Chapter Eleven
David’s grand, Italianate-style villa, with its black filigree veranda and balconies, towering windows and extensive grounds, was in the high parishes of Guernsey.
Secluded and stylish, it was a triumph of architectural and interior design, mostly overseen by his extrovert and talented younger daughter, Anna.
On Friday afternoon, as Cristy drove herself and both her children in through the electric gates, closely followed by Connor, Jodi and Aurora in their own rental car, the estate – named Papillon by David’s eldest daughter, Rosie – was a still and beautiful midwinter landscape.
The frosted trees, evergreen and leafless, glistened in the early burn of sunset, while the fields each side of the meandering drive flowed and dipped like a wonderland out to the distant boundaries.
Cristy had grown to love the place almost as much as its owner, who, having released the gates for their entry, was now coming out of the front door to greet them as they reached the house.
He looked so Lord of the Manor-ish in his cream chunky-knit polo neck and dark green cords that Cristy almost laughed.
Seeming to reflect her humour – maybe it was simply pleasure on both their parts to see one another – he pulled open her car door, and as she stepped out into the cold, she found herself wishing they could have a few moments alone before the craziness began.
Already too late. Rosie was barging past him, whooping with delight as she yelled everyone’s names in excitement, and watching her, as she flung her arms around Hayley and Aiden, Cristy felt her heart swelling with emotion.
‘We’ve made biscuits and cakes and hot chocolate and all sorts of things for the party,’ Rosie gushed, her adorable round face gazing eagerly up at Hayley, more than ten years her junior, but one of her ‘favourite heroines’.
‘I wanted you to sleep in my room, but Dad says I snore, so you and Aiden can be in one of the cottages with your dad when he comes. And I don’t snore,’ she informed her father, treating him to her most ominous scowl.
‘Aiden, Laurent said to tell you that he’ll be back soon and if you’re up for some Xbox, he is too.
’ Thirteen-year-old Laurent, David’s youngest child and Rosie and Anna’s half-brother, lived right here on the island with his father, grandmother and half-sisters, while his mother preferred to stay in Paris.
‘Sick.’ Aiden grinned, and giving Rosie a giant hug, he said, ‘You’re so cool, I think I might have to start dating you.’
‘Oh yes!’ she exclaimed excitedly. Rosie was big-time into dating. ‘I’d like that. And then we can dance together tomorrow night. I’ve got a lovely new dress for the party that Grandma helped me to choose.’
‘She so did not,’ Anna protested, coming out to join them.
‘It was me who took you shopping and me who paid for it.’ Anna, at twenty-seven, was almost as chaotic in nature as her sister and so incredibly like her dead mother, with her exquisite heart-shaped face and mass of dark curls, that Cristy felt sure David must think of Lexie every time he looked at his middle child.
Hayley, very like her own mother with her natural blonde waves and shining blue eyes, went straight into Anna’s embrace, while Cristy moved into the circle of David’s arm and watched as Connor, Jodi and Aurora were treated to their own Rosie-welcome.
‘You’re staying in one of the cottages,’ she informed them, ‘but Grandma wants everyone to come inside first so she can see the baby … Can I hold her, please?’
Stepping in before Rosie could make a grab, Anna said, ‘She’s sleeping, but I’m sure Jodi will be happy for you to hold her when she wakes up.’
‘Any chance we can go inside now?’ Cristy asked. ‘It’s freezing out here.’
‘Dad lit all the fires,’ Rosie announced as they started for the door.
‘The kitchen, the sitting room, the orangery … Oh no, not the orangery – we don’t have one in there.
That’s where the main party is going to be.
We’ve already installed an amazing bar where you can get anything you want to drink …
I’m going to have champagne, or I might have some of my special cider …
Dad’s really excited; he’s even got a jazz band coming and a magician and …
somebody else … I can’t remember who … Oh, and we’ve got a really big surprise for you—’
‘OK, enough,’ David cut in, pulling her into a gentle headlock and pretending to zip her mouth.
‘It’s a secret,’ Rosie said, ‘and everyone says I’m not very good at keeping them, but I am.
We’re going to have dancing in here,’ she declared, waving her arms to indicate the spacious entrance hall with its double-height ceiling, fascinating collection of artworks and mirror-image staircases climbing each curved side wall.
‘Ah, here you all are.’ Cynthia, David’s mother, smiled, coming out of the kitchen to greet them, her age-crumpled face and warm grey eyes almost as dear to Cristy as her own beloved mother’s.
‘I see Miss Chatterbox is filling you in on everything, but let’s get you in by the fire now and some refreshments going. ’
The aroma of fresh baking, burning pine logs and Golden Retriever was as welcoming and familiar to Cristy as the L-shaped kitchen itself, with its large, open workspace, big round table and fireside sofas.
Henry, the dog, leapt up gleefully at the sight of visitors, waggling his furry body and whipping his tail so hard his feet left the floor.
Grabbing Henry’s collar, David said to Connor, ‘I’ll take you down to the cottages when you’re ready. The heating’s been on since yesterday, so everything should be good. Hayley and Aiden, you’re in the house with us tonight, unless you’d rather go and settle yourselves …’
‘We don’t mind either way,’ Hayley assured him, going to slip an arm around her mother. ‘Are you excited?’ she whispered.
‘Very,’ Cristy murmured, watching Aiden getting stuck into the brownies as Anna began filling mugs with hot chocolate. Rosie gazed adoringly at Aurora, who was still sleeping in Jodi’s arms.
‘We have various plans for tomorrow,’ Cynthia announced, going to take a small cake from the oven. ‘Walks, a spot of sailing, shopping for anyone who fancies going into town; there’s a table booked for lunch at Pier One … David, are you collecting Matthew from the airport?’
‘I think he’s renting a car,’ David replied, finally managing to press the dog back down on its bed.
‘He is,’ Cristy confirmed. ‘He’s bringing Hugo, Hayley’s boyfriend, and Harry and Meena. I’ll probably go to pick up Clove and Jacks …’
‘I’ve already arranged for them to get here,’ Anna told her.
‘We can’t have you playing taxi service on your big day.
And Iz is coming in from London? There’s a car booked for her too.
We’re putting her in the top room here – a bit of a squeeze, but maybe better than banishing her to a hotel on her own.
Oh, Hayley, we’re in for a blow-dry at ten in the morning, Jodi and Cristy same time for manicures …
Grandma, did you want to come with us? I’m sure they can fit you in. ’
‘I’m with caterers and planners most of the day,’ Cynthia reminded her, ‘and I’ve already had my hair done – thanks for noticing.’
Since it was scrunched into a jaunty clip on the top of her head, with stray strands doing their own thing in every which way, they all laughed, and David went to give her a hug.
‘Always the belle of the ball,’ he told her. ‘Now, go sit while I take over here and make sure everyone has whatever they need.’
An hour later, after David had driven down to the cottages with Connor and Jodi, Cristy was helping Cynthia to clear up while the others slumped on the sofas or sat around the table, checking their phones.
‘I’m not going to tell you what the surprise is,’ Rosie failed to whisper to Cristy.
‘Rosie,’ Anna warned.
Rosie giggled. ‘Do you want to know?’ she asked Cristy.
‘No, she doesn’t,’ Cynthia told her. ‘Remember, you promised to keep it to yourself.’
‘Will she like it?’ Aiden asked mischievously.
Rosie nodded eagerly, then gasped. ‘What if she doesn’t?’ she asked her grandmother.
‘Don’t worry, she will,’ Cynthia assured her.
‘You will,’ Rosie confirmed to Cristy. Then, speaking from behind one hand, she shout-whispered, ‘Dad’s going to ask you to marry him.’
As Cristy blinked, Anna leapt up from her chair and planted a hand over her sister’s mouth.
Cristy was so stunned that she couldn’t even smile. David was going to propose? In front of everyone? And they already knew? She was too shocked to even work out how she felt about that.
Anna was furiously shaking her head while keeping a tight hold on Rosie. ‘It’s what we told her,’ she confessed, ‘to make her stop asking. Sorry, it’s not true … I mean, it might be, for all I know, but it’s not part of the plan.’
Rosie turned to her sister. ‘Did you tell me lies?’ she asked accusingly.
‘Not really,’ Anna answered, throwing a pleading look her grandmother’s way. ‘Just a little one …’
‘You’ve just proved you can’t keep a secret,’ Cynthia scolded. ‘And now look what you’ve done – got everyone into a state of confusion over nothing.’
Rosie looked upset now. ‘But I want Dad to propose,’ she grumbled. ‘I thought he was going to.’
‘Oh God,’ Anna groaned. ‘He’s going to kill me for this.’
Finally managing to laugh, Cristy said, ‘Rosie, why don’t you show me your dress for tomorrow night? I’m sure Hayley would like to see it too.’
‘Dying to,’ Hayley agreed, going to slip an arm around Rosie’s plump shoulders. ‘What colour is it?’
‘Blue,’ Rosie replied, and allowing herself to be led out of the room, she chattered on about ribbons and pearls and matching shoes …
‘Sorry again,’ Anna said quietly to Cristy. ‘I hope you didn’t … I mean … Oh God, what a disaster. Please don’t say anything to Dad …’
‘Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me,’ Cristy assured her with an ironic smile, and helping herself to a chocolate, she went off to see the dress, thankful that David – or Matthew, come to that – hadn’t been in the room for Rosie’s big reveal.
‘You looked totally shocked,’ Hayley told Cristy when they were alone in the villa’s master suite a little while later.
It was dark outside now, so the heavy silk drapes were closed, and the room was lit by soft creamy lights and the warming glow of a touch-button faux-log fire.
This was David’s private space (tell that to Rosie) where he came to read newspapers, watch sport on TV or make phone calls he’d rather weren’t overheard.
It was a sumptuous suite dominated by an enormous bed, with twin sofas flanking the fire and a small bar set up in one of the armoires.
Naturally, he had an office downstairs for when he was working at home, but up here, he could properly relax and, when she was here, be alone with Cristy.
‘What would you have said if it had turned out to be real?’ Hayley asked, stretching out on the bed as Cristy sank into one of the sofas with a gin and tonic.
‘I’m not sure,’ Cristy replied, feeling suddenly edgy and way too hot. ‘I mean, being married again isn’t on my agenda.’
‘Not even to David? I thought you were nuts about him.’
‘I am, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready for that sort of commitment.’
‘You’re fifty tomorrow – not getting any younger.’
‘Only someone your age would think fifty was past it.’
‘Teasing!’ Hayley laughed. ‘You’re definitely great for your age.
You don’t look much over forty, but you can’t want to grow old on your own.
I mean, obviously me and Aiden will be around, but that’s not the same.
And we won’t mind – you know we love David.
And imagine being here all the time, in this gorgeous place … ’
‘Will you stop? If you knew what was really going on in my life, you wouldn’t be writing me off quite so soon.’
Immediately fascinated, Hayley said, ‘Oh! Do tell.’
‘Not now …’
‘Hang on, you haven’t met someone else, have you? Is that why …’
‘I have not met someone else.’
‘So what’s going on?’
‘You’ll find out when I’m ready. Now, if it makes you happy, I’ll admit that if I was going to marry anyone, it would probably be David.’
‘Probably? That would hardly fill him with confidence.’ Hayley frowned worriedly, her eyes studying her mother more closely now. ‘What’s going on with you?’ she asked. ‘Obviously something is …’
Sighing, Cristy deflected away from Kinsey’s offer with an excuse about the new podcast series taking up a lot of head space, which was true: it really was.
However, she couldn’t get into the details of that either, and nor did she want to admit to being menopausal.
So, switching the subject back to where they’d started, she said, ‘Tell me, do you think Anna or Cynthia noticed that I didn’t look thrilled? ’
Hayley shrugged. ‘I don’t know. It all happened so fast, but I’m glad David wasn’t there to see it. If he knows you as well as I do, he’d have picked up right away that the surprise, if it was real, was going to backfire.’
Would it have?
She couldn’t say for certain, only knew that she was glad it wasn’t in the plan – and was it going to seem strange to Hayley if she opened a window when it had to be close to zero outside?
‘Thankfully he wasn’t there,’ she said, tugging off her jumper, ‘ and as it’s no longer an issue, maybe you’d like to tell me what the surprise actually is? ’
Hayley laughed. ‘Nice try, but no deal. I can tell you this, though: it’s not a great big fat diamond … well, it might be – I’ve no idea what David’s got for you – but the real surprise is from all of us and is definitely something you’re going to love.’