to see me at the hotel the other day,’ Anya said a bit later as she was sorting through a bag of offcuts.
Chloe glanced up from the box of yarn she was sorting into colour combinations. ‘Who?’
‘Shelly.’
All eyes, Chloe set the yarn aside. ‘No! Really? What did she want?’
‘To say thank you for rescuing Leo.’
‘Well, I should think so too.’ Her cousin snorted.
‘And she apologised for being horrible to me; we had quite a good chat actually. Did you know her husband was working away?’
‘I can’t say I did, but then again we don’t really mix in the same circles.’ Chloe seemed to consider that for a minute. ‘Actually, I’m not sure who she hangs out with these days.’
‘I got the impression she’s pretty lonely and managing three small kids is clearly getting her down.’ Anya folded the square of fabric she was holding and sat back on her heels. ‘I felt sorry for her, actually, and I’ve arranged a playdate for Freya and Leo next weekend.’
‘That’s kind of you, especially after she was so rude.’
Anya shrugged. ‘I figured I need all the friends I can get, and Leo and Freya are going to be classmates for the next few years.’
‘Good point. Hey, if she’s really struggling, why don’t we speak to Mum about inviting her and the kids over? ’
‘What, today?’
‘Why not? The fridge is packed full, so it’s not like we’re going to be short of food – and that’s before we add whatever Rachel and Jago bring with them.’
Anya finished folding the contents of the bag and reached for the next one. ‘Let’s see what your mum says.’