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Ada had enjoyed a number of interesting relationships over the years. There was the fellow activist (they’d got to know each other while tied to adjoining trees which the council was poised to axe), and a ‘resting’ actor, who’d sponged off her until she’d finally seen sense, bundled all his belongings together andchucked them out of her bedroom window. There had also been a colourful but penniless baronet, whose father had apparently gambled away the family fortune. (I’d quite liked Hector. His big old draughty mansion had as many leaks in the roof as he had holes in the elbows of his green cardigans, but he’d treated Ada like a princess. But she’d dumped him for the tree protestor, who she declared was herself in male form and the love of her life – until it transpired that he actually preferred to be female in form and she caught him one day at her bedroom mirror, modelling her baby doll nightie and Manolo Blahnik wedges.)
But while Ada sometimes talked about her disastrous relationships, there was one man she never talked about. And we all knew why.
Antonio, Blossom’s father, had been the real love of her life.
Sadly, after a brief few months of bliss, they’d been forced to part. Antonio was married. His wife had dementia and was in a care home, and he’d been crucified with guilt over his betrayal of her. Ada had hoped the birth of Blossom would make him change his mind, but she’d eventually been forced to accept that it could never work between them.
It was why Blossom was extra-special to her. She was a child born of true love. I could see that quite plainly, and I wished Skye could, too. But my older sister was full of bitterness at Blossom for being ‘the favourite’. I was sad that Blossom had never met Antonio, her father.
I had a feeling the reason Ada kept busy all the time was partly to fill the aching gap left by Antonio, the love of her life. It was really sad. But at the same time, I couldn’t help wishing she’d focus on her children a bit more instead of pouring all her energy into her ‘good causes’.
Blossom, who obviously knew Geoffrey better than I did as he was a regular visitor to the house, said Ada seemed more contentand less restless these days, and she put that down to her having Geoffrey’s calming influence in her life.
‘Geoffrey’s lovely,’ said Blossom, ‘and he seems to adore her. But Ada treats him as if he’s her personal assistant.’
I groaned. ‘If she’s not careful, he’ll get fed up and find someone nicer.’
‘I know. That’s what I’m worried about. Anyway, let’s continue this chat inside over coffee, shall we?’
I grinned. ‘I think you’d better park the car first.’
She swung round, alarmed. ‘The engine’s still running! I was just so excited to see you. Won’t be a mo.’ And she dashed off.
I watched her fondly. Blossom could be so scatty at times, but it was part of her charm. People – men and women alike – had always been drawn to her warmth and cheerful outlook on life, and it amazed me that she still hadn’t found that special someone to share her life with. Blossom had plenty of lovely male friends, but she wasn’t nearly as lucky when it came to romance. She sometimes joked that she was following in our mother’s footsteps, choosing the wrong guys, and I did wonder if there was some truth in that. (My own romance record wasn’t much better, to be fair.)
‘Where’syourcar?’ She joined me back at the door.
I groaned. ‘In the garage having the rust treated. Big job.’
‘Oh, well, everything you need is in walking distance here.’ She glanced at the shops across the green.
‘Exactly.’
We went in and ordered at the counter. Blossom’s eyes flicked uncertainly at me as we found a table with our loaded tray. ‘You don’t need to talk about Nash, by the way. Not unless you want to.’
I shrugged. ‘I don’t mind. Just like Ross, he’s history.’
‘Good,’ she said, with feeling. ‘I’ve been so worried about you, Rori. From what you’ve told me, he was a complete and utternightmare with his horrible rages and his – ’ She broke off guiltily. ‘Oh, shut up, Blossom. Honestly, here I am saying you don’t have to talk about him, and what am I doing? Talking about him!’
‘It’s okay. Really.’ I gave her a sheepish look. ‘The truth is, I should have left Nash ages ago, but he sort of brainwashed me into believing we were meant to be together. When we were good, we wereverygood, and he always managed to talk me round after one of his outbursts.’ I shook my head wearily. ‘It’s weird thinking about it now, from a safe distance. I can sort of be objective these days. But at the time, I thought I loved him and I felt like I was trapped and I was never going to be able to escape.’
‘You poor love.’ Blossom shook her head sadly. ‘I thought I must have upset you when you were keeping me at arm’s length. You never seemed to be available to meet up for one reason or another. I thought I’d done something wrong.’
‘No!’ I shook my head. ‘Not at all. It was... well, it was all me. It was my fault.’
She snorted. ‘Nash’sfault, you mean. Honestly, if I’d known he was keeping you from seeing people...’
I gave a shaky sigh. ‘He didn’t keep me from seeing people exactly, but he made it clear he didn’t like me spending time away from him, so I was constantly tip-toeing around him, wanting to keep him sweet so that he wouldn’t fly into one of his rages.’ I shivered, remembering. ‘It was all about howNashwas feeling. I turned into someone I didn’t even recognise, and to be honest, I’m still having a hard job finding the old me again. I feel soanxiousall the time. It’s almost as if he’s still around.’ I glanced behind me, as if Nash might be there now, spying on me through the café window.
Blossom frowned. ‘Youhavegot rid of him, though? Nash, I mean. He’s definitely out of the picture?’
‘Yes.’ I swallowed. ‘I hope so.’
‘Youhopeso?’ She looked horrified.
I stared at her miserably. ‘The thing is, I bumped into an old friend of his – Janey – and she said he misses me and she thinks he might want me back.’
‘Oh, no!’
