He almost thought she was joking but then he noticed a small pair of bird-watching binoculars hanging on the hook for the tie-back for the curtains. He pulled the dusky rose curtains back to reveal the heavy grey sky outside, then unhooked the binoculars and took them over to her, pressing his lips together to try and keep a straight face as he thought about their neighbour Thomas opposite, and how he’d misjudged Christine’s interest in his house.
‘Be careful. You never know what you might see. This all went very wrong for James Stewart.’
She looked at him appraisingly. ‘You knowRear Window?’
‘Oui. I love old films and he’s one of my favourite actors. Did you know Ashleigh has never seenIt’s a Wonderful Life?’
‘That would be because I don’t own any sentimental rubbish like that.’
Olivier paused on his way back out of the door, resting his hands on the back of the armchair, as Christine’s contradictory nature got him thinking. On the one hand, he could see how fiercely she cared for Ashleigh – enough to give him a talking-to despite being bedridden. But her blunt, no-nonsense attitude was blinkering her vision.
When he was a teenager, all he could do to help Ashleigh was hug her or listen to her when she spoke about overhearing arguments between her grandmere and maman, which left her feeling unwanted. But now he was an adult; if he actually said something, instead of playing it safe and trying not to upset anyone, he might actually help them.
‘Perhaps Ashleigh would like a bit of sentimentality to restore her faith in the world, Christine.’
‘Is that what that soppy stuff does?’ She snorted.
‘It might do.’
‘If Ashleigh wanted to she’s free to watch it – I never banned it entirely from the house.’
‘But you never made it welcome.’
She put her binoculars down and leaned her head back against the headboard. ‘What are we really talking about here?’
‘When you don’t let someone make choices about their life – or you continually make it clear you disagree with their choices – you can end up pushing that person away.’
‘Is that so?’
He nodded. ‘Even with the best of intentions.’
She frowned at him and then looked away, out the window, her expression very still.
‘I’m sorry, are you tired?’ He felt that instantaneous surge of guilt that always came when he said something that made anyone look even slightly upset. But it was done now. ‘Would you still like some soup?’
‘Yes please,’ she said absently, and Olivier went to fetch it, hoping her hadn’t made matters worse for Ashleigh…or for himself. When he returned she looked more herself and thanked him briskly.
‘Oh, Olivier, I texted my friend Mary. She hasIt’s a Wonderful Lifeon DVD – if you walk Simon over that way, she’ll lend it to you. Perhaps you and Ashleigh could watch it tonight? I won’t be downstairs to disturb you.’
‘That’s really kind, thank you, Christine. I’ll do that.’
