‘Good. Ronan is nervous, naturally.’
‘I understand that. I know he speaks to his mum often and that it will be the first time she’s been back to her old family home since her mother died. She found it hard to let go of him. The fact that she has finally found the man she’s happy to spend the rest of her life with means Ronan did the right thing coming here. Ronan just needs to see that for himself.’
It’s nice that Solange has been such a good friend to Ronan. We look at one another and I nod my head in agreement, thinking that every family has their problems, they’re just all very different. It’s how you resolve them that counts, and a tinge of guilt begins to gnaw away at me. Old hurts leave scars and I wonder if I will ever be strong enough to forgive my brother and give him a second chance.
‘I’m sure it was a difficult decision for him at the time, but it sounds like they are both in a good place at the moment and he’s so happy for her.’
‘I think the visit will make her even happier,’ Solange adds, giving me a pointed look. She thinks we’re good together and that means a lot to me.
As I head back inside, I can’t help thinking about the future; frequent weekend trips and holidays in France, maybe, in between long working days in the UK? Could Ronan and I make it work? Who knows what might happen? I reflect. You grow comfortable in your own little routine and then suddenly something happens and everything changes.
All I know is that the thought of leaving Ronan behind and never seeing him again is unimaginable. Falling in love with someone is tough, I’m discovering; it’s no longer about what you want, because suddenly there’s another person to consider. When I fly back to the UK, Ronan is going to feel what – abandoned? I hope not. Hopefully we’ll be impatiently counting down the days until we’re together again.
‘Why bring me to Versailles to fall in love, Grandma?’ I appeal to the empty stairwell as I head upstairs. ‘This could break both of our hearts if we can’t find a way to make it work, and without making either of us miserable for what we’re leaving behind.’
The silence in reply is deafening.
20
Happy Families
I was expecting a clingy, intense woman and instead Eve Arnoult – sorry, Eve Barrington, now – is nothing at all like I imagined her to be. Although she bursts into floods of tears the moment she steps through the door to throw her arms around Ronan, this diminutive lady is full of vibrant energy. She’s a fighter, for sure, and a survivor.
Pulling herself together, she tilts her head around Ronan’s arm to peer at me.
‘Oh,’ she says, stifling a sob, ‘this must be Lexie. Sorry, my dear, but it’s been a while since I’ve hugged this boy of mine and I’m having trouble letting go of him.’
I hold out my hand to Frank as he steps forward, but he ignores it and zooms in for a hug.
‘We don’t shake hands, lovely Lexie.’ He has to stoop down to my level, as he’s rather tall. ‘We’re not here for long, so we need to make the most of it.’
I’m a bit taken aback, but Frank is a hugger and I like that about him. He must be six foot six at least and Eve can’t be more than five foot two.
‘The missus has been unbearable the last few days and it’s a relief to be here at last.’ He grins, mischievously. Standing back, he watches as his new wife continues to hug her son with no sign whatsoever of letting go. Poor Ronan is looking rather uncomfortable.
‘Ma, you have to let go. I can’t breathe.’ He groans.
‘Yes, but it’s been so long. And we’re really here. I only agreed to get married because I knew Frank would let me choose where we went on our honeymoon,’ she declares.
I look at Frank and he starts laughing.
‘I’m fine with that, although I know I have no chance when it comes to the honour and obey bit in the vows. This woman is annoying, impossible and the love of my life.’
Turning to look at Ronan as he stares back at me over his mother’s shoulder, I can’t suppress a laugh. I wasn’t expecting a couple whose banter was so amusing and light-hearted. And from what he’d told me about his mother I was expecting a rather staid, quiet lady – not someone with such a bubbly personality.
‘Mum, seriously, let go!’
Reluctantly she steps back and then I’m next in line.
‘Oh, my dear! It’s wonderful to meet you. Ronan doesn’t say much, of course, but he doesn’t have to as I can hear the change in his voice. I’ve never known him to be so happy and that can only be down to you.’
‘How about we stop with the embarrassing “the wayward son” thing and let’s head into the kitchen? I’ll put the kettle on,’ Ronan says, turning and heading for the door. ‘Although I might need something a little stronger than that,’ he mutters to himself as he exits quickly.
Frank masks a little smile before heading back to the car to fetch the luggage. Eve links arms as if I’m her new best friend and she’s not going to let go of me until she’s good and ready. I love that soft little lilt in her voice – it softens everything she says and it’s endearing. One tiny woman, one incredibly big heart. No wonder that falling in love at such a tender age and not having it returned hurt her so much.
‘Let’s leave Ronan to recover. Show me the house, Lexie. It’s been so many years since I’ve been here and it looks a lot different now. Brighter, I’m delighted to see.’
It feels a little strange to be playing the hostess, but I can hear Ronan in the kitchen and the sound of china clanking and cupboard doors being opened and closed. He needs a few minutes to compose himself and I get that.
‘Shall we start upstairs?’
Eve releases my arm, but only after giving it a gentle pat.
‘You lead the way,’ she insists, and I take a deep breath.
‘Right, if I show you your room first, then Frank will know where to put your things. How was the journey?’
Eve chatters away as she takes her time, first walking over to gaze out of the window. She stands for a moment and I say nothing, allowing her to assimilate her surroundings. I’m sure the memories are now flooding back. Moving around the room, she takes in every little detail, rediscovering each piece of furniture.
‘I remember this,’ she murmurs, trailing her fingers over the top of an ebony chest of drawers. ‘I had the small bedroom, of course. This was what Mum called the best bedroom; which meant it was for guests, even though it’s the biggest. I remember family coming over from Ireland and the fuss she made, making sure everything was just so. Of course, there were a few of them, so we made up beds on the floor for the children. That was the norm back then.’
‘It must be wonderful knowing that Ronan is living here, now.’
She turns to look at me.
‘I’m not sentimental, well, not in that way. Life has taught me that money, possessions, buildings – none of them really mean anything at all. Like a wedding ceremony doesn’t mean a thing,’ she adds, without even attempting to lower her voice. I do a double take and she smiles at me.
‘Oh, Frank knows that. I gave in because my therapist asked me a simple question. We were talking about it all a few months ago and he’d just asked me again for the gazillionth time. She said, “Why not say yes?” And I said, “Because I’m living with him, that should tell him everything he needs to know.” And she said, “You might not need a little piece of paper, but maybe Frank does,” and it made me stop and think. So here we are.’