Chapter 3
‘Hey, how are you?’
Hearing Rob’s richly warm voice at the end of the telephone was always a highlight of her day. It made Tess smile and immediately took her out of her own head and into that hallowed place that existed only between the two of them.
‘Good,’ she said, elongating the word, imagining Rob smiling at the way her face lit up.
She folded the crochet project that she was working on, a small blanket in shades of pink and green, intended to drape over the back of the daybed in the annexe, into her tote bag, and put it to one side.
She tucked up her legs next to her on the sofa and nestled into the cushions, wanting to give her full attention to Rob, although Barney of course muscled in on the action and slipped into the space behind Tess’s curled-up legs, making himself comfy.
‘Excellent, and how’s Hannah doing?’ he asked interestedly.
‘A lot better. She’s throwing herself into work, which is a good thing, and we’re spending lots of time together, talking, eating, laughing, crying, making up for the lost time when she was away. It’s been good for both of us.’
Rob, on hearing about Hannah’s recent troubles, had been keeping a low profile, not turning up at Hollyhocks uninvited, not wanting to put too many demands on Tess or to intrude on their mother-daughter time, which he knew was so important right now.
‘Oh, guess who turned up here today in a brand-new Porsche?’
‘Not Charles?’
‘Yes, talk about his midlife crisis. I’m wondering what will come next. He’s struggling with how to handle this situation with Hannah.’ Tess went on to explain about her conversation with Charles, how he was looking to her for guidance and how he appeared like a lost soul at times.
‘You have the patience of a saint, Tess.’
She appreciated how Rob was so understanding, how he didn’t feel threatened by Charles’s continued presence in her life. Rob was always there with a kind and listening ear.
‘Mm, it’s so lovely to hear your voice,’ she sighed. ‘I miss you.’
‘Not as much as I’m missing you, though,’ he said, which was his standard response that always squeezed at her heart, and which she would conjure up in those moments when she noted his absence the most.
She was doing exactly that when she sat at the oak table for supper that night, along with Hannah.
Most evenings, they would sit on the sofa in the orangery, or in the snug, with a bowl on their laps to eat their dinners, but on other occasions, Tess liked to make an effort.
Tonight, she’d prepared a simple pasta dish of tagliatelle with garlic, pesto, and cherry tomatoes, accompanied by a liberal sprinkling of black pepper and Parmesan cheese.
She’d also prepared a green side salad and made some easy bread rolls, which, fresh from the oven, were filling the kitchen with an irresistible smell.
She’d laid the table with a cream linen tablecloth, placed a small glass vase of dahlias, picked from the garden, in the centre and lit a candle, creating a warm and welcoming ambience.
It was one of the many things Tess had missed when Hannah was away on her travels: the coming together at the end of the day over some good food and a glass of wine, to chat about their respective days.
She noticed it especially so once Charles had left and she was alone in the house without the routines that had given structure and purpose to her days.
The whole of this year had been about adapting to enforced changes: first waving Hannah off abroad for six months, the longest she’d ever been away from home, then Charles announcing he was leaving and Tess having to adapt to a new way of life on her own at Hollyhocks Cottage.
Through tears and regrets, Tess had made it her mission to face each day as best she could, simply going through the motions until she could actually see a way out of the fog that had descended over her world.
Just as she was beginning to adjust to being on her own, Hannah had arrived back from Australia, with her own problems, intending to stay.
Not that Tess minded in the slightest. She was at her happiest when she had her family around the dining table.
‘Your dad was round here today,’ Tess said, bringing herself back to the moment.
‘Oh, has he forgotten again that he doesn’t live here any more?’
‘I said pretty much the same thing.’ Tess gave a wry smile. ‘No, he thought you might be at home. He wanted to see how you were doing. If there was anything he could do to help. He does love you, you know.’
‘Huh,’ Hannah grunted, helping herself to a roll and pulling it apart between her fingers.
She reached for the butter dish and dipped the knife in, spreading it thickly over the bread, before taking a decisive bite.
‘Well, he has a funny way of showing it. I don’t want to have to schedule time to spend with my dad.
It isn’t natural. And it means I have to see Melody as well, which I have no desire to do,’ she said airily.
‘Besides, I know he doesn’t approve of my recent life choices.
Although to be fair, I don’t approve of his.
’ She gave a nonchalant shrug, and tore off another chunk of bread, chomping on it enthusiastically.
Tess received the message loud and clear. That particular topic of conversation was well and truly over.
‘How’s work?’ Tess asked, trying a different tack.
‘I’m loving it,’ she said, her face lighting up.
‘Gina is giving me the creative freedom to set up a social-media presence, which she’s not really had up until now.
Already, we’re seeing a positive response to the posts and reels, and it’s great that Gina trusts me to come up with the content.
It’s given me something to focus on and the best thing is that I can go into work and forget about everything else that has been going on. ’
‘That’s brilliant, but don’t feel you have to put a brave face on. You are allowed to be sad, you know.’
‘No, I’m not.’ She lifted her gaze from her bowl of pasta to look at her mum.
‘Honestly, I would never have wished for any of that stuff to happen, but it did and now, well, it’s like it happened to someone else.
The worst thing is dealing with everyone else’s pity, seeing that look in their eyes as though I might break down into tears at any moment.
Drives me mad. Honestly, I’m ready to move on. I wish everyone else was too.’
‘Give it time,’ said Tess with a kindly smile.
‘It will be old news very soon. And everyone will find something else to gossip about. I’m just glad you’re here and we get to spend this time together.
’ She reached across the table and squeezed her daughter’s hand tight.
Tess was aware of the days and weeks ticking by, how everything could change in an instant, so she took nothing for granted. She wouldn’t make that mistake again.
‘I guess.’ Hannah gave a wry smile. ‘It’s been a mad year, though, for both of us, hasn’t it? I worried about you so much while I was away when I discovered what Dad had done. I hated the idea of you being on your own.’
‘I would have thought the same thing too before it happened, but it’s funny how you quickly adjust to a new situation.
Not that I had any choice in the matter.
I just had to get on with it. That was the reason I tried to keep as much from you as possible.
I didn’t want you worrying about what was going on at home when you were supposed to be having the time of your life in Australia. ’
‘Well, I did have the time of my life, despite everything that happened here and over there. I met some amazing people and made memories that will last me a lifetime. All that other stuff, the not-so-good stuff, well, I’m not going to dwell on that.’
‘Exactly! It’s the only way,’ Tess said decisively, pleased that Hannah was adopting such a positive attitude.
They were both on the cusp of exciting new phases in their respective lives.
The past might have shaped them, but it didn’t have to define their future.
She lifted the bottle of white wine from the cooler and topped up their glasses, listening attentively as Hannah chatted away about her day and her plans for the weekend.
Just hearing her sing-song voice and seeing the smile on her face reassured Tess that everything would be okay.
Hannah was strong and determined and would overcome her recent setbacks.
After finishing their meal, Tess went to collect the fruit tart, serving up slices with a dollop of mascarpone on the side. Hannah dug in heartily, sucked on her lips and closed her eyes in an expression of delight.
‘Honestly, this is delicious but I dread to think what it’s doing to my waistline.
I should probably start going to the gym now that I’m not doing so much walking.
’ Hannah finished her last mouthful and put down her spoon.
‘Still I’m not complaining. I missed your amazing cooking when I was away – and being looked after, I suppose,’ she said with a sheepish grin.
‘And I missed not having someone to cook for. If I’m on my own, I might make do with a sandwich or a jacket potato so it’s nice to have a reason to cook a proper meal.
’ Although what surprised Tess was how she appreciated the spontaneity of her life these days, and whether she was catering for just herself, feeding the two of them, entertaining a group of her friends over a casual supper, or preparing a romantic dinner for Rob, she was relishing each moment, making the most of the opportunities as they presented themselves.
She certainly didn’t miss cooking for Charles night in, night out, realising what a rut they’d carved out for themselves.
Hannah stretched her arms high above her head.