Ashleigh Perera and Remy Hughes 2028 Aged 66
Ashleigh Perera and Remy Hughes
Remy
Remy put the phone down.
‘What did he have to say, love?’ Midge ran his hand up and down her back. She took comfort from both the contact and the warmth.
‘He said they’re going to keep going with the chemo, but that he’s very weak. Didn’t sound good.’
‘Poor Raul.’ He and Midge had formed a close friendship over the years, a remote friendship, of course, but one that was important to her and Tony, in the way that it was when your other halves were mates. It made everything a little easier.
‘Poor Tony.’ Her heart ached for him. She was beyond worried.
‘Yes, my love, I know.’
‘I wish I could see him, Midge, wish I could just sit by his bed and talk rubbish, make him laugh, get him some soup. I don’t know, something!
’ It was a dire feeling, to know her best friend was ill, ailing, and that she was unable to help.
Very much as it had been post their attack all those years ago, when he had taken to his room and she had been kept at arm’s length.
‘He’s a private man in that respect. Don’t think he wants people seeing him so unwell.’
‘I know. And I’m glad Mrs Newman lives out there now, and his brother Greg, of course, I just’ – she hardly dared say it – ‘I just want to see him again, one more time.’ It was the first time she had acknowledged just how poorly her friend was.
‘You can go – of course you can! I can book you a ticket, come with you if you like?’
She squeezed his hand, her sweet man, always trying to make things better, to find a way.
‘It’s expensive. Not like nipping up the motorway, is it? And it’s too far, my love. Plus, you’re right. I don’t think he’d like me turning up to gawp at him.’
‘He knows you love him.’
These were the words that caused her distress to flare.
‘Maybe if the timing was different, but I don’t want to be far away when Ulla has the baby.
She’s due in a couple of weeks. And we’ve already said we’ll go and stay to take the twins to school and pick them up.
Don’t forget, when she had Clemmie and Topsy, her mum was close by to help out.
Ulla will feel the loss of her even more. ’
‘Flippin’ ’eck, Ren! Feels like they’re dropping like flies!’ His face crumpled as if instantly aware of the insensitivity of his remark. ‘I didn’t mean—’
‘I know, love. It’s fine. It was a shock when Ulla’s mum died so suddenly.’ Unpalatable as it was, she couldn’t decide if it was better or worse for Tony having had months to get used to the idea. Midge was right: poor Raul . . .
‘Are they still going to call the new baby Nettle?’ Midge pulled a face, deftly changing the subject.
‘Yes.’ She smiled at her beloved. ‘And it’s not our place to say what we think!’
‘What happened to all the old-fashioned names like Sarah, Olivia and Charlotte!’
‘Time, my love. That’s what happened, time passed, and they became just that, old-fashioned, but no doubt they’ll come back around. Names seem to go in phases, don’t they?’
‘I guess.’ He stretched his arms over his head. She knew that since he’d retired he felt the pull in his muscles, punishment for all those years spent running with a heavy backpack and latterly the hours spent hunched over an engine. ‘But I don’t remember Nettle ever being in fashion.’
‘We will love little Nettle! And once we see her face, won’t be able to imagine her being called anything else.
’ This she knew to be true, exactly as it had been with Bertie’s twins, who were nearly eight and doing so well at school.
Well enough to pass the scholarship for one of the fancy schools in the area . . . This she kept to herself.
‘What time are we off to your mum’s?’ He glanced at the kitchen clock.
‘Ashleigh said they were arriving about midday, so we’ll give them some time to get settled and head over.’
‘Can’t imagine Evie with a little one. I still think she’s a baby herself.’
‘Same age as Bertie,’ she reminded him.
‘Yep. And remind me’ – his memory, especially where names were concerned, was a little hazy – ‘what’s their baby called?’
‘Levi.’
‘As in the jeans?’
‘Yes, but please don’t say that to Kat and Evie!’ She smiled for the first time that day at her super-klutz darling.
‘And Elio is bringing his girlfriend. Must be serious; don’t remember him introducing us to anyone before, much less bringing them to Ruthie’s with some of the family present.’
‘Her name is Pia, and Sophie said he’s keen as mustard. They study together and apparently it’s love. But they’re only seventeen. The heart is fickle at that age. I expect they’ll go off to uni and meet other people.’
‘Well, I won’t bother learning the name Pia then!’ he teased her. It was a nice distraction from the sadness that underlined her every thought, worrying about Tony.
Ashleigh
‘Oh! Will you look at him.’ Ruthie placed her hand on her chest and shook her head. ‘He’s the image of your dad, don’t you think?’
‘Erm . . .’ Ashleigh gazed at the face of her grandson in her arms and felt the quickening of her pulse and the melting of her heart, the falling away of all negativity and worry at the sight and scent of this beautiful baby.
Surely the most beautiful baby ever to have existed!
He was perfect, absolutely perfect. ‘I guess he does a bit.’ She winked at Kat and Evie, who sat side by side on the sofa.
No one had the heart to explain that it was Kat’s egg, fertilised by their trusted friend, that had made Levi, and therefore Dennis Brett’s DNA was not directly involved.
‘Is he good, a little sleeper?’ her mum asked, the visit already putting a sparkle in her eyes and her posture the best Ashleigh had seen in a long while.
‘Well, he’s yet to figure out which is day and night, but luckily Evie is great at night feeds, so . . .’ Kat beamed at her wife.
‘Well, he’s a lucky little boy to be so loved.’ Ruthie spoke in earnest and it warmed Ashleigh to hear such approval from his great-grandma.
Levi made the smallest sound and emitted a light snuffle.
She raised him to her shoulder and stood, holding him against her with his head resting in her palm, safe against her chest.
‘No need to worry, my boy. Your nana’s got you. I’m right here. Go back to sleep, little Levi. Your great-granny is right, you are so very loved.’
She looked over his head to Evie, who stared at her with an expression of love.
It would have been hard for her to explain just how connected she felt to the little one, understanding the first time she saw him the swell of unconditional love that so many people had spoken of.
It was also the most terrible confirmation that she had not felt this before, not with such immersion.
Something she would never, ever admit or discuss.
How could she? It wasn’t that she didn’t adore her daughter, she did, but rather it was a love that had grown over the years, as they survived the ups and downs of divorce, and had got to know each other.
It was easy for her to see now that when she was trying so hard to figure out life, dogged by so much self-doubt, it had felt almost impossible to love herself, let alone love Evie.
The only person she had truly thought she loved was Archie.
More than loved, worshipped, as if he knew the secrets of life and, if she was good enough, he might just reveal them to her one by one.
The love that had come to her in recent years had taught her that true happiness lay in equity and respect. Right on cue, she heard his voice in the hallway.
‘Couldn’t find Cheddar, so I got Wensleydale instead. Hope that’s okay?’
‘Lovely, Victor, thank you. How much do I owe you?’ Ruthie reached for her handbag, always within reach, where her purse nestled.
‘No, no, that’s fine, Ruthie. My gift to you.’
Ashleigh shared a lingering look with her husband, the kind of look that spoke of a deep love and affection. The kind of love and affection that meant they were both in it for the long haul, come what may.
‘Can I hold him?’ Victor walked forward.
‘No, Grandpa!’ Ashleigh teased him. ‘You have to wait your turn.’
‘I think I’ll have a long wait, eh, Evie?’ He smiled.
‘We literally haven’t had a look in since we got here,’ she laughed.
‘Don’t moan.’ Kat jabbed her, playfully. ‘I’m enjoying the rest!’
‘How’s your dad doing?’ Victor took the empty chair and asked in earnest.
‘Oh.’ Evie swallowed. ‘Okay, I guess, but it’s certainly scared him.’
‘Heart attacks will do that,’ Ruthie piped up with almost comic precision.
‘Leni’s running around doing everything, and he’s grumpy because she’s now in charge of his diet – no wine, no croissants! He eats them every day, always has, loaded up with butter and jam, and does very little exercise. Can’t be good.’
All those croissants, no good for him! Who knew? It was a churlish thought. Ashleigh of course took no joy from the fact that Archie had been sick, hated that it had caused Evie an ounce of worry.
‘Hello?’
Midge’s voice came from the front door. He walked in, followed by Remy, who looked a little older, a little frailer than when she had last seen her. Ashleigh hoped she was okay, making a note to remind her of the importance of her annual check-ups.
‘Hello, Nana.’ Remy stood close and peered at the face of her sister’s beloved grandson.
‘Is he the most beautiful baby you have ever seen?’ To show him off to her sister was a wonderful, wonderful feeling!
Remy laughed and smiled at Kat and Evie. ‘I think he might be. Can I have a hold?’
Her sister rubbed her hands together.
‘Nope.’ She took a step away, and inhaled the scent of her grandson. ‘You’ll have to wait your turn.’
‘Hi, everyone!’ Ashleigh turned to see Elio walking in hand in hand with a pretty girl who looked a little shy. ‘This is Pia!’