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SUNDAY LUNCH HAD EXTENDED through to the evening and everyone agreed it had been great fun. Left-overs from lunch had provided supper, making for a relaxed time even for the hostess. Tess hadn’t enjoyed herself as much for a while and was happy to think this was a sample of what her new social life would be like. Together with some dating, perhaps?
When she woke on Monday morning her first thought was about Jack and how he had spent Sunday. Somehow she doubted if it would have been with young families even though she put him at about late thirties, likely to have some married friends. As she showered and dressed, his image kept popping into her head and she forced herself to think of other things. Like, what was she going to do today? She planned to nip round to the house, to make sure all was back to normal after the trauma of Friday, and then return to read the diaries for an hour or two. Any longer and her brain would explode. After a simple breakfast of cereals, juice and coffee, Tess went downstairs to find her hosts.
‘Morning. Do you have any plans today?’ Charlotte asked when Tess found her in the conservatory playing with James. He came over, arms outstretched, and she gave him a hug and a kiss. Satisfied, he wriggled until she set him down again.
‘Only a quick trip to my house. Thought I might do some more reading later. What about you?’
‘Supermarket shopping’s the main item.’ Charlotte pulled a face. ‘And at some point a walk with this young man or possibly a trip to the play area in Saumarez Park. Which, I promise you, is eminently more enjoyable.’
‘I bet! Well, I’ll catch you later. Bye for now.’
It was mid-morning and the roads to Town were relatively quiet and it struck Tess that the following Monday would be her first day at work and she would be joining most of the adult population driving across the island early in the morning. One of the downsides of living in a small space with a high per capita number of cars, her friends had told her. After parking near St Michel she went in hoping to see Jack, but was told he wasn’t expected until later. All the men were busy at work and the atmosphere had returned to normal. She saw a new face and assumed he was Larry’s stand-in. After a quick look around and checking the desk was still safely locked in the cupboard, Tess left to see Heather, who invited her in for a coffee, keen to know why an ambulance had been there on Friday. She explained about the accident and how it had been lucky she was on the spot.
Heather was round-eyed when she finished.
‘How awful for you, having to deal with such an emergency in your own house. Is everything else going well?’
Tess said it was and she would be starting work the following week and wouldn’t be able to come round as often, but she trusted Jack to keep a keen eye on progress.
‘I’m still hoping to be in by the end of August. And I can’t wait to invite you and other friends round for the house-warming.’
Heather smiled, offering her a piece of homemade cake.
‘I look forward to it and I’ll bring some cake as my contribution.’
Tess took a bite.
‘Delicious, as always. Have you never considered baking professionally? I’m sure there must be shops and cafés keen to buy such lovely cakes as yours.’
‘No, I haven’t. I’m not sure I’d have the confidence to approach anyone to buy from me.’
‘If I could find someone interested in buying them, would you be up for baking to order? It would mean a proper commitment.’ Tess was thinking of Colette, who if she didn’t want them herself might know of other outlets. Heather had admitted to being a bored housewife so...
Heather chewed her lip.
‘I do have time on my hands, yes, and it’d be nice to have more of a sense of purpose. But are you really sure my cakes would be up to scratch? I’ve only ever considered myself a competent amateur, not like those in the Bake Off competition on TV.’
‘Honestly, your cakes are as good as any I’ve tasted from professional bakers. And I think it would be wonderful to give others a chance to eat them. But it’s up to you.’
‘In that case, I’m happy to have a go. More coffee? Or cake?’ she laughed.
Tess grinned. ‘No thanks, I’m full. I’ll talk to my friend and let you know. And now I’d better get off.’ She stood and Heather showed her out, giving her a quick hug.
‘Thanks. Even if no-one is interested in my cakes, you’ve boosted my confidence.’
Tess could only hope she’d find a buyer, keen to help her new friend find an outlet for her talent. As she walked down the path, a voice called her name and she turned to see Jack getting out of his car. She found herself breaking into a broad smile.
‘Hi, Jack. How are you? Did you have a good weekend?’
He came up to her and kissed her cheek. Her pulse quickened.
‘I’m good, thanks and enjoyed my weekend. Particularly Saturday evening,’ he said, grinning. ‘And you?’
‘Yes, the same.’
‘Have you been in the house this morning?’ He moved as if to go towards the front door.
She nodded. ‘Earlier. Everything seems to be fine and I’m about to go home.’
‘Right. In that case, are you free for dinner this week? Tomorrow night?’ He touched her arm.
‘Ah, not tomorrow, as my father arrives for a few days and we’re having dinner together. He leaves on Friday, so I’m free then.’
‘Okay, Friday it is. If I don’t see you before then, I’ll give you a ring.’
‘Great, I look forward to it.’ She hesitated. Would he kiss her goodbye?
He leaned closer. ‘Bye for now,’ he said, and kissed her cheek.
‘Bye.’ Her smile was broad as she walked towards her car.
Charlotte’s car was missing when Tess arrived home so she went up to her room and phoned Colette about Heather and her cakes.
‘That’s interesting. I don’t serve cake in the restaurant, only the usual desserts, but I’ve been toying with the idea of opening earlier in the day to offer coffee and snacks. There’s not much competition around The Bridge and think we could do well.’
‘Sounds good. And everyone loves a slice of home-made cake with their tea or coffee, don’t they?’
Colette chuckled.
‘Islanders do, anyway. Tell Heather to contact me and we’ll take it from there. No promises, but I’m always happy to talk to anyone who can bake or cook.’
They spent a few minutes chatting before Colette had to go and feed Rosie. Tess rang Heather who was delighted to have the chance to speak to Colette. Pleased with her good deed for the day, Tess dug out the diaries to catch up with Eugénie and Victor Hugo. A couple of hours later she took a break for lunch and then went downstairs to see if Charlotte was back. She found her having a cup of tea in the kitchen.
‘I’ve just put James down for his nap. Want to join me for a cup?’
‘Thanks. I’ve been reading more of the 1862 diary, but not much is happening as Hugo goes away with Juliette for three months, leaving Eugénie a tad sad, by the sound of it. I’m sure her feelings for him are growing.’ She sat down, accepting the proffered cup.
‘He was a rascal, wasn’t he? Taking his mistress off for a trip abroad just as his wife returns to Guernsey. But Adèle must have gone along with it, she was too strong minded a woman to be walked over.’ Charlotte sipped her tea. ‘I found the whole ménage à trois fascinating. He must have had something about him to be the object of such strong devotion from two women. Although Adèle’s love waned earlier in the marriage and she took a lover, before Hugo fell for Juliette. And then, when he’s well past his prime, a third, if Eugénie proves to have fallen under his spell.’ She laughed, the deep throaty laugh that Tess found so infectious.
‘There’s no sign of anything happening between them yet, but Eugénie misses him while he’s away. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so they say.’ Tess’s thoughts slipped to Jack and their forthcoming date. She cleared her throat, ‘By the way, I bumped into Jack this morning and he’s taking me out to dinner again. He suggested tomorrow but Dad’s arriving in the morning so we settled on Friday.’
Charlotte’s eyebrows rose.
‘Ooh, he does sound keen. But I think it’s good you can’t see him when he wants, you mustn’t sound too keen yourself. Keep it cool.’
Tess giggled. ‘Is that what you did with Andy? Played it cool?’
‘Ah, that was different. I was helping research his family’s history so we had to meet quite a lot to discuss my progress.’ Charlotte tried to look serious, but failed.
‘Not that different to Jack and me, then. Only I’m checking on his progress with my house.’ Tess started laughing and Charlotte joined in.
‘Touché! Whatever, I wish you well. If it goes all right on Friday, I’ll invite him round next time we have friends for a meal. I now owe Colette and we went to Jeanne’s a few weeks ago so the pressure’s on.’
Tess stood and stretched.
‘I’ll leave you to your plans and go for a long walk. See you later.’ She left, striking out through the nearby woods, planning to end up with a walk on the beach. A chance to clear her head.
At eight the next morning Tess was parked outside the airport on the look-out for her father. The early arrivals through the doors were clearly business passengers, there for the day, clutching briefcases or odd-looking boxes holding goodness knew what. Then those with luggage trickled through and she spotted her father, looking perplexed like someone in a strange land rather than his birthplace.
‘Hi, Dad. Had a good flight?’ His eyes lit up as he saw her and they shared a hug.
‘Yes, it was fine. But what have they done to the airport? I hardly recognised it.’ He looked back at the tall glazed building behind him.
‘It’s called progress, Dad. You’ll see lots of changes, some good some not so much. But, hey, you’re here and I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself.’ She stowed his case in the boot and they jumped into the car.
‘Right, I’m guessing you’ve not had breakfast?’ He shook his head. ‘Nor have I so I suggest we go to the café in Waitrose at Admiral Park as it’s open early and on the way to your guest house. Okay?’
‘Guernsey’s got a Waitrose? Well, I’m blowed!’ he said, chuckling.
‘Actually, there are two, one’s in the Rohais. I did tell you there have been a lot of changes, but I think the supermarkets have been popular. Now, what are your plans so far?’ He told her about meeting up with friends for lunch in Town when they’d make further arrangements for the rest of his stay. Tess suggested she took him round her house after checking into the B & B and then going into Town for a coffee and a mooch around. Ken was happy with the idea and as Tess negotiated the traffic he stared out of the window, making the odd comment about anything new.
A couple of hours later Tess and her father stood outside St Michel while he studied the façade.
‘I’d forgotten what the old place looked like, only remembering the houses here looked a bit shabby. But they don’t now, do they?’ He waved towards the neighbouring properties, showing off the result of serious investment in renovations. ‘Those chaps knew how to build in the nineteenth century, didn’t they? And your house looks as solid as the rest.’ He put his arm round her shoulders, saying, ‘I’m so pleased for you, love. Now let’s have the grand tour.’ Tess grinned, happy to see her father showing such an interest after his weeks of depression. The medication seemed to be working.
The workmen were busy preparing the walls for plasterboarding and the installation of the new electrics and they had to tread carefully where floorboards were missing, but Ken was unfazed by the upheaval. By the time they reached the attic rooms he was as keen as Tess on the proposed renovations.
‘And what views you’ll have! I do miss being close to the sea.’ Ken sighed, looking out of the attic window.
‘Come and see the cupboard, Dad. And the desk, which is lovely.’ She unlocked the door and stood back to let Ken take a good look, opening the drawers and fingering the inlay.
‘Nice piece of furniture, all right, and fancy locking everything up like that. Still, if they hadn’t you’d have been the loser, as God knows what would have happened to it over the years.’
‘True. Have you seen enough? We can go and grab a coffee now.’ She locked the cupboard and they returned downstairs. She heard Jack’s voice as they arrived in the entrance hall and she felt butterflies in her stomach as he turned round. His broad smile said it all.
‘Hi, Tess. And you must be her father, Mr Le Prevost? Jack Renouf, I’m the building contractor.’ He shook Ken’s hand.
‘Nice to meet you, Jack. Looks like you’re doing a grand job and it’ll be good to see the old place smartened up,’ Ken said, giving him a keen look.
Tess noticed Jack had been talking to an official looking man with a clipboard and decided they ought to leave.
‘We were just going for a coffee, Jack. Catch you later.’ She flashed him a smile and took her father’s arm to leave.
‘I think that guy’s from building control or something and needed to talk to Jack,’ she told Ken once they were outside, hoping it wasn’t about Larry’s accident.
‘Well, I think you’re in safe hands with that Jack, for sure. I was worried you’d end up with a cowboy, but they look like a professional outfit.’
Linking arms they walked down the hill towards the town centre and Tess tried not to worry about the man with the clipboard.
The next few days sped by, with Tess spending as much time as she could with Ken when he wasn’t with his friends. They had meals together and she introduced him to Charlotte and Andy when she made supper for him one evening. It was years since she had spent so much time with her father and they discovered how much they had in common, particularly their love of Guernsey. The subject of the impending divorce didn’t come up until Thursday evening when they were enjoying a last meal together at Crabby Jack’s at Vazon.
‘You know, love, coming here has made me see things differently. I’m still angry and upset about what your mother’s done but, looking back, I now see that things hadn’t been right between us for years. I’d been blinkered, not wanting to see what was really happening. Not wanting to make changes, I suppose.’ Ken raked his hand through his greying hair and grimaced.
Tess squeezed his hand, her heart breaking for him.
‘So, what do you plan to do now, Dad?’
‘I want to move here, for sure. There’s not much to keep me in Exeter now, what with you and Clive having left. House prices here are bloody high, though, and I won’t get much for my half of our house. A small apartment, maybe. As long as Elaine isn’t too greedy, I could just about manage to live here on my pension,’ he sighed, fiddling with his glass of wine. ‘But I’d rather be some place where I’m happy than carry on living on old memories and have money in the bank.’
Tess toyed with the idea of suggesting he lived with her and was about to say something when her father went on, ‘And no, I’m not asking you to let me move in. That wouldn’t be fair on you and I want to keep my independence. But at least we could choose to spend time with each other, rather than be forced to. Agreed?’ He patted her hand.
‘Agreed.’