A Summer Wedding at the Cornish Manor, page 14
‘Sorry, I didn’t know you were working,’ Ivy apologises as soon as she sees me.
‘It’s time I quit. Erica rang to ask Lola over for a sleepover and Cappy is dining out again,’ I smirk at her. ‘He has more of a social life than me and Riley combined these days, but I’m so glad he and his old mates are meeting up again.’
Ivy is gazing around. Apart from contractors, me, Riley, and Cappy on a few occasions, no one else has been inside the manor since the work began.
‘This is looking very different to that day you showed me around.’ She seems impressed. ‘It’s not damp and dingy anymore.’
I roll my eyes. ‘That’s not quite true. We had a major leak over the weekend, and it’s affected one of the outside walls. All work in the main sitting room has drawn to a halt and goodness knows how long it will take to dry it out. But would you like a quick tour?’
Her face lights up. ‘Ooh… only if I’m not stopping you. I only came over to let you know that the guys texted to say they’ll bring takeaway back with them. I suggested that we have it over at Smithy’s Cottage. I bumped into Cappy on the way here and he mentioned that he was eating in town.’
‘Hmm… I assumed he was going to The Trawlerman’s Catch with Charlie and Clem.’
Ivy frowns. ‘He was very smartly dressed, if that’s the case,’ she reflects. ‘Anyway, I’d love a sneak peek.’
‘I’m running out of steam anyway, to be honest with you. Let’s start in the main sitting room.’ We turn to our right and I lead her through the beautiful, reclaimed oak door into what will eventually be what Grandma would have called, in her youth, the parlour. A room used on Sundays and for special occasions when guests visited.
‘Oh, Jess… I see what you mean.’ We both gape at the side wall. ‘Ugh… it’s reminiscent of the café when Riley drilled into that pipe.’
‘He’s worried about the oak floorboards. He says they’re suspended, so the damp won’t soak up from the ground beneath, but until the wall dries out, it’s filling the air with moisture, and we don’t want a mould issue. He’s hiring some industrial-sized dehumidifiers. If we also keep the windows open during the day, it will help speed up the process. The central heating should be fully up and working soon. However, Riley says it’s best to let it dry out naturally at room temperature for a while to avoid the boards warping.’
‘It’s a large room,’ Ivy comments, as she wanders around.
‘Everything looks large when it’s empty,’ I point out. ‘The walls, ceiling and cornice have only had a mist coat so far, but any further painting is now on hold. But you’re right, it’s going to be a lovely room for entertaining family and friends when we get together. Come and see the snug.’
I steer her back out into the hallway, and she trails her hands over the wood panelling.
‘It’s been a labour of love reclaiming this wood. There wasn’t enough to do the hallway and the dining room, but I wanted the entrance to feel welcoming and countrified. The floor hasn’t been done yet and there’s still hours of painting to do, but the snug/family room is what’s keeping me going.’
‘Gosh, this is lovely!’ Ivy exclaims as we step through the door.
‘It’s the only room that’s nearly finished. Look how wonderful the old oak floorboards are after a good sanding and waxing.’
She walks around taking in every little detail. ‘I love that smell when everything is new.’
The walls have been painted a soft sage green, which contrasts nicely against the white of the ornate coving and ceiling. ‘The TV is going on this wall,’ I explain, ‘and over here, there will be a large desk to house the computer and two monitors for the gamers in our family. As long as the Wi-Fi is turned off overnight, they can have whatever they like in here. But I want some squidgy sofas to sink down into and hope that we’ll spend many a winter’s evening lounging in front of the log fire.’
Ivy is already standing in front of the fireplace, surveying the mantelpiece. ‘What a beautiful finish on this.’
‘It’s cast iron and one of Riley’s junkyard finds. It’s graphite grey, but it’s been polished, which gives it that shiny silver finish.’
‘Have you chosen the furniture yet?’ Ivy asks.
I shake my head. ‘I’m waiting to see how the budget holds out first. Practical things like working bathrooms might have to take precedence over sumptuous sofas and elegant side tables, I’m afraid.’
She gives me a look of commiseration.
‘All in good time.’ I laugh. ‘And I still have some lovely pieces of furniture I can upcycle. Right, follow me. These double doors open up into the kitchen/dining room.’
Now this is a jaw-dropping moment, even though it’s yet another empty room. The only feature is the stop tap and the hot and cold-water pipes, indicating where the kitchen sink will be installed. Hopefully, very soon. But we immediately head over to the wall of bifold doors.
‘What a total transformation! It’s a massive space and those doors… it’s gone from dank and dingy, to light an airy!’
We stand side by side, staring out. ‘All the raised flower beds had to go. The whole area was dug up when they dismantled the old septic tank and installed a sewage treatment plant. Still, they did a good job and at least it’s tidy. Eventually, we’ll have a deck area so we can sit out at night and watch the sun going down. Riley is going to trim back some of the trees.’ With the high stone wall, the sea isn’t visible from the ground floor, but the sunrises and sunsets are awesome.
We walk on through to the boot room and pantry. ‘Everything has been stripped out and the walls have a base coat but it’s part of phase two.’
‘Has much been done upstairs?’ Ivy asks, curious.
‘Just the stripping out and erecting the new partition walls. A lot of the supporting beams have been replaced and its mainly new wood throughout. You probably noticed that the staircase leading to the first floor is new, but there’s just a ladder up to the second floor for the time being, so there’s no access to the attic. The new layout means the claustrophobic backstairs will go and we’re waiting for the new staircase to arrive.’
‘They were steep, too. I mean you could only get half your foot on each step,’ Ivy reflects, with a shiver. ‘Imagine kids trying to run up and down those.’
I roll my eyes. ‘I know. My worst fear. There’s a long way to go,’ I admit, ‘but I’m hoping we can pick up the pace a bit.’
We walk back through to the front door.
‘Extra manpower, you mean?’
‘Yes, unfortunately, even though we’re already running over budget. But Vyvyan and I have been looking at a couple of new initiatives to bring in some extra income over the summer months.’
Ivy glances at me, narrowing her eyes. ‘If you find yourself struggling in the short term, our nest egg is just sitting in the bank. We’re unlikely to even consider looking for a property until the babies are at least six months old, maybe even a year. I’ll need to be close to work and home for quite a while.’
‘Oh, Ivy.’ Her offer catches me unawares and takes my breath away for a moment. ‘That’s so kind of you, but I have it under control. Just don’t breathe a word to anyone about the overspend, as if Cappy hears about it, he will probably insist on dipping into his savings, or something daft like selling his house.’
Ivy chews her lip. ‘But… you want him here permanently, anyway. Don’t you?’
‘Yes, I do, but he’s already put Renweneth Farm in trust for Lola and me. He’s given us enough; the next bit is down to me. I want him to enjoy the time he has left… buy a boat to tinker around with or draw up a bucket list and travel… whatever takes his fancy.’
‘That’s not how he’d see it.’
‘I know, but the trust will eventually pay me back for the loans I’ve put in. That will be spread out over a few years. In the meantime, I need to ensure we get the basics done to allow us to use the manor as a family home within the level of funds I have left. And by then, fingers crossed the farm will have generated enough profit to finance the second phase of the work. Every new initiative Vyvyan and I can put into play will get us there quicker.’
As I open the door to step outside, Ivy puts her hand on my arm. ‘Remember, if you get stuck, you know where to come. We’re happy at Smithy’s Cottage and it’ll do us just fine for a while to come. We’re in no hurry to find a new home.’
We hug and the intensity of it tells me how concerned she is. ‘I will, but please stop worrying. If it takes two years to complete Renweneth Manor, it’s not the end of the world. But my aim is to have Ollie staying with us for our wedding on Sunday the sixth of August. By then, we’ll have a family bathroom, a downstairs cloakroom, a snug, a kitchen/diner and three bedrooms.’
She stands back to look at me, her eyes sparkling. ‘Is that all? Then everything’s going to be just fine! And I’ll do my best to make sure these little ones are here before the wedding so I can attend.’
Now that’s a tall order. We both dissolve into fits of laughter as we make our way over to Smithy’s Cottage for a well-earned coffee before our men arrive back from the gym.
‘I’ll show you the painting Prudie and her students so kindly chipped in to buy me as a thank-you present. Did I mention that it was Gryff, Wenna’s husband, who painted it? And it was his first sale… I was so glad I chose it, but I had no idea he was the artist.’
‘Wenna did mention it to me. That must have been a proud moment for him, Ivy.’ I remember her pointing out one of the paintings and saying she’d love to have it in her sitting room.
‘It’s the view as you hit the beach at Penvennan Cove, after negotiating the steep walk down through the trees. It looks out across the bay, as far as the headland on the other side. It’s such a romantic vista… I dare anyone not to fall in love with Cornwall if they do that walk.’
I remember sitting alongside Riley on an enormous rock, halfway down that steep descent, eating pasties and drinking beer while we gazed out over the bay. It’s a memory imprinted in my mind forever and probably the day I realised this was a man to whom I could give my heart.
Riley
14
You Can Run but You Can’t Hide Forever
I thought that as Jess and Ivy will be at their candlelit yoga class tonight, I’d invite Adam around for a beer this evening and a chat. I text him mid-morning and he gives a thumbs-up. That’s one mental tick off the list. My shoulders sag… asking Adam to be my best man is the least stressful task; he’s a great guy and I value his friendship. The next two entries are more daunting, but work is calling.
By lunchtime, we’ve identified the location of the water leak and it’s right bang slap in the middle of one of the beautiful lawns that you encounter to the right-hand side on entering Renweneth Manor from the courtyard. Jess will be upset about it, although Nigel, Rick and I are doing our best to limit the damage. Fortunately, by the time Jess has finished catching up with her paperwork, it will no longer be quite the ugly scar it is now.
‘See you in an hour, Riley. We’ll get this sorted by the end of the day, don’t you worry,’ Rick states, adamantly, before the two of them head off to the bakery.
I make my way through to the orchard to sit beneath the apple trees and spend a few minutes fighting with my conscience. How long can I put this off? The answer is that it’s time to man up.
Seconds later, I dial my brother’s number.
‘Riley, it’s nice to hear from you. How’re you doing?’
‘Good, thanks, Tom. Did you get our RSVP to the wedding invite?’
‘We did, thank you. Helen can’t wait to meet you and we’re both excited to get to know Jess. With only five weeks to go, the nerves are really beginning to kick in at this end, I can tell you.’
I clear my throat, nervously. ‘I bet.’ This is awkward. ‘I don’t know if you’re aware, but Fiona isn’t talking to me. And, by the way, thanks for keeping it to yourself about Jess and me, as it took me a bit longer than anticipated to have the conversation with Fiona.’
‘It was in confidence, Riley, and I never go back on my word. Fiona hasn’t said anything to me but then our paths rarely cross.’
That means he’s still in the loop, but Fiona only shares the things she wants him and Helen to know. I guess a part of that is my fault, as I’ve always struggled to open up, even to those close to me. I see and hear everything, though, and it’s true to say that over the years, a lot of people have disappointed me.
My mum once said to me that I see everything in black and white; what I don’t see is that most things in life are a variety of shades of grey. Everyone’s perspective is different, coloured by their own life experiences. Maybe that’s true, but when I’m in the wrong, at least I admit it and if I’m right, then I don’t need to justify myself.
‘Ollie came to stay for the weekend and we managed to grab some real bonding time. However, Fiona invited herself along too. I can’t lie, it made things very awkward indeed. After the visit, she started texting back and forth about arranging another trip. As expected, when I broke the news, she didn’t take it well and I received a barrage of nasty messages. Now she’s ignoring me. I just wanted you to know what was going on in case you wanted to rethink the invite.’
Tom’s reaction is instant. ‘No, of course not. Fiona and Ollie will be there, naturally. As I said, we rarely see her, but we do visit Mum and Dad’s to get to spend time with Ollie when they’re looking after him. He’s such a great lad and he couldn’t wait to tell us about his trip to Cornwall. Mum was delighted, not least to hear you’re doing so well.’
It’s weird knowing they’ve been talking about me. I guess that’s because it’s only natural that Ollie would have wanted to tell them all about his trip to Cornwall. That’s the other issue I need to address.
‘It feels wrong to just turn up on your wedding day without talking to Mum and Dad beforehand. What do you think?’ My breath catches in my throat; this is much harder than I thought it would be.
‘Hmm.’ Tom pauses for a moment. ‘Do you want the truth?’
I steel myself. ‘Always.’
‘There are two sides to every story, bro, and I see them both. When the row with Will kicked off, you saw them rush to comfort Fiona and Ollie. That was only natural, as Fiona was in shock and Ollie didn’t understand why everyone was so upset. When they turned to you a couple of hours later to discuss it, you were so angry about everything. They were horrified, not because they were blaming you for the fight, but because you were pushing them away.’
‘But I remember Dad’s words as I was trying to explain what happened… he said, “No son of mine would lash out in anger,” and he meant it.’
‘Yes. He did. Dad knew you weren’t the one to throw the first punch. You were the one who cut yourself off, Riley; you turned your back on them and walked out. Mum and Dad were devastated.’
As Tom’s words sink in, I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been. Jess did try to warn me that I could be looking at it all wrong. ‘But they never made any attempt to get in touch.’
‘Neither did you. Remember, from that point on, they felt ostracised. They continued to be there for Fiona and Ollie, but as you can imagine, she was bitter. When Fiona told Mum and Dad that you’d stopped visiting Ollie, it hit them hard. Me, too, but I wasn’t about to give up on you.’
I let out an involuntary gasp. ‘It was Fiona who stopped the visits; she said it was distressing Ollie and insisted that I call him instead. Often when I rang, she’d say he didn’t want to come to the phone and eventually, I gave up trying.’
Tom lets out a low groan. ‘It happens, mate. Fiona had an axe to grind at the time, but I’m surprised she’s cut you off again when the visit went so well.’
Do I tell him in case he hears another version? ‘That weekend Fiona drove Ollie down… she, well… I wanted it to be a fun weekend, obviously. But it became clear on day two that Fiona was enjoying herself a bit too much and she started talking about their next visit. I didn’t know how to handle it when she started to get overly friendly. Like it wasn’t just about Ollie, but us as a family.’
‘Ugh… that’s all you needed. At least now she knows there’s no chance of a reconciliation. She’ll come to her senses, as Ollie does talk about you a lot. He said your cottage is amazing.’
‘He did? He loved the moorland setting and I took them to Penvennan Cove. It was a stormy day and he said it was “epic”, which made me laugh as he wanted to skim stones and the sea was so turbulent, they just disappeared without trace.’
‘My advice, is to give Mum and Dad a call. Fiona won’t make a fuss on the day; that’s not her style. With Ollie there, he’s just a chatty young lad who isn’t interested in the past, and as far as I can tell, he really believes you’re going to be a part of his life in the future.’
My chest constricts and my throat unexpectedly tightens. It takes me a few moments to shake it off.
‘Are you still there?’ Tom checks.
‘Yes. And that’s good to know, thanks. It’s a bit of a relief, actually. One last thing: Jess and I are tying the knot. It’s going to be a small family wedding, held at our local village hall. We’d love for you and Helen to be there at the ceremony. Afterwards, we’re having a big party at the farm for the wider family and friends. It’s Sunday the sixth of August, if you’re free.’
‘If we’re free? Nothing could stop us from coming.’
It feels good; it’s like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Tom has always been there for me in the background and, having finally repaid the money he loaned me with interest, he knows how much his support meant to me when I was at my lowest ebb.
‘Great! Jess’s mum is organising everything and will be in touch about accommodation. Most people are staying two nights, Saturday and Sunday, and she’ll forward you the options. Everything is within a fifteen-minute drive of the farm.’
‘Goodness, who would have thought. Two weddings in the family within three months of each other,’ Tom begins laughing. ‘Mum will go into panic mode as she and Helen spent weeks sorting her outfit. Now they’re going to have to do it all over again.’
‘It’s time I quit. Erica rang to ask Lola over for a sleepover and Cappy is dining out again,’ I smirk at her. ‘He has more of a social life than me and Riley combined these days, but I’m so glad he and his old mates are meeting up again.’
Ivy is gazing around. Apart from contractors, me, Riley, and Cappy on a few occasions, no one else has been inside the manor since the work began.
‘This is looking very different to that day you showed me around.’ She seems impressed. ‘It’s not damp and dingy anymore.’
I roll my eyes. ‘That’s not quite true. We had a major leak over the weekend, and it’s affected one of the outside walls. All work in the main sitting room has drawn to a halt and goodness knows how long it will take to dry it out. But would you like a quick tour?’
Her face lights up. ‘Ooh… only if I’m not stopping you. I only came over to let you know that the guys texted to say they’ll bring takeaway back with them. I suggested that we have it over at Smithy’s Cottage. I bumped into Cappy on the way here and he mentioned that he was eating in town.’
‘Hmm… I assumed he was going to The Trawlerman’s Catch with Charlie and Clem.’
Ivy frowns. ‘He was very smartly dressed, if that’s the case,’ she reflects. ‘Anyway, I’d love a sneak peek.’
‘I’m running out of steam anyway, to be honest with you. Let’s start in the main sitting room.’ We turn to our right and I lead her through the beautiful, reclaimed oak door into what will eventually be what Grandma would have called, in her youth, the parlour. A room used on Sundays and for special occasions when guests visited.
‘Oh, Jess… I see what you mean.’ We both gape at the side wall. ‘Ugh… it’s reminiscent of the café when Riley drilled into that pipe.’
‘He’s worried about the oak floorboards. He says they’re suspended, so the damp won’t soak up from the ground beneath, but until the wall dries out, it’s filling the air with moisture, and we don’t want a mould issue. He’s hiring some industrial-sized dehumidifiers. If we also keep the windows open during the day, it will help speed up the process. The central heating should be fully up and working soon. However, Riley says it’s best to let it dry out naturally at room temperature for a while to avoid the boards warping.’
‘It’s a large room,’ Ivy comments, as she wanders around.
‘Everything looks large when it’s empty,’ I point out. ‘The walls, ceiling and cornice have only had a mist coat so far, but any further painting is now on hold. But you’re right, it’s going to be a lovely room for entertaining family and friends when we get together. Come and see the snug.’
I steer her back out into the hallway, and she trails her hands over the wood panelling.
‘It’s been a labour of love reclaiming this wood. There wasn’t enough to do the hallway and the dining room, but I wanted the entrance to feel welcoming and countrified. The floor hasn’t been done yet and there’s still hours of painting to do, but the snug/family room is what’s keeping me going.’
‘Gosh, this is lovely!’ Ivy exclaims as we step through the door.
‘It’s the only room that’s nearly finished. Look how wonderful the old oak floorboards are after a good sanding and waxing.’
She walks around taking in every little detail. ‘I love that smell when everything is new.’
The walls have been painted a soft sage green, which contrasts nicely against the white of the ornate coving and ceiling. ‘The TV is going on this wall,’ I explain, ‘and over here, there will be a large desk to house the computer and two monitors for the gamers in our family. As long as the Wi-Fi is turned off overnight, they can have whatever they like in here. But I want some squidgy sofas to sink down into and hope that we’ll spend many a winter’s evening lounging in front of the log fire.’
Ivy is already standing in front of the fireplace, surveying the mantelpiece. ‘What a beautiful finish on this.’
‘It’s cast iron and one of Riley’s junkyard finds. It’s graphite grey, but it’s been polished, which gives it that shiny silver finish.’
‘Have you chosen the furniture yet?’ Ivy asks.
I shake my head. ‘I’m waiting to see how the budget holds out first. Practical things like working bathrooms might have to take precedence over sumptuous sofas and elegant side tables, I’m afraid.’
She gives me a look of commiseration.
‘All in good time.’ I laugh. ‘And I still have some lovely pieces of furniture I can upcycle. Right, follow me. These double doors open up into the kitchen/dining room.’
Now this is a jaw-dropping moment, even though it’s yet another empty room. The only feature is the stop tap and the hot and cold-water pipes, indicating where the kitchen sink will be installed. Hopefully, very soon. But we immediately head over to the wall of bifold doors.
‘What a total transformation! It’s a massive space and those doors… it’s gone from dank and dingy, to light an airy!’
We stand side by side, staring out. ‘All the raised flower beds had to go. The whole area was dug up when they dismantled the old septic tank and installed a sewage treatment plant. Still, they did a good job and at least it’s tidy. Eventually, we’ll have a deck area so we can sit out at night and watch the sun going down. Riley is going to trim back some of the trees.’ With the high stone wall, the sea isn’t visible from the ground floor, but the sunrises and sunsets are awesome.
We walk on through to the boot room and pantry. ‘Everything has been stripped out and the walls have a base coat but it’s part of phase two.’
‘Has much been done upstairs?’ Ivy asks, curious.
‘Just the stripping out and erecting the new partition walls. A lot of the supporting beams have been replaced and its mainly new wood throughout. You probably noticed that the staircase leading to the first floor is new, but there’s just a ladder up to the second floor for the time being, so there’s no access to the attic. The new layout means the claustrophobic backstairs will go and we’re waiting for the new staircase to arrive.’
‘They were steep, too. I mean you could only get half your foot on each step,’ Ivy reflects, with a shiver. ‘Imagine kids trying to run up and down those.’
I roll my eyes. ‘I know. My worst fear. There’s a long way to go,’ I admit, ‘but I’m hoping we can pick up the pace a bit.’
We walk back through to the front door.
‘Extra manpower, you mean?’
‘Yes, unfortunately, even though we’re already running over budget. But Vyvyan and I have been looking at a couple of new initiatives to bring in some extra income over the summer months.’
Ivy glances at me, narrowing her eyes. ‘If you find yourself struggling in the short term, our nest egg is just sitting in the bank. We’re unlikely to even consider looking for a property until the babies are at least six months old, maybe even a year. I’ll need to be close to work and home for quite a while.’
‘Oh, Ivy.’ Her offer catches me unawares and takes my breath away for a moment. ‘That’s so kind of you, but I have it under control. Just don’t breathe a word to anyone about the overspend, as if Cappy hears about it, he will probably insist on dipping into his savings, or something daft like selling his house.’
Ivy chews her lip. ‘But… you want him here permanently, anyway. Don’t you?’
‘Yes, I do, but he’s already put Renweneth Farm in trust for Lola and me. He’s given us enough; the next bit is down to me. I want him to enjoy the time he has left… buy a boat to tinker around with or draw up a bucket list and travel… whatever takes his fancy.’
‘That’s not how he’d see it.’
‘I know, but the trust will eventually pay me back for the loans I’ve put in. That will be spread out over a few years. In the meantime, I need to ensure we get the basics done to allow us to use the manor as a family home within the level of funds I have left. And by then, fingers crossed the farm will have generated enough profit to finance the second phase of the work. Every new initiative Vyvyan and I can put into play will get us there quicker.’
As I open the door to step outside, Ivy puts her hand on my arm. ‘Remember, if you get stuck, you know where to come. We’re happy at Smithy’s Cottage and it’ll do us just fine for a while to come. We’re in no hurry to find a new home.’
We hug and the intensity of it tells me how concerned she is. ‘I will, but please stop worrying. If it takes two years to complete Renweneth Manor, it’s not the end of the world. But my aim is to have Ollie staying with us for our wedding on Sunday the sixth of August. By then, we’ll have a family bathroom, a downstairs cloakroom, a snug, a kitchen/diner and three bedrooms.’
She stands back to look at me, her eyes sparkling. ‘Is that all? Then everything’s going to be just fine! And I’ll do my best to make sure these little ones are here before the wedding so I can attend.’
Now that’s a tall order. We both dissolve into fits of laughter as we make our way over to Smithy’s Cottage for a well-earned coffee before our men arrive back from the gym.
‘I’ll show you the painting Prudie and her students so kindly chipped in to buy me as a thank-you present. Did I mention that it was Gryff, Wenna’s husband, who painted it? And it was his first sale… I was so glad I chose it, but I had no idea he was the artist.’
‘Wenna did mention it to me. That must have been a proud moment for him, Ivy.’ I remember her pointing out one of the paintings and saying she’d love to have it in her sitting room.
‘It’s the view as you hit the beach at Penvennan Cove, after negotiating the steep walk down through the trees. It looks out across the bay, as far as the headland on the other side. It’s such a romantic vista… I dare anyone not to fall in love with Cornwall if they do that walk.’
I remember sitting alongside Riley on an enormous rock, halfway down that steep descent, eating pasties and drinking beer while we gazed out over the bay. It’s a memory imprinted in my mind forever and probably the day I realised this was a man to whom I could give my heart.
Riley
14
You Can Run but You Can’t Hide Forever
I thought that as Jess and Ivy will be at their candlelit yoga class tonight, I’d invite Adam around for a beer this evening and a chat. I text him mid-morning and he gives a thumbs-up. That’s one mental tick off the list. My shoulders sag… asking Adam to be my best man is the least stressful task; he’s a great guy and I value his friendship. The next two entries are more daunting, but work is calling.
By lunchtime, we’ve identified the location of the water leak and it’s right bang slap in the middle of one of the beautiful lawns that you encounter to the right-hand side on entering Renweneth Manor from the courtyard. Jess will be upset about it, although Nigel, Rick and I are doing our best to limit the damage. Fortunately, by the time Jess has finished catching up with her paperwork, it will no longer be quite the ugly scar it is now.
‘See you in an hour, Riley. We’ll get this sorted by the end of the day, don’t you worry,’ Rick states, adamantly, before the two of them head off to the bakery.
I make my way through to the orchard to sit beneath the apple trees and spend a few minutes fighting with my conscience. How long can I put this off? The answer is that it’s time to man up.
Seconds later, I dial my brother’s number.
‘Riley, it’s nice to hear from you. How’re you doing?’
‘Good, thanks, Tom. Did you get our RSVP to the wedding invite?’
‘We did, thank you. Helen can’t wait to meet you and we’re both excited to get to know Jess. With only five weeks to go, the nerves are really beginning to kick in at this end, I can tell you.’
I clear my throat, nervously. ‘I bet.’ This is awkward. ‘I don’t know if you’re aware, but Fiona isn’t talking to me. And, by the way, thanks for keeping it to yourself about Jess and me, as it took me a bit longer than anticipated to have the conversation with Fiona.’
‘It was in confidence, Riley, and I never go back on my word. Fiona hasn’t said anything to me but then our paths rarely cross.’
That means he’s still in the loop, but Fiona only shares the things she wants him and Helen to know. I guess a part of that is my fault, as I’ve always struggled to open up, even to those close to me. I see and hear everything, though, and it’s true to say that over the years, a lot of people have disappointed me.
My mum once said to me that I see everything in black and white; what I don’t see is that most things in life are a variety of shades of grey. Everyone’s perspective is different, coloured by their own life experiences. Maybe that’s true, but when I’m in the wrong, at least I admit it and if I’m right, then I don’t need to justify myself.
‘Ollie came to stay for the weekend and we managed to grab some real bonding time. However, Fiona invited herself along too. I can’t lie, it made things very awkward indeed. After the visit, she started texting back and forth about arranging another trip. As expected, when I broke the news, she didn’t take it well and I received a barrage of nasty messages. Now she’s ignoring me. I just wanted you to know what was going on in case you wanted to rethink the invite.’
Tom’s reaction is instant. ‘No, of course not. Fiona and Ollie will be there, naturally. As I said, we rarely see her, but we do visit Mum and Dad’s to get to spend time with Ollie when they’re looking after him. He’s such a great lad and he couldn’t wait to tell us about his trip to Cornwall. Mum was delighted, not least to hear you’re doing so well.’
It’s weird knowing they’ve been talking about me. I guess that’s because it’s only natural that Ollie would have wanted to tell them all about his trip to Cornwall. That’s the other issue I need to address.
‘It feels wrong to just turn up on your wedding day without talking to Mum and Dad beforehand. What do you think?’ My breath catches in my throat; this is much harder than I thought it would be.
‘Hmm.’ Tom pauses for a moment. ‘Do you want the truth?’
I steel myself. ‘Always.’
‘There are two sides to every story, bro, and I see them both. When the row with Will kicked off, you saw them rush to comfort Fiona and Ollie. That was only natural, as Fiona was in shock and Ollie didn’t understand why everyone was so upset. When they turned to you a couple of hours later to discuss it, you were so angry about everything. They were horrified, not because they were blaming you for the fight, but because you were pushing them away.’
‘But I remember Dad’s words as I was trying to explain what happened… he said, “No son of mine would lash out in anger,” and he meant it.’
‘Yes. He did. Dad knew you weren’t the one to throw the first punch. You were the one who cut yourself off, Riley; you turned your back on them and walked out. Mum and Dad were devastated.’
As Tom’s words sink in, I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been. Jess did try to warn me that I could be looking at it all wrong. ‘But they never made any attempt to get in touch.’
‘Neither did you. Remember, from that point on, they felt ostracised. They continued to be there for Fiona and Ollie, but as you can imagine, she was bitter. When Fiona told Mum and Dad that you’d stopped visiting Ollie, it hit them hard. Me, too, but I wasn’t about to give up on you.’
I let out an involuntary gasp. ‘It was Fiona who stopped the visits; she said it was distressing Ollie and insisted that I call him instead. Often when I rang, she’d say he didn’t want to come to the phone and eventually, I gave up trying.’
Tom lets out a low groan. ‘It happens, mate. Fiona had an axe to grind at the time, but I’m surprised she’s cut you off again when the visit went so well.’
Do I tell him in case he hears another version? ‘That weekend Fiona drove Ollie down… she, well… I wanted it to be a fun weekend, obviously. But it became clear on day two that Fiona was enjoying herself a bit too much and she started talking about their next visit. I didn’t know how to handle it when she started to get overly friendly. Like it wasn’t just about Ollie, but us as a family.’
‘Ugh… that’s all you needed. At least now she knows there’s no chance of a reconciliation. She’ll come to her senses, as Ollie does talk about you a lot. He said your cottage is amazing.’
‘He did? He loved the moorland setting and I took them to Penvennan Cove. It was a stormy day and he said it was “epic”, which made me laugh as he wanted to skim stones and the sea was so turbulent, they just disappeared without trace.’
‘My advice, is to give Mum and Dad a call. Fiona won’t make a fuss on the day; that’s not her style. With Ollie there, he’s just a chatty young lad who isn’t interested in the past, and as far as I can tell, he really believes you’re going to be a part of his life in the future.’
My chest constricts and my throat unexpectedly tightens. It takes me a few moments to shake it off.
‘Are you still there?’ Tom checks.
‘Yes. And that’s good to know, thanks. It’s a bit of a relief, actually. One last thing: Jess and I are tying the knot. It’s going to be a small family wedding, held at our local village hall. We’d love for you and Helen to be there at the ceremony. Afterwards, we’re having a big party at the farm for the wider family and friends. It’s Sunday the sixth of August, if you’re free.’
‘If we’re free? Nothing could stop us from coming.’
It feels good; it’s like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Tom has always been there for me in the background and, having finally repaid the money he loaned me with interest, he knows how much his support meant to me when I was at my lowest ebb.
‘Great! Jess’s mum is organising everything and will be in touch about accommodation. Most people are staying two nights, Saturday and Sunday, and she’ll forward you the options. Everything is within a fifteen-minute drive of the farm.’
‘Goodness, who would have thought. Two weddings in the family within three months of each other,’ Tom begins laughing. ‘Mum will go into panic mode as she and Helen spent weeks sorting her outfit. Now they’re going to have to do it all over again.’
