Chapter 21
That evening, having avoided those unsettling paintings, listened to Luke on the radio and handed the fictional headset over to Kate with details of which smoke machine to order, I sat down with my father for a proper catch up.
He didn’t materialise from his writing room until almost seven, but when he did there was a delicious Spanish tapas platter waiting for him along with a glass of his favourite wine.
‘What’s all this?’ he asked, when he walked in yawning and stretching.
‘Well,’ I said, ‘neither of us had a holiday this year, so—’
‘You haven’t had a holiday in many years,’ he countered.
‘So,’ I continued, glossing over his comment, even though he was right, ‘I thought I’d treat us to a taste of Spain and some father–daughter time.’
‘I’m all for that,’ he smiled. ‘What’s to drink?’
‘Your favourite wine,’ I said and handed him a glass before picking up my own. ‘But before we toast, I’d like to apologise.’
‘Me too,’ he sighed. ‘And can I go first, because you’ll probably find that you don’t need to when you hear what I’ve got to say.’
‘Age before beauty,’ I teased and he pretended to scowl.
‘That’s hardly fair,’ he said, ‘when I have both.’
We sat at the table with the delicious food between us.
‘In that case,’ I said, helping myself to a glossy olive, ‘you had better go first.’
‘I want to say sorry for an assumption I made,’ he said sincerely, ‘and which I would have made you aware of this morning had you not taken the wind out of my sails by telling me about your experience at that arts centre. I had no idea you aspired to act, Skylar.’
‘It wasn’t my life’s dream or anything,’ I told him. ‘Just something I wanted to have a go at, and school wasn’t the right environment to stick my head above the parapet.’
‘School isn’t the right place for a lot of things,’ he said and then continued with his apology.
‘However, your explanation made me realise that I’d got the wrong end of the stick.
I had assumed that you’d been working so hard on the fundraiser because you’d slipped back into event planner mode.
I was worried you were putting in so many hours because that was what you had done in the past. However, your experience of trying out acting somewhere supportive and having to leave it added a different dimension to what you’ve been doing, and I know I was wrong. ’
‘Not entirely,’ I felt duty bound to admit.
‘But you want to ensure the event is a success and makes a packet for The Chapel because of your memories, don’t you?’
‘For the most part,’ I confirmed. ‘But you were also right in that I had fallen back into working the way I always have in order to give it the strongest chance.’
‘Oh.’
‘I’d taken almost all of it on,’ I said, baring my soul, ‘and delegated only the tiniest amount. And even that was a struggle because I’d never shared the load before.
The thing is, if you’re an event planner, you’re an event planner, the buck stops with you and you are, or at least I always have been, responsible for absolutely everything, right down to the tiniest details that no one else will have thought of. ’
‘I see.’
‘But I’ve had a proper think about it now,’ I said, ‘and remembered that’s not what Kate and Luke asked of me when they first mentioned the idea.’
‘What did they want you to do?’
‘They did ask for my help, assuming I thought it was feasible to set up in the limited time, but they weren’t expecting me to micromanage the entire thing.’
‘I don’t think that’s what you’ve done—’
‘Well, not far off,’ I interrupted. ‘But I’ve taken a step back today and I’m just going to be a general volunteer now, mucking in with everyone else. I’ve handed over my clipboard to Kate.’
Rafe heartily approved of that and clinked his glass against mine as we filled our plates with the tapas and began to eat. I could feel one of the cats weaving their way around my legs, doubtless enticed by the smell of the chorizo.
‘I’m proud of you, Skylar,’ Rafe smiled, his expression happy again. ‘And relieved you were able to take a step back and work it out. Perhaps it was a timely lesson? An opportunity to have a think about what you won’t want to do when you look for another job.’
It was the first time he’d mentioned me returning to work since the muddle over the job offer from Mr Fuller.
‘I think you’re right,’ I agreed. ‘I already know I won’t want to live on-site again because it’s too easy to never stop working. Ideally I’d love to find something local to here, but that might mean going freelance, which could end up being even more full on.’
Even the thought of travelling between venues and constantly working with different caterers, venue owners etc made my heart race.
Was that really what I wanted? If I didn’t want to move to somewhere with a need for a full-time event organiser, then it might be the only alternative.
It would be another huge change, but perhaps one I’d get used to…
‘Well, there’s no rush to think about it yet, is there?’ Rafe reminded me. ‘Just add this lesson to your thoughts and let it settle there.’
‘Um.’
‘You look stressed now.’
‘Sorry.’
‘Don’t be sorry,’ he insisted. ‘Just know you’ve got as long as you need before finding something that’s going to work for you. I know you loved working at Highfell, but you can also see now how intense it was. It’s time you put yourself first.’
I knew I’d always resisted doing that in the past because it was exactly what Mum had always done and with negative consequences that impacted on both me and those who had got close to her.
Subsequently, even just the thought of putting myself first felt selfish, so putting it into action was going to require a total change in mindset.
‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Rafe said astutely.
‘Do you?’ I asked with a smile, because I knew he did.
‘Of course. Have you heard from her?’
‘Nope. She’s someone else who’s reverted to type.’
‘I don’t honestly think she has it in her to change.’
‘Isn’t that the truth?’ I agreed. ‘And while we are truth telling, it wouldn’t be right for me to let you believe that it was a blinding moment of independent enlightenment on my part that made me realise what I’ve been doing, because it wasn’t.’
‘Oh. How did you work it out then? Did someone give you a helping hand?’
‘Erik did,’ I confessed. ‘He explained this afternoon that he had recognised in me something that he’d done himself in the past, i.e., fallen back into old habits because they’re the ones he was used to and felt comfortable with.’
‘Good old, Erik,’ Rafe nodded. ‘It sounds like he’s done some thinking and I daresay he knows how to put himself first as a result.’
‘I’m sure he does,’ I agreed. ‘Not that he’s self-centred. Far from it.’
‘Um,’ Rafe frowned. ‘If that’s what you think putting yourself first truly means, then perhaps we need to have a conversation about putting your own oxygen mask on first.’
‘No, we don’t,’ I said. ‘I know what it means, I’ve just had my opinion about it skewed by Mum.’
‘In that case, perhaps I’ll ask Erik to give you a pep talk,’ Rafe suggested. ‘Apparently, you’ll listen to him.’
I wasn’t sure I liked the turn the conversation was taking and I liked even less the rosy colour I could feel blooming in my cheeks.
‘I’ve forgotten the dip,’ I said, and stood up. ‘It’s still in the fridge. Do you want some? I do.’
‘Go on then,’ my father said, sounding amused.
I hoped he hadn’t guessed that my feelings for Erik were more than they should be.
Especially now I was determined to pack them away and become the friend Erik wanted me to be.
I knew Luke and Finn were part of his inner circle, but it was us two who had most recently arrived and were going through some big life stuff.
That gave us a solidarity of sorts, and given his perfect earlier summing up of what I’d fallen foul of doing, I could do a lot worse than make the most of his observations and the wisdom he’d accumulated as a result of doing something like what I’d arrived in Nightingale Square to do.
‘So,’ I said, when I sat back down with the dip, ‘what are your plans for the rest of tonight? More writing?’
‘No, not this evening,’ Rafe said as he swiped a chunk of bread through the rich tomato and smoky paprika dip. ‘I’m meeting Hugh in the city.’
‘Hugh,’ I smiled. ‘It’s getting serious if you’re happy to tell me his name.’
‘That’s enough of that,’ Rafe tutted, but with a smile. ‘If I’m not going to tease you about Erik, then you can let a name drop pass, can’t you?’
‘Yep,’ I said quickly before I blushed again. ‘I won’t say another word.’
Having checked in with Kate that all was well at Prosperous Place on Thursday morning I then walked to Cavell Care to catch up with Mabel and also Grandad George.
Both were delighted to see me and Mabel had made a new friend, Bill.
He’d only arrived at the beginning of the week but was feeling a bit out on a limb, so Mabel was making it her mission to gently help him settle in.
‘I thought I’d show Bill around the garden while the sun’s shining,’ Mabel said, after she’d introduced me to Bill. ‘Do you mind, Skylar? I know this is our usual time to chat.’
‘Not at all,’ I smiled. ‘Make the most of the sunshine and we’ll catch up another day.’
I was thrilled that Mabel felt settled enough to make someone else feel at home and then, having watched the pair through the window, I chatted to everyone in the day room and helped Beth set up a crafting session. I also filled her in on how things were shaping up for Halloween.
‘That all sounds perfect,’ Grandad George said, listening in. ‘I thought Freddie was exaggerating when he told me the scale of the thing, but apparently not.’
‘Honestly, dear boy,’ Freddie, who was sitting next to him, said haughtily, ‘when have you ever known me to exaggerate?’
Beth rolled her eyes and left us to it.
‘How long have you got?’ Grandad George fired at Freddie.
I stepped in before the spat escalated.
‘I was talking to Rafe last night,’ I said, ‘before he went off to meet this guy he’s seeing. Do you happen to know what he’s called?’
‘I might,’ Grandad George shrugged.
‘Of course, he does,’ Freddie butted in. ‘Your grandfather set them up.’
‘He did what?’ I gasped, looking between the two men.
‘Freddie Fanshawe!’ Grandad George admonished. ‘Secretly set them up,’ he scowled. ‘The emphasis being on the word secretly, you blasted fool.’
So much for me acting as a peacekeeper. Freddie had just shot himself in the foot.
‘Oh yes,’ Freddie said, looking chastened for once. ‘I forgot that part. You won’t let on will you, Skylar?’
‘I will not,’ I said. ‘I’m keeping out of it, even though I’m dying to know how you managed it.’
‘You might as well tell her,’ encouraged Freddie. ‘Now I’ve let the cat out of the bag, there’s not much point in carrying on with the cloak and dagger, is there?’
‘But Rafe doesn’t know, does he?’ Grandad George pointed out.
‘Well, I won’t tell him,’ I promised again. ‘But given that he seems so happy, I’m sure he wouldn’t be upset even if he did find out.’
It turned out that Hugh’s mother, Ottilie, was also a Cavell Care resident. She lived in one of the on-site assisted living apartments but often came along to Beth’s activities.
‘One day she had her son with her,’ Grandad George smiled, ‘and I just knew. Handsome, the right age, a lit lecturer at the university and single. He was perfect for Rafe.’
‘So, your grandfather and Ottilie made arrangements for Hugh and Rafe to be here at the same time and bump into each other,’ Freddie chimed in, putting air quotes around the last four words.
‘And it worked like a charm,’ Grandad George said proudly. ‘Love at first sight, I reckon.’
‘So, is that what you were up to the day you wouldn’t say what you’d been doing?’ I laughed. ‘Were you scheming?’
‘I might have been,’ Grandad George said with pride.
‘My goodness,’ I sighed. ‘How romantic. Is Hugh a bit of a silver fox by any chance?’
‘Hugh is a lot of a silver fox,’ Freddie winked.
‘In that case,’ I shared, ‘I think I’ve seen him. He and Rafe were walking together one day and I spotted them. I didn’t call out because I didn’t want to engineer an introduction neither of them were ready to make. He looked very handsome.’
‘Fingers crossed for a happy ever after,’ Grandad George twinkled and Freddie agreed.
‘Fancy falling in love within weeks of arriving in Nightingale Square,’ I said rather dreamily.
‘Don’t you worry, my dear,’ Freddie said consolingly. ‘There’s plenty of time for you to fall in love, too.’
I snapped out of my daydream faster than my heart had started to race.
‘But there’s not much time to get Prosperous Place ready for Halloween,’ I said quickly, ‘so I’d better get going. I’ll see you Monday, Freddie if not before.’
‘I’ll be there,’ he called after me. ‘I’ve been spending hours on the piano brushing up on “The Phantom of the Opera”. I thought I might kick things off with that!’
‘Perfect!’ I called back and gave him a thumbs up.
The following week was going to be interesting.