THE RELUCTANT BRIDE (20 page)

“
Mum,
you're only fifty. And the Sister told me they do hundreds of these
operations. It's absolutely straightforward. You're not even under
anaesthetic for very long, and you've never had any respiratory
problems. Honestly, you've nothing to worry about.”

“
I
told you, dear, I'm not in the least worried. Now, what about my
hair? I love the way Simon has cut yours, Gabriella. I suppose it's a
little too young for me?”

“
Let's
go and see him. If you give him a free hand I'm sure you'll be
pleased with the result.”

To
Gabriella's relief the lunchtime rush had eased by the time they left
the salon and she managed to find a cafe where she could manoeuvre
her mother's chair to a suitable table.

“
That
man over there is staring at you,” said Mrs Stevens when at
last they had settled themselves and their packages into a corner.
“But then, you look so pretty nowadays I'm not at all
surprised. Rod is so good for you, dear, I wish you'd met him
sooner.”

“
I
think it's you he's admiring, Mum,” said Gabriella, not anxious
for a discussion about Rod. “That style knocks fifteen years
off your age.”

Mrs
Stevens touched the short wispy curls that surrounded her delicate
face with a hint of complacency. “Simon does seem to have a
knack, doesn't he?” But she returned to the subject of Rod.
“Are you seeing him tonight, dear? We need to confirm how many
of his relatives and friends are coming to the wedding. And has he
ordered the cars? Oh, and did you decide where to take your
honeymoon? I hope you've chosen somewhere romantic, you'll want to
treasure -”

“
Rod
has everything in hand,” Gabriella cut in quickly. “And
I'm not seeing him tonight. Tonight you and I are going out on our
own. I'm taking you to White Gables.”

Mrs
Stevens was still. She stared at her daughter, delight and
apprehension chasing each other across her face.

“
It
won't upset you?” Gabriella asked.

“
Perhaps,
a little. The house holds so many memories. But most of them are
happy ones. And I do so long to live there again. Gabriella, dear, -
you are
sure
you want me to live with you? And Rod? A mother-in-law!”

“
Of
course, Mum, we both want you. And I want you to meet someone. Mrs
Priddy. She was Ben's housekeeper and we thought – Rod and I
thought – that if you really like her we'd keep her on. She'd
be company for you as well, when we're both at work. But only if you
like her, of course.”

“
What
did you think?”

“
I
thought she was extremely nice, and she's crazy about gardening. I
think she'd suit very well. But it will be your choice, Mum.”

Mrs
Stevens said, a little wistfully. “It would be lovely to have
someone there but – are you sure you could afford it?”

“
You
don't have to worry about money, Mum.” Gabriella patted her
mother's hand and smiled brightly at her. “All our worries are
over now, didn't you know?”

The
return to White Gables was as emotional for Mrs Stevens as it had
been for Gabriella, but it was obvious that her pleasure far
outweighed the moments of sadness and Gabriella was delighted to see
the immediate rapport that sprang up between her mother and Ben's
housekeeper. She left them eagerly discussing summer plans for the
garden while she made a second, private, tour of the house. As she
wandered from room to room her thoughts this time were not with her
father but with Rod. She remembered the comfort he had given her and
once again she experienced that sense of loss, almost of grief.

Well,
a girl can't have everything, she told herself with grim humour. She
had White Gables, she had money and she had half of Englands.
Expecting more was just plain greedy.

****

Once
the consultant surgeon had reassured her that Mrs Stevens was
recovering well from her operation Gabriella couldn't suppress a
huge relief that she was tucked safely away in hospital for the next
week or so. Since the last confrontation between Rod and herself it
had proved difficult to pretend that all was well in front of
sharp-eyed Jenny and the others at Englands. To fool her mother day
after day was going to require a far greater dramatic talent than
Gabriella could muster. While their meetings were constricted to the
short visiting hour each evening she could manage it reasonably well
but she dreaded the time when the three of them would be together at
White Gables. Sooner or later she was bound to give herself away.

During
the day she saw Rod only when it was unavoidable and their
communications were cold and brief. Before others she tried to play
her half of a happy couple, enduring with an aching smile the weight
of Rod's arm around her shoulders, the loving glances he gave her
that contained a mocking gleam which only she could see, the
affectionate teasing from Jenny and their colleagues.

And
the days passed, bringing their marriage ever nearer.

“
Brewster
has all the documents ready,” Rod said one day. “And the
Bank wants our signatures on the loan agreements. If you're free this
morning perhaps we could go into town and deal with them both.”

“
I'm
free.”

“
Good.
I'll see you at ten o'clock then.”

Driving
into town later they were both silent, Gabriella reflecting bleakly
that what little conversation they had now was limited to the minimum
necessary to run the business or to finalise the wedding arrangements
or to deal with the sale of Rod's apartment and her house.

But
then Rod broke the silence. “I'd like to go and see your mother
tonight.”

“
Why?”
she asked, instantly alarmed.

He
glanced at her. “Because she's in hospital, because I like her
and because she'll surely think it strange if I don't go at all.
Besides, I'm going away for a few days and she'll probably be out by
the time I return.”

“
Where
are you going?”

“
Along
the M4 corridor. Slough, Reading, Swindon – maybe to Bristol if
there's time. Now we've caught up on deliveries we need to start
looking for new business again.”

“
Frank
told me Werner's delivery is going off today.”

“
Yes,
he's really pulled out all the stops. He's got those men working like
a team at last. When we get the new machinery there''ll be no holding
them.”

“
Are
you going alone?” she asked.

He
gave her a mocking smile. “Well now,” he drawled. “I
haven't decided yet which of my harem to take with me. But don't
worry, Gabriella, I've never been one to endure empty hotel rooms.”

She
felt the quick colour flood her cheeks, turned her face to the window
and didn't speak again until Rod pulled up outside the Bank.

When
she reached the hospital that evening Rod was already there, lounging
against the door of his car. In a well worn but well cut suede
jacket, cream sweater and light brown cords he had a casual virility
that she had to admire, however grudgingly. Glad that she had
insisted on driving herself and therefore would be able to get rid of
him once they left the hospital, nevertheless she had to brace
herself for the ordeal ahead.

But
her mother was so pleased to see Rod and so excited at her good
progress that she didn't seem to notice their apartness.

“
I'm
using a Zimmer now,” she told them. “Just for a few
minutes at a time but they say I'm doing marvellously! But what about
you two? Tell me all your news.”

“
The
agent showed a young couple around our house today,” said
Gabriella “and they're very interested. He thinks they're going
to make an offer.”

“
That's
wonderful, dear. And what about your apartment, Rod? Have you sold
it?”

“
I've
changed my mind and decided to hang on to it for a while. A big
electronics firm is relocating here in a couple of months and it's
the type of property that could interest them.. Might as well try to
get a higher price if I can.”

Was
that true? Gabriella shot a glance at him but of course his face gave
nothing away. She couldn't help wondering if he hadn't another reason
for keeping the apartment and the image of Sue Langdon flashed
instantly into her mind. Was he planning to carry on meeting her
there?

“
And
what about the wedding? You've been very naughty, Rod, dear, keeping
me waiting for your guest list.”

“
Sorry,
Helen, I promise you'll have it by the weekend.”

Helen!
Since when had Rod taken to calling her mother by her first name?
Gabriella stared resentfully at the white cotton bed cover, thinking
that he had no right to take such liberties, but then realised she
was being rather stupid. In the circumstances he could hardly go on
calling her Mrs Stevens – and at least he clearly had no
intention of calling her Mum!

“
My
mother and my sister Claire will definitely be there,” Rod was
saying.

She
hadn't known he had a mother and a sister. Somehow it was hard to
think of Rod as being part of a family, as having ever been a child
even. She tried to visualise him as a small boy, but couldn't.

“
Darling,
where are you?” Startled, she looked up as her mother tapped
her hand. “The bell's gone, dear, and I'm sure you two have a
lot to do.”