Her voice caught and she coughed to clear her throat, speaking through her tears.
This, this was the glorious love that Merrin wanted to wait for. The words were honest and moving: he would love her beyond life . . . It was beautiful and he was right: to give and receive such love was the greatest gift.
Ruby Mae – my feisty little Ruby Mae. How I love you, my firstborn. You have been a bundle of delight since the moment you landed in our lives! You amaze me. You’re strong and sharp and I don’t think there is a situation in the whole world that can get you down for long. You have made me laugh on more days than you haven’t, and what a gift is that. Always there to keep an eye on your mum and sister – I know you are going to be the best mum to your little ’un. What a lucky little babby to choose you and that great lump Jarvis. He’s a good man; I love him like my own and I must admit I’ll rest a little easier knowing he’s holding your hand. I’ve left him Sally-Mae in my will so he can build up the business into the fleet he dreams of and do his best to keep the Kellows and the Cardys in fish for generations to come! And to you, Rubes, I leave the number two cottage, your home. Yours on paper now too. Official.
‘Oh, my God!’ Ruby’s hand flew over her mouth as she took great gulps of air to fuel her sob. ‘I can’t believe it!’
‘You deserve it, Ruby. Jarv, too. It’s wonderful.’ Merrin gripped her sister’s hand.
‘Thank you, Dad!’ Ruby sobbed.
Her mum smiled at Ruby, and Merry wondered what he might have to say to her and braced herself as Heather continued.
And Merrin Mercy, my littlest. I love you, Merry. I love you to the big old moon and back again. I’ll keep this short: I’ve left you the Old Boat Shed with planning permission to turn it into a house.’
The news was shocking and thrilling all at once and she gasped. ‘Really? Oh, Dad! I can’t believe it! Mum, I . . . I don’t know what to say!’
It was Ruby’s turn to squeeze her fingers. Heather looked lovingly at her daughters, unified in joy and sorrow, then she shook the paper and recommenced reading.
When you’re ready and you’ve done enough adventuring and figuring out, come home, Merrin. Come back to Port Charles, this little place where your spirit lingers even after you’ve driven off in Vera Wilma Brown. Walk the beach barefoot in all weathers, my little wanderin’ maid, and let yourself be. Be open to what is right in front of your very eyes and let yourself be happy.
Merrin smiled through her tears. I will, my daddy, I will . . .
That’s it, my girls. Look after each other. Hold each other close. Drink tea. Sit in the sunshine. Celebrate the good. Don’t dwell on the bad. Know that you girls made me a king. A bloody king! And Rubes, don’t punch anything, ever again.
Your dad. Your husband.
Ben Kellow. X
There was a moment of weighted silence during which Heather smiled in spite of herself, ignoring the tears that pooled in her eyes, just as Merrin and her sister did the same, snuffling and laughing and shaking their heads as if still not quite able to believe what they had been gifted. Their father’s words were like a soft, gentle broom, starting to sweep away the sadness of his loss, starting to help them heal.
‘Poor old Dr Levington!’ Heather tutted, wiping her nose on her handkerchief. ‘Your dad’s right, though: we can miss him, mourn him, but we mustn’t let guilt or bickering be his legacy. Do you understand me?’
Her words were pointed and firm as she looked between her daughters. Merrin nodded and felt Ruby do likewise.
‘Now.’ She sighed deeply, rubbing at the deep furrows etched across her brow, a reminder that she, like them, was still in the first stages of deep grief. ‘I want to go back to my bed.’ Heather stood slowly and walked to the door, then, gripping the frame, she turned to face her daughters. ‘Your dad isn’t the only one who loves you fiercely. I do too. My flesh and blood. My girls. I’m quite sure you’ve both got a lot to talk about.’ Her words were gently spoken, but felt very much like an instruction.
Merrin and Ruby stared at each other a little sheepishly and let go of each other’s hand. Her parents were right: they had to draw a roadmap of how to go forward without the bickering or negativity that had the power to slay the other’s confidence. The fact that it happened at all was as ridiculous as it was damaging.
‘Shall we go sit outside for a bit?’ Merrin asked tentatively, knowing the view and the fine sea air would be lost to her once she jumped on that train – that and it was easier to talk looking straight ahead.
Ruby nodded and they grabbed coats and hats from the rack by the front door and carried the thick blankets to place over their legs. They sat on the wide, low wall with the best view of the bay in the whole of Port Charles. Side by side, just as they had been doing since they were toddlers while their mum cut their hair or their dad stood alongside telling them tales of the big old ocean.
The golden winter sun loomed large in the morning sky, splintering the moody clouds with its rays as the white foam of the waves broke against the rocks along the foreshore. The two girls pulled their coats about their shoulders and Merrin wiggled her toes inside the knitted socks on her feet. The air was still and salty and even the gulls were subdued, as if acknowledging that life would never be the same again.
‘You’re very quiet.’ Her sister nudged her with her elbow.
‘Yeah, for the first time since the day I was supposed to marry I don’t think I want to leave. I don’t feel scared of the place, the gossip, the rumour, like I did.’
‘So don’t then.’
‘I have to, really, Rubes. I have a job, responsibilities, and all my things are in Thornbury. Plus, I need to talk to Miguel. And what would I do here?’
‘I don’t know, build that house?’ They both looked over towards the Old Boat Shed.
‘Can’t believe it’s mine. And the cottage is yours. All that lovely history of Gran and Gramps and now you and Jarv and the babby.’
‘Property owners – us? It’s wonderful, isn’t it?’ Ruby looked over her shoulder at the bricks and mortar that made up her home.
‘It really is.’ The glorious fact was still sinking in.
‘I love the little place.’ Her sister beamed.
‘I know you do.’
‘And Jarv gets the boat – he will be made up; more than made up. Can’t wait to tell him.’ Ruby stared at the little trawler moored against the harbour wall. ‘He loved me, didn’t he?’
‘Dad?’
Ruby straightened and nodded, her expression one of embarrassment, as if she hadn’t intended to say the words out loud.
‘Of course he did. He loved you so much!’ Merrin hoped that this message had finally sunk in and that her sister would go forward without the snarky chip on her shoulder.
Ruby’s smile was wide and softened her pretty face.
‘I guess what I meant when I said I don’t want to leave is that I don’t want to leave you and Mum,’ said Merrin.
‘We’ll be fine. She’s got me and I’ve got Jarv.’
Merrin dug deep and found the confidence to speak. ‘I don’t want you to ever feel jealous about me and Jarvis: it’s nuts and unnecessary and hurtful. I swear to—’