The Things I Know(95)

Emery worked for them with a new-found energy, which had seen him promoted with a handsome raise, meaning he was able to put the deposit down on a little cottage in the village. Thomasina was grateful for his hard work and liked the civility that now existed between them but knew that she and Grayson would never be close to her cousin. Too much water had flowed under the bridge and too many words had cut too deep.

It was testament to how much she had grown that she now felt able to work with Emery – in fact, she felt differently about a lot of things. As if a reminder were needed of just how much, she touched her fingers to her rebuilt lip, still more than a little amazed at the incredible job her surgeon had done. It wasn’t so much with vanity but in wonder that she stared at her reflection, smiling, pouting and taking such joy from the pretty mouth that made her feel brand new.

Now, as they neared the house, Thomasina saw the car parked in the immaculate block-paved yard in front of the farm store and café.

‘Oh my God, Gray, they’re early!’ She sped up, walking as fast as she could, and he followed in her lumbering wake. Turning back, she saw the twitch of nerves on his face. ‘You’ve got this, my love.’

‘I just don’t know why you asked them.’

‘Because they’re family. Family.’ She cradled her stomach.

There was a deafening wail of greeting from Grayson’s aunties as they drew close. She waved as the women leapt from the car and embraced first her and then Grayson, smiling as Eva and Joan rubbed her bump.

‘Oh god! You look beautiful!’

‘You sure there ain’t two in there? You’re bloody huge!’

‘I know!’ she sighed.

She now walked to the car and opened the door on the passenger side. ‘Hello, you!’ she said, bending down to kiss her mother-in-law on the cheek. ‘Come on – come and see how enormous I am.’

His mum nodded slowly and stepped gingerly from the car. Mrs Potts was coming up for a whole year sober and was as quiet and reflective as she had been on her last visit. She carried with her a melancholy air of regret, tinged with disapproval that sobriety meant she chose not to voice – and that was fine with Thomasina, preferable, in fact.

‘How was your journey?’ she asked softly.

‘Fine,’ her mother-in-law whispered.

‘You look well.’ She spoke the truth – weight loss and a healthy diet had worked wonders for Grayson’s mum.

‘And you do too. It suits you.’ Mrs Potts looked at her burgeoning bump and then let her gaze linger on Thomasina’s new mouth. She said nothing.

‘Grayson’s looking forward to seeing you!’

‘Is he?’ Her mother-in-law looked at her with such hope it was almost painful.

‘He is.’

Having managed to extricate himself from his aunts’ grappling hugs, Grayson walked over to his mother. ‘Hey, Mum,’ he said, reaching down and taking her loosely in his arms, holding his wife’s gaze over her shoulder. She gave him a slow blink of support and love.

‘Right, I’m sure you’re all in need of tea and cake and a visit to the bathroom, and not necessarily in that order!’ Thomasina marched ahead with the troop following behind. She smiled and ushered their guests into the farmhouse kitchen. ‘There’s fruit cake or lemon drizzle. I made both!’ she said with a smile, as she pictured her grandparents’ cake tins, full of fine fare, baked with love for the man she adored.

Life was good.

‘Both for me,’ Eva replied. ‘Well, it’d be rude not to!’

‘And when we’ve had our cake, I brought my hairdressing scissors, case you wanted a little trim!’ Joan made a chopping sign at Grayson with her fingers and they all laughed. ‘Anyway, I’ve packed it in.’

Thomasina and Grayson exchanged a mutual look of relief.

‘Tell them about your new hobby, Joan,’ Eva encouraged.

‘I’m a tattoo artist!’

Thomasina roared with laughter as Grayson choked in shock. She knew a dodgy tattoo would be a lot harder for him to shift than a wonky fringe.

They walked via the dining room.

‘Blimey!’ Eva stopped to admire the very large abstract painting over the fireplace. ‘Would you look at that!’ She stared up at the vibrant clash of colours that brightened the room.

‘My friend painted it. She’s engaged to my brother, actually. We were at school together. She has exhibitions everywhere, even in New York!’ Thomasina smiled at her husband, thinking of how she had got to drink cworfee on Fifth Avenue . . . The memories of that trip would last her a lifetime. It wasn’t only what she had seen that had amazed her, but how she had felt as she travelled alone, as if she could take on the world and win.

It was a lovely afternoon spent catching up. Grayson’s aunts regaled them with familiar stories, about how Great-Grandma Noella had got her leg stuck in the fence between her own and the neighbour Betty’s house on a perfect sunny day.

‘Betty was screaming, and it sounded like a right old bother!’

She watched as Grayson finally relaxed, as if the more time he spent with his new and sober mum, the more he was convinced there would be no more scenes or nastiness. That woman had left the building, and this lady, while not exactly approving of how he had upped sticks and relocated to the back of beyond, was doing her best to build bridges wherever she could.