Chapter 11
11
Later, on the pavement outside the law office, Deedee wrapped her arms protectively around the manilla folder of paperwork for Joe’s beach house. After signing what seemed like hundreds of documents or so, Harry had made copies of them all and given her the bundle along with a sealed envelope that had ‘please open at midnight on your 70 th birthday’ written on the front in Joe’s handwriting. Gina and Rosie were on the pavement with her, the three of them standing in reflective silence, as they waited for Anthony to arrive with the car.
Minutes later and the limousine slowed to a stop in a designated Steinman it brought him alive for a brief moment and it gave me a sort of closure too. I feel as if I’ve found a new peace with his passing and I’m entering a new phase of living without him. It’s the most extraordinary feeling, energising and freeing in a way, and not what I was anticipating at all. And it fills me with happiness knowing that he fulfilled his wish to buy the beach house and I fully intend on honouring his wishes and renovating it. I’ve already asked Rosie if she would help me with the project planning, she’s the most organised person I know and if her Instagram grid is anything to go by then I just know that together we’ll create a beautiful interior for the beach house,’ she beamed, glancing at her friend who nodded keenly. ‘And I’m delighted that Rosie has agreed to help. Not right now of course, because she’s here on holiday…’
And it was true. Deedee may not have wanted a big party with a big fuss, but – on this extra-special project – she really was pleased to have Rosie’s help. It would be an adventure. Deedee was looking forward to visiting the place where Joe had grown up, to go inside his childhood home and see if his soul might still be there. She was a big believer in houses holding the essence of the people who had lived in them. It had been the reason, she suddenly remembered – with regret – that she’d sold their house in London so soon after Joe died, unable to cope with the constant feeling of loss of him not being there even though his spirit was everywhere. It had felt like salt being rubbed in a wound when she couldn’t touch him or feel his arms wrapped around her, having to make do with his old shirt that she had kept.
But somehow this felt different; she was going to get to discover another part of his life. He was sharing another layer with her, and she loved the prospect of finding out something new about him after all this time without him. Joe hadn’t ever wanted to take her to Haven Harbor when he was alive, having told her one time that it would just feel bittersweet, and most likely make him feel angry too after what had happened when his dad died. He was holding out for buying the house and then taking her there on a happier note, so that it was a joyful celebration as he showed her around the beautiful beaches with the sand dunes where he had been happiest in his youth.
‘Yep, I sure have,’ Rosie said, stepping forward and folding an arm around Deedee, closely followed by Gina until the four of them were in a group hug. ‘And I’m excited to get involved. I’ve booked a Zoom call with Louise too, and did I tell you I spoke to Ash last night?’
‘Ooh, how did it go?’ Deedee and Gina said at the same time, stepping out from the hug.
‘It was actually OK. No bickering for a change, so maybe the distance is giving us both a chance to reset. So I’m feeling much brighter already and I love having projects to look forward to, thank you for asking me to help, Deedee. Coming away with you two couldn’t have come at a better time for me.’ Rosie grinned awkwardly. ‘But, not like that, um… I didn’t mean to take away from all that you’ve had to deal with today, Deedee. I saw how hard it was for you in there…’ her voice drifted off.
‘Oh, darling, no need to apologise. I’m glad for you. It’s nice to see you brighter and bouncing back.’ Deedee gave Rosie’s hand a squeeze.
‘Well, in that case… let’s go to the Hamptons!’ Anthony announced, tilting his head to one side and lifting his arms out wide.
‘But we can’t just go to the Hamptons! ’ Deedee said. ‘When I asked Rosie if she’d help, I didn’t mean to go to the beach house this very second. I meant for us to work on it together at a later date, maybe come back in a month or whatever and take a proper look, so we can do it all properly. I have some things to take care of with the travel agency first and Rosie has kindly agreed to help me with that too… when we get back home to England!’
‘Of course we can just go,’ Anthony, Gina and Rosie all said in unison.
‘But I promised you a fabulous holiday in New York, and what about your list, Rosie, of iconic movie locations you want to see?’ Deedee added, ‘And I’m supposed to be having dinner with Yiannis and we have the birthday do too.’
‘But the Hamptons is iconic!’ Rosie said. ‘I’ve never been, so now I want to see it too. In fact, I’m going to add “go to the Hamptons” on to my list right now.’ She pulled her phone from her bag and did just that.
‘And it will be exciting! I love looking around houses, and this one is extra special,’ Gina chipped in, keenly. ‘We’d really like to support you, Deedee, I’m sure it’ll be an emotional trip.’
Deedee turned to look at Gina, remembering the moment in the corridor earlier that day when she had pledged to try to be more vulnerable with her friends and to let them help when they were clearly offering to.
‘Exactly. And remember that episode of Sex and the City when the four women went there?’ Rosie added. ‘And that film Jaws was set there, and Succession and Something’s Gotta Give … it definitely still counts as one of our New York movie locations and fits with our holiday theme so it’s perfect. Plus we’ve already agreed that we’ve all seen the main New York tourist sights several times before, so it’s not like we are missing out on anything at all. And the Hamptons is picturesque, with big beach houses and parties and crab roll?—’
‘Crab roll?’ Anthony jumped in. Deedee and Gina gave him a puzzled look. ‘Sweetie, do you mean lobster roll?’
‘Yes, possibly,’ Rosie shrugged and pulled a comical face as Anthony gave her an impromptu hug and planted a kiss on her cheek.
‘You are so adorable,’ he smiled, and then turned to Deedee. ‘So, what do you say, Dee? It is three to one. We all just want to be there for you. Joe was such a great guy, so to go to his childhood home is huge. A big deal. You might even meet people, old neighbours and such like that knew him back then. Emotional! Darling, let us support you with this.’
‘Um, I hadn’t considered that,’ Deedee frowned, a feeling of curiosity mingled with uncertainty forming… Did she really want to talk to strangers? Joe hadn’t kept in touch with any of his childhood friends and there hadn’t been anyone from that time at the funeral so she would have to tell them he had died… She wasn’t sure, and the calm feeling of closure from earlier seemed to start unravelling. ‘It’s been a lot today.’
Silence followed. Until a twenty-something woman barged through the four of them with an iPhone held up in front of her face, oblivious as she breezed on past.
‘For crying out loud, when did it become a thing to have a shouty conversation in public? Headphones people, headphones!’ Anthony called after the woman, fully exasperated. ‘Nobody wants to hear the mean girls’ group chat on flaming full volume yelling out from a phone on a sweetie chain!’ But the woman was gone, leaving an oblivious trail of sickly-sweet perfume in her wake.
‘Oh, Anthony.’ Deedee shook her head at him. ‘One day you’re going to end up getting clobbered for real… And I’m not talking old lady with a shopping trolley type trouble; I’m talking outraged twenty-something with a sturdy right hook and no fucks to give.’
‘Weeell! It’s rude, this is an important moment for you. Plus, I too have no fucks to give!’ Anthony tutted and waved a dismissive palm in the air. ‘So, show of hands please… Who’s for going to the Hamptons and not waiting three months or whatever? Boring! ’ And he immediately raised his right hand, followed by Rosie, as Deedee shrugged, still undecided. Anthony was right, this was an important moment for her, but did she really want to race off to Joe’s childhood home right away? Wouldn’t it be better to take her time, do some research – beach house living, interiors or whatever first? But then she recalled Joe’s comment about acting on impulse, thrill-seeking… and yes, she did still have that in her, even at her age! She smiled to herself again at his cheek. But if there was one thing that Deedee had always been, then it was a touch rebellious – saying she couldn’t do something was like waving a red flag to a bull that immediately made her want to do it even more. She supposed this was why she had struggled so much these last few days with the low mood, wishing Joe was here and the fear of turning seventy taking the wind out of her sails. It was so out of character for her. Because she was used to being bold and not letting anything faze her… So no, Joe, I’m certainly not going to let a little beach house be ‘too much’ for me to take on. Absolutely not, I am here for it.
‘I have a question first,’ Gina said, ‘how far is it to Haven Harbor?’
‘A couple of hours’ driving, three perhaps, depending on the traffic. We can do it in a day… Get there, see the house, take a look around, swim in the ocean – so bring your bikinis, bitches!’ He swiftly ducked when Deedee went to smack his shoulder as he knew very well she hated him saying the b-word. ‘And you can eat ice cream, lobster roll or whatever and still be back by the evening,’ he added, slightly more demurely. ‘So plenty of time. I can take you tomorrow morning and I might even treat you to my legendary bellinis and bagels brunch bar in the car for the journey so put your hand up.’ Laughing, Gina nodded and raised her right hand too.
‘OK… OK, it’s settled then. Anthony, you had me at brunch bar,’ Deedee laughed. ‘We are going to the Hamptons!’ And she lifted her free hand, a swirl of adrenalin surging through her, bringing back that energy she hadn’t felt in a while. She had always loved a new project and now Joe had gifted her the perfect opportunity, something meaningful and she felt incredibly thankful to him for this, the very best birthday present. Not just any old ramshackle wooden, weatherboard beach house. Yes, this was so much more than that… it was a new focus for a new chapter in her life.