Chpater 15

Book:Hot Revenge Box Set Series Published:2024-5-1

James – Twenty-One Weeks
The last summer holiday we spent at the beach house ended very differently: Charlotte leaving for university, Michael and I almost bereft despite knowing she would return to us.
But this time…
There’s something great about returning Home after even the best of vacations. In the days after my divorce, I didn’t have a home. I just lodged in one dismal apartment after another, following the work and keeping my costs down. Even when I was married to Marlene, I never thought of the place I lived as Home. It was simply the place where Marlene deposited all the crap she spent so much money on.
But now, it’s different.
When Michael first mooted buying the old hotel and the mess of tumbledown buildings that went with it, his priority was to provide a home for Charlotte. But over the time we have been here, it has become Home; for all of us, and to an extent I never imagined.
As we curve into the drive, Charlotte cranes through the window. “Wonder how the veggie patches are coming on? Hope the weeds haven’t taken over. It’s hard now, bending down, if I have to clear them.”
Michael speaks from the back seat. “I’ll send some help across from the hotel. They’re using the produce in the kitchens. It won’t hurt them to put in a few hours.”
“Is that alright? They…”
“That’s what they’re paid for, Charlotte.”
They’re still talking: inconsequential chatter. The words don’t really mean anything. It’s the connection that’s important.
My beautiful pregnant wife. My friend. Our home.
Does it get any better?
We crunch up to the front and Michael taps me on the shoulder. “I’ll bring in the luggage. You get Charlotte settled and the kettle on.”
“Sounds good to me.”
As I help Charlotte up and out from her seat, Mitch bursts out from the front door. Charlotte breaks away from me, the two running to meet each other: Well, Mitch runs. Charlotte doesn’t quite waddle…
Yet…
… but it’s not exactly graceful…
Flinging their arms around each other…
“You’re looking wonderful, Jenny…”
“We had a great time…”
More chatter. Again, the words aren’t what’s important. Over the back of the car, hefting out suitcases, Michael exchanges grins with me.
Mitch smooths a hand over Charlotte’s face, standing back to look her up and down. The hand strokes over her stomach. “The holiday’s done you good.”
“It has. But it’s so good to be back.”
Mitch takes her by the hand, leading her indoors. “Come on inside. I wasn’t sure if you would have eaten. I’ve made sandwiches and salad.”
Michael strides in behind us, dumping luggage in the hall. “Hi Mitch. You should have come with us. You would have enjoyed it.”
“I’ve enjoyed myself anyway.” Her eyes flick to me, uncertainly, then away again. “I’ll make your coffee, shall I, and you can tell me about it.”
In the kitchen, the coffee-maker pops and splutters. Mitch stands close by, crossing, uncrossing and re-crossing her arms, occasionally looking at me then her gaze sliding away again.
“And what have you been doing with yourself Mitch?”
She clears her throat. “Er, I um… I made rather free with your card.”
Michael looks up from a triangle of ham sandwich, crusts removed, then turns away, hiding a smile.
“I know that, Mitch.”
“Um… perhaps I got a bit carried away… But there were so many lovely things and… And it was for Jenny… And…”
“Mitch, I am not angry. I gave you the card intending you to use it. But I will admit, I’m curious to see what you’ve been doing with it.”
Her face lights up. “I’ll show you. It’s upstairs.”
Offering her my arm, I help Charlotte up from her seat. She snatches up a sandwich in mid-motion, eating it on the move. Michael polishes off his in two bites, grabs three more and follows.
Mitch opens the door to the nursery, standing back to let us in. “I hope you don’t mind. I know I should have asked first, but…”
As Charlotte steps inside, she stands, raising hands to her cheeks. “Oh. My. God.”
And I step into a room out of some fairy-tale.
It’s not quite finished. In one corner, a stepladder, hung with buckets and brushes, stands on sheeting draped over the carpet. On the wall close by, a unicorn runs; the flanks a simple outline, but with the detail of head, watching eye and rippling mane complete.
It’s part of a rainbow herd, galloping, multi-coloured across one wall, flamboyant with colour. Who knew that unicorns are bird-blue, primrose yellow and apple-green? With horns in gold, silver and pearl?
One tosses its head to the winged horse above them. My mouth hanging open, I can almost hear the neigh of greeting to its flying sibling.
By the smaller side-window, a water sprite sits by a pool, apparently deep in conversation with the mermaid beside her, green-gold tail tucked neatly under. From a lily-pad close by a frog nods in apparent agreement.
Nods?
I move, shifting my perspective from one side to another.
Yes, the damn thing’s nodding.
How the hell’s she done that?
Looking closely, there’s a small raised area on the plasterwork, the frog painted over the top, giving just enough dimension to the head that, as I move, it moves with me.
It is astonishingly well done.
Michael, knuckles on hips, turns in circles, whistling in air. “I thought what you did in the creche was good, Mitch, but this is outstanding.”
Mitch shifts from one foot to the other and back again. “You like it? Jenny?”
Her hands still pressed to her face, “Oh, God, Mom. I love it. I absolutely love it. Thank you.”
And a smile finally breaks over Mitch’s face. “I did get a bit carried away. I only intended to do a few stencils…”
She waves to a corner of the room where green foliage and vast red flowers, hibiscus perhaps, scramble upward and across the ceiling. Hummingbirds hover by the blooms, dipping in. “…But they were a bit dull, so I painted them properly. Then I thought a little girl might like more…”
A mobile hangs from the ceiling, dangling butterflies and little birds in brilliant colours; stars, crescent moons and lace-winged fairies. I touch one of the fairies, trying for a better look and the whole thing spins slowly, a mass of tiny bells catching the light and tinkling.
“You like it?” Mitch is blinking again, biting her lip.
“It’s lovely. I’ve never seen anything quite like it. Where did you buy it?”
“I didn’t buy it. I made that one. There were lots on sale, but I couldn’t find one I liked so…”
A rocking chair sits in a corner by the window; painted pale cream, but with leaves in soft-green vining up the legs and back., draped in soft fabrics. Charlotte strokes the timber.
Mitch moves to stand by her. “I thought it would be nice when you’re feeding Peanut, to be able to look out.”
“Mom, it’s just perfect.”
It’s the only word. Perfect.
A fairy-tale nursery for a little girl.
My little girl.
“Thank you, Mitch. It’s beautiful.” A hand on one shoulder, I kiss her cheek. “Thank you so much.”
She lets out air. “I thought you might be mad at me. I know I let loose with that card you gave me. I was worrying that…”
I place a finger in her lips. “There is nothing I would rather spend money on. Thank you for doing it on my behalf.”
A slow smile blooms over her face. “I did enjoy myself. It’s been such fun. Being able to buy all the things I could never afford for Jenny. I always had to make do for her. Or do without.”
“So much the better.”
“I made you a shopping list of what I bought.”
“Mitch, I don’t need it…”
But she presses it into my hand.
Crib…
Changing Table. …
Storage Baskets. …
Dresser. …
Mobile. …
Rocking Chair. …
Clothes Hamper.
Charlotte starts to sit, to try out the rocking chair, then straightens up again, hands pressing to the small of her back. “Back in a minute.”
“You alright?”
“I need to pee.”
Later, I return, strolling around the fairy wonderland Mitch has created for her grand-daughter.
Life is good.
Life is perfect.
What could go wrong?
The birth… The delivery…
Modern hospitals.
Modern medicine.
We’ll be with her, me and Michael. The best doctor. The best mid-wife.
The best of everything.
She’ll be fine.
*****