Chapter 30
GENIE
Now
It’s Gray’s turn to get up early and despite another late night, I’m awake early again too.
Gray leaves me in bed to sleep but I hear him putting the coffee machine on.
I watch him from the bedroom window as he sits outside to watch the sunrise and I notice that he appears to be catching up on some work, as he has his work phone with him.
He promised me that he wouldn’t work on this holiday but who am I to lay down the rules, when I’ve been keeping a secret from him for our entire married life.
The sunrise looks beautiful and was clearly worth getting up early for. As Gray finishes off his coffee he dangles his feet in the cool water of the pool, enjoying the silence. I take a last look at him and return to bed, exhausted by another bad night and drift off to sleep.
I doze for about half an hour before I hear Cassie’s voice from outside. I walk downstairs and pour myself a coffee and listen surreptitiously in on their conversation.
‘Morning, Dad, you’re up early. Are you still suffering from jetlag?’ She stands in the doorway and unties the hair tie from her hair, letting her hair flow, a kink in it where the hair tie was.
‘Perhaps, but I just really think I’m learning to enjoy the silence that comes with early mornings.’ he replies, still staring at the beautiful sky.
‘How about I make you some breakfast for a change?’ Cassie suggests, joining her dad on the side of the pool. She’s got a genuine smile on her face, and she seems calm.
‘That would be amazing. Maybe a poached egg with some smashed avocado? Oh, and another coffee, please.’ He replies, holding out his cup.
‘I think I can just about manage that.’ Cassie laughs, taking the cup from his hand.
As Cassie leaves to fix breakfast for Gray, she notices me at the breakfast bar, nursing my coffee.
‘Morning Cassie.’ I start with a false brightness in my voice.
‘Morning.’ She replies coldly. ‘I’m making Dad breakfast. Do you want anything?’
‘I’ll stick to coffee I think, thanks.’ I reply nervously before adding. ‘If you want to talk, I’m more than happy to answer any more questions that you may have.’
‘We’ll talk later.’ She replies, conversation closed as she busies herself in the kitchen. I take my coffee and join Gray outside.
Later, Cassie arrives with Gray’s breakfast and coffee, and we all chat about the day ahead.
‘When was the last time you cooked for me? This breakfast is amazing. Your culinary skills are definitely improving.’ Gray remarks to Cassie as he takes his first mouthful.
‘Mum taught me how to cook the perfect poached egg. You have to remember to add the vinegar.’ she replies, as I think, well at least I’m good for some things.
‘Why don’t you see if Will’s awake? We’ve got our kayaking at eleven-thirty, and we need to get there about fifteen minutes early for a safety briefing.’ Gray remarks.
I’m pleasantly surprised when Cassie agrees without a huff, an eyeroll or any backchat.
Cassie returns with Will, and she even offers to make breakfast for him. Perhaps we’ve turned a corner?
Kayaking is a great success, with Gray and I in one kayak and the children in another.
Will almost tips them into the inky water, but thankfully they both manage to right themselves without too much squabbling.
We get into quite a rhythm with our paddles and manage to kayak around the lake quite easily without any mishaps.
Thankfully, the rest of the day is uneventful and come the evening Cassie and Will have retreated to their rooms and Gray and I are enjoying a final glass of wine outside.
‘What day is Maura flying out here?’ Gray asks me again. I’ve already told him, but he hasn’t remembered.
‘Saturday. She’s getting the lunchtime flight, so she’ll be here quite late. I said you’d pick her up from the airport. I hope that’s ok?’ I reply.
‘Of course. It will be good to see her.’ Gray says. ‘Just let me know her flight number, and I’ll track her flight.’ He swills the wine around in his glass. ‘I’ve been thinking about when we first met in that bar in Brighton that Maura used to manage.’
‘Oh yeah?’
‘How did you end up in Brighton?’
‘My friend at the church recommended it as quite a cool place to go to, that was easy enough to get to but far enough away from Bournemouth.’
‘Oh, yes, I remember you mentioning her to me. What was her name again?’ He asks casually.
‘Emma. Emma Hadfield. She was the only person in Bournemouth who ever showed me any kindness. She’d seen me at church and then we started talking because I took my exams at her school.
She knew what Mother and Auntie Maureen were like from seeing them at church.
She even gave me some of her savings, so I had a little bit of money behind me to get me away from Bournemouth. ’
‘Did you keep in touch?’ He probes further.
‘No. I felt it was better to reinvent myself, hence my name change to Genie. Milly was gone, and I had absolutely nothing to keep me in Bournemouth. Can you believe that Mother and Auntie Maureen had me volunteering at the church?’
He nods because he knows what my Mother is really like. Despite her being an amazing grandparent, she’s never cared as much about me, my beliefs or my wants.
‘It was torture.’ I continue. ‘Even after giving my baby away, they still had control over me, as I had no money and they were always with me, even at the church. It was incredible how I ever managed to get away, to be honest. I waited until Dad came to visit, as I wanted to see him one more time before I left and as per usual, he slipped me some money on the quiet. Once Dad returned to London, I pretended I was unwell so I didn’t have to do my shift at the church.
Mother ended up taking my shift and I then put a load of laxatives into Auntie Maureen’s cup of tea which I’d found in her bathroom cupboard.
She was in the bathroom when I left. Looking back, I should have made sure she wasn’t in the bath…
she could have drowned. But I didn’t care at the time.
I was so desperate.’ I finish the last of my wine and sit back, breathing in the night air.
‘I called Emma the morning that I left from a phone box. I didn’t call her again to let her know where I was staying, as I didn’t want to get her in trouble.
Her parents were also quite big in the church, and they would have been horrified to hear that she had helped me.
I could never have done it without Emma’s help.
I do wonder how life has treated her. I’ve been lucky with my choice of friends, but I do feel guilty that I lost touch with both Emma and my friend Ginny from school.
Thank goodness I still have Maura and you.
’ I say, leaning over and kissing Gray firmly on the lips.
Gray suggests another glass of wine, which I happily agree to, that last glass of wine has taken the edge off and I’m hopeful that things with Cassie will improve.