Part 8 (1/2)
”It is a bit big for them now that you've gone. . . .”
”But why on earth wouldn't they tell me?” My voice rises in distress. ”I'm their daughter! I'm their only child! They should confide in me!”
”Maybe they thought you might get upset.” Luke suggests.
”I wouldn't get upset!” I exclaim indignantly.
Abruptly I realize I am upset.
”Well, OK, maybe I would. But still, I can't believe they'd keep it a secret!”
I break away from Luke's arms and walk over to the window. I can't bear the idea of Mum and Dad selling this place. My eyes sweep over the garden in sudden nostalgia. They can't leave this garden. They just can't. This is where I learned to walk. This is where Luke and I got married.
Suddenly my attention is caught by the sight of Tom Webster in the garden next door. He's dressed in jeans and a T-s.h.i.+rt that says MY WIFE LEFT ME AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-s.h.i.+RT and is struggling to carry the hugest plank of wood I've ever seen.
Blimey. He looks quite ferocious.
”It may not be that,” Luke is saying behind me. ”I may be wrong.”
”You're not wrong.” I turn round miserably. ”It has to be that. What else could it be?”
”Well . . . don't think about it. Come on. It's the christening tomorrow. You'll see Suze!”
”Yes.” I feel my spirits rise. ”That's true.”
Luke's right. Maybe today hasn't gone quite according to plan-but tomorrow will be fantastic. I'll be reunited with Suze again, my best, most closest friend in the whole entire world. I just can't wait.
Five.
THE TWINS' CHRISTENING is being held at Suze's parents' house in Hamps.h.i.+re, because they've been living there while the east wing of Tarquin's Scottish castle is being rebuilt. They would have used his house in Pembrokes.h.i.+re, but at the moment it's being lived in by some distant cousins. And his house in Suss.e.x is being used as a location for a Jane Austen film.
This is what Suze's family is like. n.o.body has just one house.
As we drive down the familiar tree-lined avenue I'm jumping with excitement. The stone house looks as huge and grand as ever with its pillared entrance, although some of the ivy has been pruned away from the front. Two stone griffins stand like sentries by the front door, and there are flower garlands around their heads, just like there were on Suze's wedding day.
”Hurry up!” I say as Luke maneuvers the car into a parking s.p.a.ce. He hasn't even turned off the engine before I'm leaping out of the car and sprinting over the gravel toward the house. Now that I'm here, I just can't wait to see Suze!
The heavy front door is ajar and I push it open. Inside, the huge flagstone hall is decorated with the most amazing arrangements of lilies. A pair of waiters are striding through with champagne gla.s.ses on a tray. And on the ancient chair by the fireplace is a discarded saddle. Nothing's changed here, then.
The waiters disappear down a corridor, and I'm left alone. Walking over the flagstones, I suddenly feel a bit nervous. What if Suze has gone all weird, like my parents?
And then I spot her through an open door, standing in the drawing room. Her blond hair is up in a chignon and she's wearing a gorgeous print wrap dress. And in her arms is a tiny baby dressed in a long christening robe. Wow. That must be one of the twins.
Tarquin is standing nearby holding a second baby, which is also in a christening robe. And although he's wearing the most ancient suit in the world, he's actually looking pretty good! Not quite as . . . stoaty. It occurs to me that maybe Tarquin will get better looking the older he gets. When he's fifty he'll probably be a s.e.x G.o.d!
A blond-haired toddler is clutching his leg and, as I watch, Tarquin gently prizes his fingers off.
”Ernie,” he says patiently.
Ernie? I feel an almighty shock. My G.o.dson, Ernest? But last time I saw him he was a tiny little baby.
”Wilfie looks like a girl!” Suze is saying to Tarquin, her brow crumpled in that familiar way. ”And Clementine looks like a boy!”
”My sweet, they both look exactly like babies in christening robes,” says Tarquin.
”What if they're both gay?” Suze is looking anxiously at Tarquin. ”What if their hormones got mixed up when they were in the womb?”
”They're fine!”
I feel ridiculously shy, hovering by the door. I don't want to interrupt. They look like a family. They are a family.
”What's the time?” Suze tries to consult her watch, but Ernie is now clinging to her arm, trying to jump up. ”Ernie, sweetheart, I need to do my lipstick! Leave Mummy's arm alone. . . . Can you take him for a sec, Tarkie?”
”Let me just put Clemmie down somewhere. . . .” Tarquin starts looking around the room as though a cot might magically spring up out of nowhere.
”I'll take her if you like,” I say, my voice catching in my throat.
Suze whips round.
”Bex?” Her eyes widen to the size of dinner plates. ”Bex?”
”We're back!” I try to sound cool. ”Surprise!”
”Oh my G.o.d! Oh my G.o.d!”
Suze thrusts the baby at Tarquin, who manfully does a kind of juggling act with the two of them. She races toward me and throws her arms around my neck.
”Bex! Mrs. Brandon!”
”Mrs. Cleath-Stuart!” I return, feeling tears p.r.i.c.k at my eyes. I knew Suze wouldn't have changed. I knew it.
”I can't believe you're back!” Suze's face is glowing. ”Tell me all about your honeymoon! Tell me every single thing you-” She breaks off suddenly, staring at my bag. ”Oh my G.o.d,” she breathes. ”Is that a real Angel bag?”
Ha! You see? People who know, know.
”Of course it is.” I swing it nonchalantly on my arm. ”Just a little souvenir from Milan. Er . . . I wouldn't mention it in front of Luke, though,” I add, lowering my voice. ”He doesn't exactly know about it.”
”Bex!” says Suze half reprovingly, half laughing. ”He's your husband!”
”Exactly.” I meet her eye, and we both start giggling.
G.o.d, it's like I never left.
”So, how's married life?” asks Suze.