‘Oh, Mum! It didn’t!’
‘We know it did, darling. No wonder you didn’t want to come here. It was hardly welcoming.’
‘Mum, please don’t think that. I was just caught up in my own world but we’ve all learned some lessons. Let’s just focus on that.’
Mum nodded, but neither Finn nor I missed the tears behind the glasses. ‘Yes, darling. You’re absolutely right. Now, let’s get you both inside. It’s bitter out here. Oh leave that, Finn, dear. William can come and get those.’
‘No need,’ Finn said, loading himself up with our bags easily. My parents would soon learn that this man was naturally gallant. The thought that he would let his host, an older man than he, heave our luggage about wouldn’t have crossed his mind.
Mum, sharp as always, realised immediately that there was no point in arguing so instead wrapped her arm around my waist and we all walked into the house, past the reindeer which had now lit up as Dad joined us at the door.
‘Aren’t they wonderful?’ he enthused, hugging me close.
‘They’re great, Dad,’ I said, laughing and loving his joy over their latest purchase. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m fine,’ he said, widening his eyes at me with meaning. ‘You need to stop worrying. It’s not good for you.’
‘You’re my parents. I’m never not going to worry.’
Dad shook his head. ‘Darling, Button,’ he said, pulling me in for a hug again. ‘We wasted so much time.’
‘Come on, none of that,’ Mum said, tapping him on the arm. ‘I’ve already gone down that route and got told off so let’s just enjoy Lizzie and Finn’s company whilst they’re here.’
Dad drew in a deep breath, gave a decisive nod and held out his hand. ‘Good to see you, Finn,’ he said, closing his other hand over their joined ones. ‘So glad you could come. How was the journey down?’
‘This is a stunning setting,’ Finn said as we walked along the clifftops a couple of days later. Yesterday the skies had teemed with rain on a biblical scale for the entire day but we’d relaxed with my parents, eaten good food, played some new board games (which Finn, as the expert, had explained the rules of as none of us had ever attempted such a thing before) and got slowly and happily squiffy in the now cosy, and uncluttered living room. Outside, the rain had lashed against the new bifold doors Mum and Dad had put in to make the most of the view they’d been less appreciative of before but inside, Dad had chucked another log on the open fire and we’d toasted crumpets and marshmallows and Finn had made us all replicas of the heavenly hot chocolate we’d had in Bath.
This morning, in the ethereally pale sunshine we had woken to, the grass looked a rich emerald green, contrasting with the grey cliff faces and sapphire sea. White horses danced on the waves, chased by the brisk breeze. I wrapped my scarf a little tighter as we trod on along the path and looked out over the ocean, watching as a gull got knocked off course by a sudden gust.
‘It really is. I love that my parents have put those big doors in so you can see it from the house properly now.’
‘I get the impression there’s been quite a lot of changes recently.’
I laughed. ‘You can say that again.’
‘For the good?’
I thought about how much closer we’d grown. ‘Definitely. And of course they love you.’
‘Well, they don’t know me all that well. Things could change.’
‘Unless you have a Mr Hyde side I’ve yet to discover, somehow I doubt it. Plus you make me happy which as far as they’re concerned is more than enough.’
‘And what about you?’
‘What about me?’
‘Is that more than enough for you?’
I slowed my steps and turned my face towards the wind, and Finn. ‘What do you mean?’
Finn turned as his arm was pulled backwards where my hand held his. ‘Nothing deep and philosophical. I’m just asking.’
‘But why are you asking? Does it not feel enough?’ I released his hand and shoved my own protectively in my pockets.
‘You’re reading too much into what was a flippant comment, Elizabeth. Come on.’ He held out his hand again. ‘What do you think about taking your parents out for a meal tonight? A friend of mine has a restaurant not that far from here. She’s just got her first Michelin star.’
‘Do you think we’d be able to get in at this late notice? Those sort of restaurants normally have a waiting list.’
