A Family Holiday (29 page)

‘I’ve been a total idiot,’ said Fleur, and both her parents went to speak at the same time. She halted them by swiftly raising her palm. ‘No, don’t deny it. I have.’

‘I wasn’t going to,’ said Mr Van Benton. ‘I was going to completely agree with you,’ he said, smiling broadly.

His wife shook her head. ‘The thing is, you need to look forward to the future. So what are your plans?’

‘I need to get this business off the ground. Pretty Saddles. I want to do it myself, but I also want your advice,’ said Fleur, ticking things off on her fingers. ‘I need to speak to Jonathan and sort things out there. I need to speak to Poppy because she’s left, like, umpteen messages on my phone, each one getting louder and crosser. And, most importantly, I need to be the friend I always should have been for Charlie when she gets home to face whatever Social Services and Ruth are going to throw at her.’ Her mother nodded her agreement, her pride almost palpable as she stroked the now-sleeping dog.

‘Jonathan?’ asked her father.

‘He’s that nice solicitor I used for the annulment. He was at the airport.’ She noted the exchange of looks between her parents. ‘He is just a friend.’

‘Then he’s a friend who cares a great deal about you. He’s called here a few times while you’ve been away,’ said Mrs Van Benton.

She was glad to be home and to have a plan. First on her list was to placate the irate Poppy and then she was going to sort things out with Jonathan.

Jonathan didn’t recognise the entry in his diary. A Mrs Stakes had been put in for five-thirty by one of the legal secretaries and the only information was that she wanted advice regarding prochain ami, or Next Friend, as it was often called, which was a person who represents another who is under disability and who does not have a legal guardian. It wasn’t his area of specialism, so he wasn’t sure why it was booked in with him or why so late in the day. He dug out a couple of books that might be useful if he needed a reference and went to get a coffee – he had a few minutes to spare before the new client arrived.

Jonathan was sipping his coffee as he ambled back to his office, but he almost spat it out when he saw Fleur sitting in the waiting area.

‘Steady on, Mr Steeple, don’t go choking on me,’ said Fleur, getting to her feet.

‘Fleur, how lovely to see you. I’m really sorry but I’ve got a client arriving at any moment…’ he said, looking around expectantly.

‘Ah, yes, Miss Stakes,’ said Fleur, with a giggle.

‘Um, Mrs Stakes, actually, how did you…’

‘It’s me, silly. Miss Stakes. Mistakes,’ she emphasised. ‘I can’t believe they wrote it down wrong; that completely ruins the joke.’

‘Are you here about prochain ami, Next Friend?’ said Jonathan, his frown of confusion deepening.

‘Sort of. It was me trying, and failing very badly, to say I’ve made mistakes and I’m sorry. Can we be friends?’

Jonathan looked less confused, but some of the light that had lit up his face earlier had been switched off. ‘Right. Well, yes, of course. Friends it is,’ he said, forcing a tortured smile that made him look as strange as the cartoon version of the Cheshire Cat. He held it for a moment, but it soon died. ‘Did you want to come in?’ he offered, as a way to avoid the crippling silence rather than anything else. He didn’t really want to prolong the agony but didn’t know what else to do and she was still standing there in a delicate pink shift dress, her hair cascading over her shoulders and generally looking totally stunning. He wondered why women always looked particularly gorgeous when they were breaking up with you or, in this case, reiterating that you never stood a chance in the first place. Did they do it on purpose?

Fleur went into Jonathan’s office and settled herself into the nearest chair. Jonathan squeezed around to the other side of the oversized desk. He picked up his coffee cup and she watched him. ‘Oh God, I’m so sorry. Did you want one?’ he asked, getting to his feet and starting to squeeze past again.

‘No, I’m fine. Relax.’

Yes, because being ordered to do it by a beautiful woman was always going to do the trick, he mused.

‘Right,’ he said, forcing his shoulders to slump so that at least he didn’t look as tense as he felt.

‘How are things with Ruth?’ asked Fleur.

Jonathan rolled his eyes. ‘Woman’s a nightmare, but I have to say she is asking the right questions about what’s best for the trust fund.’ Fleur rolled her eyes. ‘I don’t think she’s after the money, Fleur. She’s not a people-person so she’s focusing on the elements she thinks she can control. She doesn’t trust Charlie at all; she thinks
she’s
after the money!’

‘That’s outrageous!’

‘I know, but it’s what comes of families that don’t discuss their wishes with each other before they die.’ Which seemed to kill the conversation somewhat.

Fleur perked up, as if a thought had struck her. ‘Thanks for the musical voicemail message. It made me smile,’ she said, and she grinned, as if remembering.

‘You can’t beat a bit of ‘Copacabana’ to cheer you up.’ He took another sip of coffee. ‘How was the Caribbean?’ he said, lifting his chin to show interest and now feeling thoroughly uncomfortable with his forced sloping shoulders and lifted chin.

‘Good,’ she nodded. ‘Actually, not great. Antigua was stunning, weather was lovely, but Charlie and I fell out. Actually, I was an irresponsible fool and she called me on it – and rightly so.’

Jonathan wasn’t sure how to respond and it was taking all his concentration to listen; there was something mesmerising about her moist lips in their perfect natural shade. He realised, a little too late, that Fleur was expecting a response, ‘I see. And are you friends again now?’

‘Oh we’ll be fine. You know how it is?’

He nodded. ‘You’re all she’s got.’

Fleur looked puzzled. ‘How do you mean?’

‘Well, with Charlie having no relatives, she’s got you down as her next of kin.’

Fleur blinked hard. ‘I assumed she had some relatives somewhere…’

Jonathan was shaking his head. ‘I’ve said too much.’

Fleur was frowning. ‘We were in foster care together and we’ve always been very close. Two peas in a pod, Ma always says, but I didn’t realise that she had nobody else.’

Jonathan breathed out slowly. ‘You might want to talk to her about it. I really can’t say anything else, I’m probably about to be struck off as it is. What with the forged letter and now this breach of confidence. I’m not cut out to be a solicitor.’

Fleur smiled at him. ‘You could be right. You really are too much of a lovely person,’ and she leaned over the desk to kiss him. Whether it was to be the air kiss of friends or a full-on tongue assault, Jonathan was destined never to find out as the massiveness of the desk between them made the distance insurmountable. Fleur smirked, shrugged her perfect shoulders and blew him a kiss as she left the room. Jonathan slumped back into his seat and rested his head on the desk; it was oddly comforting. The door opened again and he remained where he was.

‘Good God, Jonathan! What on earth is going on?’ boomed his grandfather’s voice.

‘I wish I knew,’ said the small voice from the blotter, ‘I really wish I knew.’

A day later, Charlie was watching from the patio area as Esther and Ted came up the villa steps hand in hand. Charlie tried very hard not to snigger, but it was quite entertaining watching Ted playing at grown ups. ‘Hiya, you two, did you have a good time?’ asked Charlie.

‘Yes, thanks,’ said Esther and she sat on the chair next to Charlie.

‘I’ll get the drinks,’ said Ted and he disappeared inside.

‘He’s a different person here, you know,’ said Charlie. ‘He’s changed a lot. All for the better.’

‘I know you’re a bit, well, suspicious of me,’ said Esther, ‘but I don’t make a habit of going out with the tourists.’

‘I won’t deny it,’ said Charlie. ‘I’ve been a bit protective of him but that’s good to know.’

Ted returned and placed the mugs of tea down on the table. It wasn’t exactly what Charlie had expected and Esther also appeared a little bemused, but they thanked him anyway. He was looking particularly pleased with himself. He sat opposite the ladies, leant forward and rested his forearms on his thighs. ‘Glad I’ve got you two together. I want to talk to both of you.’ He rubbed his hands together, as if warming them up. Charlie picked up her mug of tea and leaned back in the chair; whatever it was, she knew that not overreacting was the answer.

‘I’ve been talking to Blue and he’s agreed that I can stay here in Antigua. I can move schools and finish my exams here and I can help him run the business.’ He relaxed into his chair, his arms hanging over the sides and his knees apart; he looked very confident and clearly pleased with himself.

Both women stared at him, neither speaking. Charlie was dusting off the ‘Kipper List’ and silently repeating her mantra to not overreact. She was really hoping that Esther would say something first, and thankfully she did.

‘Why?’ asked Esther. Charlie was very pleased at the question and especially her accusatory tone.

‘So that we can be together.’ He looked a tad incredulous.

‘But I won’t be here,’ said Esther flatly and Charlie found she was warming to her by the second. ‘I’ve got a place at university from January.’

Charlie realised she was grinning and stopped. This was great; at this rate the whole idea would be quashed without her having to say a word.

‘You never said,’ said Ted, his early confidence evaporating.

‘I told you I was going to read psychology in Cuba!’

‘I thought you meant for a holiday. But you do the hair-braiding with your mum.’

‘Yeah, to help out. Not as a long-term career! Did you think that was all I was going to do for the rest of my life? All I’m worth?’

‘No, I thought
…
’ Ted was wrong-footed.

‘No, that’s exactly what you didn’t do, think,’ said Esther, getting to her feet. ‘Night, Charlie. I swear I didn’t know about any of this.’

‘Esther, I have no doubt that he dreamed it all up on his own. You take care, now.’ But Esther was already leaving.

Charlie sipped her tea. She glanced at Ted, who was scowling at the patio table. She kept quiet, the teenage male was a volatile creature, and she felt it would be best not to anger it further.

‘She mentioned something about studying natural sciences, but I didn’t know she was serious,’ mumbled Ted. Charlie nodded and tried to hide her escaping smile behind her mug. She watched him and sipped her tea.

‘I’m still staying in Antigua,’ he said at last.

Charlie drank the last of her tea, ‘How do you work that out?’

‘Because I want to, whether Esther is here or not, and because Blue says I can.’

‘I’m really sorry, Ted, but right now Blue is not signing up to be your guardian…’

‘But he’s our uncle,’ protested Ted.

‘Actually, he’s not a blood relative of yours so, despite his promises, I’m afraid that’s not an option.’

Charlie could see the flames of temper burning bright in his eyes. She knew that feeling all too well, but it was better to face the reality of this and be disappointed now than to build up his hopes and have them dashed. Well, at least she truly hoped this was the better option.

‘Instead you’re going to let me end up in some hell of a children’s home full of delinquents?’

‘Ted, I will do everything I can to keep this family together
…
’

‘I’m not going back to London. Blue said I could stay with him. I’ll work here and pay my way. I’m nearly sixteen!’

‘I’m sorry, Ted, Blue had no right to promise you something like this.’

‘At least he’s trying to help me. What are you doing? Having a free holiday on Mum and Dad and and
…
’ he ran out of steam and stood up. ‘You’re not in charge of me any more, Charlie,’ and he went upstairs. Little did he know that she hadn’t been employed for quite a few days now, so technically his statement was correct.

If she’d had the energy she would have been furious with Blue, but she felt weary and wanted to flop into bed and face it all tomorrow. Perhaps things would look a little brighter in the morning, although she very much doubted it.

The nightshift of tree frogs and crickets handed over to the more tuneful call of small birds, with the exception of the brown doves, which sounded as if they were learning the recorder, as they only knew three notes.

‘Good morning, beautiful,’ said an alluring voice. Charlie yawned, then stretched lazily and pushed away the covers as she did so. She blinked. The blackout curtains were parted a little and there was someone standing there. Charlie came round quickly, sat bolt upright and grabbed at the covers.

‘Jesus Christ, Blue!’ she hissed. ‘What do you want?’

‘Yes, I’d love to come in, thanks,’ he said, opening the curtains wide, and letting the sun stream in. ‘I want to talk to you properly.’

‘We do have a door, you know, and I want to speak to you too,’ she said, straightening the covers and checking that her cleavage was covered.

‘Great. You first,’ he said, dropping down onto the bed a little closer to her than was sensible.

‘Ted.’

‘Ted? Oh, staying on a bit longer. It’s fine with me, if you’re okay with it. He wanted to stay on so he could celebrate his sixteenth birthday with Esther,’ he said, with a twitch of his eyebrow.

He was still smiling, so he obviously hadn’t identified that the death stare that Charlie was emitting was meant to be terminal.

‘Funnily enough, I’m not okay with him leaving a top UK private school halfway through his GCSEs to move to a school in Antigua with a different curriculum, and with his only ambitions in life to sleep with Esther and work on the boats with you until he retires.’

‘Uh, it wasn’t meant to be long-term. I didn’t sign up for that.’

‘There’s a surprise,’ said Charlie sarcastically, ‘Anyway, if you could back me up that he can’t stay here permanently, I’d be grateful.’

‘I’ll do my best. Now can I get a word in?’

‘Be quick, they’ll be waking up soon.’ With that, there was the deafening sound of the front door being slammed shut with force. ‘And I’m guessing Ted’s not in the best place this morning.’

‘Okay, leave it to me.’ Blue kissed her on the forehead before jogging out to the balcony and disappearing over the side.

Charlie looked around the room. It was their last full day in Antigua. Tomorrow they needed to pack everything up and be at the airport for a half-eight evening flight back to London. She wouldn’t let herself think beyond the flight. She feared she knew what was waiting for them all back in London and that was a heap full of crap to worry about, so for now she was going to put her energy into making sure everyone enjoyed their remaining time on an island they’d all grown to love.

The beach was busy and Charlie wasn’t reading today. She was watching and listening and filling the photo album in her mind with endless gigabytes of data. Every laugh, every smile, she was taking a mental snap shot and a few on the camera too so that she could make each of the children a more tangible album of their own.

Blue came running across the sand like something out of a film; he was wet from having waded out of the sea, his muscles flexed in all the right places and he looked like he was modelling swimwear. Charlie watched him and took in every detail – she wanted to remember Blue when she was back home too. Despite everything, he was still one of her happy memories.

‘Hiya, can’t stop. We’ve got a quick turnaround today but the reason I came by earlier was to say that you, me and the kids need to get together tonight. Okay?’