Second Chance - Jane Green [116]
She tramples over the grass and stands behind him, resting a hand on his shoulder to let him know she’s there, and when he turns, his eyes red, his face streaked with tears, she sinks down and puts her arms round him just as she would her own children, and they stay there, with Holly crouching, Will wrapped tightly in her arms as she rocks him gently and whispers in his ear, ‘It’s okay. It’s okay. It’s all going to be okay.’
When they come back in, everyone is still drinking tea around the table. Saffron goes straight up to Will and offers another apology. ‘I do owe you an amends,’ she says. ‘I want to tell you that I’m glad you’re here. That I’m not expecting you to replace Tom, but that I’m glad you’re with us. It helps and, in a funny way, as odd as it feels, it also feels very right that you’re here.’
‘Hear, hear!’ Paul raises his empty mug in a silent toast as the others join in.
‘Not a replacement for Tom,’ Olivia says, munching her way through the rest of the biscuits that are rapidly disappearing from the plate. ‘Know that we’re not saying that, but you fit in, in your own right. It’s lovely having you here.’
‘And to Tom.’ Holly raises her mug and looks up at the ceiling. ‘For in his own twisted way, he’s brought us all back together again. Thank you, Tom.’ The others look up and raise their own mugs. ‘To Tom,’ they say, and as they sip their tea there are tears in all of their eyes.
‘Mummy?’ Daisy and Oliver come in, their hands and faces covered with purple felt-tip ink. ‘We’ve finished colouring and now we don’t know what to do.’ They scan the table, spying the biscuits and both faces light up.
‘Go on.’ Holly laughs and pushes the plate towards them. ‘Just one. How would you like to watch a film?’
‘Yay!’ Both kids jump up and down.
‘Can we watch Ice Age 2?’ Oliver asks.
‘No!’ Daisy squeals. ‘I want to watch The Little Mermaid.’
‘No way,’ Oliver says. ‘I’m not watching a girl film. Ice Age 2, Mummy.’
Daisy starts to cry.
‘Enough!’ Holly looks at both of them sternly. ‘I’m choosing the film.’ And she goes out to the car, bringing back Shrek.
‘Oh not again,’ Oliver groans, but he follows them quietly as Holly sets the computer up in their room and puts the DVD on.
‘You know what we should do?’ Anna breaks the silence that descends. ‘We should cook a wonderful dinner tonight. Fancy clothes. Candlelight. Delicious food.’
Paul bursts out laughing. ‘There’s just one problem, my darling wife: we haven’t got a table big enough for all of us to fit around at the same time.’
‘Not yet, but there’s a filthy old trestle table in the barn. We could grab a tablecloth from the supermarket in Gloucester.’
‘Chairs?’ Paul persists.
‘Don’t be such a killjoy,’ Anna tuts. ‘We could drag the benches in from the garden.’
‘Great idea!’ Holly echoes. ‘Let’s do it. God knows all of us could do with a bit of fun, and God knows I could do with a few drinks. Oh shit…’ Her face falls and she looks nervously at Saffron. ‘I forgot. Obviously no drinks.’ She tries hard to hide her disappointment.
‘I’ll be fine,’ Saffron lays a hand on her arm. ‘I know I’ve had a couple of slips, but remember, guys, I’ve spent years surrounded by alcohol without wanting to have any. I don’t mind if you have alcohol. Especially if it’s red wine.’ She grimaces. ‘I’ve always hated red wine.’
‘Done!’ Anna says, excitement sweeping her up, sweeping all of them up, removing all sensible thought. ‘Why don’t we pack up and hit the shops now? We should make it there and back by six.’
The iPod is plugged into Paul’s speakers and KT Tun-stall’s sweet voice fills the room. Holly has made a deliciously retro coq au vin, Olivia is tackling the salad, and Anna is finishing off a gingerbread trifle. Saffron is whipping up some disgusting-looking fat-free, sugarfree concoction that is masquerading as some sort of butterscotch pudding, which she swears is delicious.
Paul walks past and swipes a finger around the top of her mixing bowl. ‘Mmm,’ he looks at Saffron in surprise, ‘that’s pretty good. Sugar-free,