Secrets From the Past (20 page)

‘Next week, I think. Zac’s going to start working on Dad’s photographic book, and I believe that will be good for him. It’s something for him to focus on.’

‘He needs that, although he seems to be coping well. Better than I thought he would.’ He drew me to him, gave me a hug. ‘You’re the best, Serena, just like Tommy. Loyal, dependable and constant. I had a good talk with Zac over lunch today, and he finally agreed to see Dr Biron, admitted he needed medical help.’ Harry gave me a knowing look. ‘That’s a good sign. I told him Daniel Biron helped me and your father. He’s a great psychiatrist, and he has a good understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder, better than any other doctor I know.’

Harry’s cell phone began to ring and he stepped over to the coffee table, picked it up, stood talking for a moment or two. I realized at once that it was the London office calling him, and that it was Annie Stewart just checking in with him before going home.

We were standing in front of the blazing fire in the peach sitting room, just the two of us. Once again, I thought how good Harry looked. He was wearing dark grey trousers, a blue, open-necked shirt, and a deeper blue cable-knit cardigan I’d given him for Christmas.

Once he’d clicked off his phone, I told him about the discussion I’d had earlier with the twins, about Mom’s remaining jewellery and auctioning it off.

A look of surprise flickered in his deep blue eyes for a moment. ‘Well, why not? The world has changed. Only celebrities wear stuff like that these days.’ He grinned. ‘Also the Chinese. Luxury goods appeal to them, and especially jewels. She should get good prices if she focuses on the Asian market.’

‘That’s exactly what Jess was saying when I was in the kitchen with her. So we’re definitely going to do it.’

‘I’m all in favour, and listen, if Jessica needs the money to do the repair work immediately, I’ll give it to her.’

‘No, no, that’s not necessary, and anyway, I can advance it if she needs it now.’ I threw him a pointed look and asked, ‘Did Dad ever mention to you that the roof needed repairs?’

Harry shook his head. ‘No, but your mother and I had a discussion about her jewellery a couple of years before she died. She had thought of having another auction, but she changed her mind. She said she’d decided to leave the remaining pieces to her three girls, just in case there was ever a rainy day, as she put it. And I guess that’s now.’

I began to laugh and Harry did too, and said, ‘A leaking roof and bad plumbing would be the last thing on Tommy’s mind, by the way, and you know that as well as I do.’

‘You’re right. It was Mom who was usually on top of these things.’

I heard the click-click of Cara’s high heels again, and a moment later she swanned into the sitting room, moving elegantly across the floor. When she drew closer to Harry she broke into smiles.

‘Why, Uncle Harry, you look scrumptious!’ she exclaimed, and gave him a bear hug. ‘And that shirt certainly matches your eyes. Good choice.’

‘Forget the “Uncle” bit,’ he said, grinning. ‘You haven’t called me uncle since you were four. And I must compliment you on these orchids.’ He swung his head, waved his hand at them. ‘They’re spectacular – I’ve never seen anything like them. Where did these very colourful specimens originate?’

‘Oh thank you, Harry. Some came from Africa, others from South America, several from Asia. They’re very rare.’ Cara paused, and turned around as Geoff walked into the room.

If Harry hadn’t noticed it, I might have thought that I’d imagined it. But he said I hadn’t, that he’d witnessed it too, the way Cara and Geoff looked at each other. Harry also said to me later that the most powerful exchanges can happen in a split second. Two people look into each other’s eyes, and wham! They instantly understand they’re on the very same wavelength. Nothing needs to be said. They’ve got it. And they get each other. Get where they’re coming from.

And so there they stood, gaping at each other.

I can’t believe this, Geoff of all people, I thought, as I rushed over to introduce them. ‘There you are, Geoff!’ I exclaimed. ‘This is Cara, she was in St Tropez when you arrived yesterday, and this is Geoff Barnes, Cara.’

She thrust her hand out at him and said, ‘I think we’ve met before.’

Geoff looked startled. He took her hand, flushed slightly. ‘Oh, but we haven’t. I would have remembered you,’ he gushed. ‘I really would. You’re … well, you’re unforgettable.’

I winced at his words, and stared at Cara, who was flushed also, and smiling at him in that simpering way of hers. I looked at Harry, my eyes wide in astonishment. He winked at me, crossed the floor to the ice bucket on the drinks’ table, lifted out the bottle of champagne and poured two glasses, taking them over to Cara and Geoff.

They thanked him, and Harry said, ‘Feast your eyes, Geoff.’ He paused, bit back a smile, as Geoff continued to gaze as if mesmerized at Cara. ‘On the orchids, Geoff. They’re from Cara’s greenhouses. Aren’t they superb?’

‘They sure are,’ Geoff said, still looking Cara, and lifted his glass. ‘Cheers,’ he murmured, and barely glanced at the orchids.

Cara smiled, her manner coy once again. She said, ‘
Santé
.’

I turned from her to Geoff, and hurried away when Jessica came into the sitting room. I was somewhat alarmed to see her left arm bandaged. ‘What have you done? How have you hurt yourself?’ I cried, and peered at her intently.

‘Oh, it’s nothing, Pidge, I just bumped my arm on the fridge door. Honestly, it’s okay, don’t fuss,’ Jessica murmured, and went over to greet Harry and Geoff.

I stood watching her glide across the room, and then I slowly walked to the windows facing the terrace, stood looking out. It had started to rain, and in the distance I could hear the rumble of thunder. Lightning flashed intermittently. I wondered if a Mistral was blowing up. It was still possible at this time of year.

Suddenly Harry was standing next to me. I turned to him. ‘Did I imagine that? Or did those two just glom onto each other in the most extraordinary way?’

‘They did indeed.’

‘I can’t believe it! Yesterday Geoff was down in the dumps because his ex-wife had taken up with another man. Tonight he’s gazing at Cara like a hungry man about to devour a tasty morsel.’

Harry chuckled. ‘I think he is hungry,’ he said softly, keeping his voice low. ‘And you’ve got to admit, she does look ravishing tonight.’

‘She does, that’s true, but his behaviour is unexpected. After all, he was so dour last night, I thought he would burst into tears at any minute. Now he’s raring to go. This is crazy.’

‘You never know what people are going to do, Serena. Human behaviour can be most extraordinary. That’s why I’m no longer shocked by anything. But to tell you the truth, I am a bit surprised at Geoff’s behaviour myself.’

‘Cara hasn’t looked at a man since Jules was killed two years ago.’ I shook my head and whispered, ‘I never thought she’d be interested in a tall, lanky Californian with streaky blond hair and a twangy way of speaking. But, as Granny used to say, there’s no accounting for taste.’

‘The world is a funny place,’ Harry murmured. ‘We never know what’s going to happen. Is there a grand plan to all of our lives? Or is everything random, accidental, happenstance? Who knows?’ He moved away from the window. ‘I decided years ago to just let it all come at me, and I deal with it as it happens.’ He shrugged. ‘What else is there to do? And by the way, where is Zac?’

‘I don’t know.’ I frowned, put my drink down on a glass end table, and told Harry I was going upstairs to find out.

The moment I walked into my bedroom, and went through to Zac’s room, calling out his name, I knew something was wrong. I could feel it in the air.

He was sitting on a chair, wearing his bathrobe, holding a hairbrush in his hand. He looked up and stared at me. I was certain he had been crying. His eyes were red and puffy.

‘Zac, whatever is it?’ I asked, sitting down on the other chair. I took hold of his hand. ‘Have you had a bad memory? A flashback?’

He shook his head, ‘No, I haven’t. After my shower I just started to cry, I don’t know why. I just did, as I have in the past. I told you about that. And I couldn’t stop. Not for a long time.’

‘I’m sorry. I know this happens unexpectedly. Do you want to stay in your room? I can tell everyone you’re not feeling well. There’s no problem, you know.’

‘There is for me, Pidge. It’s Tommy’s memorial dinner. Of course I can’t miss it. And I don’t want to. I’ll be okay in a few seconds.’ He stood up, forced a smile. ‘I’ll brush my hair, and get dressed. Go on, go down. I’ll follow you shortly.’

I also stood, put my arms around him and held him tightly to me. ‘I love you,’ I said. ‘I’m here for you.’

I ran downstairs, and returned to the peach sitting room. Harry and Jessica were in a deep discussion, more than likely about the idea of the auction, and Cara and Geoff were seated on the sofa closest to the coffee table.

I went to sit with them, listened to my sister talking to Geoff with great expertise about some of the orchids she had grouped together. There were several gorgeous and unique slipper orchids, some green and white, some in various shades of pink, and they looked beautiful grouped together in plain white porcelain pots in the centre of the bronze coffee table. I noticed Geoff suddenly sniffing. He looked at Cara and frowned. ‘Why do I smell chocolate?’ he asked, obviously puzzled.

Cara smiled, looking very pleased. ‘I was waiting for you to notice. What you’re smelling is this one here.’ She indicated a dark burgundy-brown speckled orchid on the lamp table next to the sofa. ‘It’s called Sharry Baby, it’s an
Oncidium
, and yes it gives off a smell like chocolate. I just love it myself.’

‘I’ll be darned,’ Geoff said, and gazed at my sister as if he was awestruck.

I saw Zac coming down the stairs and, jumping up, went to meet him in the hall. ‘Are you feeling better?’

‘I’m okay, Serena,’ he murmured. ‘I’ll be all right. I’ve got it together.’

I nodded, took his arm, strolled into the room with him. I was pleased that he was wearing an open-necked pristine white shirt with long sleeves. He had thrown a red sweater over his shoulders, and he looked relaxed – somewhat collegiate in appearance.

Harry came over at once, carrying a glass of champagne for Zac, and the three of us stood talking near the window.

Not long after this, Jessica raised her voice slightly, and said, ‘I’d like to propose a toast. To Dad. Cara, Serena, will you both come and stand here with me, please?’

We did as she asked.

Jessica raised her glass, and so did we. And the men followed suit. In her clear, light voice, Jessica said, ‘Here’s to Tommy, a man we all loved very much in our different ways. He died a year ago today, but he still lives on in our hearts, and he will never be forgotten. To Tommy.’

We all said in unison: ‘To Tommy!’ And drank our pink champagne, which had been his favourite, and thought our private thoughts.

Harry spoke about him, and so did Zac. I listened, and was pleased with their words. And then Geoff talked for a few seconds about Dad as well.

I did not want to speak at this moment, and neither did my sisters. We had discussed that earlier. Our time would come later. During dinner or afterwards, whichever we preferred. We would talk about him in our own way, reminisce and relate anecdotes, and celebrate that he had lived, had been part of our lives.

E
arlier, I had worried that the evening might become sad and tearful. But quite the opposite happened. Right from the start of dinner we laughed a lot. The numerous anecdotes the men told about Dad were amusing, and the next hour was filled with hilarity, whether it was Harry, Zac or Geoff speaking. I thought they did this on purpose, not wishing to be sorrowful.

Jessica was sitting between Harry and Zac, ignoring her bandaged arm. She told me that she had had Adeline wrap it, in order to prevent the Arnica cream she had used getting on her silk dress. Nonetheless, I was keeping an eye on her, and Cara and I had not allowed her to serve the food or do anything in the kitchen.

The two of us had taken over and, with the help of Adeline, Lulu’s daughter, we had managed things very well. Adeline, who had been the housekeeper here for many years, was small, dark-haired and spry, flew around the kitchen like a woman half her age, and was always good natured, willing, and a great cook herself.

The dinner Jessica had cooked was not complicated to
serve. There was a salad, already plated, composed of artichoke hearts, tiny rock shrimps and mandarin segments with a vinaigrette dressing, followed by rack of lamb with roasted potatoes and green beans.

At one moment, when dinner was almost over, Harry congratulated Jessica, told her the meal was a triumph, and we all toasted her. She beamed with pleasure, looking flushed, very happy.

Dessert was a
tarte tatin
, the upside-down apple tart she excelled at, and it was served with dollops of thick cream. It had been Dad’s favourite, which was why she had chosen to make it.

The three men, who continued to tell stories about Tommy for some time, kept us laughing, and then eventually we girls took over.

Jessica kept the merriment afloat when she launched into the tale of Dad having to learn as much as he could about boats and sailing, because of her love for the sea and her desire to become a sailor. She induced more laughter when she explained how he had grumbled and protested loudly at first, claiming he got seasick, that she must find a different interest. Of course, ultimately he had relented, had become a superb sailor, had taught her well. And he ended up loving the sea and boats as much as she did.

Cara spoke next, confiding that our father’s greatest gift to his daughters was his talent for making each one of us believe we were extra-special to him. She pointed out how brilliant he was at that, since everyone was aware I was his favourite.

I protested with great volubility, denying this, but my protests were ignored.

Then Cara plunged on with her own favourite story about Tommy. Dad had made a tremendous effort to take her to the Chelsea Flower Show every May; when he couldn’t go, he always paid for this much-longed-for trip. Mom had accompanied her, if she was not filming, and Dad, too, when he was not covering a war. If they were both busy with work, Granny stood in. The famous flower show had been the highlight of her life at that particular time, had been the inspiration for her career, she finished.