Page 79 of For One Moment With You
‘Not bad, is it?’ He gives it perfunctory glance. ‘I have an admission to make. It isn’t my doing. It’s Rick’s.’
‘What?’ Since when has my brother-in-law become my father’s cleaner?
‘Felt a bit sorry for the bugger, truth be told. He misses your sister terribly. Asked him if he’d like to come and stay. That was before Christmas. He hasn’t left. He’s not a bad cook, believe it or not.’
I’d always known Lizzie had him well-trained. But I didn’t know he was good at housework, too. ‘What about his and Lizzie’s house?’
‘He’s putting it on the market. I know what you’re thinking, but there are too many memories in that place. It was his idea to move in here for a while – he’s not very good on his own, and I’ve rather got used to him being around. So I thought, why not?’
‘I don’t know what to say.’ I watch him make us cups of tea, marvelling at how Rick being here makes an odd kind of sense. I mean, he and my dad were lonely; now they’re not. ‘I’m really glad it works for both of you.’
‘Strange how things work out, isn’t it?’ He comes over, frowning as he puts the cups on the table. ‘But I was rattling around in this place.’
I pick up my cup and sip my tea. ‘I’m really pleased it’s working out, Dad. For both of you.’
‘Well, it does for now. I’m sure in time, Rick will meet someone else. But in the meantime, it’s good for both of us. Now.’ Sitting down, he looks at me. ‘I want to hear all about what you’ve been up to.’ He hesitates, clearing his throat. ‘But first, I have a confession to make.’
I’m taken aback. ‘You do?’
He nods. ‘You see, when you went away, I have to say I felt quite cross with you. You and Gareth separating, then this…’
‘Dad,’ I start. This is not what I came here for. But he lifts his hand up.
‘Please. Let me just say this, Tilly. Iwascross. But then I got to thinking how it was Gareth who had the affair. And it isn’t just that. I think that all of us had become rather dependent on you. Goodness knows, your mother used to tell me off for taking her for granted. I realised I’d been doing it again. Takingyoufor granted. I’m sure Gareth did, too. Anyway, I apologise.’ A look of regret crosses his face. ‘I want you to know I love you, Tilly. You’re a wonderful daughter, and I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.’
‘Gosh.’ It really is a day of surprises; I’m speechless for a moment. Then I blink away the tears that are suddenly in my eyes. ‘I love you, too, Dad.’
It’s actually the nicest time I’ve spent with my dad in as long as I can remember, as I consider that maybe absence really does make the heart grow fonder. It’s also one of those life lessons, that without me sticking my oar in trying to fix everything for them, my father and Rick turned out to be perfectly capable of sorting out their own lives. It’s just I never would have imagined it. But three months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself.
* * *
‘You are sure you’re OK now, aren’t you?’ Elena looks worried when she comes over.
‘I’m fine. My head has been scanned almost to death,’ I tell her, which isn’t the best choice of words, given the circumstances.
‘So what now?’ She cups her hands around her coffee mug.
‘Well…’ I look at her. ‘I never thought I’d say it, but I’m definitely done with this house. I want it sold. I’m well and truly done with Gareth, too.’ I pause for a moment, thinking of last night. ‘It’s over. In the past.’ I try to think how to explain to her. ‘All that grief and sadness… it seems to have gone. But nothing seems the same, now. All that time I was lying in a hospital bed, the weirdest thing happened, El. It was like I relived my life all over again.’ I frown. ‘Actually, not so much lived it… It was like I was observing it. The thing is, I saw things I didn’t the first time around. It taught me so much about the choices I made – and about Gareth.’
‘He’s an arse,’ she mutters.
‘He knows he’s been an arse,’ I say quietly. ‘He was here when I arrived last night. He’d even put a bottle of wine in the fridge. We had a glass together.’
‘You what?’ Elena’s eyes are like saucers.
Then I tell her. ‘He asked if I thought there was a chance for us.’
Elena looks shocked. ‘Cheeky fucker. I hope you told him where to go.’
‘Of course – you wouldn’t believe how diplomatic I was. And it was OK, actually. You see, I’ve decided there isn’t any point in rowing with him. We talked about the elephants…’
‘Elephants?’ Elena frowns.
‘Just the stuff we were never able to talk about before – and the mistakes we made. But we both know there’s no going back. What happened between us is in the past. He and Olivia are planning to move near Oxford.’
‘Good,’ she says with feeling. ‘At least that makes it easier for you to stay around here. I mean, it is your home.’
‘That’s the thing,’ I say slowly. I love El, and I don’t want to upset her. ‘It doesn’t feel like home here. Not any more.’
