HARRIET/SABINE
The next morning, as Harriet stacked her breakfast things in the dishwasher and Frank drank his second cup of coffee, Ellie wandered into the kitchen and said, ‘I’m going to visit Vanessa this morning.’
‘Of course you are. Why wouldn’t you?’ Harriet said, slamming the lid of the dishwasher closed. ‘Now the woman’s living on our doorstep. Makes it easier for you.’
‘Mum! It’s something I need to do.’
Harriet sighed. ‘I know it is, but that doesn’t make it any easier.’
Ellie walked over to her and gave her a hug. ‘I want to talk to BB too. I could be another long-lost cousin of his.’
‘I’d almost forgotten BB’s news. Vanessa’s appearance overshadowed everything else for me,’ Harriet said. ‘Don’t think there is any doubt there is a family connection with BB. American cousins could be fun.’
‘I’ll see you later then,’ Ellie said. ‘Probably treat myself to lunch in town. Ciao.’
Harriet methodically dusted crumbs off the table before asking Frank.
‘You got any plans for this morning?
‘Gardening. Unless you want to do something?’
‘Thought I’d go and talk to Sabine.’
When Harriet approached the kiosk later that morning she found Sabine and Johnnie shouting at each other in French. Neither of them noticed her and she stood back, remembering their fiery arguments in the old days. Best not to get involved. It was only when she saw Sabine throw up her hands in a typically Gallic manner and Johnnie storm off, that she ventured to get closer.
‘Dare I ask what that was all about? Looked a bit heated,’ she said.
‘Just told him about Vanessa turning up and he went all pious on me,’ Sabine said. ‘Said it didn’t matter to him.’
‘Well, why should it?’
Sabine sighed and began to tick points off her fingers. ‘Because, one, Rachel Mansell stroke Vanessa Harford is the women who sailed with him to France when he came back with Carla. Two, she’s the woman who went baby shopping with him. Three, she’s the woman he turns to for emergency help if I’m not around. Four, I know he really likes her and Five, he’s just told me he wants her to be—’ Sabine stopped. ‘Oh my God. Sorry.’
‘What?’ Harriet said.
‘He’s asked her to be Carla’s Godmother – with you.’
Harriet closed her eyes for a couple of seconds and sighed. Vanessa Harford was back, once again threatening to disrupt her life.
‘Are you all right?’ Sabine said. ‘No after effects from falling?’
Harriet opened her eyes and shrugged. ‘Got a bit of a bruise on my thigh. Otherwise I’m fine. What happened last night after Frank and Ellie took me home?’
‘Not much. Vanessa vanished upstairs when you fainted and everybody left soon after you.’
‘I still can’t believe she’s been here in town all summer,’ Harriet said. ‘How come Johnnie didn’t recognise her?’
‘He’d never met her before. You remember in those days he was often away crewing for months. Think he was on a research ship somewhere in Antarctica when Oscar fell for her charms.’
‘She must have realised you were his sister.’
‘Think she’s spent the summer avoiding me, to be honest,’ Sabine said. ‘She knows, like you, I’d have recognised her instantly.’
‘I remember you both meeting at Aunt Amy’s party,’ Harriet said. ‘You clicked with each other immediately.’
‘We did but we fell out pretty spectacularly over you and Oscar. We almost came to fisticuffs in the street. I never spoke to her again. They left soon after, and now she’s back,’ Sabine said. ‘Any ideas on how we handle things?’
‘Absolutely none,’ Harriet said, shaking her head. ‘I also have the added complication of Ellie. Personally, I could kill Vanessa for the past and yet, part of me can’t help thinking if she hadn’t run off with Oscar, I wouldn’t be so happy and married to Frank. And Ellie wouldn’t have had such a wonderful childhood.’
‘Johnnie really likes her too, so the pressure is going to be on me to be friends with her,’ Sabine said.
‘Meantime, Ellie is at this very moment making her acquaintance,’ Harriet said. ‘She’s desperate to learn about Oscar.’
A family group approached the kiosk and Sabine turned to give them her attention. Harriet waited patiently while Sabine issued tickets and made genial conversation with them.
As they moved away Harriet said, ‘I know Frank is finding it easier to accept this ‘need to know my real father’ attitude that Ellie has adopted because Oscar is dead and there is no chance of them coming face to face. Or having to share Ellie’s affection.’
‘Whereas Vanessa is very much alive, in town and back in your life,’ Sabine said.
‘Exactly. Am I going to be forced to stand by and watch the woman who irrevocably changed the course of my life become friends with her stepdaughter – my daughter? I dread the thought of bumping into her around town,’ Harriet shuddered. ‘Four months into the year of living here to comply with Aunt Amy’s bequest and this happens. Eight long months before I can return to my own home.’
‘Don’t let her drive you away a second time,’ Sabine said. ‘Johnnie told me to leave the past where it belongs, in the past. He wants me to meet her soon.’ She paused. ‘I’m thinking of going to see her before he arranges anything. See what she has to say all these years later. Want to come with me?’
Harriet shook her head. ‘No. I need a few more days to calm down. Have to say, it’s beginning to look like it’s a case of forgive and forget for you at least.’
Sabine pulled a face. ‘I have to try for Johnnie’s sake – and I think you know you have to do the same for you and Ellie.’