Chapter 30
30
‘It’s a long story,’ Jack said, patting Larry on the head. ‘But I’m here now. Are you going to let me in?’
Vi backed away from the door. ‘Okay. Come in.’
‘Are you giving the flowers to Auntie Vi?’ Naomi asked. ‘I can put them in water for you, if you like.’
‘Thank you very much, young lady,’ Jack said and gave Naomi the flowers. ‘And yes, they are for Auntie Vi. Because I want to say sorry for not replying to her emails and to celebrate a few things.’ He looked at Vi for a moment with a fond smile. ‘You look lovely.’
Vi was suddenly aware of her wet and dirty shirt and the soap suds in her hair. ‘I’ll just go and get Liam into his pyjamas and tidy up a bit. Naomi, show Jack into the living room. I’ll be back in a minute.’ She carried Liam back up the stairs, dried him off and put his pyjamas on. Then she left him in his room to play with his teddy for a moment while she quickly went into Lily and Dom’s bedroom and found a blue cotton sweater in Lily’s wardrobe and changed into it before she brought Liam back downstairs.
‘Coca Pops,’ Liam said when she arrived at the bottom of the stairs.
‘Okay. Just a sec,’ Vi said, and put him on the floor. She ran into the kitchen where Naomi was taking a crystal vase out of one of the lower cupboards. ‘Thanks, sweetheart,’ she said and took the vase from Naomi. Vi filled it with water and put the flowers – a lovely bouquet of red and pink roses and white daisies – into it and set it down on the kitchen table. ‘They’re lovely flowers, Jack. Thank you.’
Liam pulled at the legs of Vi’s jeans. ‘Coca Pops, Auntie Vi. Now.’
‘Say “please”,’ Naomi ordered.
‘Pleeease,’ Liam repeated.
Vi lifted Liam onto his chair and glanced at Jack, who was standing in the middle of the floor, looking at them with an amused smile. ‘I’ll just sort the Coco Pops,’ she said. ‘Then I’ll put them to bed and…’
‘It’s okay,’ Jack said. ‘I have plenty of time. Is there anything I can do to help?’
‘Thanks, but I’m on it.’ Vi busied herself cleaning up the ketchup stains and then got out the Coco Pops and milk and filled two bowls. As soon as the children had finished, she told them to go upstairs. ‘Just a quick story, and then I’ll be back,’ she said to Jack.
‘I want a long story,’ Naomi protested.
‘Hey, I’ll tell you a story,’ Jack offered. ‘It’s a true story too. Very exciting. Do you want to hear it?’
Naomi nodded. ‘Tell it to me now.’
‘Not until you have your pyjamas on,’ Jack said. ‘I’ll wait here and when you’re ready I’ll come upstairs and tell you the story.’
Naomi seemed to consider this option. ‘Okay,’ she finally said and started towards the stairs. ‘I’ll give you a shout when I’m ready.’
‘Me too,’ Liam shouted and started to run after Naomi. ‘I’m in my jammies already.’
Vi laughed and ran after them, making sure Liam didn’t fall down the stairs. She glanced over her shoulder at Jack, who had started tidying the dishes on the kitchen table. ‘You don’t have to do that.’
‘I know but I want to be useful. I’ll be up in a minute.’
When Naomi and Liam were tucked up in Naomi’s bed, Jack sat on the edge and looked at them. ‘So,’ he started, ‘I’m going to tell you about a lamb that was born on our farm in England when I was a little boy.’
‘What was its name?’ Naomi asked.
‘Lucy,’ Jack replied and then went on to tell them the story about his pet lamb and what happened on the farm. His voice was low and monotonous and it didn’t take long for both children to nod off.
Vi carefully picked Liam up and put him to bed in his room, switched off the light and tiptoed back to Naomi. She tucked her in and closed the door as gently as she could. Then she followed Jack down the stairs and into the living room. ‘Thank you,’ she said to him. ‘You’re a genius. Sit down on the sofa and I’ll get you something to eat. I was going to heat up a pizza and you can share it with me if that’s okay? It’s all I have, I’m afraid.’
‘Perfect,’ Jack said and sat down on the sofa, staring out through the window across Ventry Bay where the reflection of the moonlight glittered in the dark water. ‘This must be wonderful in daylight.’
‘It’s amazing.’ Vi found the pizza in the freezer and turned on the oven. ‘I loved the story of the pet lamb. What happened to her in the end? Lambchops?’
‘No.’ Jack shook his head and grinned. ‘I made it all up. I never had a pet lamb.’
Vi let out a giggle. ‘You’d better not tell Naomi. She believed every word.’ She put the pizza on a tray and pushed it into the oven. ‘I had no idea you were so good with kids.’
‘Neither did I,’ Jack said. ‘I just improvised. I don’t know much about children, to be honest.’
‘Then it’s even more impressive. Do you want a glass of wine? Dom left a bottle of chianti out for me. Said I’d need a drink after dealing with the kids. I realise now he was right.’
‘Just a glass for me,’ Jack replied. ‘I’m driving and I don’t want to risk being caught by the Irish Guards. They look friendly but I’m sure they can be pretty tough if you misbehave.’
‘That’s true.’ Vi wiped the table and put out two placemats followed by wine glasses and cutlery. Then she opened the wine. ‘The pizza should be ready in a minute.’
Jack got up and wandered over to the table. ‘Great. And we do need to talk.’ He sat down and poured wine into both glasses.
Once the pizza was ready, Vi cut it up into slices and put it on a platter that she placed on the table. ‘Help yourself. And then tell me what on earth you’re doing here.’
‘Okay.’ Jack took a bite of pizza and a sip of wine and then looked at Vi across the table. ‘I came because I wanted to see you. For so many reasons. And Sylvia told me where you were and said I had to come here and give you a hand.’
Vi rolled her eyes. ‘Of course she did. So go on, what is so important that you had to tell me in person?’
Jack put down his wedge of pizza. ‘First of all, Liz has finally agreed to the changes to the script.’
‘Really? That’s fabulous news,’ Vi exclaimed. ‘What a relief.’ She looked at him for a moment. ‘So you pulled out all the stops and said you’ll resign?’ she asked, even though she suspected what had happened.
He looked a little sheepish as he met her gaze. ‘No, I chickened out in the end. It was actually her own research that did it. We should be able to start filming just before the Magnolia party that Sylvia has invited me to.’
‘I hope so.’ Vi nodded, her mouth full. ‘Are you going?’
‘I’m not sure I can.’ Jack paused. ‘You see, there is something else I want to tell you. I’m going to be in an Ibsen play in the West End in April and we start rehearsing very soon.’
‘What?’ Vi stared at Jack. ‘When did this happen?’
‘Only a few weeks ago. I always wanted to do theatre and especially Ibsen. It’s been my dream for a long time. And now, this theatre producer got in touch with my agent and asked if I could do it – I jumped at the chance. That’s why I pulled out of the movie but I couldn’t tell you. It was all under wraps until now. It will be in the papers tomorrow.’
‘Oh.’ Vi looked at Jack, unable to think of anything to say. She understood that he wanted to realise his dream but at the same time felt miffed both that he hadn’t told her and that he had pulled out of the movie just like that. ‘Well, that’s… I mean…’
‘And I did have a bit of a change of heart before that. I started to think that the film would be a lot better without me,’ Jack said. ‘With you in it…’ He suddenly reached out across the table and took her hand. ‘It would be complicated.’
‘Complicated? Because…?’ Vi stared at Jack, holding her breath.
‘There is something between us,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Something I know you feel too.’
‘Something?’ Vi whispered, forgetting her pizza. ‘Like what?’
‘Like attraction and chemistry and perhaps, in time – love?’ Jack looked suddenly shy.
Vi kept gazing into his eyes without replying. Was this true? Did he really feel the same connection between them that she had felt since the beginning? She met his eyes and saw, not the glamorous film star, but the man behind the glitzy facade. A man who had been through a difficult childhood and youth, had a complicated relationship with his family and had somehow lost his roots. ‘Something like that,’ she said. ‘I didn’t know how you felt, but yes, it was there all the time. Especially after your first visit and I saw how affected you were by everything here. And how you kind of melted into the family and connected with Granny.’
‘That’s only part of it.’ Jack kept holding on to her hand while he spoke, his eyes gleaming with emotion. ‘It’s all part of you , my darling Violet. What makes you so special and unique. You’re smart and strong and beautiful and funny as well. And as stubborn as hell. I’ve never met a woman like you – or your sisters or your grandmother and even your little niece.’
‘You’re in love with them too?’ Vi asked, smiling.
‘Not as much as I’m in love with you,’ Jack declared, leaning over the table and placing a light kiss on her mouth. Then he sat back and smiled at her. ‘There. I said it. What do we do now?’
Vi got up and went to his side. ‘Kiss me again, maybe?’
Jack shot up from his chair. He put his arms around her and their lips met in a long kiss. In his arms, Vi felt a sense of security that she had never felt with any man before. All her fears and hesitations disappeared as he pulled away for a moment and looked deep into her eyes with an expression she knew was not pretence or acting, but came from real feelings. Then he kissed her again, and this time she kissed him back, her heart full of happiness and gratitude to have found love at last.