Chapter 2
Chapter Two
ALEX
“ H ome sweet home.” I lift her ridiculously large suitcase out of the back seat and wheel it around the side of the house. When I turn, she’s still standing by the car, gazing up at the pillars on the wraparound porch. “Are you coming?”
Her heels click behind me as she follows me around the back of the property. “Don’t you use a front door like normal people?”
“You can stay in the pool room.”
“Wait. You live in a mansion and you’re shoving me in the pool room?” She sucks in a breath as she comes face-to-face with the view of the back of the house. I follow her gaze over the pool, then the pool house that overlooks the hill with spectacular sea views.
“I’ve never known you to be speechless, Merryssa.” I chuckle to myself, my chest swelling with pride at what I’ve accomplished here.
“It’s beautiful. Your pool room is bigger than my house in London.”
“You didn’t think I’d own one of the biggest development companies in the south and live in a two-bedroom rental like our son did you?” I stand the case up while I unlock the patio doors to the pool room. I don’t know why I called it a pool room, probably because it used to be the showers and changing area until I extended it to a full guest house, hoping Finn would want to move in with me. It was somewhere for him to have his own space and enjoy his hobbies, but when he moved to Magnolia Point, he chose to rent his own place near the marina.
I knew it was a long shot, but the pain of him turning down my offer still stings sometimes. Maybe that’s why I was adamant Merry stayed in it this time. I couldn’t take another rejection from my own family. Even though we’re not together, she’ll always be the closest thing I have to a family. Co-parenting our son hasn’t been easy, but Merryssa has always been the voice of reason, and the glue that’s held mine and Finn’s relationship together, even if we are hanging on by a thread.
Dragging the case over the threshold, I give her a tour of the pool house. “Living room.” I wave my hand to the left as we walk through the open-plan space. “Kitchen, dining area. And the bedrooms are down the hall.”
“This is stunning. It looks brand new. Did you have this built especially for me?” She laughs as if it’s a joke.
“Not you, exactly.” I scratch the back of my neck. “I had it built for Finn when he moved to town, but he didn’t even look at the space. He’d already sorted out his own rental accommodations near the marina.”
Her fingers glide along the light-blue walls as she wanders down the corridor. “You built this for our son?” She comes to a door and pulls down on the silver handle. “What’s in here?”
“Oh, that’s just an empty room.”
The light from the afternoon sun pours in through the large bay window that overlooks the sea. A stack of art supplies and blank canvases rest against the corner of the room, gathering dust.
Merry’s sparkling eyes wither at the lonely gifts. “Show him this, Alex. He thinks you don’t value or appreciate his art or life choices.”
“Perhaps I didn’t. I thought it was just a hobby, but I’ve always known he had talent. Selfishly, I hoped he’d join and inherit the family business. But I see now we just don’t share the same passions. I couldn’t be more proud of him for standing up to me and doing his own thing. He reminds me of you in that way.”
Merry runs a soft hand down my arm, causing the hairs to stand to attention there. “You should tell him how you feel. He thinks he’s a disappointment to you.”
“Honestly, Merry, I couldn’t be prouder. You did a great job of raising our son. He’s turned out well thanks to you. I hardly had anything to do with it.”
“You don’t give yourself enough credit. Despite not being around much, you loved him and that’s the main thing.” Her hand grazes my arm with a whimsical smile on her face. “I’ll unpack and get ready for our dinner reservations.”
I stand in the empty space looking out at the view. The best view in Magnolia Point, but I’d trade it all to go back in time and be more present.
It’s only now I’m in my fifties, I realise the true cost of what I have achieved. I have enough money to buy anything I want, except the only thing I want.
Time.
I straighten my tie as I step inside The Mad Vine restaurant. I’m usually cool as a cucumber, but tonight, having dinner with my son’s future in-laws has me on edge. Or is it that my ex-wife is also here that has my palms sweating?
Meeting Merryssa at the airport today was my idea. Not only to help my son out and try to build a better relationship with him, but I selfishly wanted to spend some time alone with her after all these years. Call it curiosity. The woman has my respect and admiration, as well as my heart.
Finn waves us over to a large round table in the corner of the room. I follow Merryssa as she meanders through the cosy space, weaving through the wooden tables and pillars covered in green vines and fairy lights.
I raise my hand and wave back, letting Finn know I’ve spotted him.
Merry rushes over and wraps her arms around him, even though she only saw him a few hours ago.
Something in my chest stutters. I’m taken back twenty years as the woman I loved smiles at our son. The same beaming smile she once had for me, full of hope and happiness. I didn’t get a chance to take in her beauty at the airport today or while I drove her to Magnolia Point, but I see her now. A fine woman aged to perfection like a vintage wine or a good single malt.
Shelly’s parents stand to greet me.
“Nice to meet you again, Mrs. Myrtle.” I hold my hand out, but she pulls me in for a hug. The bangles on her arm jingle as she rubs at my back over the blue suit I’m wearing.
“Call me Celeste. It’s nice to meet you properly. We’ve heard so much about you.” The scent of her wild silvery-purple hair catches in my nose. A hint of coconut with a faint smell of pot.
“Not too bad, I hope.” I huff out a laugh, hoping to break the tension I feel sizzling around the table.
“All in the past.” Shelly’s father reaches out a hand, his cream tunic sleeve rising up his arm to reveal a copper bracelet. “We’re family now,” he says with a smile as I shake his hand. “Call me Marley.”
Both Shelly’s parents are warm and welcoming, completely unconventional and nonconformists, which is refreshing.
I relax my shoulders as I sit down in the spare seat between my ex-wife and Marley.
Merryssa gives me a knowing look as if she can smell the weed, too. We were both young once and studying together at Oxford. The stuff was readily available if you knew the right people.
I don’t blame them. I had a shot of Dutch courage before I came here tonight, but something tells me this isn’t a one-off for them. Though the night can’t possibly go as sour as the last time I had dinner with Shelly and Finn. Poor Bentley, Shelly’s enemy and the local dentist, ended up with a broken nose. Finn assured me he had it coming.
I look over at my son and my chest fills with pride. He may not have carried on with the development business like I’d hoped, but I am proud of him for standing on his own two feet and following his heart with his paintings, and for standing up for the woman he loves, even if it landed him in the papers. Again.
“Are you ready to order?” a waiter says, his notepad and pen at the ready.
“I haven’t even looked at the menu yet.”
“Can you give us five minutes, Liam?” Finn says. Wherever we go, he seems to know everyone by their first name.
I’ve lived here for years and don’t know the locals like he does. Perhaps I should get out more.
While I peruse the menu, Merryssa talks animatedly to Shelly, her fingers tucking her shoulder-length brunette hair behind her ears. It’s hard to concentrate on the task when all I want to do is take my ex-wife to a quiet table and have her all to myself.
The last time we were in a room together must be when Finn graduated some years ago. But we check in on the phone from time to time and let’s just say, I don’t follow British affairs because I’m interested in UK politics.
“Tell me more about the hen do,” Merryssa says.
Shelly furrows her brow, looking to Finn for help.
I shake my head with a chuckle. “Merry, nobody calls it a hen do, here.” I look around the table. “She means the bachelorette party.”
Celeste laughs. “Marley and I learned so many new phrases when we toured the UK this summer, but hen do is a new one.”
Shelly sighs. “I’m worried it’s going to suck. I’m just having a day at the spa, afternoon tea and then drinks afterwards.”
Merry dips into the bread rolls in the centre of the table. “Sounds perfect to me. Why is that lame?”
I place my napkin on my lap as I explain to my ex-wife how things are done now. “Because everyone takes weekends away or even a full week’s vacation. It isn’t usually just one party anymore. People want a full-on getaway with goodie bags like they’re invited to some VIP event.”
Merryssa rolls her eyes. “In my day, we just had a night at Blackpool.”
“Blackpool sounds like fun. What is it?” Celeste says.
Merry waves a hand in the air. “Britain’s version of Vegas, but a lot less glam. My friend went home with one of the strippers. The sailor, I think, or was it the policeman? Could have been the cowboy.”
A chuckle rocks my shoulders. “Are you sure it was a stripper she went home with? You’ve just gone through the band members of the Village People. Did she stay at the YMCA?”
She swats my thigh under the table. “I forgot how funny you were, Alex.” Her sarcasm isn’t lost on me.
“I won’t be having any strippers,” Shelly says, taking a sip of wine. She screws her face up. “Does the wine taste off to you?”
Finn has a drink from her glass. “Tastes all right to me.”
“Maybe we should hire some. They could give us a poolside show in the spa.” Celeste giggles to herself as she pours a glass of water for Shelly.
Finn’s eyes widen. “If Shelly wants a stripper, I can give her a private show on our wedding night. There’ll be no poolside escapades.”
Merry pats him on the shoulder. “A little TMI there, son, but thanks for sharing. That’s one mental image we could have lived without on your wedding night.”
I’d like to give Merry a striptease of my own. After her stiff posture in the car today, she looks like she could do with loosening up.
“Are you ready to order?” the server says.
I’ll have my ex-wife served up on a plate. I shake my head, trying to remove the intrusive thoughts, unsure what’s got into me.
After ordering, Marley rubs his back.
“Is it your back, dear?” Celeste asks.
“Just a twinge, that’s all.” He rubs the bottom of his back again.
“I know all about that. Is it an old injury?”
Celeste leans over the table. “The silly sausage got himself wrapped around a lamppost while we were cycling in Amsterdam. He’s had a problem with his coccyx ever since.”
“Ah. I slipped a disc at the gym recently. I have a good chiropractor if you need one.” Pulling out my wallet, I rifle through the compartments for my chiropractor’s business card. “Here, tell him I sent you. He’ll give you a discount.” I hand the card over to Marley and make a mental note to tell my practitioner that I’ll pay for any treatment he needs.
From what Finn’s told me about his future in-laws, they don’t exactly have any spare cash floating around. Their blog funded the tour around Europe as they documented their travels and helped with various conservation efforts around the globe. Hence why Finn’s paid for the wedding with me and his mum chipping in where he allowed.
“Thank you. I will.” He reaches into his linen trouser pocket and pulls out a small tin. He slides it to me under the table. “Keep this for the next time you need some pain relief.”
“Oh, it’s all right. I haven’t had any problems for a while.” It occurs to me that the pain subsided around the same time Cordelia left. The irony.
“Please, it’s the least I can do after you’ve given our daughter so much already. She told us about how you cancelled the beach development and signed the land over to them.”
“Well, I?—”
“We’re really pleased that Shelly’s able to continue her work with the turtles. She’s dedicated her life to that beach.”
I take the tin and shove it in my pocket, not wanting to be rude. “Talking of beaches.” Standing, I clink the spoon against my glass of water to get everyone’s attention. The table falls silent as all eyes focus on me.
I reach into my jacket and pull out a folded piece of paper. “It’s an early wedding gift for the two of you.”
Shelly and Finn exchange smiles, then glance back at me.
“Dad, you’ve already paid for enough.”
“We’ll call this an early Christmas gift, then. I took the liberty of changing the plans for the development of luxury apartments on the beach to a turtle hospital and sanctuary.” I hand him the folded drawing. “The actual plans are back at the office. If you want to change anything, just let my architect know and we can get that sorted.” I lean over and point to the drawings. “It’s set far enough away from the beach that it shouldn’t impact on any nesting areas.”
Shelly’s eyes widen as Finn gazes down at the open paper. My heart swells. It feels good to create something useful. Maybe I need to go into developing land for the greater good instead of always wanting to turn over a profit.
Merry looks up at me from her seat, her smile reaching her eyes as they twinkle under the glow of fairy lights.
“What’s this area here?” Finn outlines a section of the architectural drawing.
“Ah, that’s a lecture hall and museum. There’s an art gallery next to the gift shop. Figured the turtle sanctuary could double up as a tourist attraction and get people to visit and pay a donation to learn about the turtles.”
“This is wonderful,” Celeste says as she peers over Shelly’s shoulder.
“The building to the left is a home for the two of you with enough space for an art studio.” I hope the gesture will prove to Finn how I take his art seriously now. I’m a proud man, but I can admit when I’m wrong.
Finn stands, his chair scraping against the wooden floor. “Thanks, Dad.” He walks around Merry and wraps an arm around me.
I pat him on the back in a manly embrace. “No worries. I’ll get the construction team on it in the New Year before the nesting season starts again. No point having a father with a development business if I can’t help my son and daughter-in-law out, is there?”
Merry’s eyes glisten with happy tears as she gazes up at me, silently telling me how proud she is with a nod of her head.
I have to admit, after her lectures over the phone regarding this whole land debacle, a small part of me did this to make her proud, just as much as my son.