Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Stella awoke to the smell of sausages sizzling, surprised at oversleeping as she’d had a nap the day before and was usually such an early riser. When she got up to go to the bathroom, she heard Benedict whistling in the kitchen. As she reached the head of the stairs, he must have heard her.
‘Back to bed, Ms McElhone. I didn’t set my alarm an hour early on a Sunday to make you breakfast in bed, only for you to come downstairs and eat it. Go. Consider that an order, please.’
‘Going, going, gone.’
She nipped into the bathroom – she might be having breakfast in bed, but she wasn’t going to be dishevelled. One-handed, she rinsed her face, brushed her teeth and smoothed her hair as best she could without a comb then dashed back to bed just as Benedict appeared, teacloth over one arm, bearing a tray. On it was a coffee pot, orange juice, a plateful of sausages, tomatoes and mushrooms, and a smaller plate of toast, butter and honey.
‘This looks lovely, thank you.’ It also looked like a lot to put away after last night’s takeaway. ‘What about Daniel?’
‘His is in the warmer. He’ll sleep for a few hours yet after such a late night, which is just as well since he’s got a long day ahead of him. Let me know when you’ve demolished that little lot and I’ll run a bath for you.’
‘No need, thanks. A shower will be fine.’
‘Not with that splint. If it gets wet, it’ll go nasty, and you’re not to take it off for at least a week. Am I right?’
‘You are, but I’m capable of running my own bath, thank you.’
‘Don’t worry – I wasn’t planning on bathing you. Go on, get stuck in, because there’ll be nothing until party food after this.’
The sun streamed through the window, a light breeze billowed the curtains, and she had a tray in front of her prepared by a man who’d set his alarm early so he could surprise her with breakfast in bed. There were worse ways to start the day.
As good as his word, Benedict drew Stella a bath and she was delighted to see that he’d sprinkled red rose petals from the garden into the steaming water. Getting into the bath while not putting any weight on her bad arm or getting it wet proved something of a challenge, but she managed it, balanced her sore wrist on the side of the bath, and lay back to let the steam and the roses go to work on her bruises and aching muscles. There was a tablet of amber soap that looked as if it had been hewn from a large block. Likely something from Miranda’s organic co-op. If it was, it was a lot more tempting than the cake, and Stella relished the spiced fragrance as she lathered herself. Nutmeg. So this soap was the source of Benedict’s heavenly smell. Once clean, she lazed in the water and planned her party outfit. She’d packed a lavender linen shift that was pretty enough to wear for a party without being too formal. Fortunately, it was sleeveless, so getting it on wouldn’t be too difficult.
Once she was out of the bath (with some difficulty, and accompanied by the fear of slipping and having to be rescued – naked – by Benedict), she dried herself and got dressed. This was easier said than done, especially when it came to fastening her bra and zipping up her dress. Once fully clothed, she despaired at the allegedly flesh-coloured splint, which would be fine for anyone whose flesh was actually the colour of pink ointment, but its lurid hue ruined her outfit. Inspired, she took out her new cream silk camisole set and tucked one edge of the camisole into the end of her splint, wound it round a couple of times and tucked it in. Still far from ideal, but at least it looked a bit less ugly, and there was absolutely zero chance of her needing luxury lingerie for any other purpose this weekend.
She combed her hair and dried it before adding a touch of violet scent to her throat. Her mother had worn this simple flower essence, and although she didn’t have her any more, she could breathe in her memory. She took a steadying breath, reached into the wardrobe and took out the presents so Daniel could have them when he got up as he’d be over-excited at the party, and too many presents in one go might overwhelm him. Stella clamped the pop-up tent under her bad arm, and with the other present in her good hand, she made her way downstairs to the kitchen.
‘You look an absolute vision, Stella. That colour really sets off your eyes.’ Benedict coughed and nodded at the gifts. ‘And it looks like Christmas has come early. You really didn’t have to, you know.’
‘I know, but I wanted to.’
‘Here, let me take them from you. Oh, I like what you’ve done with the splint. Very tasteful.’
Tasteful considering she was basically flashing her underwear. Still, no one needed to know that.
He set down the presents. ‘I’d better finish off the birthday cake so you don’t risk your nice frock with food dye.’
‘No need. I finished it last night while you were sorting out the takeaway. It’s not perfect, but once we get the candles and sparklers on, no one will notice.’
‘Where is it? Can I take a look?’
‘If you’re quick, because I think someone’s on the move.’
Stella raised her eyes to the ceiling at the sound of creaking floorboards.
‘Ah, maybe not in that case. I’ll go and make sure he’s all right. Back in a sec.’
Father and son came downstairs a short time later. Daniel was still in his pyjamas, hair ruffled into little spikes, looking even sweeter than usual. He was seven today but still had babyish features.
‘Hello, Stella.’
‘Good morning, Daniel. Happy Birthday! Are you ready for breakfast?’
‘Mm-mm.’
He wriggled his way up onto a high stool at the island, and Benedict put a plate of breakfast in front of him.
‘I bet you’re not the least bit hungry after your midnight feast.’
‘No, I am hungry. I can easily eat all of this. Watch me.’
The little boy started to wolf down his breakfast at an amazing rate.
‘Easy, tiger,’ said Stella. ‘You might want to slow that down or you’ll be hiccupping all day.’
Daniel grinned and kept eating. ‘I want to eat fast so I can get on with my birthday faster. Daddy says I’ve got to go and get dressed in my party clothes, but I want to stay in my pyjamas today because it’s my birthday.’
‘Well, don’t you think your guests might think it a little strange if you’re still in your jim-jams?’ They might think it’s bedtime and go straight home,’ pointed out Benedict reasonably.
‘Hmm, I never thought of that. All right then, I’ll put my birthday suit on.’
Stella and Benedict grinned at each other.
‘What?’ Daniel looked from one to the other. ‘What’s funny? ’
‘You are, son. You are. Come on, let’s go and get your birthday suit on.’
‘Can’t I have my present off Stella first?’
‘Daniel, I thought we’d agreed: no more asking for presents.’
‘Sorry, but I can’t wait another minute.’
‘Well, as it happens, Stella was about to give you your present after breakfast, but only once you’ve finished your sausages.’
‘Mmmmm.’ Daniel started chomping his way down the sausage like a small buzz saw, keen to get to the present. Once finished, he placed his knife and fork neatly together in the centre of his plate and looked up expectantly, a streak of ketchup on his chin.
Stella produced two parcels, both wrapped in navy-blue paper scattered with golden stars, and handed over the first package. Daniel dug in his fingers and started trying to rip and shred the gift-wrap, but it wasn’t budging, so Benedict knelt at his side to help. It was such an odd shape, and it had taken yards of sticky-tape to secure the wrapping. With a final tug, Daniel pulled off a long strip of paper. When he saw what was there, he gasped and looked at his father in wonderment.
‘Daddy, it’s a goldfish bowl. Am I getting a goldfish?’
Benedict examined the gift. ‘Why don’t you keep unwrapping and find out?’
With wide, shining eyes, Daniel tore off the remaining paper. ‘It’s not a goldfish bowl. It’s a space hat!’
‘Yes, it’s a space helmet,’ gently corrected Benedict.
‘And a spaceman suit as well. Can I wear it instead of my birthday suit? Can this be my birthday suit?’
Before anyone could answer, Daniel was shrugging his arms and legs into the costume. Benedict fastened the back and helped him into the helmet. The visor moved up and down, but stopped short above his nose. The suit had integral boots and Daniel started space-walking around the kitchen, hunting for aliens .
Benedict leaned forward and whispered. ‘Thank you, Stella. It’s not often he fails to notice he has another present waiting for him. It’s perfect, but you really shouldn’t have spent so much.’
‘It wasn’t so much, and besides, I couldn’t resist. Hey, Daniel, don’t you want to open your other present – although, we should probably open this one in the garden.’
Daniel turned round in slow, gravity-free motion and space-walked to the kitchen door.
Outside in the garden, Stella laid the second present on the lawn and Daniel knelt down and set about removing the paper. This one had been easier to wrap, so it was much easier to open. Daniel pulled the paper off in one go and threw it aside. He looked slightly disappointed at the puddle of red and white nylon lying on the grass.
‘Thank you, Stella, but what is it?’
‘Let’s find out. You need to stand well back though. Next to your dad. We’re going to count down, all right?’
Kneeling down, Stella waited for Daniel to huddle next to his father, then once he was in position, she began.
‘Ten, nine…’ she was joined loudly at this point by Daniel and they continued together, ‘…three, two, one. Blast off!’
At blast off, she released the fastening and the tent popped up.
‘It’s a rocket! Thank you, thank you! This is my best present ever!’
He dashed inside his rocket and a few seconds later the little astronaut peeped out of the observation panel.
‘I can go to the moon in this, you know,’ he shouted. ‘I’m ready to blast off again. Myryooooggghhh. I’m off to the moon.’
‘Very good, son, but make sure you’re back in time for lunch. Thank you, Stella, for such lovely presents – they’re going to be a hard act to follow, and I’m going to have to work hard to persuade him he can’t wear his spacesuit to bed.’
‘It’s great to see him looking so happy. He’s an adorable little boy, and you must be so proud of him.’
‘I am. Very proud.’ Benedict touched Stella lightly on her hurt arm. ‘How’s your wrist?’
‘A bit sore, but much better than yesterday. Thanks for taking me to hospital and staying with me, I know it can’t have been easy for you to be there, especially not at this time of year… sorry.’
Stella was afraid she’d veered into difficult territory and looked down at her feet. Benedict caught her chin and raised her face to look at him.
‘You don’t have to be sorry about anything, Stella, and I wouldn’t have been anywhere else yesterday. Besides, getting you patched up was the very least I could do in the circumstances.’
He looked into her eyes, and despite the warm morning sun, Stella felt a shiver run through her. Was he going to kiss her now? Instead, he laughed, his eyes crinkling against the sun, and tapped her nose with a finger.
‘Anyway, can’t stand about all day when I’ve got party favours to pack. Think you can help if I bring everything out here? I doubt we’ll get Daniel back inside before dark.’
‘I’ll do my best. How many kids are coming?’
‘Only half a dozen or so boys, a couple of girls and a few adults, so it should be fairly civilised.’
Stella crossed her eyes at the thought. Seven, seven-year-old boys? Civilised? Hadn’t this man ever read Lord of the Flies ?
One hour later, the party bags were packed, and Miranda had arrived and set to work in the kitchen preparing the party food, refusing all offers of help. She peered at Daniel haring round the garden in his spacesuit and playing in his rocket.
‘I see someone’s been rather spoiled today and isn’t going to appreciate his other presents. To say nothing of all the man-made materials involved. You know, they have those rocket tents in cardboard.’
Stella didn’t retort even though the admonishment was directed at her but Benedict came to her rescue.
‘Between your nephew and the English weather, cardboard wouldn’t last two minutes, Miranda, and he is over the moon with his presents.’
‘Well, let’s see this cake then,’ said Miranda, refusing to concede. ‘I shudder to think what the pair of you have concocted. One of you scarcely knows his left hand from his right and the other has a strapped-up wrist – hardly a recipe for success, is it? Fortunately, there’s always my shop-bought one.’
‘Yes,’ countered Benedict, ‘I’ve seen your shop-bought cake. It looks so dense it could give your average black hole a run for its money. Look, I appreciate your help, sis, but why don’t you take some of Stella’s home-made lemonade and relax in the garden for a bit?’
It was pleasantly said, but Benedict’s jaw had tightened. Miranda walked straight past the lemonade and pointedly helped herself to a glass of water instead. As she passed, Stella felt a strong urge to stick out a foot and trip up the evil twin, but it seemed unwise, given the fact that she was a barrister. Benedict followed his sister into the garden, clearly intent on having few words, and Daniel came indoors shortly after, red-faced and panting.
‘Stella, I’m thirsty, can I have a drink please?’
‘Of course you can. Milk or lemonade?’
‘Ooh, is it that lemonade you cooked before?’
‘It is. Want some?’
‘Yes, please.’
‘One freshly cooked lemonade coming right up.’
She handed Daniel a glass and he immediately stuck his hand in, pulled out an ice cube and started sucking it happily.
‘What a cheek. I’ve just been conned. You didn’t want a drink at all. You just wanted the ice. Come on, birthday boy, I’ve got something else to give you before your little guests arrive.’
‘Brill, is it another present?’
‘Kind of. Let me nip upstairs to fetch it. I won’t be long.’
On her return, Stella handed Daniel a scroll bound with a green bow. He pulled the ribbon off and unrolled it, pointing excitedly at the illustrations adorning the horoscope that Stella had drawn for him.
‘It’s a bit like a map drawn of the sky when you were born.’ She pointed to a little circle with a dot at its centre. ‘See, this is the sun and when you were born, it was sitting near a group of stars that look like a lion. So anyone born around this time of year is a Leo the lion.’
Daniel didn’t look particularly convinced but was happy to practice being a lion and prowled around the kitchen on all fours, trying out a few experimental roars. When he tired of being a lion and sat down to drink his lemonade, he ran his finger over the coloured lines linking all the planets. Stella explained how each planet in the sky played a part in life on earth, just as her mother had taught her.
‘But how can they, Stella, when the planets are so far away?’
‘Well,’ she racked her brain, trying to think of the best way to put it. Her mother had been much better at this than she was. ‘Think about the sun, Daniel. What does the sun do?’
‘Emm…’ He stuck his tongue out and looked up at the ceiling while he pondered. ‘Emm, it keeps us warm?’
‘Yes, it does keep us warm. And what else?’
‘Umm. Does it make things grow, like the grass and bread and things?’
‘Good. The sun keeps us warm and it helps things grow and it keeps us alive. It looks after us and makes us happy. So, who does the sun sound like? Who looks after you and makes you happy?’
‘Daddy does!’
‘That’s right, so the sun is a bit like a daddy.’ She decided to skip the moon’s connection with motherhood. ‘And the moon. The moon is pretty magical too. Do you know what the moon does?’
‘Phoo. This is hard. It’s like being at school.’
‘Sorry, Daniel, I didn’t mean to make you work so hard on your special day. We can stop if you like.’
‘No, no. Tell me what the moon does. I give in but still want to know.’
‘You know at the seaside, how the sea goes in and out, backwards and forwards?’
Daniel nodded solemnly. ‘Yes, I’ve seen it loads of times on holiday.’
‘Well, that’s the moon doing that; it pulls the water backwards and forwards.’
‘How does it do that?’
She smiled at him, half wishing she’d not started this.
‘It’s a bit like a big magnet, I suppose.’
‘But the sea’s not made of metal, Stella. Even I know that. We did magnets at school in science and you’ve got to be made of metal for a magnet to work.’
‘Well… you’ve got a point there.’
‘Stella, let’s go and ask Daddy. He knows all about moons and stuff, and he’ll tell you it’s not like a magnet. Come on.’
With that, Daniel ran off and Stella rolled up the birth chart, taken aback at how quickly she’d plunged out of her depth. She hadn’t recalled giving her mother such a hard time when they’d had similar conversations, but then Stella wasn’t the child of a professor, and it was clearly going to be a case of like father like son. Daniel tore across the garden towards his father.
‘Daddy, Daddy. Guess what, guess what? Stella thinks the moon’s a big magnet! She says it makes the sea move about even though everyone knows the sea’s not made of metal.’
Miranda was lying back in a deckchair, fanning herself with the Sunday newspaper and she peered over the rim of her sunglasses. Stella, feeling like a naughty schoolgirl, tried not to shuffle her feet.
Benedict frowned. ‘Steady on, Daniel. Slow down, take a deep breath and tell me again.’
Daniel stopped, took a theatrical deep breath and then blurted out exactly the same sentence at the same speed.
‘What makes you think Stella’s not right, son?’
‘Because the sea’s not made of metal,’ said Daniel. It’s made of water and fish.’
‘Right…’ Benedict looked up at Stella, and raised an eyebrow. ‘And what has the sea being made of water and fish got to do with anything?’
‘Well, if the moon’s a magnet and it pulls the sea around, then the sea has to be made of metal. We did magnets at school.’
Laughing, Benedict swooped up his son and flew him through the air.
‘Come on, spaceman, let’s send you to the moon and you can see what that’s made of. Red cheese?’
‘Noooooooh!’
‘Blue cheese?’
‘Noooooooh!’
‘Green cheese?’
‘Yeeeeeees!’
Benedict punctuated each question with a swoop through the air, making Daniel shriek with delight.
‘Someone missed out purple cheese.’ said a kindly voice. Immediately, Daniel wriggled out of his father’s arms and dashed towards the garden gate.
‘Grandpa, Grandpa! I thought you weren’t coming.’
‘We were always coming, Daniel, but we got stuck in the most awful traffic jam.’
‘Grandma, Grandma! ’
‘Hello, darling. ‘Sorry we’re late. Have the terrible twins been behaving themselves?’
Daniel’s grandmother bent to hug her grandson and kissed him seven times in rapid succession.
Daniel giggled and whispered, ‘Yes, but Aunty Miranda keeps fighting with Stella.’
‘Does she now, and who wins?’ said his grandfather.
‘Stella does most of the time, but she’s got a poorly arm today so she’s not as tough.’
‘Then we might have to help her out, but for now let’s see if we can find everyone, shall we?’
Grandpa Bob picked Daniel up by a leg and an arm and swung him to and fro as they walked down the path towards the back garden.
‘Hello, everyone. Sorry we’re so late. Shocking traffic for a Sunday.’
‘Hello, Bob. Catherine.’ Miranda wound herself past the swinging Daniel to kiss each of them in turn. ‘Put him down, Bob. He’s getting over excited. He’s already being cheeky, and we don’t want any tantrums today.’
Grandpa Bob reluctantly put Daniel down and Benedict came over to shake his father-in-law’s hand and to hug his mother-in-law.
‘Hello, you two, you’re getting younger-looking every time I see you – retirement must agree with you both.’
‘I don’t know, Benedict. Twice as much husband and half as much pay – retirement’s not all it’s cracked up to be!’
Catherine was smiling fondly at her husband, and it was clear that she was delighted to have twice as much husband around. Stella warmed to the friendly couple immediately.
‘What’s this we’ve been hearing about a certain someone being cheeky? Surely not our lovely grandson?’
Daniel blushed and Stella winked at him.
‘It’s nothing,’ said Benedict. Just a misunderstanding about the moon and tides. Stella was right you know, son, about the moon controlling the sea.’
‘Yes, Daniel, it does. And it controls all the water in you too,’ added his grandmother, tickling Daniel under the arms and making him guffaw, in spite of Miranda’s disapproving eye.
‘Does it, Grandma?’ Daniel gasped and looked in wonderment at his body. ‘What about lemonade?’
‘Yes, lemonade too,’ she said. ‘Do you want some?’
‘Yes please, Grandma, with ice cubes as well. Lots of them.’
‘You stay there, Catherine,’ said Benedict. ‘I’ll fetch lemonade for everyone, complete with plenty of ice cubes for you, Daniel. But first, I’d like to introduce you to Stella.’ He turned around and drew her towards his in-laws. ‘Bob and Catherine, this is my friend, Stella McElhone. Stella, meet Bob and Catherine Telford, my in-laws.’
‘Hello, my dear, very pleased to meet you.’ Catherine leaned forward to kiss Stella. ‘I must say, you’re very brave joining the circus today.’
‘Pleased to meet you, Stella.’ Bob shook her good hand with a firm grip. ‘A certain dickie bird tells me you live within a stone’s throw of my favourite cricket ground.’
‘Ah, yes,’ she said. ‘Lord’s is just up the road from me.’
‘Honestly, Bob,’ said Catherine. ‘Can’t you go thirty seconds without mentioning cricket? And just look at the poor girl’s arm. You won’t be throwing any stones with that for a while. What happened, my dear?’
‘It’s a long story, but basically my tree-climbing career is over.’
‘I rather thought it might be something like that. Benedict, you need to take better care of your friends, or you might end up not having very many.’
Chastened, Benedict went off to fetch the lemonade. Catherine sat down in a garden chair and patted her knee.
‘Daniel, come on over and give me a cuddle before all your friends get here.’
The little boy jumped onto her knee and snuggled in. As his grandmother kissed his ears and whispered to him, stroking his hair and soothing him, Stella had to hold back a sigh for this family, somehow managing to live without their wife, mother and daughter. Although Anna was no longer here, she must be very much missed. As Daniel was busy with his grandparents, Stella went to help with the lemonade. Benedict was dropping ice into glasses as she came in.
‘Sorry about that, Stella. I should have forewarned you. When my son gets over excited, he can become quite impertinent. He wouldn’t normally speak to anyone like that.’
‘Don’t worry about it. Obviously, he has a scientific mind.’
‘Yes, although I’m not sure what Miranda’s excuse is. I’ll have a word with her.’
‘Please don’t. It might make things worse, and I’m easily big enough and ugly enough to take care of myself.’
‘Don’t say that about yourself when you’re anything but big. You barely come up to my shoulder.’
‘Charming! How did you get to be so mean all of a sudden?’
She flicked an ice cube across the bench at him, he caught it and shot it straight back, Stella did a magnificent one-armed save and slammed it against the counter where it broke in two and shot off in different directions just as Miranda entered the kitchen.
‘If there’s any ice after you two children have finished playing, I wouldn’t say no to another glass of water.’
Resigned, Stella left the twins to it and headed back out to the garden. On seeing her, Daniel jumped off his grandmother’s knee.
‘Stella, will you push me on the swing, please?’
‘I will.’
Daniel climbed onto the swing and looked up at Stella with a serious expression.
‘I didn’t think you’d want to push me because I wasn’t very nice teasing you about the sea not being made of metal. Aunty Miranda says it was bad-mannered and that you might not like me any more. You won’t stop liking me will you?’
‘I’ll always like you, Daniel. And if you think someone’s wrong, then you’re right to challenge them. Never be sorry for asking questions. You’re not bad-mannered at all, just a lovely little boy who’s getting a bit impatient waiting for his party to start.’
‘I know, it feels like it’s been ages. What time is it now?’
‘After twelve, so your friends will be here soon. How about ten more pushes and then maybe Grandpa could read to you for a little while?’
Bob had a book-shaped present with him and the Telfords might like some quiet time with their grandson before the party. Daniel agreed and Stella started to push him, counting each push. Within seconds, he was giggling again and pushing his legs back and forth. On her final push, he shouted out ‘ten’ and launched himself off the swing in mid-air.
‘Daniel, you’ll hurt yourself!’
But he landed like a cat and sprang upright immediately.
‘I always fly from the top – it scares Aunty Miranda!’
Well, at least Stella had one thing in common with his aunt. Daniel squeezed between his grandparents, and Bob held out an oblong present, which Daniel happily unwrapped.
‘It’s the new one! Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma. Will you both read it to me, please?’
As she watched Daniel nestled between his grandparents, their heads resting gently against his, Stella was struck by how small and vulnerable he was. It saddened her to think he’d fretted about being bad-mannered – Aunty Miranda was quite a piece of work.