‘Thank you. I did, more than I realised. It’s all thanks to you and Andrew for being the most generous friends I could ever have. I promise to pay you back one day.’
‘We don’t ever need paying back. That’s what friends are for. You’d do the same for us. I know you would. Anyway, let’s get back to more exciting matters. So, when will you be seeing Elias again?’
‘Next weekend, and I can’t wait. I’m going to Manchester to meet his sons.’
‘Oh, that does sound serious.’
‘Yes. I just hope it doesn’t go as badly as it did when Elias met Poppy.’
‘Oh, I’m sure they’ll love you. Why would they not?’ says Carol.
As I take the last bite of carrot cake, I consider James and Danny’s reaction when they meet me. Will they like me, or could this be our biggest challenge yet?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
James isn’t as I pictured him. He’s studious, quiet and keeps himself to himself. He is studying marine biology and seems more interested in his books than getting into any form of conversation with me. I don’t know what I imagined, but I suppose since Elias can be outgoing and rather gregarious, I assumed his sons would be similar. I thought James might be the life and soul of every student party.
Danny, meanwhile, is going to be the one I need to convince. From the moment I walk in through the front door, sheepishly hiding behind Elias, he looks at me suspiciously. He has dark brown eyes, like his dad. I smile and hold my hand out to greet him, but he turns on his heels.
‘I’d better get going. Got to go around and collect for some bills that need paying.’
‘Don’t let Mr Henley hide behind the sofa this time,’ teases Elias.
Danny doesn’t smile.
‘We’ve one customer, and every time I’d go round for money, he’d dart behind the door. I’d watch in disbelief as he’d crawl on his hands and knees to avoid paying. A real devil he was. He gets Danny every time. Maybe it’s time to expand the business and get more staff in, preferably someone who can chase payments. I’ve been thinking for a while it should be more than a one-man band by now. What do you say, Dan? We could take on some big contracts for companies?’
But Danny is already gone. The front door slams shut. Elias doesn’t acknowledge his absence, simply smiles, and insists he takes my bag upstairs. The house is big, but not something a lottery winner would live in. It’s got five bedrooms and is the type of house someone with a successful business would own. I admire the pretty stained-glass window in the hallway with its kingfisher pattern, and Elias tells me that Jane designed it herself. Just as I thought, this was very much their family home. As we walk up the cream-carpeted staircase, I notice the paintings that lead up to the spare room. I can tell they are Jane’s art since they all have a distinctive style and are all landscapes. There is no doubt she was talented.
The spare room is decorated with pink and white wallpaper, which is slightly dated. It could definitely do with a makeover. Parts of it are faded, and I remember what Elias said about the boys not wanting anything changed. Is it only the boys who don’t want it changed though?
When Elias makes me tea in the kitchen, there is further evidence that Jane is all around us, with matching tea towels, oven gloves and a pink kettle. It feels a little unsettling, and I begin to wish we were back on the yacht, which had subtler signs of Jane.
‘Jane seemed to like pink.’ I smile.
‘She certainly did. I should make it a bit more masculine in here really…’
‘No, it’s fine.’ Although, with all the testosterone in here, it does appear incongruous.
‘So, anyway, I thought perhaps we’d get a takeaway tonight and then I’ll take you into Cheadle tomorrow if that’s okay? I’ve told Danny to make sure he’s back by six. It’d be nice to all sit down, have dinner and get to know each other.’
‘Yes, fabulous. Sounds lovely. I’ll look forward to it.’ But the truth is that I am not looking forward to it one bit. How on earth am I supposed to enjoy an onion bhaji when Danny is sat across from me, looking at me with those dark, suspicious eyes?
I was right to be sceptical, and, as I suspected, I can’t enjoy my onion bhaji one bit because if I try to say anything, Danny shoots me down. I do understand that it is difficult for him, and I know how awkward the girls can be, too, so I try to remain polite, and no matter how much he unnerves me, I attempt not to show it.
‘I hope Mr Henley paid you, did he?’ I ask when nobody is talking around the table. I can’t bear silences in awkward situations.
‘Why? So, we’ve got more money?’ says Danny.
‘Danny! Lucy’s only trying to be polite,’ says Elias.
‘Yeah, well. I suppose she knows about theyou know what…’
‘Yes, I’ve told her, but that’s not why she’s here.’
I notice how Danny scowls at me, and I try to move the conversation away from money.
‘Your mum was a very talented artist, wasn’t she?’ I say, pointing to another of her paintings that hangs proudly in the dining room.
