Page 31 of Annabel and Her Sisters
‘Oh, I’ve gone off the builder.’ Golly, Polly was indiscreet. But on the other hand, any gossip shared here was going nowhere; Joan didn’t see anyone. ‘He’s a bit rude. You and Polly have clearly had quite a chat?’
She shrugged. ‘She chats, I paint. I’m a bit busy now, Annabel.’
The interview was over, was what she meant, so I picked up my bag from the floor and made my way.
I looked with even more interest at the kitchen– naturally she didn’t see me out– and poked my nose into her sitting room.
I didn’t dare open the study or dining room.
Then I shut the door behind me and navigated my way more carefully down the jungle path.
When I got home I rang Ginnie. I breathlessly explained the plan.
‘Clever old Hebe,’ she said slowly. ‘But what’s the house like? I can only imagine. And will Mum agree?’
‘The house is diabolical, you’d be appalled. But I’m thinking professional cleaners for a few days. It will take that long. Throw some money at it. Ours, obviously.’
‘Would Joan agree to that?’
‘Yes, as long as no one touches her studio, and probably the sitting room where she sleeps, although we might be able to clean it. But Ginnie, it’s huge.
Mum could have her own sitting room in the study, or in the dining room.
It’s big enough for them to live together without even cohabiting, if you know what I mean.
And Mum has to agree, this current situation is just hopeless. Joan agrees.’
‘Let’s put it to her,’ Ginnie said excitedly. ‘I’ll go down next week to Clarissa’s– no need for you to come too, I know you’re busy. If I need you, I’ll call. Plus, we look less like the cavalry, always charging in together, two against one.’
I blessed my sister for taking this on, but knew this new plan absolutely worked for her, too.
We all loved our mother dearly and I would have no problem with her being here, but I had no husband.
Hugo was lovely but he could be– not tricky, but particular.
About his house. Which Ginnie kept spotless because he liked it just so.
And let’s not forget she was his mother-in-law.
It was quite an ask for any son-in-law, however decent.
That evening, when I was out with Ralph– oh yes, date four– a barbecue at a friend’s house, his friend, not mine, which meant we’d gone vaguely public, I got a text from Ginnie.
Clarissa agrees! Praise be. I rang her. I’m going there tomorrow to talk to Mum with C his eyes were hot and bright.
Over Ralph’s shoulder, I saw Colin smile to Mike as they began to serve up the burgers.
Mike put out the bowls of salad then they called everyone to the table on the terrace, Colin clapping his hands.
Ralph put a hand on my back as he guided me across, and although we naturally weren’t next to each other, we caught each other’s eye quite a lot that night.
I liked his friends, too; they were good company and amusing.
I was next to Mike, who, it turned out, was an agnostic.
‘Has he asked you if you’ve asked Jesus into your life yet?’ he murmured, passing me the cheese board. It was quite late by now.
I giggled. ‘No, but he knows I’m more smells and bells, so he might not phrase it like that, anyway.’
‘Colin did. Date two.’
‘What did you say?’
‘I fudged it, because I fancied him. Told him I was waiting for an appropriate moment.’
‘And when might that be?’
‘You took the words right out of my boyfriend’s mouth.
Obviously I lied my socks off, but now he knows.
On my death bed. I’m Catholic, you see, but frightfully lapsed.
My parents were very pious, probably what turned me off.
But it’s still there, the silken thread, to tug upon, cometh the hour.
’ He grinned. ‘Or when I’m in a corner.’
‘D’you think it works like that?’
‘For us left footers, it does,’ he said smugly. ‘Remember Brideshead ? Old Lord Marchmain living a debauched live in Venice, fallen women all over the shop and never troubling a church in his life, then hustling the priest in at the moment critique?’
‘Doesn’t seem fair on us boring old Protestants.’
‘It’s not,’ he said cheerfully, reaching for the bottle and topping up my glass. ‘But it works for me. I’m all for a spot of last-minute redemption.’
On our walk home later– Colin and Mike only lived in Hammersmith– I told Ralph about it.
He laughed. ‘Mike hams it up. These days we have to offer a gluten-free host, but Mike maintains it’s bollocks because of transubstantiation.
He can get quite heated about it. Why, I ask myself.
Methinks he doth protest too much. I think there’s a smidgen of faith. ’
‘Residual, perhaps, from his upbringing. That’s what Luke said when I asked him about his continued presence on your patch.’ My children asked me enough questions, so why hold back?
‘I’m happy with that,’ Ralph said. ‘Residual faith. Frankly I’ll take any crumbs I can get, particularly from your family. I’m not sure Polly thinks I should have won the courtship race, incidentally.’
I turned, surprised. ‘What makes you say that?’
He shrugged. ‘Just a sense I got the other night, when I came in for a coffee.’
We’d almost reached my house and both instinctively glanced up to her room. Her light was on. The curtains were drawn, but they were thin. I saw a shadow, still moving, sculpting.
‘Polly doesn’t believe,’ I told him softly. ‘Since her father died.’
‘Ah.’
‘She says she can’t believe in a God who would take such a good man away, just like that.’
Ralph spread his hands helplessly. ‘Mysterious ways, and all that.’
‘I know, but… you know.’
‘I do.’
And somehow, that rather put a damper on it for the evening.
And obviously if Polly was upstairs… why was she here?
She’d said she was going to Max’s. He wouldn’t come in.
I mean, he would for a coffee, but no more.
And I’d sort of half planned a protracted snog on the sofa, maybe.
But that was all. We hesitated in the street.
It was dark, but it was my street, after all, and it was only eleven o’clock.
People were still about. One I knew passed by, with his dog.
In the end we kissed each other gently, on the lips.
Tongues, too, since you ask. It went on for some time.
Then we both stood back and grinned broadly. Pleased at our bravado, I think.
‘Goodnight,’ he said softly, and walked away.