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Jago told her about the misunderstanding.
‘Oh dear.’ Avril managed a giggle. ‘I’m not sure I could cope with being married to you.’
‘Thanks!’
‘You make far too much mess, what with all your work stuff everywhere.’ She pointed her glass at his hair. ‘And I’d get you to cut that lot off right away.’
Jago tweaked a curl which was hanging low in front of one eye. His hair had suffered in the wind and rain and had now dried into an unruly mess. ‘You might have a point.’
She reached out a hand. ‘No, don’t cut it off. It reminds me of when you were a baby. You had a lovely mop of curls. Your gran said you got them from her.’
‘Gran?’ he said incredulously. ‘Her hair is fine and dead straight.’
‘What can I say? With your in-laws you learn to pick your battles.’ She huffed. ‘Quite flattering really, Honor thinking I could be your wife when I’m twenty years older. Maybe I don’t look my age after all.’
‘You know you don’t, Mum. By the way, don’t tell her I’ve told you. She’s embarrassed enough about it as it is.’
‘I won’t, I promise.’ She bit her lip. ‘But I should have been more honest with the school. Been more upfront with everything. It might have helped Merryn more. Not led to all that confusion.’
‘I think Mer is doing fine.’
Avril nodded. ‘You know, I think she is. She’s been amazing tonight. Taken it all in her stride. I think she’s turned a corner and coming here to Lullbury Bay has helped.’ She gazed at Ivy now back in her basket and snoring. ‘We’ve all gone through so much, but I think we’re getting there.’
He put his hand on hers. ‘I think we are too.’ He paused. ‘I’m sorry I volunteered before talking it through with you.’
She sighed gustily. ‘Oh, Jago, I had no idea you were missing it so much.’
‘Yeah. I missed it. It was as if I wasn’t whole. I don’t think I had chance to think much about it when we were selling the house and dealing with all dad’s stuff, and I had the divorce to think about too but, when I came down here and walked past the station most days, it was as if it was constantly pulling me in.’ He sighed. ‘But I’d promised you–’ he let the sentence hang.
Avril blew out a breath and then was silent for a long moment. ‘I don’t think I had the right to make you promise not to volunteer,’ she said eventually. ‘It was wrong of me.’ She smiled ruefully. ‘As well as being honest with the school, maybe we should have been more honest with each other? Why didn’t you discuss it with me? With us? I could see you were unhappy.’
‘How could I, Mum? I couldn’t add to your worries. You had enough on your plate what with moving here, settling Merryn into school.’ He scrubbed an exhausted hand over his face. ‘I was going to tell you, but I didn’t want to do it until we’d got Christmas over with. There’ll be enough to deal with just getting through the first Christmas Day.’
‘Therewillbe lots to deal with tomorrow, but we’ll cope. I’ll cope. And, hey, we wanted a different Christmas to last year’s, well we’ve already achieved that. New home. New friends.’ Avril pulled a face. ‘The beginnings of a menagerie, if Merryn has her way.’ She regarded him fondly. ‘You’re not responsible for me, Jago. I’m not in my dotage yet. I’ve got friends here now, a job I’m going to love. I can look after myself. Besides, I’m your mum, it should bemelooking afteryou.’
He shuffled his feet. ‘But I do feel responsible, and I do want to look after you. And Merryn.’
She reached forward and clasped his hand. ‘My darling boy. You’ve your own life to live. And it seems to me you’re going to have a bright future with Honor. I think she’s perfect for you. Lighten you up a bit.’
‘So you’re not still angry with me?’
‘Oh I’m still furious. I’m spitting feathers. You, my boy, are taking out the bins and doing the hoovering until the next millennium. Oh, and you can clean out the hamster’s cage while you’re at it.’ She side-eyed him. ‘But Merryn talked some sense into me and so did Honor and Lucie. Verity did too.’
‘Verity?’
‘You know, the vicar.’
Jago gave a small smile. ‘Yes, I know Verity.’
‘And, at least the next time you go on a shout I’ll know to prepare myself. Like I did with your dad.’
‘The next time I go on a shout?’
‘Well, you’re hardly going to give it up, are you?’
‘No. No, Mum, I’m not. In fact, Jamie mentioned they’re getting a new boat next year and they’re looking for a name. He,’ Jago bit back the emotion which threatened, ‘he suggested the “Kenan Pengethley”. I said I’d run it past you first. What do you think?’ He looked at her hesitantly, unable to anticipate her reaction.
Avril gazed at him, her mouth slightly open. ‘You mean we’d have Kenan here, in Lullbury Bay?’
