Chapter 35
After Joan had left, Guy went downstairs to the kitchen, where Zoe was already starting to prep the evening meal.
Leaving Zoe to get on by herself for a few more moments, Guy went out into the yard and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
He wanted to talk to Liz, but she was probably out with the others on their aperitif walk, or already in a busy bar. He sent a text instead.
Please come up early tonight. Straight after dinner if possible. I need to talk to you.
Guy struggled to hold everything together that evening as he cooked dinner. Zoe gave him a worried look at one stage when he swore after dropping a tub of cream over the work surface.
‘Are you okay? You’ve not hummed once since I arrived and I’ve never known you to drop anything before.’
‘Yeah, I’m fine thanks. Just had a bit of a shock,’ Guy said.
The phrase ‘understatement of the year’ flashed through his mind.
His thoughts were on a veritable switchback going up on a high elation – he had a nephew.
Only to drop down again into a deep hole of sorrowful dejection for his brother dying and never seeing his son grow into a man.
Other regrets too swirled around his head.
He wished their mum was still alive. She would have adored learning she had a grandson.
Their dad would be happy, though, when he learnt about Leon.
That was another thing. How to tell his dad.
It was the kind of news that should be told in person, but in this case it would have to be a video call first. Then, after the season finished, he’d take Leon to meet him.
They could have an uncle-nephew bonding road trip.
Now that happy thought was something he’d never expected to happen.
* * *
Liz read the text from Guy on the walk back to the villa after aperitifs and immediately replied with an okay and a thumbs up. Something had clearly happened. Something to do with Joan Mitchell? Or something else?
Zoe served dinner alone that night and shrugged her shoulders when Sandy jokingly said, ‘Has Guy decided he’s had enough of waiting tables then?’
‘Says he’s got a lot on his mind.’ Zoe shrugged as she placed the vegetables to go with the main course on the table.
Becky got everybody’s attention with the words, ‘Sandy, would you mind if I said goodbye tomorrow evening after dinner rather than leave on Sunday morning?’
‘You have somewhere more interesting to go tomorrow night?’
‘Yes,’ Becky said as blunt as ever. ‘Xavier has an invitation to stay on board one of the yachts moored in the bay for Cannes Film Festival and wants me to go with him.’
‘Oh to be an influencer,’ Mandy said.
‘Invitations like that don’t come very often,’ Sandy said. ‘Of course you must go. We can follow you on social media and see what we’re missing.’
As everyone asked questions about the boat and Xavier, Liz turned to Helena who was sitting on her right. ‘How long has your mum known Guy?’ she asked quietly.
Helena looked surprised. ‘I didn’t know that she knew him. Why do you think she does?’
‘I thought I saw them together this afternoon,’ Liz said.
‘I spoke to Mum earlier and tried to persuade her to meet us in town and have an aperitif with us,’ Helena said. ‘She didn’t say anything about meeting Guy. She was more concerned about talking to Leon as soon as possible for some reason.’
‘It must have been someone else I saw,’ Liz said. ‘My mistake.’ Although she knew the woman she’d seen with Guy had been Helena’s mother.
Walking upstairs to her room after dinner to freshen up a little and to put on her swimming costume ready for the midnight swim, Liz wondered, not for the first time since she’d received his text, what Guy wanted to talk to her about.
Guy heard her climbing the stairs into his apartment and was standing waiting for her at the top. Wordlessly, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. ‘I’m so glad you’re here. I have some momentous news to share.’
Out on the terrace, Liz saw the two cognac glasses still on the small table. She raised an enquiring eyebrow at the sight of them. ‘Have you been drinking already?’
‘No and yes. This afternoon. I forgot to clear them away. Our usual wine is here,’ and he picked up the bottle to pour them both a glass.
Liz quickly stopped him. ‘None for me. I’m going swimming later, remember.’
‘Completely slipped my mind,’ Guy said, replacing the bottle on the table. ‘I had a visitor today.’
‘I know. Joan Mitchell. I saw you coming upstairs with her after you cancelled our date.’
‘I am sorry about that, we’ll definitely do the Picasso another day,’ Guy said. ‘Joan was in a bit of a state and the cognac was to help calm both her and me. She’d seen the photograph of me and Jake in the hallway? You know the one?’
Liz nodded.
‘Apparently she and my brother were in love, planning to marry when he died. As a family we had no idea he was in a serious relationship. And no idea that eight months after his death she gave birth to his son.’
Liz looked at him wide-eyed. ‘Helena’s older brother Leon is his son?’
Guy nodded happily. ‘I’ve got a thirty-four-year-old nephew whom I’ve never met. To say I’m stunned…’ he shook his head. ‘My dad is going to love having a grandson. Wish my ma was still with us, she’d be over the moon too.’
‘Why has Joan never contacted you before?’
‘She didn’t know enough about us to find us.
All she knew was Jake’s family lived somewhere on the outskirts of London.
As for us, we had no idea Jake had a serious girlfriend.
She says her relationship with Jake was a real coup de foudre, as the French say, and they lived in a bubble of love during the six or seven weeks they were able to be together. ’
Liz smiled. ‘I do think it’s rather wonderful that you’ve discovered an unknown nephew. Leon is rather nice too.’
‘You’ve met him?’
‘Yes, on one of our aperitif outings. He arranged for Joan to surprise Helena on her birthday and he needed Mandy to help.’
‘What’s he like? Joan says he’s the image of his father.’
‘I don’t know about that, but he is rather handsome. Looking at you now, I realise there is a certain family likeness to you. When do you get to meet him?’
Guy shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Joan wanted time to talk to him first, so soon, I hope. My head is all over the place.’
‘Come swimming tonight – the cold water will sort you out.’
Guy shook his head. ‘I’ll come down with you, maybe even paddle, but not even for you am I swimming in water that is below twenty degrees.’
‘Wimp!’ Liz said laughing.
* * *
Both swimmers and non-swimmers were on the beach at midnight for the last swim. Guy and Liz walking down hand in hand were the last to arrive and Sandy greeted them both with a knowing smile. Which Guy returned with a happy grin and eyes that told her not to make any comment.
As the four women did their usual brave run into the water without stopping, Sandy, Isobel, Becky and Guy clapped them on their way. Sandy had brought two big flasks of creamy hot chocolate and Isobel a large packet of biscuits. And ten minutes later they were all enjoying a welcome hot chocolate.
As everyone started to walk up the beach and back to the villa, Guy caught hold of Liz’s hand and slowed their pace down until they were slightly behind the others when he stopped and turned to face her.
‘Do you have to leave on Sunday? I’d love you to stay on for a few days? Spend time together with no distractions.’
Surprised, Liz stared at him. ‘I… I don’t know.’
‘Please think about it. I meant what I said the other evening, I want you in my future life. I hope you want to be with me too. I know we’ve virtually only just met, but I feel we do have a definite connection, don’t we?’
‘We do,’ Liz whispered. ‘Can I think about it? Just overnight?’ she added as she saw Guy’s face fill with disappointment. ‘I want to say yes straightaway, but…’ She shook her head. ‘Sensibly I need to think about it too.’