Chapter 16 #2
With the time ticking, I didn’t have time to enquire further, and when I arrived at Prosperous Place, having dashed across the road on foot, because it was only then starting to rain again, I found Erik’s mood had changed somewhat, too.
Both the men in my life seemed suddenly out of sorts, though no one else seemed to notice because they were all so busy and my father and Erik were putting a brave face on things.
However, I could see their smiles were fixed and when they thought no one was looking, their facades dropped faster than the temperature outdoors and they looked strained.
I didn’t have time to talk to them because I was trying to remember names and faces and make sure Grandad George and Harold were comfortable in their seats at either end of the table.
Not that they were short of Nightingale Square neighbours willing to tend to their every whim.
Grandad George was ecstatic to be included and was entertaining the children with his party trick of producing coins from behind their ears. I’d forgotten he could do that.
‘How fabulous is this?’ Lisa said ecstatically as she looked around the kitchen. The room was huge, but it felt full with everyone in it. ‘John’s gone to do a recce, but I’ve told him he can’t cook pizzas in this.’
It was still possible to make out the sound of the whistling wind even above the noisy level of chatter, so I knew she was right.
‘Tell him it will give us an excuse for another gathering,’ I suggested.
‘That’s a brilliant idea,’ she agreed. ‘Now, can you remember who everyone is?’
I went around the room and named everyone.
‘Almost perfect,’ she praised. ‘You just muddled up Eli and Jacob. Eli is Beth’s partner and Jacob is Poppy’s.’
I’d only very briefly met Eli before, so that was allowed and saying hi to Jacob was a first hello, just like with John.
‘And Poppy mentioned her brother…’ I faltered.
‘Ryan. Sadly, he’s had to carry on working so he won’t make it now.’
‘One less name for me to muddle up,’ I joked and Lisa laughed.
‘Oh, here we go,’ she said. ‘Kate’s windmilling for everyone’s attention, so you’d better join her.’
I was a little nervous when I went to sit next to her, but I needn’t have been.
Kate commented on the beautiful table decorations which I’d had to scale down when I realised how much food there was going to be and she also thanked me for stepping in to plan the evening’s entertainment.
Everyone applauded, which made my face flush and then Luke stood up and said a few words about the significance of the equinox and how it was a time to celebrate the Grow-Well harvest – which John, who was back, toasted loudly – and also reflect on our personal experience of the year so far.
Given what I’d got planned for our first activity, this was the perfect moment to explain what was going to happen after we’d eaten, so before Luke finished talking, I stood up, and having spotted my move, he handed over to me.
‘I know you’re all dying to tuck in,’ I began and John cheered again, ‘so I’m not planning to hold us up.
I just wanted to say a couple of things.
Firstly, thank you so much for making my father and I so welcome in Nightingale Square and for extending an invitation to my grandfather this evening.
It’s so great that all three of us are here together and given what Luke has just said, I don’t think we could have moved at a more significant time.
I know I’m certainly contemplating the changes in my life, and I would imagine Rafe is, too. ’
Everyone called out something kind and welcoming and Rafe raised his glass to me and smiled. I still didn’t think he looked quite like himself, but I’d get to the bottom of what was bothering him after the party.
‘And secondly,’ I quickly continued, ‘I thought it would be the ideal time for us to perform a simple equinox ritual, and further prompted by Luke’s words just now, it feels like the perfect fit.
I haven’t done anything like it before, but while you eat, it would be helpful if you could consider something meaningful to you that you’re grateful for this year and something you feel ready to let go of, something you’ve outgrown or a habit you want to leave behind, for example. I’ll explain more later.’
I sat promptly back down and Luke stood up again.
‘I’m intrigued, Skylar.’
‘But hungry, too, I’m sure,’ I said and everyone laughed.
‘You’re right!’ he applauded. ‘So, let’s eat!’
There were sausage, squash and apple traybakes adapted to accommodate meat eaters and vegetarians alike, corn on the cob, swimming in salty butter, a hearty vegetable casserole with dumplings which had gone crispy on the top but were light as air underneath, dishes piled with green beans and spinach and tiny honey glazed carrots with some of their tops still attached.
And that was just what was within my reach.
Poppy had supplied the chutneys and pickles which were her speciality and Mark had added rustic, seed topped loaves and the promise of a choice of desserts.
As plates were filled, Kate and Luke made sure everyone had a drink and Beth and Rafe helped Grandad George and Harold to whatever they fancied.
The level of chatter slowly quietened, even where the youngsters were sitting.
I looked around the table and again thought how lucky my father and I were to be so included.
That said, Rafe still looked preoccupied and Erik’s expression put me more in mind of his former rather than latter self.
I hoped he might be focused on his gratitude and releasing his thoughts, but when he stood up and walked out, I could tell that wasn’t the case. I went to push back my chair, but Luke, who happened to be doing the rounds and filling glasses, put a hand on my shoulder.
‘Is it his knee?’ I asked. ‘He looked uncomfortable when he walked out.’
‘I think it is playing up,’ Luke shared. ‘He’s probably overdone it a bit this week.’ I hoped that wasn’t my fault. ‘And I know how frustrating he finds it not being able to just get on with things without a second thought.’
‘It must be so hard,’ I sighed, thinking how the physical aspect of his situation must also impact on everything he had to think about and adjust to.
‘And he might not say much,’ Luke carried on, confirming my thoughts, ‘but he’s still coming to terms with everything. His life has changed so much…’
His words trailed off as Erik came back in and, after a word with Finn who twisted around and patted him on the arm, he then took his place again and Luke moved away.
‘So,’ said Graham, who was sitting next to me, ‘how are you finding your first Grow-Well celebration, Skylar?’
‘I’m loving it,’ I told him. ‘It’s the epitome of what my father was hoping to find when he moved here.’
‘And you?’
‘To be honest,’ I said, ‘I didn’t really know what to hope for and if you’d told me I’d adapt so quickly to going from living in relative isolation to being surrounded by people all the time, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.’
I might once have been surprised to hear myself speak so frankly, but there was something about these people that inspired openness.
‘But Carole told me you were an event planner,’ Graham frowned. ‘Surely you were surrounded by folk all the time doing that.’
‘Only for the events themselves,’ I pointed out. ‘The hall was pretty remote and there were only a couple of other full-time staff on-site.’
‘That is a big difference to living here then,’ he acknow-ledged. ‘And you know, you aren’t the only person sitting at this table who’s arrived in the square during so much change in their lives. You’re in the right place, my love.’
Given what I knew of Freya’s past and Erik’s too, I believed that.
Once everyone’s plates had been emptied and, in some cases, emptied again, Kate suggested that half of us should switch places to ensure we got a chance to talk to everyone, which was a brilliant idea.
Another good idea was saving the desserts for later as we were all so stuffed!
The youngsters however were served theirs and allowed to eat in the playroom if they wanted to while everyone else turned to me in anticipation of the ritual.
‘So,’ I said, feeling pleased to have heard a couple of people talking together about their year, ‘I’m going to give you each two slips of paper.
On one you write something you’re grateful for that has real meaning, and on the other, you add the thing, or things, that you’re ready to shed and release.
That should be something that you want to make a commitment to freeing yourself from. ’