Lost Innocence (65 page)
He gave a sigh as he said, ‘I guess no one ever considers what the repercussions might be when they go into illicit relationships, or who might end up paying the hardest price. The worst is when it’s the children who do, and Nat and Annabelle certainly picked up their share of the flak over this one.’
‘As did Sabrina when her mother took off with another man.’
He was about to reply when, behind them, Jasper gave a woof, and turning round he chuckled to see the dog politely tolerating Darcie’s clinging embrace in the sitting room, while hoping he hadn’t been forgotten by his master.
‘Please let him stay,’ Darcie begged.
‘If I thought he would, he could,’ he told her, ‘because then I’d have an excuse to come back.’
Surprised, Alicia said, ‘You don’t need excuses, you’re always welcome. I’m just sorry we didn’t have much luck finding you a house. Then I’d know for certain you’d be around more.’
‘You can count on it,’ he said. ‘In fact, I’ve been thinking of sounding Robert out about renting his house while he’s in London, so I could come for the odd weekend.’
She smiled with pleasure at the idea. ‘That would be lovely,’ she replied. ‘I’m sure Robert would be keen to take you up on it. It’s always better to have a house lived in, and as he knows you…’
‘I’ll wait until he’s got the London move out of the way before broaching it,’ he said. Then, turning back to Jasper, ‘OK, you. Time to go.’
Needing no second command, Jasper bounded into the hall and crashed straight into Cameron’s legs.
‘He still hasn’t quite got the hang of stop yet,’ Cameron informed them, with a roll of his eyes.
‘Bye,’ Darcie said, coming to join them. ‘Thanks so much for everything.’
‘You’re very welcome,’ he replied, giving her a hug. ‘And thank you for letting me share some of your mother’s time these last few weeks.’
‘Oh, that’s OK, I think she liked it.’
‘I hope so,’ he said, with an ironic glance Alicia’s way. ‘Now remember your promise,’ he said to Darcie, ‘you’re going to make sure she starts creating again on Monday, and if she doesn’t, you’re going to…’
‘… get straight on the phone to you to report her,’ she finished. ‘No problem. Nat’s on the case too, and she can’t argue with him because he’s bigger than she is.’
‘And don’t you forget it,’ Nat told his mother as he came down the stairs two at a time. ‘Sorry, that was Jolyon on the phone. I’m going to spend half-term with him, if that’s OK, doing more work experience. He’s even offered to pay me this time.’
Alicia looked delighted.
‘Oh, and a couple of my friends have been in touch to find out when I’ll be in London again. So would it be all right if I see them when we go next weekend to put your sculptures on display?’
‘Of course,’ she assured him. She was tempted to ask if he’d heard any more from Summer, but decided not to go there in the end. It was time to move on, and though she knew he still minded about the break-up, like everything else he’d been through, he’d get over it, eventually. It was just a pity he hadn’t been officially declared innocent of the rape charge. However, things didn’t work that way, as she well knew, and what really mattered was that he was no longer facing the harrowing ordeal of a trial – or being subjected to any more unpleasant verbal abuse in the village and at school.
Turning to Cameron, Nat shook him warmly by the hand. ‘It’s been great meeting you,’ he told him. ‘Thanks for everything, especially what you’ve done for Mum, and I don’t just mean her work.’
‘It was my pleasure,’ Cameron assured him.
‘She was really down when we came…’
‘Hello, I’m still here,’ Alicia interrupted, feeling herself starting to colour. ‘Now make yourselves scarce, you two, while I say goodbye to my friend.’
Holding Jasper back as Nat and Darcie obediently disappeared into the sitting room, Cameron pulled open the front door, saying, ‘Go and wait by the car.’
Always happy to oblige, Jasper trotted down the path and settled in a flump next to the gate.
‘Good boy,’ Cameron murmured, and turning back to Alicia he smiled into her eyes. ‘I might not have stumbled upon the right house yet,’ he said, ‘but I’d like to think I’ve found a new friend.’
‘I’d like to think so too,’ she replied softly. ‘You’ve made this summer much more bearable than it would otherwise have been. Actually, more than that, you managed to make me feel happy and optimistic at times when I thought the world might have given up on me.’
‘I’m glad,’ he said. ‘You’ve made quite a difference to my summer too, and I’m more determined than ever to make
this area my second home now,’ and pulling her into his arms he hugged her tightly.
‘Don’t forget, you’re starting work on Monday,’ he told her, ‘and by Christmas you should be clear to open the shop.’
‘The children were thinking we should have a party to celebrate, with mulled wine and chestnuts.’ It was going to be their first without Craig, and she was already deeply dreading it, but at least the shop was something they could look forward to, having put so much effort into it.
‘An excellent idea,’ he agreed. ‘We can invite our contributing artists, as well as the neighbours and local press. It should get the season off to a very merry start.’
Feeling pleased by the ‘we’, and hoping his daughters might be around too, she smiled. ‘Call to let me know you’ve arrived back safely,’ she said.
‘Of course,’ he murmured, and after giving her hand an affectionate squeeze he went towards the car.
She stayed at the door watching him until he drove away, and as he turned the corner at the pub she felt a familiar sense of loss coming over her. The need for Craig was always with her, but she was going to miss Cameron too, she realised, and maybe more than she’d expected.
Turning back inside, she closed the door behind her, and felt buoyed by the fact that they’d be seeing him again in a couple of weeks. She wasn’t sure yet about Nat’s suggestion that they invite Annabelle to come and help set up the display – she’d make a decision about that after discussing it with Robert. However, with the way things were at home, it would probably do the poor girl the power of good to get away for a while.
‘So, did you kiss him?’ Darcie demanded as Alicia came into the sitting room.
Alicia gave a laugh of surprise. ‘No, of course not,’ she answered, feeling herself starting to blush.
Nat was regarding her closely.
‘I didn’t,’ she cried, throwing out her hands.
‘In that case,’ he said, swinging her into his arms, ‘here’s one to keep you going,’ and he planted a resounding smackeroo full on her cheek.
‘And here’s another,’ Darcie cried, leaping up to join in.
Laughing as they tumbled into a heap on the sofa, Alicia clasped her arms around them and held them tight.
‘You know, there’s something I keep meaning to ask you,’ Nat said, following the direction of her eyes to his father’s photograph on the mantel, ‘what did Dad say to make you laugh so much in that wedding photo?’
‘Oh, yeah, I know the one,’ Darcie cried excitedly. ‘Dad has that typical look of his going on, you know, when he’s said something outrageous and he’s trying not to laugh.’
‘So come on,’ Nat urged. ‘Spill.’
Alicia was shaking her head. ‘I couldn’t repeat it,’ she told them, feeling herself bubbling with laughter at the memory.
‘He told me once what it was,’ Nat said, ‘I’ve just forgotten.’
‘Then he gave you the clean version,’ she informed him.
‘Oh, I know,’ he exclaimed. ‘It was that he’d just gone through the entire ceremony with his flies undone.’
Darcie shrieked with laughter.
Alicia laughed too. ‘That was it,’ she confirmed.
Nat eyed her suspiciously. ‘No it wasn’t,’ he said. ‘I mean it’s what he told me, but it was something else, wasn’t it?’
She started to get up, but he pulled her back. ‘Talk, or we’ll tickle it out of you,’ he warned.
‘OK, OK,’ she gasped as they began their attack, ‘what he said was, one day we’ll have children and when we do, please don’t ever tell them what I just said.’
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