Chapter Two
As the car tore through the miles, the sisters chatted about how everyone was doing. The family seemed to be on an even keel, although Clem and Nick both agreed that Paddy looked under the weather. The conversation moved on to their respective businesses and Clem mentioned a type of muslin that she had been researching that was no longer made. As she explained the handmade process, Nick nodded along. This was Clem’s passion, not hers, but she didn’t want to sound totally bored.
‘That’s incredible, sounds hugely labour intensive – no wonder they stopped making it. The costs must be prohibitive?’
Clem’s knuckles tightened on the steering wheel.
‘I wasn’t suggesting we do it. Don’t worry, the coffers are safe.’
Nick stared ahead into the dusk. If Clem wasn’t driving, she thought she might have slapped her. Instead, she counted to ten.
‘Is this your idea of an apology?’
‘What!’
‘Doubling down and continuing to denigrate me about the finances?’
‘Well, I was just trying to talk to you about something I was interested in.’
‘And I was just trying to join in with the conversation. I know bugger all about fabrics and fashion, but I do understand business and finance, so I was trying to contribute.’
‘I thought you were trying to stop me.’
‘You thought?’ Nick rolled her eyes. ‘Did you think for longer than one knee-jerk second?’
‘Oh, crap.’ Clem flicked on the indicator and pulled over into a layby and burst into tears, apologising as she did so. Through the tears, the sorry s and the hugs, Clem explained how terrified she was that her new collection was boring or derivative or too ambitious or dull. Plus, she had an idea for a new venture, and she was getting overwhelmed. Nick had seen Clem like this before.
‘You know what this is, Clem. It means you have something major on your hands. It’s always “go big” or “go home” with you, and you never go home. Come on. I’ll drive and you tell me what you have in mind.’
The girls swapped seats, and Clem began to tell Nick about her new idea. Whilst she talked, Nick’s mind started to run, thinking about ways in which the scheme could be funded.
‘I think we can support this. It sounds excellent.’
Clem looked at her in surprise and then let out a deep sigh. ‘It probably won’t make any money.’ The admission was wrung out of her.
Nick looked across at her and smiled. ‘No, I shouldn’t think so. It doesn’t sound at all like a profit-making venture, but this potentially has a huge community impact. Besides which, art for its own sake is important.’
‘Do you really believe that? ’
Nick let out a deep sigh. She loved Clem so much, but she was hugely self-centred when she was tired.
‘Oh, Clem, how could I not? You really do say the most hurtful things at times. I sometimes think you must view me as the most awful greedy person in the world. And don’t hug me,’ she laughed, ‘I’m trying to drive. Look, I meant what I said back at Hiverton. I have always been so jealous and in awe of your talent.’ Nick added in a tired voice, ‘What do I do?’
‘You make money! You are the ultimate Rapunzel. I haven’t a clue how to do that. All I know is how to spend and consume and—’
‘Create. You create and it’s wonderful stuff. So just understand that, and stop punching down on us lesser mortals. It hurts.’
As the journey continued, they talked at length about their childhood and their parents and their feelings, until the car pulled into Norwich train station.
‘We haven’t talked like this for a good few years,’ said Nick.
‘I don’t think we’ve ever talked like this. And I’m sorry for it. I’ve been a total arse this weekend.’
Both girls climbed out of the car and Nick picked up her overnight bag and laptop case from the back seat.
‘Yes, you have, but I still love you.’
‘I love you, too. Now go get your train before we embarrass ourselves further.’
With a big hug, they said goodbye and then Nick turned and walked into the station.
** *
By the time Nick got home, she felt rested after the noise and chaos of a family weekend. She felt buoyed from being with them all, but now the silence was like a cool duvet on a hot night. Her new apartment had been found for her by her assistant, Daisy Halls. Daisy had great contacts within the property world and when she heard her boss was looking for accommodation closer to Canary Wharf, she put her feelers out. The modern serviced flat in the heart of Canary Wharf was far more than Nick had anticipated, but Daisy explained that they had had a problem letting it due to a fatal incident; now the rent was dirt cheap. Having investigated the fatality and discovered it had nothing to do with the apartment itself and everything to do with too many pills and powders, Nick said yes.
Now she closed the door behind her and placed her laptop in charge at the table so it would be ready for the early meeting. Even with an early start, it was too soon to go to bed, so she got changed and left the silence of her flat, heading back into the bustle of a London evening. After all the noise of her family, she wasn’t quite ready for the peace of her apartment. With the sounds of their singing and laughing still carolling around her head, she ran along the lanes and across the parks as she relived the weekend. It had been really good fun. The rows and the vomiting were just the price of a large family. It had always been the case.
Eventually, she tired herself out and made her way back to the apartment. She threw the running kit into the washing machine with her weekend clothes and placed her trainers by the front door. She showered, followed by a light supper, and then laid out fresh running clothes for the following morning. Having set her alarm, she headed off for bed and lay there. Half an hour later, she was still wide awake and thinking about her running kit. Annoyed with herself and her sisters’ teasing, she threw back the duvet and grabbed the kit that had been draped over the back of an armchair and shoved it back in the drawer. Satisfied, she went back to bed. Half an hour later, she got up again and replaced the outfit on the armchair.
Who cared what her sisters said? This worked for her. Finally, with a smile, she fell asleep.