Chapter 42
Mum facetimed me late in the evening. I was in bed reading the final chapter in Olivia’s notebook. Mum had been drinking as she was swaying on a stool and her golden Christmas hat looked wonky.
‘What the hell has happened to Maddie?’ Mum said, shaking her head with disapproval. ‘I think she’s having a crisis or some sort of mental breakdown. Who in their right mind would cheat on Frank Baxter and get pregnant to some–’
‘You mean have a baby with someone who she truly loves?’
My mother scowled down the phone. ‘Don’t be so ridiculous, Rachel. I would have expected that sort of silly behaviour from you but not from Maddie. She was my perfect child.’
Something snapped inside of me. I’d spent years allowing Mum to talk to me in this way. It was time to cut myself free. ‘Mum, I’m leaving London next week and I am moving down here. I have also met someone.’
‘Oh, I see.’ She looked surprised. ‘I take it you have got a new job.’
‘I’m starting my new career. I am going to be setting up a new café.’
Mum let out a groan. ‘Rachel, we’ve talked about this.’
I cleared my throat and found my old voice. ‘Mum, I am tired of you talking to me like you have zero respect for me and thinking you have some say on the direction of my life. I am thirty-two years of age, and I am taking back control. Goodbye, Mum.’ I hung up and opened WhatsApp. On the family group chats I went into each one and did something I should have done a long time ago.
Rachel Reid has left the group.
I then video called Connor and Kate who I knew would still be awake at their respective Christmas gatherings. Connor was wearing the Christmas jumper his nana knitted him years ago, which she forced him to wear every year, even though it was now a few sizes too small. The one with the words – ‘I am Santa’s Little Helper’ emblazoned across the front.
Kate’s gold Christmas cracker hat was wonky, and she flashed us a tipsy smile.
‘Happy Christmas,’ we all chorused.
After Connor had told us about his family Christmas and Kate had showed us all the knitting related gifts her family had bought her, they listened to me tell them about everything that had happened here in Harp Brook.
‘Wow,’ exclaimed Connor, ‘you have been naughty in Harp Brook. Olivia would be proud of you.’
Kate rubbed her eyes with shock. ‘It was all fake then. Your sister and Frank?’
I nodded. ‘It was all an arrangement. I was gobsmacked.’
‘So, you’re leaving us?’ Connor asked, referring to my move to Harp Brook.
‘I am but we’re not far away at all.’
He grinned. ‘That’s the best news. You deserve some happiness.’
Kate nodded. ‘I agree. Are we invited down for New Year’s Eve?’
I smiled. ‘Of course. You can meet Ben.’
Connor raised his glass aloft. ‘Olivia, your matchmaking skills from heaven are amazing.’
Once we’d said our goodbyes and they promised to drive down on New Year’s Eve, I took swig of cold tea as I tapped out, ‘Hello’ onto an email to Dad. He always added his address to the bottom of his Christmas and birthday cards. I added, ‘Love Rachel’, and pressed send.
The next morning, Grandpa and I explained to Maddie the situation with Layla. We all were drinking tea at the table and talking about the drama of Christmas Day. I’d got up early and cleared up a lot of the mess.
My sister’s eyes grew wide in shock as I told her about everything Layla had been dealing with. ‘I didn’t know she was homeless. Frank never told me.’
‘Layla needs some security and I hate to see her living with such worry.’
Maddie gave me an approving nod. ‘Let me talk to her. I think she should stay here.’
‘Really?’
Maddie nodded. ‘She can be our housekeeper. I think I might need her when the baby arrives.’
I threw my arms around Maddie’s neck. ‘Thank you.’
We looked up as a worried Layla and a hobbling Derek entered the kitchen. ‘I’m not disturbing anything, am I?’ she said.
I led her and Derek to the table. ‘Maddie wants to talk to you. Don’t worry.’
Layla squealed with joy after Maddie explained about needing her to be a live-in housekeeper. ‘Oh God, this is the best Christmas present ever.’
I wiped away a tear of pride as Layla hugged Maddie. Derek beamed as he and Layla jumped up and down. ‘I won’t let you down, Maddie.’
‘I know, Layla. We can discuss pay later this evening.’
Grandpa stood up and gave Layla a hug. ‘You are one of the family now.’
I placed my hand on Layla’s shoulder. ‘This is the start of your new life.’
Layla pointed to me. ‘Maddie, your sister is an angel. She rescued me this Christmas.’
Grandpa nodded. ‘And me too, Maddie. Rachel has given me a fabulous Christmas and I admit at times I have been a little wild, but she’s proved to me that I still have a life to live.’ He cleared his throat. ‘I have an announcement to make.’
We all looked at him and I braced myself for something shocking. One thing I’d learnt from this holiday was that Grandpa was full of surprises and shocks.
‘I have decided that I am not happy living in my bungalow with Aunty Karen and Uncle Robert looking after me. Maddie has kindly agreed for me to move down here. I am going to live at Harp Brook and get to know my great grandchild.’
Layla cheered and hugged Grandpa. ‘Eric, that’s brilliant news.’
He nodded. ‘I am still engaged to Dorothy, but we are going to take things slowly.’
We all broke into a round of applause, and he did a little dance which made us all laugh. Maddie put her arm around him. ‘To have my baby with my family, friends and the man I truly love here in Harp Brook is the best Christmas present ever.’
Humphrey began to bark, and I stroked him. ‘Can we also give credit to Humphrey, the unsung hero. We have all wrongly assumed he’s naughty. He’s a little hero.’ We all clapped and cheered which made Humphrey race around the kitchen in a dog victory parade.
‘I bet you didn’t get a chance to finish Olivia’s notebook?’ Ben asked, while we took Humphrey for a walk in the snow. It had been a good opportunity to tell him about everything that had happened with Maddie, Grandpa’s decision, our new business venture and my conversation with Mum.
‘If you must know I did finish her notebook late last night.’
‘Well?’ He pulled us both to a stop.
I smiled. ‘She rented The Duck House years ago – didn’t she?’
Ben nodded. ‘When you told me about The Duck House, I wanted to tell you.’
‘I’m glad you let me find out for myself. Her last chapter was about finding somewhere to heal and grow.’ I recalled wiping away a tear in bed whilst reading Olivia’s account of how she had moved to The Duck House after Sophie had died. She described it as the perfect place to heal all wounds and learn to live again.
He took hold of my hand. ‘Are you excited about the future?’
I grinned. ‘I don’t think “excited” comes close to how I am feeling right now. Last night after Maddie told me about our business venture, I nearly wet myself with joy.’
Ben laughed. ‘Do you have a name for this new business?’
‘Harpers,’ I said. ‘Maddie wants us to use the west wing as she says it holds a lot of bad memories for her. I think we will start as a posh café and see what happens. We will also open the grounds to the public. This is like a dream come true for Maddie and me. We’re going to speak to Abi and Darren in the bakery to see whether they’d be interested in supplying the bread.’
‘I love the name,’ he said, draping his arm over my shoulder. ‘What about Layla and her housing situation?’
‘Maddie is letting her stay at the house until she can find somewhere. She’s going to be a live-in housekeeper.’
‘That’s great to hear. Layla deserves a break.’
‘She does and I am so happy for her and Zac. He will have a little playmate once Maddie and Josh’s little one arrives.’
Ben wrapped his arms around my waist. ‘When do you want me to come to London with my van and help you pack up your flat?’
I leaned into kiss him. ‘As soon as possible.’
‘What will be my payment?’ He arched his eyebrows suggestively.
‘An overnight stay in The Duck House with me,’ I said, before kissing him with such passion and vigour, we both nearly fell over in the snow.
‘Will you be my girlfriend?’ Ben asked, once we’d stopped laughing and regained our composure.
‘Yes, I would love to be your girlfriend.’
Holding hands like a pair of loved-up teenagers we made our way back to the manor house. As we trudged through the snow I looked up at the sky and silently thanked Olivia, my soul sister.
You did get my smile back, Olivia. He’s perfect. Have fun up there with Sophie. We will never forget you both.