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Liza had visited her the day before, not wanting to leave without saying goodbye.
In the end she’d been honest with her old friend, as Angie had been with her, and that one conversation had reminded her why the connection between them had always been so strong. There were few people in life with whom you could trust your innermost secrets, but Angie was one of those.
She shifted her attention back to Sean. “Do you think you’d get enough work to justify setting up an office?”
“I don’t know, but I’m excited to try.”
It was fun to plan, but she still couldn’t see it as reality. “There is no way the twins will want to leave London. And do we really want to move them at this stage, when they’re heading into important exams?”
“Life isn’t all about the twins, Liza. Our lives are important too. But whichever option we choose, it’s going to take a while to make it happen. So why don’t we agree to spend the next year thinking about how we are going to make this work, with the aim of moving down here when Caitlin and Alice head to college.”
The future that had so recently seemed pressured and full of dark clouds, now glowed brighter. “I love that idea.”
“It will give me time to look for exactly the right property.” He pushed the damp towel into the bag. “Ideally there will be some unloved coast guard cottage with beach views that I can turn into a project for the next couple of years.”
“And I can take my time furnishing it.” She imagined herself picking up pieces from the many local shops selling Cornish crafts along the Atlantic coast. And she’d improvise too, because that was something she loved. She’d collect shells and driftwood, sand and stain the floors of their cottage to a bleached white. “It’s fun to plan.” And most of all it was fun planning together. They’d stopped doing things together and somehow started to live parallel lives. But not anymore.
“Let’s come back soon.” Sean put his arm round her shoulders and stared out to sea. His skin was turning a deep bronze. She’d forgotten how easily he tanned.
“Yes.” Liza stood up and started to gather their things together. “You haven’t changed your mind about what we agreed last night? In the cold light of day it seems impulsive and extravagant.”
“Impulsive
is good. We need to do more of it.” Sean took the bag from her and they walked back to the house, took a shower and loaded their things into his car.
They’d decided to leave hers parked at the cottage for the time being and collect it later in the summer.
Liza checked the front door for a final time. She’d fed Popeye and the evening before she and Sean had driven over to Finn’s to deliver his paintings.
For Liza it had been an awkward moment, but both men had been surprisingly relaxed. Finn had given her a good natured wink, and he and Sean had discussed the architectural design of the house while they had drinks on the lawn.
The other painting she’d done during her visit, the more personal one, was leaning against the wall in her mother’s bedroom. There had been no end of possible subjects for the canvas, but she’d known right from the beginning what she wanted to do and when she’d finally shown it to Sean she’d been reassured by his response.
“Oakwood,” he’d breathed, gazing at the painting of the sun setting over the cottage. “It’s perfect.”
Liza hoped her mother would think so too.
And now they were heading back to London.
Sean took her hand. “Are you sad to be leaving?”
Liza glanced back at Oakwood Cottage. It had provided her with a sanctuary when she’d needed it the most. “We’ll be back very soon. I’ve missed the girls.”
They’d had a long chat the day before, and Liza had been honest about the way she felt. It hadn’t been an easy conversation for her, but the girls were obviously so shaken by that article they’d found, and by the thought that their parents’ marriage might be in trouble, that they were reflective and apologetic.
“You do so much,” Caitlin had said in a subdued tone, “and I’m sorry I didn’t notice or say thank you more. I’m going to do better.”
“A thank-you would be appreciated,” Liza had replied, “but mostly I need you to start taking more responsibility.”
“I will. We will.”
Alice had agreed, and Liza had to admit that on the whole the conversation had gone better than she’d hoped. Whether or not it would last remained to be seen.
“If we’re home late afternoon, I’ll be able to call my mother before they set off for the day.” Liza fastened her seat belt. “It’s weird, isn’t it? You don’t expect your relationship with a parent to change this late in life. I assumed that we’d never be close.” But she and her mother had talked about everything and anything. All the barriers that had kept them separate had vanished.
“I’m pleased for you. Funny to think Kathleen had so much going on in her past. What a life she has led.”
Liza waved a mental goodbye to Oakwood as Sean pulled out of the drive. “I’ve been wondering what her life would have looked like if she’d married Adam.”
