Her Own Rules (24 page)

all, she was going to be forty-five years old next month.

“Everything looks beautiful, darling,” Meredith said an hour later as she walked into the loft, glancing around.

“You’ve added a few things since I was here last. That painting over there, the lamp, the sculpture in the corner.” Meredith nodded approvingly. “You’ve given it a wonderful look, your many new touches have really worked.”

“Thanks, Mom. Like mother like daughter, I guess.

I take after you, you know, always fiddling with rooms, adding accessories and stuff. I’m a real ‘nester’ just as you are.”

“Am I really?” Meredith said, sounding surprised, giving her daughter a quick glance. “I hadn’t realized.”

Bursting into laughter, Catherine exclaimed, “Oh Mom, honestly, how can you say that! You can walk into the dreariest room, anywhere in the world, and transform it in a couple of hours, just by adding flowers, a bowl of fruit, a few cushions and photographs, magazines and books. Other bits and pieces.

You’ve got a real talent that way. To coin a phrase, you make wonderful
havens
, Mom.”

Meredith had the good grace to laugh.

“Your company is aptly named, I’ve always thought.”

“I suppose it is.” Meredith sat down on the sofa and continued. “I’m glad I can spend a couple of hours with you before I catch the night flight to Her Own Rules / 249

London; we don’t see enough of each other these days.

And perhaps we can talk about the wedding a little, come to a few decisions.”

“Yes, we can, Mom. Keith and I batted a few dates around this past weekend, and I think we’d like to have the wedding in the fall, as you suggested.”

Meredith’s face lit up. “That’s wonderful, Cat, the perfect time. I suppose you’re thinking of early October, just as the foliage begins to turn?”

Catherine nodded. “The second Saturday in October, that would be the fourteenth. Originally, Keith and I toyed with the first Saturday in the month, the seventh.

But we weren’t sure whether the foliage would have changed by then. What do you think?”

“Better go for the second Saturday, Catherine. The leaves will be in full color, and they don’t drop that quickly, remember. I’m assuming you’re going to have the ceremony at Silver Lake?”

“Yes. Briefly, and only briefly, Keith and I had talked about the little church in Cornwall, but in the end we came to the conclusion that it’s too small.” Catherine grinned at her mother. “All those Pearsons, you know.”

Meredith smiled. “From the sound of it, I’m going to be giving you a very big wedding.”

“Do you mind, Mom?”

“Oh darling, of course not! I’m thrilled. That’s what I’ve always wanted for you, a big white wedding with all the trimmings. Anyway, getting back to the details, I think you’d better call the minister of the church in Cornwall to make sure he will be

250 / Barbara Taylor Bradford

able to officiate at the marriage, that he’s available that day.”

“Yes, I’ll do it tomorrow.” Catherine rose. “Mom, I want to show you the sketches of my wedding gown.

Let me get them, they’re in the studio.”

A moment later she was back, sitting down next to Meredith on the sofa. The two of them pored over the series of drawings Cat had done; all were beautifully rendered and showed the gown from different angles.

“What do you think, Mom?” Catherine asked, eyeing her mother worriedly. “You’re not saying anything.

Don’t you like it?”

“It’s absolutely beautiful, Cat. Very…
medieval
, wouldn’t you say?”

“In a way. But perhaps a bit more Tudor in feeling, Elizabethan. I’ve spent a lot of time on the design, Mother, and on the details in particular.”

“I can see it’s quite elaborate.” Meredith stared at the sketch she was holding, which was a front view of the dress, and nodded her head. “Yes, I see what you mean about it being Elizabethan…the squared-off neck cut very near the edge of the shoulders, the long puffed-up sleeves, tight bodice, and bouffant skirt. Very stylish, Cat, all you need is a white ruff.”

“Don’t think I hadn’t thought of it,” Cat laughed.

“Because I have, but I decided that might be going a bit too far. The veil will be held by a Tudor-style headdress, and this will fall into a train. I’ve yet to design the headdress. So, what do you think? Can I get away with it?”

Her Own Rules / 251

“Of course you can, Cat, you will carry it off very well. I think you’ll look stunning. Have you decided who’s going to make it?”

“I thought I’d go to Edetta; she’s created some lovely evening gowns for us in the past few years.”

“Yes, she has, and I’m sure she’ll be able to find the right kind of white silk for you. Now, to move on to a few other details, do you know what time of day you want to have the marriage ceremony?”

“Keith and I thought it would be nice to have it at noon. Drinks first, then the ceremony, and a luncheon afterward. With dancing.” Cat lifted a dark brow.

“Would that be all right?”

“Yes, I think that’s a lovely idea, Cat. If I’m going to give you a big wedding, we might as well do it in style. Do you know how many guests you’ll be inviting?”

“I think the total will be around a hundred and thirty, or thereabouts. Keith and I counted about eighty, maybe ninety, from the Pearson side, and I figured around fifty from our side.”

Meredith laughed. “I’m not sure that we can even rustle up that number, honey.”

“Oh we can, Mom, really we can. There are all my girlfriends and their husbands or boyfriends. Blanche and Pete. Some of the new friends I’ve made in the publishing world, the people from Havens, and Patsy will come from London, I’m certain of that.”

“She’s already said she’s coming. And there will be Agnes and Alain D’Auberville from Paris. Yes, I think you’re right, we probably will be about fifty.”

“Luc will come, won’t he, Mother?”

252 / Barbara Taylor Bradford

“I hope so.”

“Keith and I like him. So does Jon.”

“Oh I know. Your brother’s made that only too clear.”

“Mom?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Luc loves you.”

“I know.”

“Do you love him?

“Yes, Cat, I do.”

“So what’s going to happen?”

“Are you and your brother in collusion?”

“What do you mean?”

“He was asking me the same thing after your engagement party a few weeks ago. And to answer your question, I don’t know what’s going to happen. Being in love is one thing, getting married another. And there’s so much to consider in my case.”

“I know, but you will work it out. You’re both smart.” Catherine jumped up. “I’m glad you came to see me at this time of day. I’ve made us a lovely tea…like you used to do when we were little. A nursery tea, you called it. I’ve prepared all sorts of tiny sandwiches, cakes, the works, actually. I’ll just go and boil the water again. Be back in a jiffy…” Cat winked at her mother, laughed, and added, “Before you can even say Jack Robinson,” and hurried off in the direction of the kitchen.

Meredith smiled and leaned back against the sofa, thinking about Luc. She would be seeing him soon, once she had completed her business in Her Own Rules / 253

England. There were certain matters at the London office of Havens to attend to, and she and Patsy had to make a trip to Ripon. The refurbishing of Skell Garth House was almost finished. They had various things to do before the inn reopened in May. She would then fly to Paris and base herself there, since she had much work to complete on the manor in Montfort-L’Amaury. Good progress was being made there, thanks to Luc and Agnes. Once she was in France she would spend weekends at Talcy with Luc, and they were both looking forward to this.

She wondered what she would do if he did ask her to marry him. Jon and Cat thought it was all so simple, but in reality her life was rather complicated. She lived in America, he lived in France, and they both had businesses, commitments, responsibilities. She couldn’t very well walk away from Havens Incorporated, and certainly Luc would never give up his architectural practice in Paris. Nor did she expect him to. So how could they ever work it out…

“Mom, let’s have tea in here,” Catherine called from the archway leading into the dining area. “It’s so much easier.”

“I’ll be right there,” Meredith said, pushed herself up off the sofa, and went to join her daughter. “How nice it looks,” she said a moment later as she surveyed Catherine’s handiwork.

“Thanks, and sit here, Mom.” Cat indicated a chair, took the one opposite, picked up the teapot, and poured. “Now, here’s this lovely cup of tea, Mother, just the way you like it, and help yourself 254 / Barbara Taylor Bradford

to some sandwiches. There’s cucumber, tomato, egg salad, and ham. Tiny ones but tasty.”

“I remember our nursery teas,” Meredith said, taking a minuscule cucumber sandwich. “They
were
fun, weren’t they?”

Catherine nodded as she munched on a sandwich.

After a moment she said, “I tried to get scones today, but no luck. My local bakery sometimes has them. I was hoping to give you warm scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam.”

“Thoughtful of you, darling, but this is fine. Not too fattening,” Meredith replied with a dry laugh.

Catherine eyed her mother. “
You
don’t have to worry, Mom, you look wonderful.”

“Thank you.”

Catherine stood up. “I won’t be a minute, I’ve got to get something from the kitchen.”

When she returned to the table Catherine was carrying a glass bowl and a jug. She stood there, smiling at her mother, her bright blue eyes full of love.

“I have a treat for you, Mom.
Strawberries
. Your favorite.”

Meredith stared at Cat.

She felt herself go cold all over.

And then she heard a voice echoing in her head, faintly, as if it came from a very long distance.

“
Mari…Mari
.”

A moment later the same voice was calling, once again echoing in Meredith’s head. “
Mari…Come on.

Come in
.”

A scene flashed.

Her Own Rules / 255

In her mind’s eye she saw a young woman with sparkling blue eyes and red-gold hair bending over a small child, her expression loving. “
Strawberries, Mari.

A special treat
.” The child beamed at the mother. It was such a happy scene; there was such love on the mother’s face. Then she heard the child crying. “
Mam,
Mam, what’s wrong?
”

The scene faded.

Meredith felt icy cold. She stared at Catherine. For a moment she was unable to say anything.

Catherine, who had been looking at her mother intently, now asked in a concerned voice, “What’s the matter? Don’t you feel well? You’ve gone awfully white, Mom.”

“I’m fine,” Meredith managed to say. She shook her head. “I think I’ve just had what Dr. Benson would call a flashback. My first.”

“What exactly is it?”

“It’s a memory really, usually a repressed memory coming to the surface. I believe I just had one from my childhood. I saw a young woman of about your age, with bright blue eyes like you, and a small child. Maybe a five-year-old. At first the scene was happy, then suddenly the child was crying. It faded away.”

Meredith took several deep breaths. “I think I had a memory of my mother and me. My biological mother, Cat.”

“Why do you think you had this flashback all of a sudden?” Catherine asked curiously, sitting down in the chair, her eyes pinned on Meredith’s face.

“I believe you triggered it. It was the way you 256 / Barbara Taylor Bradford

said
strawberries
, then mentioned
special treat
. And it was your eyes, Cat, so blue, so full of love.”

Meredith paused, shook her head. “Jack had very blue eyes, and I always thought you had inherited yours from your father. But perhaps they’re my mother’s eyes.”

Catherine reached out, took hold of Meredith’s hand resting on the table. “Oh Mom, this is wonderful.” She felt her throat tighten, and she said in an emotional voice, “Maybe you’ll keep remembering more and more until you know everything about your past.”

“I hope so, darling.” Meredith bit her lip. “Perhaps I ought to call Hilary Benson, tell her about this. She would want to know.” Glancing at her watch, she went on, “It’s just turned six o’clock. I’m sure she’s still at the office.”

“Yes, call her,” Catherine exclaimed, getting up. “The phone in the kitchen is the nearest.”

Meredith nodded and followed her daughter, then quickly dialed the psychiatrist’s number from the wall phone. “May I speak to Dr. Benson please, Janice?”

she said when the secretary came on the line.

“Who’s calling?”

“It’s Mrs. Stratton.”

“Oh, hello, Mrs. Stratton. I’ll put you through right away.”

“Good evening, Meredith,” Hilary Benson greeted her a split second later. “How are you?”

“I’m good. As you know, I’m going to London tonight. I stopped off to have tea with my daughter Her Own Rules / 257

this afternoon, and she said something that triggered a memory. I think I’ve just had my first real flashback.”

“This is very good news, Meredith. Very good indeed. What exactly did you remember?”

Meredith recounted the flashback in every detail.

When she had finished, the psychiatrist exclaimed,

“This is your first significant memory, a true break-through, and I think it’s just the beginning. You may find you have more in the next few days. That frequently happens. Try to focus on some of the details you’ve just mentioned to me, they might lead you into a whole series of significant memories.”

“I hope so. I’d really love to unearth the mystery of my early years.”

“You will, Meredith, I’m quite certain of that. If you have the need to call me, don’t hesitate to do so. And I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

“Yes, and thank you, Dr. Benson. Good-bye.”

Meredith hung up the receiver, turned around to face Catherine, who was standing in the doorway, an expectant look on her face.

“What did she say?” Catherine asked.

“That it was a significant memory, and that I’ll probably have more now.”