‘Will do. And thanks, Ronan. For everything. I know that wasn’t very comfortable for you this afternoon.’
He screws up his face, his forehead puckering as he shakes his head sadly. ‘I’m not sure I did you any favours there, Lexie. George has a selective memory; I’ve grown to discover. I don’t understand why he doesn’t want to go on record, or voice what I’ve been told were some very strong opinions at the time. He was a part of it and that sort of thing you don’t forget. Whether he ever met your grandma, well, he studied that photo for an awfully long time. I can’t help wondering if his recall would have been different if I hadn’t been there.’
I wasn’t going to say anything to Ronan, but he’s snatched the thought right out of my head.
I’m lazing on the sofa, nearing the end of the first book in Ronan’s series, when Shellie calls to ask me to ring Mum. She’s clearly exasperated and worried that something is wrong but seems unable to get her to talk.
Of course, if my sister is worried then I’m worried too, although I half wonder if raging hormones are making Shellie a little paranoid. When I spoke to Mum on Friday morning, she seemed fine to me, just a little subdued. Everyone is entitled to have their off days; I’m having one myself today.
‘Hi, Mum. Just checking in. I’m not interrupting anything, am I?’
‘No. I’m just channel-hopping. There’s never anything good to watch these days. I loathe these reality programmes and quiz shows. I might end up popping in a DVD. How are things there?’
‘Good, all things considered. Everyone is pulling together. Mia has pleurisy and a blood clot, it turns out, but thankfully they caught it in time. Elliot sounds exhausted and it’s a difficult time, naturally, but fingers crossed the treatment will see her improve a little every day. They said if there are no complications it could take up to six weeks for her to recover from the effects of the clot alone.’
‘Oh, my!’ Mum takes a sharp breath in. ‘Well, she’s in the best place and there’s not a lot to do other than support her while she gets stronger and her body heals. But I know he’ll be anxious, as you both have so much on the line. How are you managing?’
Mum’s right, of course, and as we chat, I can’t hear any sign of her being particularly down, just sympathetic about poor Elliot and Mia.
‘Our interpreter, Ronan, can operate the camera and we’ve found an interpreter who can at least step in on Monday for the next interview.’
Mum sighs softly. ‘I meant for money, Lexie.’
‘Well, we have a small contingency fund, but not enough to cover the costs of an experienced cameraman if Elliot is away for several weeks. As soon as I have a good idea of what time period we’re looking at, then I will consider what options are open to us.’
Mum clears her throat before speaking. ‘Look, Lexie, I know you aren’t going to want to hear this, but I have money that isn’t doing anything. I don’t want you going into debt.’
Bless Mum’s heart.
‘It will be fine, I’m sure, and I don’t want you worrying about it. I’ll go through the budgets line by line and see if I can do a little trimming; it’s business, that’s all. Budgets are meant to be flexible.’ I try my best to sound light-hearted, but it’s not easy as, to be honest, I’m worried.
‘Well, the offer’s there if you need it. There’s something I should tell you, though, and I fear that whatever I say it’s bound to upset both you and Shellie, so I don’t know quite how to handle it.’
I swing around into a sitting position. Now Mum is sounding agitated and that’s not like her at all.
‘Mum, what’s going on?’
If I was relaxed, I’m not now. A chill is working its way up from my stomach into my chest.
‘Oh, dear, oh, dear,’ she sighs, sounding in two minds about taking this conversation any further.
‘Mum, stop saying that. Just talk to me.’
‘You won’t like this, and neither will Shellie. She’s very up and down at the moment with her pregnancy and I had hoped to wait a while, but things are moving quickly.’
I let out a frustrated ‘aargh’ and she begins speaking again, almost immediately.
‘Jake flew home to the UK a couple of months ago. He sold his house in LA and has bought something over here. I’ve agreed to move in with him and be on hand if he needs any help. Yesterday he rang to say he’s found a purchaser for my house. Eventually, everything I have will be split between the three of you anyway, and even without the sale there’s enough in the savings account to give you all a reasonable lump sum now. And now is when you need it, Lexie.’
I don’t know what to react to first. The fact that my brother is home, Mum is selling up, or that she’s offering to bail me out. They are all equally shocking and unexpected.
‘Mum, I am not taking your savings. Besides, you love that house. You’ve been there forever. Why would you let Jake talk you into selling it?’ I exclaim, my mind quickly visualising a picture of it and refusing to believe she’d let those memories go and sell it to a stranger.
‘I rattle around here all alone, when some other family could be making new memories and using it to the full. I’m quite content with the plan Jake has laid out. I will have my own separate accommodation within the grounds of the delightful old property he’s purchased.’
I can see it in my mind’s eye – Jake has no doubt bought a huge country house with a little cottage in the garden for Mum. But as for being at his beck and call, that makes me angry.
‘You might as well agree to take the money, Lexie, because I’m going to give the same to your brother and sister. When the house sells, I’ll invest the capital somewhere safe to earn a little interest, but if you need it at any time, then it’s there for you all. I’m looking forward to having a smaller place to call home and something meaningful to do, which will be helping out whenever I can. I will admit there have been times recently when I’ve felt a little redundant. I know that’s my own fault, but by nature I’m a stay-at-home person. If my children could just make up and move on, I’ll be the happiest mother in the world.’
‘So why haven’t you shared this news with us before now? I mean, this hasn’t happened overnight. And why has all of this been done in secret? Shellie will be as shocked as I am about it.’
Another sigh. A big one. ‘I didn’t say anything because I knew how you would both react and Shellie’s got enough on her plate at the moment. Plus, you were heading off to France and I told Jake straight that he had to wait until the right time for us all to get together. Oh, it just seemed too overwhelming to tackle and I didn’t know where to begin, or how to break the news without upsetting you both.’
Well, she has a point because neither Shellie nor I are likely to give him the same open-armed reception that Mum has.
‘When Jake left the UK there was bad feeling amongst you all, I know that,’ Mum admits. ‘But you, in particular, should be able to talk to Jake about what happened and clear the air. Shellie is only upset with him because of the argument you two had.
‘He’s coming home because he’s setting up a new company on his own. Doesn’t the fact that he still regards this as his home tell you something? He could so easily be doing this in the States but, at long last, he’s admitting that he misses his family. That old saying blood is thicker than water isn’t just a few silly words strung together, it means something. For all he’s seen and done, for all the people he’s worked with, your brother has missed being a part of our family.’