Chapter Six
CHAPTER SIX
Magnus was wearing an apron depicting a muscled torso over his Hawaiian-style shirt and, despite its primary function being to keep his clothes clean, he wiped it down the moment a tiny speck of food splattered onto it. Geoff was more relaxed, chopping salad in a corner while he belted out a Frank Sinatra song.
Ottilie had been grateful for the offer of the large space of their home for her party, but taking up the favour had inevitably meant they were going to get involved in the preparations in a bigger way than she was ready for. Wisely, Heath had decided to go out and buy decorations. He didn’t have as much patience with the local shop owners as Ottilie did. He liked them but often found interactions with them overwhelming. It would be easier later at the party when there were plenty of other guests to dilute their effect, but for now, Ottilie was content to let him have some breathing space. Stacey – Geoff’s sister and Ottilie’s best friend – had stepped in for Heath and was now helping Ottilie, Magnus and Geoff to prepare the party food.
‘I love parties!’ Magnus said, looking so flushed and stressed as he dashed across the kitchen with a tray of vol-au-vent cases from the oven that Ottilie, despite knowing he did love parties, couldn’t imagine a statement further from the truth. Right now, he looked like someone who viewed parties in the same way an aristocrat would have viewed a trip to the guillotine in revolutionary France. ‘I was only saying to Geoff earlier in the year that we ought to find an excuse to have one. There hasn’t been a decent get-together in Thimblebury since Simon’s housewarming.’
‘And then you saved us the trouble of doing our own,’ Geoff called from the salad bar.
‘I expect we’ll still do something,’ Magnus said. ‘Perhaps later in the year.’
Ottilie glanced at Geoff and could read his look of resignation. He was as sociable as Magnus, but if Magnus was like this preparing for every shindig, then she could see why he might view the prospect with some trepidation.
‘Oh!’ Magnus tutted as he picked off three pastry cases and took them to the bin.
‘What was wrong with those?’ Stacey dashed across to peer into the rubbish. ‘That tray looked fine to me.’
‘Wrong size,’ Magnus muttered.
‘Huh?’
‘They were bigger than the others.’
‘What a waste! Nobody would have noticed!’ Stacey scolded.
‘ I noticed…’
Stacey shot Ottilie a similar look to the one she’d just seen on Geoff’s face. At that moment, she was presented with a startling family resemblance that wasn’t always obvious, and for some reason it made her start to laugh.
‘What’s so funny?’ Geoff asked.
Ottilie shook her head, trying to stop. ‘Everything today.’
‘I expect you’re giddy with the excitement,’ Geoff replied mildly, seemingly content with her explanation. ‘I expect it’s a very exciting thing you have to announce later, eh?’ he added with a wink.
Ottilie grinned. She suspected everyone had guessed what their announcement was going to be – it was fairly obvious, after all, but that hadn’t detracted from the pleasure she got thinking about everyone’s reactions when she and Heath finally made it. The residents of Thimblebury were some of the most important people in her life.
‘It might be,’ she said. ‘More than that I’m looking forward to a nice evening with everyone too.’
‘It will be lovely,’ Magnus said with a grimace as he filled a piping bag with salmon and cream cheese mousse.
Ottilie exchanged an amused look with Geoff and Stacey, and then went over to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders in a hug.
‘Thank you,’ she said.
He pulled back in some surprise. ‘What for? I haven’t done anything.’
‘You’ve been your usual, generous, wonderful self. I know this is a lot of work for you and Geoff, but I want you to know how much Heath and I appreciate it.’
‘Oh, Ottilie.’ Magnus blushed now, and for the first time that afternoon, the stress cleared from his expression. ‘You know you could ask anything of us. You’re like family to us now.’
‘I feel the same way,’ Ottilie said.
‘Well…’ Magnus was smiling, but Ottilie could tell he was anxious to get back to his cooking. ‘That’s all right then.’
‘I only thought I ought to let you know,’ Ottilie said. ‘And that everything will be perfect and there’s no need to worry.’
‘I’m not worried,’ Magnus said, eyeing his salmon mixture even as he said so.
‘Sure you’re not,’ Stacey said drily, and then Geoff started to laugh and Magnus’s smile faded into a frown.
‘Very funny,’ he said, wagging a spoon at him. ‘You can laugh, but someone’s got to keep the kitchen organised. Parties don’t just cater themselves, you know.’
They were interrupted by a tap at the open window. All four looked across to see Flo standing outside.
‘Are you going to let me in or what?’ she grumbled. ‘I’ve been knocking for half an hour and nobody answered!’
Ottilie suspected she’d knocked once at the door and they hadn’t heard her, but it was better to indulge Flo in her little exaggerations than to try to correct her.
‘Come on then, Florence,’ Geoff said, going to the door. ‘In you come…’
She stepped in and dumped a basket onto the counter. ‘I brought these for the party.’
‘That’s good of you,’ Magnus said, going over to the basket. ‘We did say we had the catering in hand, though.’
‘Still,’ Flo huffed. ‘Better to have too much than not enough.’
Magnus looked as if he might faint as he produced a pie that looked as if it could mill corn. ‘What is this?’
‘Pork pie,’ Flo said with some pride. ‘I’ve been all the way to Kendal on the bus for that.’
‘Pork pie…’ Magnus repeated.
‘It looks lovely,’ Ottilie said, dashing over to take it from him before he dropped it. They’d have to go to X-ray if it landed on his foot.
‘Heath likes his pork pie,’ Flo said.
‘I know,’ Ottilie replied. ‘It’ll go in the fridge for now until we’re ready to cut it up.’
‘Not the fridge,’ Flo said. ‘Needs to be room temperature to be at its best.’
‘But it has meat in,’ Magnus protested. ‘It will poison everyone if you leave it out.’
‘Not you,’ Stacey said with a laugh, and Ottilie held back one of her own. If there was to be a pork pie apocalypse, Magnus wouldn’t be affected. The way he was looking at it now, he wasn’t even going to make contact with the pie, let alone eat it. He looked as if he wanted to deny its very existence.
Flo ignored him and dug into the basket to produce a second. She handed it to Ottilie. ‘Pork and egg. These ones have some lovely jelly in them.’
‘Oh dear lord,’ Magnus said, and Ottilie snorted, no longer able to hold in her laughter. Flo and Magnus both looked confused.
‘Sorry,’ Ottilie said, doing her best to stay in control. ‘Like Geoff said, I’m a bit giddy today. Everything is making me silly.’ She looked at Flo. ‘Does Heath like the jelly?’
‘Can’t get enough of it,’ Flo said, and then Stacey started to laugh too, starting Ottilie off again.
‘What’s so funny?’ Flo demanded. ‘I can go home, you know, and leave you all to struggle without me!’
‘I’m sorry, Flo.’ Ottilie gulped in a couple of steadying breaths and tried to straighten her face. ‘Please don’t do that – we’re ever so grateful for your help. And thank you for the pies. I’m sure they’ll go down a treat.’
Magnus shot a look of deepest suspicion at the offending articles and then went back to his vol-au-vent filling.
‘If we need to leave them out,’ Ottilie said, ‘perhaps there’s somewhere a bit cooler we can store them for now.’ She turned to Geoff. ‘You maybe have an outhouse or something that’s out of direct sunlight?’
‘Leave it to me,’ Stacey said, taking off her apron and gathering up the pies. ‘There’s an old pantry at my place – they’ll be fine in there.’
‘In that case, there’s an old pantry at mine too—’ Flo began, but Ottilie stopped her.
‘Stacey can take care of it,’ she said. ‘Don’t want to have you walking back to yours when you’ve just come from there. We’ve got plenty to do here – if that’s all right with you.’
‘What do you need?’ Flo asked while Stacey slipped out. Ottilie was glad to see her mood improve instantly. ‘Sandwiches? What sort? Cheese and onion? Has anyone been to fetch a bit of ham?’
Magnus rolled his eyes, and it was lucky Flo didn’t see it. Ottilie had to admit that they had very different ideas about party catering and that there would be an interesting mix of themes when they eventually put the food out for their guests. But she liked that. It was representative of their lives in Thimblebury, of all the different and interesting people they knew and loved from all backgrounds and age groups. Their party was for everyone, and there ought to be something for everyone. So if there were delicate, caviar-topped blinis alongside hefty sausage rolls, that was OK – that, to Ottilie, was how it ought to be.
‘There’s cheese and ham in the shop,’ Geoff said. ‘Chloe’s covering for us – just go and ask her.’
Flo gave a short nod before bustling out.
‘Thank you,’ Ottilie said. ‘If you keep track of what we’re having from the shop, I’ll settle up later, if that’s all right.’
‘You don’t owe us anything, my love,’ Geoff said. ‘Consider it our…well, whatever occasion your party is, consider the food our gift.’
‘I couldn’t?—’
‘Yes, you could. That’s the end of that conversation.’
Heath arrived with the decorations an hour later, and Geoff went with him to help put them up while Ottilie continued in the kitchen with Magnus, Stacey and Flo. An hour after that, Chloe shut the shop and came through with Mackenzie. Everyone stopped to make a fuss of the little boy, who had just started to walk and was roaming around the kitchen like a drunken leprechaun while Chloe sat with a glass of water. Ottilie noticed she looked pale.
‘Are you OK, Chloe?’
‘She’s not sleeping well,’ Stacey said, scooping Mackenzie into her arms. ‘Are you, Chlo?’
‘Any particular reason?’ Ottilie asked.
‘I dunno,’ Chloe replied in her usual dull way. She wasn’t known for her enthusiasm in any circumstances, and today was no different. It often came across as rude or surly, but Ottilie had learned over the time she’d got to know her better that it wasn’t her intention. She simply had a cynical, world-weary manner that was far older than her almost twenty years. Ottilie had once put it to Stacey – who was as cheery and excitable as her daughter was reserved – that it might be a result of motherhood and abandonment by the father at such a young age, but Stacey told her that Chloe had always been like that, even as a young girl. Ottilie knew that she’d had a tough childhood too, however, and much as Stacey preferred to overlook the fact that abandonment by her own father too, at the age of ten, might have something to do with that, it was difficult for Ottilie to look at Chloe and not think it true.
‘We could keep Mackenzie here with us if you want to go and get some sleep,’ Ottilie said, glancing at everyone else. Geoff and Stacey seemed happy enough. Magnus looked less certain, and Flo grimaced.
‘We’re busy enough,’ she said.
‘We’re almost done, aren’t we?’ Ottilie asked. ‘It’s going to be a case of taking the tableware through to set up and then a quick drink before we go to get changed for later, isn’t it? One of us can stay with Mackenzie while the others do that.’
‘I’m fine.’ Chloe sipped her water. ‘I don’t know what everyone’s making a fuss about.’
‘We’re only concerned,’ Stacey said.
‘Nobody was concerned when they asked me to mind the shop.’
‘Hey,’ Stacey said, her tone sterner now. ‘You promised to do that last week – nobody knew you were going to be knackered. And you’re getting paid, so less of that.’
‘I’m only saying,’ Chloe grumbled.
‘And we’re offering to help now,’ Stacey continued. ‘So do you want to go home for a lie-down or not?’
‘I’ll take Mackenzie with me,’ she said. ‘He’ll probably go down for a nap too if I put him in bed with me.’
After taking the little boy from Stacey’s arms, Chloe dumped her glass in the sink and left. Ottilie watched her go and then turned to Stacey.
‘Is she all right? She does look a bit peaky.’
‘Overdoing it, probably. Back and forth to her boyfriend’s house all the time, looking after Mackenzie and then all the studies for that part-time degree she’s started. I told her when she signed up for that she was taking too much on, but…’ Stacey shrugged. ‘You know Chloe. She won’t be told.’
‘But it will be a brilliant career once she gets her qualification. I think she’ll make a great social worker – I mean, who knows more about life throwing curveballs than Chloe?’
Stacey nodded. ‘Nobody’s saying it won’t be, and I know she’ll be amazing at her job, I just think she should have waited a couple of years until Mackenzie is at school before starting the course.’
‘I suppose she feels as if she’s already on the back foot,’ Ottilie said. ‘I bet none of the other students have a small child.’
‘I think a few do, actually,’ Stacey said. ‘I think some of them are older than her too. I pointed that out, but she’s adamant she’s not waiting any longer. I suppose I can’t blame her; I just worry she’s not coping.’
Ottilie smiled. ‘As long as you’re looking out for her.’
‘As long as I do it without her noticing.’ Stacey offered a wan smile in return. ‘God forbid she’d realise I’m watching her like a hawk all the time.’
‘Do you think it would be easier for her to talk to me if she needed someone to confide in?’ Ottilie asked.
‘It might, but she’d probably expect you to tell me what had been said, and that would put her off.’
‘I’ll try to let her know anyway, without making it too obvious, that I’m around if she wants to offload. And I didn’t do the same course, but I know how punishing that kind of study schedule can be, so there’s that too. If she only wants to talk to me about uni, that’s something, isn’t it?’
‘Thanks, Ott. You’re one in a million, you know that?’
‘I’m only doing what you’d do for me.’
The kitchen door opened. Heath and Geoff came in.
‘All done in there,’ Geoff said. ‘Any time you want to move the tableware in feel free.’
Magnus went to a cupboard and took out a pile of neatly folded white tablecloths with silver stars on them. ‘These are lovely, Ottilie,’ he said. ‘If you want to get rid when you’ve finished today, we’d happily buy them from you.’
‘You could just have them,’ Heath said, looking at Ottilie, who nodded agreement. ‘I doubt we’ll be using them again, and you’ve done so much for us today.’
‘In that case, thank you,’ Magnus said. ‘We’ll definitely use them.’
‘Well, this is the Thimblebury party household,’ Stacey said.
‘Given we’re in Thimblebury,’ Geoff replied, ‘that’s hardly an accolade. It’s not exactly Beverly Hills.’
Flo looked at her wrist and then tapped at her watch as she held it up. ‘Never mind all this yakking – have you seen the time?’
‘You’re right,’ Ottilie said. ‘Getting carried away here. Let’s get everything in the other room and then we can go and get changed for later.’
‘Honestly,’ Heath said as he arrived at her side and smiled down at her, ‘I think you’re having more fun doing this bit than you will at the party.’
‘You know me so well,’ Ottilie said with a light laugh. ‘I’ll enjoy the party, and it feels like an occasion special enough to make an effort, but generally I hate being the centre of attention and I hate formal events.’
‘We didn’t have to do it,’ he said, his expression suddenly troubled. ‘You said?—’
‘I wanted to, and I still do. I only meant it’s not a habit I could get into. I’m excited to announce our news. It deserves something special.’ She grabbed his hand. ‘ You deserve something special. I’m so lucky to have you.’
‘We’re both lucky,’ he said. ‘But I’m sorry to break it to you – I think I’m luckier than you. I think I definitely got the best out of this deal.’
‘Shake a leg, you two!’ Flo called from across the room.
‘Yes, boss!’ Heath grinned, slipping his hand from Ottilie’s grasp. He offered her a faint look of apology, and her smile grew. She was excited to be marrying Heath, but as she glanced at Flo, she was fully aware that marriage to Heath wasn’t going to be without its challenges…
Ottilie studied her reflection in the bedroom mirror and decided she was overdressed. She’d been back and forth on this dress ever since she’d bought it. In the shop, the midnight-blue satin, ruched and pinched at the waist and flaring out into a calf-length skirt, had stolen her breath. Heath had told her she looked spectacular in it when she’d modelled it and asked whether he thought it was the right one for the party. She hadn’t been convinced, thinking he would only say nice things, even if she was wearing a rubbish sack. So she’d sent a photo to Stacey, who’d said it was gorgeous and perfect for her party, and that had made Ottilie feel better. But now that she had it on, she had doubts again. She was gradually convincing herself, as she looked at the mirror, that everyone would think she thought she was at the Oscars or something.
‘Nobody would think that,’ she told herself sternly. ‘Don’t be an idiot.’
‘What’s that?’ Heath wandered into the bedroom doing up his shirt. He stopped and whistled. ‘Hey, why don’t we skip the party and go straight to the after-party?’
Ottilie slapped him away as he tried to grab her around the waist to pull her into a kiss. ‘No time for that.’ She frowned. ‘You don’t think it’s too much, do you?’
He stood back and smiled. ‘God, no! You look amazing!’
Ottilie turned back to her reflection, adjusting her neckline and feeling that it was far too low now that she was ready to appear in public in it.
‘Stop it!’ Heath said gently. ‘I can read your mind.’
‘Can you?’
‘Well, not always, but I am getting good at recognising some of your expressions. You look beautiful. This is your party, your moment in the spotlight – stop feeling as if you don’t deserve it because you do.’
‘It’s your party too.’
‘Yes, it is, and I would like very much to see you at our party in that dress. Nothing would make me prouder than to walk into that room with you as you look right now. So there. Stop second-guessing everything. And even if anyone thought you were overdressed – who cares? It’s your party, not theirs!’
‘See,’ Ottilie complained. ‘Now you’ve put that idea back into my head again. I might try something else on?—’
‘Don’t even think about it. Do I have to barricade the wardrobe until tomorrow?’
‘You really think it’s all right?’
‘Yes! You’ve bought it with hard-earned money because you loved it in the shop. What were you planning to do with it? Pull it out to stare at it once a year and never wear it?’
‘It wouldn’t be the first time,’ Ottilie said sheepishly.
Heath kissed her lightly. ‘Wear it and enjoy it.’
She nodded. ‘You’re right – ignore me. I think I’m just nervous.’
‘Me too, if I’m being completely honest,’ Heath said. ‘But we’re going to be in a room full of friends, and it’s going to be fine. I’ll tell you one thing, though,’ he added, fastening the last of his shirt buttons. ‘If we’re like this at the engagement party, what are we going to be like at the wedding?’
‘Don’t, ’ Ottilie said, turning back to the mirror. ‘I don’t even want to think about that right now.’
Heath kissed her again. ‘Everything will be perfect, and you are perfect, so stop worrying and let’s get over there, or they’ll be starting without us!’
When they got back to Magnus and Geoff’s, Stacey, Chloe and her boyfriend, Ollie, baby Mackenzie and Flo were already there.
‘Simon sends his apologies – he’s going to be late,’ Stacey said, rolling her eyes.
‘Let me guess…’ Ottilie replied, ‘something he needs to do at the surgery. He never stops thinking about that place.’
‘Tell me about it. I mean, I love him for being so caring, but from time to time, I’d quite like him to pay as much attention to me as he does his patients.’
Ottilie offered a look of sympathy, but there was little else she could say. She knew only too well how dedicated Simon was to his patients, and that was hardly likely to change. If Stacey wanted to be with him, she was going to have to learn how to live with that reality.
Flo came over with an envelope and shoved it at Heath. ‘I didn’t buy a present,’ she said. ‘Don’t know what you want.’
‘We don’t need anything, Gran,’ Heath said, taking the envelope and undoing it to pull out a card with two fluffy rabbits on the front and the words ‘On Your Engagement’ emblazoned in silver lettering across it.
‘Thank you,’ he said, stuffing it back into the envelope so that nobody could see the wording. He shot a look of resignation at Ottilie. Had there really been any point in trying to keep their announcement secret? It seemed that most of Thimblebury already knew, even if they hadn’t divulged it to one another.
‘When you decide what you want, I’ll buy it for you,’ Flo said.
‘Honestly, there’s nothing we need,’ Ottilie said. ‘We’d rather you kept your money – we’re just glad to have you here.’
‘But I have to buy something!’ Flo protested. ‘I don’t want people to think I couldn’t be bothered!’
Heath put his arm around her and grinned. ‘As if anyone would think that,’ he said.
Flo grunted. ‘No sign of your parents yet either,’ she added. ‘What time are they supposed to be arriving?’
‘Any time now, I suppose,’ Heath said. ‘I told them what time it was due to start, so I’m sure they’ll be here soon.’
‘Not if your mother has anything to do with it,’ Flo shot back. ‘She couldn’t arrive anywhere on time to save her life.’
‘As long as they make it before we all leave, it will be fine by me,’ he said. He glanced out of the window to see a taxi pulling up. ‘I think this might be your mum, Ottilie,’ he said.
‘It is.’ Ottilie went to the door. When she opened up, Ottilie’s mother, Francine, was paying the driver. As he drove away, she looked round with a broad smile.
‘You look lovely!’ she said, nodding approval at Ottilie’s dress. ‘Now I feel as if I haven’t made enough effort.’
‘You look great,’ Ottilie said. ‘I’m sorry we didn’t have time to come and pick you up?—’
‘Don’t be daft! I wouldn’t have expected it! It was fine. I got a train to Windermere, and the taxi wasn’t too far from there. It was quite a nice journey, actually. Scenic – very peaceful.’
‘It makes a change for a train to be peaceful,’ Ottilie said as they walked into the house together. ‘Heath’s inside with his grandma. You know the drill there, right?’
‘Yes.’ Francine laughed. ‘I have been warned!’
‘And there are a ton of other people I want you to meet.’
Everyone huddled round to greet Francine as Ottilie introduced her. Ottilie had never been prouder of her community and the welcome they had for her mum.
Heath’s parents arrived shortly after, and Heath did the same, taking them around the room to introduce them to the other guests, Ottilie feeling strangely shy around them. Despite the fact that she’d been with Heath for well over a year now, she had only met them a handful of times and didn’t really know them well enough to feel at ease in their company. She liked them, of course, managing to resist the influence of Flo, who had very little time for Heath’s mother. She thought Flo too harsh a judge. Heath’s mum, Lori, and his dad, Colin, were always friendly to Ottilie, and she had no reason to think badly of them.
‘Excited?’ Lori asked as she adjusted a patterned silk scarf in bright, acid colours. One thing Ottilie couldn’t deny, Heath didn’t get his dress sense from her. Nothing she wore matched, and not even the colours in her dress, scarf, shoes and handbag made any attempt to complement each other. It was like she’d gone to her wardrobe and pulled out the first of every item she could lay her hands on and thrown them all on, and had then left the house without a single glance at a mirror. But her expression was so sweet and wholesome that, despite also being quite dippy, Ottilie couldn’t help but like her.
‘Nervous, to be honest.’
‘Oh, I don’t think there’s any need for that,’ Lori said. ‘Though you do strike me as a nervy type, so I suppose that’s only natural.’
Ottilie wondered if she struck everyone as a nervy type and, if so, whether she ought to be doing something about that, but she didn’t have long to ponder it. The door opened again, this time to mark the arrival of Fliss, her husband, Charles, Simon, Lavender and her husband.
‘Will you excuse me?’ Ottilie asked Lori. ‘I just need to say hello.’
Over the course of the following hour, the rest of the guests arrived. The room was crowded, the temperature climbing with each extra body, until Magnus opened the patio doors and people began to spill out into the garden. The music, as anyone who knew Magnus and Geoff would have expected, was an interesting mix – everything from forties show tunes to sixties film scores, to Fleetwood Mac, to the latest Eurovision winner and just about everything in between. More than once, Ottilie had caught Chloe and Ollie sniggering in a corner, while Stacey paraded around with Mackenzie in her arms like she’d just won a gold medal at the Olympics and wanted to show everyone. Ottilie didn’t mind Chloe and Ollie having their fun. She was grateful that they’d come at all – at their age, she would probably have thought being at a party where most of the guests were at least twenty years older was lame too.
The other thing she noticed about Chloe and Ollie was how they looked at each other. She was convinced, without Stacey having to say so, that they were very much in love, and that made her happy too. Chloe had been a deeply troubled and unhappy young woman when Ottilie had first arrived in Thimblebury – abandoned by her dad, and then a boyfriend who’d got her pregnant with a baby she hadn’t been ready for. It was good to see her so much happier and settled now.
She made a point of giving every guest as much of her attention as she could spare. Corrine and Victor had been in good spirits, as had their daughters, though the two husbands seemed less happy to be there. Ottilie was sorry to see Ann from Hilltop Farm hadn’t made it but not surprised. Darryl would have found it a difficult environment, and Ann perhaps hadn’t managed to find someone to stay home with him.
A couple of hours in, Magnus came over to her, rosy-cheeked and breathless after doing an impressive tribute to Sally Bowles performing ‘Mein Herr’ from Cabaret for a select group of guests who were drunk enough to appreciate it.
‘Geoff says we ought to eat soon.’
What Ottilie suspected Geoff meant was that Magnus ought to eat soon to soak up some of the alcohol he’d clearly had too much of. But she nodded and smiled. ‘I think that might be a good idea. I suppose people might be getting hungry.’
‘Do you want to say a few words first?’ Magnus asked. ‘Or afterwards?’
‘Maybe we’ll do it first, while we still have their attention. Once the food is available, people might drift off to eat in the garden or whatever and it might be harder to get everyone in one place. People are already drifting off…’ Ottilie frowned. ‘I should have thought about this happening…’
‘I think it’s fine if you do it soon.’ Magnus twirled once and then hiccupped. ‘I’ll go and tell Geoff. He can do the glass-tinkle thing.’
Ottilie watched him weave through the gathering in search of his partner. From behind her came the sound of Heath’s voice.
‘Someone’s enjoying the party,’ he said. She turned to see him smiling. ‘How about you? Are you enjoying yourself? I’ve hardly had a chance to ask you.’
‘It’s hectic, isn’t it? But, yes. It’s lovely to see so many people here.’
‘They’re here for you.’
‘For both of us.’
Heath shook his head. ‘For you, Ottilie. I don’t mind that. You mean a lot to everyone here – I’m just a part of your entourage as far as they’re all concerned.’
Ottilie prodded him playfully. ‘Don’t be silly. They all love you.’
‘Not as much as they love you. It’s hardly surprising when you stop to think about it for a minute.’
Ottilie was about to protest when a shout went up for quiet. Geoff was, indeed, doing a glass-tinkle thing, tapping with alarming force on a crystal goblet for everyone’s attention.
‘We’re going to have a few words from Ottilie or Heath…not sure which, or maybe you’ll be lucky enough to get both of them!’ Everyone laughed and when it died off, Geoff continued. ‘And then we’re going to unwrap the food and you can all help yourselves.’
‘Finally,’ Flo grumbled from the crowd.
‘Don’t worry,’ Geoff replied with a look of mischief. ‘Your absolutely titanic pork pies are cut up and waiting for you.’
Everyone laughed again, but Flo only scowled at him. Ottilie turned to Heath. He offered her a hand.
‘Together?’ he asked.
She nodded, her heart hammering as she took his hand. She couldn’t even say why she was so nervous. She was in a room full of people she knew and loved, and there would be nothing but goodwill and delight over their announcement, and yet, she almost felt guilty for demanding their time to make it, as if she wasn’t deserving. She knew what Heath would say about that, and he’d be right, but that didn’t make her feel any less stressed. At least he was by her side, and she knew he’d do the talking for her if she dried up.
Every face waited with an expectant smile. Heath cleared his throat.
‘Thank you all for coming. Some of you know, and probably most of you have guessed, that Ottilie and I didn’t only want to have a knees-up – though we did want that and it’s turning out to be a decent one…’
There was more polite laughter which Heath allowed to fade before he continued. ‘We’ve actually brought you here to make an announcement.’ He turned to Ottilie. ‘Do you want to take this?’
She shook her head. ‘You’re doing a far better job than I could.’
‘Right…anyway, I asked Ottilie to marry me, and for some unfathomable reason that Fliss or Simon might want to make a psychiatric referral for, she said yes. So I suppose that means we’re getting married, and we just wanted to let you all know.’
A cheer went up from the revellers, and then Magnus started a string of hip-hip-hoorays that were far more hip-hip-hoorays than the norm, and when it died down and Heath bade everyone to go and get food, he and Ottilie were inundated with well-wishers wanting to offer their congratulations in person.
‘It was all right in the end, wasn’t it?’ Heath asked once the last of them had gone.
Ottilie nodded, unable to stop smiling even though her cheeks ached. ‘More than all right. Thank you for doing the talking.’
‘I wasn’t sure if I was taking over, but?—’
‘Not a bit. Shall we go and get something to eat? I don’t know about you, but now that’s over, I’m starving.’
‘Yeah, and we’ve got a pile of pork pie bigger than Scafell Pike to get through before we go home. If there’s any left at the end of this, Gran will never stop going on about it.’
They were making their way to the tables when Geoff called them over to the outside door. Ottilie was alarmed by the sudden look of worry on his face.
‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, but he only nodded at a young woman waiting outside in the porch.
‘She’s asking to speak to you. Do you know her?’
‘No…I don’t think so.’
Ottilie could see that something in their brief exchange had rattled Geoff, though she couldn’t imagine what. But then she looked again at the young woman, perhaps in her mid-twenties, slim and pale, and noted the anxiety in her face as she waited and knew that Geoff had drawn the same conclusion as she was currently doing. This woman was on a mission. Whatever she’d come to do or say, it was something she felt uneasy about.
Ottilie’s first thought was that she might have something to do with her husband Josh’s killer. It had happened before – Heath’s ex had come to Thimblebury pleading the man’s case and trying to get Ottilie to intervene in the court proceedings because he was her cousin, and had almost split her and Heath up in the process. This time, Heath seemed as confused as she was as he looked at the woman. It was obvious he didn’t know her. Perhaps it was something entirely unconnected, though, again, Ottilie couldn’t imagine what.
‘You’re not going out there?’ Heath asked as Ottilie began to head out of the door.
‘She’s asked to speak to me.’
‘I’m coming with you.’
Ottilie didn’t argue. But the girl looked warily at Heath before addressing Ottilie.
‘I’m sorry to disturb you. Are you having a party here or something?’
‘It’s all right. What can I do for you?’
‘It’s…awkward.’ The young woman glanced at Heath again. ‘Could we talk somewhere quiet?’
‘You can say what you need to say here,’ Heath cut in, but Ottilie silenced him with a pleading look. This woman was nervous and he wasn’t helping.
‘Heath…can you get me some food before it goes? I’ll be back inside in a tick.’
‘You’re not…’ He paused, seemed to realise that she wasn’t going to back down and that she was going to find out what this woman had come to say, and then gave a vague shrug. ‘Shout if you need me.’
‘I will. Thanks.’
As Heath went back inside, glancing around every couple of steps as if he couldn’t decide if he was doing the right thing or not, Ottilie turned back to the young woman. ‘There are some benches over by the trees if you’d rather talk there, away from the house.’
‘Thanks,’ the woman said, making her way as Ottilie followed. She took a seat, but Ottilie didn’t.
‘I’m sorry,’ the woman said again.
‘You haven’t done anything wrong.’
‘I didn’t realise you were having a party. Is it for something nice?’
‘Yes,’ Ottilie said.
‘For you? It’s your birthday or something?’
‘It’s for…well, it’s a celebration, but it’s not just my party. I don’t mean to be rude, but?—’
‘Sorry, of course…’
‘You don’t have to keep apologising.’ Deciding that she seemed harmless after all, and that hovering over her was probably making her more nervous, Ottilie took a seat next to her on the bench and offered a reassuring smile. ‘I’m sorry, but are we supposed to know each other? I hate to ask, and if I’ve met you somewhere and forgotten, I?—’
‘No, you don’t know me. I only found out about you a couple of days ago. I sort of stalked you online a bit. Sorry, I didn’t mean to be creepy or anything, but it seemed like the easiest way to get hold of you.’
‘You went to a lot of trouble then. So whatever it is you’ve come to say…well, I suppose you’d better say it.’
The girl gave a short nod, paused and then spoke again. ‘I think you’re my sister.’
Ottilie stared at her.
‘I’m sorry,’ the woman said again.
‘ I’m sorry,’ Ottilie replied. ‘I don’t know what to say. Are you sure?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh…’ Ottilie was dumbfounded. She stared into space, not a coherent reply in her head.
‘But if you want me to go,’ the girl added, ‘I will. I can see it’s a bad time.’
‘Not yet. How…sorry, but how do you know this?’
‘You took a DNA test, and you must have ticked the box to make it available to others who shared the same DNA.’
‘I had no idea I’d done that,’ Ottilie replied slowly. ‘Didn’t even know there was a box to tick. And you’re really sure?’
‘Yes.’
‘Oh…’
‘So your dad must be my dad too.’
‘No, I don’t think…’ Ottilie paused. ‘It can’t be…What’s his name?’
‘My dad? Conrad. Conrad Greening.’
Ottilie shook her head slowly, but an idea was forming, one she didn’t much care for. There were little things she’d noticed as a child. She’d never attached much importance to them, but somehow they’d bugged her. Like how little she resembled her dad. It meant nothing, of course, and people said she looked like her mum, but it had always bothered her that there seemed to be nothing of him in her when she looked at photos or stared into the mirror. She was hardly a carbon copy of her mother either. So where had that pointy little nose come from? Where had she picked up those freckles? Nursing had later taught her that traits could be seen from generations back, even when they hadn’t appeared in the intervening ones, and knowing that had put her adult mind at rest. But now she looked at this girl and she couldn’t deny that she saw some of her own features reflected there. As much as she didn’t want to believe it, she was beginning to see the truth – this other man, this Conrad…he was her biological father.
‘But my dad…It can’t be right.’
‘Here…’ The girl unlocked her phone and opened a page on the company website that showed their results and the link. Ottilie stared at it, hardly able to believe what she could see – but there was no mistake.
‘Is it just you?’ she asked in a daze. ‘I don’t have any other siblings I ought to know about?’
‘It’s just me.’
‘What’s your name?’
‘Fion.’
As if in a dream, Ottilie held out her hand. Later, she would realise what a strange reaction it was, but for now, she was so blindsided by the speed with which her world had changed that she couldn’t think of anything else to do. All that she was, the comfort that came from knowing where she’d come from, who her family were, had been destroyed in an instant, in half a dozen sentences uttered by a girl she’d never met. ‘Pleased to meet you, Fion.’
‘Are you?’
‘Well, it’s not every day you discover a sister you never knew about.’
‘Half, I suppose.’
‘Still half a sister more than I thought I had.’ Ottilie tried to smile for Fion’s sake because she looked as if she was already wishing she hadn’t come. She didn’t much feel like it, though, and she had to wonder if her shock was showing, despite trying so hard to keep it to herself. ‘Does your…Have you told your dad about me? Did he already know? Does he know you’re here?’
‘No. I was scared. Mum would have been devastated if she’d thought Dad had cheated on her.’ The girl studied Ottilie for a moment. ‘You’re too old, I think, for that to be the case because they only met thirty years ago. So at least I can tell Mum that’s true.’
Ottilie ignored what might have been an insult to some. ‘You’re planning to tell them?’
‘I don’t know. Do you want them to know about you?’
‘I…’ Ottilie glanced at the house.
‘You want to get back to the party?’
Ottilie glanced towards the house again. How could she saunter back in and carry on as if nothing had happened? And what was she meant to do with the girl who had come all this way to change her life? Ottilie didn’t have an answer for either of those questions. All she could do was what came instinctively to her – she could reach out and try to make friends. ‘Actually, I was going to ask if you wanted something to drink? Or food? We’ve got food if you’re hungry.’
‘In there?’ Fion looked at the house now. Heath was at the window watching them, but the minute he realised he’d been seen, he moved away.
‘I can bring something out to you.’
‘No, thanks. I’m all right.’
‘Where did you say you lived?’
‘Penrith. I came on the bus.’
‘Are you going back there tonight?’
‘There’s a late one, I think.’
‘Right.’
‘I’ll go. Sorry again.’
‘For what? For being my sister?’
‘For coming here and interrupting your party. I hope I haven’t ruined it.’
‘Well, you’ve certainly taken it in a completely unexpected direction. Listen, I do have to go back in. If you want to meet up again, I don’t mind if you contact me. I mean, I’d like to if you would.’
‘I would,’ Fion said, looking brighter now. ‘When?’
‘That’s up to you. Message me and we’ll work out a date.’
‘OK.’ Fion stood up.
‘You’ll be all right getting back to the bus?’
‘Yeah. Sorry again for—’ She stopped as Ottilie shook her head. ‘Sorry. I mean, I know: don’t keep apologising .’
‘Not when you have nothing to apologise for.’
‘Thank you.’
‘For what?’
‘For…’ Fion shrugged. ‘Talking to me, I guess.’ She stood for a moment, arms swinging awkwardly at her sides, and then she turned and walked towards the gates. Ottilie blew out a long breath as she watched her go. As she and Heath had made their engagement announcement, she’d been tipsy, but she was sober now. The minute Fion had disappeared from view behind the shrubs that bordered Magnus and Geoff’s garden, Heath was at her side, two glasses of wine in his hands. He offered one to her before taking a seat on the bench.
‘OK, what the hell was that about?’
She turned to him, the words seeming unreal as they came from her mouth. ‘Apparently, I have a sister.’