chapter 12

Nicole arranged to meet Susie for coffee to “spill the beans” as Susie put it so eloquently. ‘I shall want to hear every detail, my friend. Every detail!’

Nicole laughed, ‘Don’t worry, you shall.’

As they now sat in the café, cappuccinos steaming in front of them, Nicole described her meeting with Hélène and then Eve at “the house like a castle.”

Susie interjected at timely intervals.

‘Do tell me again what Hélène looks like.’ ‘Had the house really got towers?’ ‘Tell me more about Eve.’

When Susie was satisfied she knew everything there was to learn, she looked at Nicole and asked, ‘So, are you glad you’ve met them?’

‘Oh, yes. Obviously, it’s too soon to have learnt much about them and I can’t tell if I take after either of them. I now know we share the same eyes which isn’t much to go on!’ She grinned. ‘I’d really like to find out how much I share genetically with them, you know, personality, intelligence. That sort of thing.’ Or if I’m more like my father Adrian. Hope not, he was such a rat to Hélène. But do I want to take after her? She let herself be used by Adrian and looks so bitter and unhappy…She pulled a face, adding, ‘Then I could see what I’d become like when I’m older.’

‘That’s a bit scary! I look at my mum, bless her, and hope I don’t turn out like her!’ Susie laughed. ‘I love her dearly, but you know what I mean.’

Nicole nodded. ‘Sure, no-one wants to become exactly like their mother. But we won’t. There’s always some differences, even if it’s just the hairstyle.’

They both giggled as they pictured what to them were their mothers’ unflattering, older woman hairstyles.

‘Seriously, Susie, you know that you take after your mum when it comes to cooking as you’re both brilliant cooks, but you share your dad’s sense of humour.’

Susie laughed. ‘So there’s hope for me yet! I see it’s important for you to spend more time with Hélène and Eve but that’s not the whole story is it? You’d need to meet your father too.’ She reached out for Nicole’s hand before asking, ‘You’re not sure about that, are you?’

‘No, I’m not. But that’s a long way off and I might never meet him. Might not want to. In the meantime I have to decide when to go back to Guernsey and whether or not to stay chez Hélène.’

Susie’s eyes opened wide.

‘She asked you to stay?’

‘Yes, when she dropped me off at the airport. I said I’d think about it. It’s the best way to get to know them better, but it could be disastrous if we don’t get on. I could just stay in a B&B. What do you think?’

Susie thought for a moment.

‘It’s a bit like meeting the in-laws, isn’t it? If they’ve got a big enough house – and they certainly have – then it might look odd for you to stay in a B&B. As if you don’t really like them. And if it doesn’t work out you can always hop on the next plane.’

‘You’re right. I think Hélène would be hurt if I didn’t stay there. I could hire a car and go exploring so it doesn’t get too claustrophobic. I’d like to get to know Guernsey better as I’ve not been there for yonks. Not since we went over for your hen weekend and I can’t remember us doing much exploring then,’ she laughed.

‘Only the nightclubs,’ Susie grinned. ‘Oh, those were the days! Single and care-free.’

‘Hardly single! You were about to walk down the aisle and I’d already been there and bought the bloody T-shirt.’ Nicole frowned as her mind drifted back to her own wedding day and the hopes and dreams that now lay shattered like broken glass beneath her feet.

‘Hey! Don’t get maudlin, girl. If it wasn’t meant to be…Which reminds me, have you heard from Him lately?’

Nicole played with her teaspoon.

‘No. I’ve been half-expecting him to ring ’cos it’s been a few weeks since we last spoke.’ She put the spoon down and looked up.

‘He doesn’t want to accept that it’s over between us and is trying to woo me back with protestations of undying love and fidelity. He almost makes me believe him, but – ’

‘You know you can’t trust him, girl! He’s got a silver tongue all right, but promise me you’re not weakening.’ Susie grabbed Nicole’s hand.

Nicole shook her head. ‘No, I’m not, but it’s hard not to remember the good times we had. And I do get lonely,’ she sighed.

Susie’s face softened.

‘I know, I know. But just hang on in there, my girl, and everything will work out fine. Auntie Susie says so.’

Nicole smiled. ‘Well, if Auntie Susie says so, who am I to disagree?’

 

Later that day, just as Nicole was wondering what to make for supper, the phone rang. Thinking it was Susie for another chat she picked it up, laughing, ‘Miss me already do you?’

‘Yes, you know I do, darling,’ answered Tom.

‘Oh!’ Gripping the phone she sat down heavily on the nearest chair. ‘Hello, Tom. What do you want?’

‘Well, that’s not very welcoming is it? And who were you expecting it to be, a new boyfriend?’ His tone hardened.

‘I thought it was Susie, not that it’s any of your business. We agreed minimal contact so that I could make a decision without any pressure. You’re just making it harder – ’

‘Nicole, please listen! I just wanted to know if you’ve found your mother.’

‘Mm, yes I have. I’ve just been over to see her in Guernsey. And her mother, my…grandmother.’

‘Wow! That’s great. I’m so pleased for you. Really I am. It’s what you set out to do when we had that… row.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Does that mean that you might be willing for us to meet up? I know we agreed not to meet unless you wanted, but I really need you to know how much I’ve changed –’

‘Perhaps you have and perhaps you haven’t. I’m not going to take your word for that.’ Nicole began to feel angry. ‘Look, I’ve got a lot of stuff to deal with and we’re only half-way through the agreed six months’ separation –’

‘But –’

‘No, Tom. Please leave me in peace while I sort my head out. Bye.’ Nicole’s heart was beating fast as she switched off the phone. Susie’s words had been echoing in her mind throughout the call – ‘Everything will work out fine.’ She had to believe her friend was right, but it hurt, it really hurt. The tears seeped through her lashes, leaving trails of mascara down her cheeks. Damn the man! She reached for a tissue and a glass of wine. Does he really think that just ’cos I’ve found my mother that all can be hunky-dory again? It doesn’t change anything between us. And even if he has changed, do I want to go back to him? She couldn’t trust herself to answer that. Not yet.