Authors: Karen Aldous
‘Hey, not so much of the old. I’m thirty-two, not ninety-two. But, yes, I don’t think the diary is so crammed!’
‘Oh sorry, Soph, I didn’t mean… God, I just need to engage my brain sometimes.’
Sophie laughed. ‘Don’t we all. I was joking. Anyway, it’s nine-forty, shall we hit the road? You can tell me all about the surprise meeting on Sunday.’
‘Yes, and we need to pick up the flowers. I rang Maud at the florists earlier. OK, keys, bag.’
Her first impression of Angus as he opened the door and greeted them was that he still looked worried.
‘How is your mum?’
‘Aye, not bad. She’s having a lie down. I think the flight might have dried her throat and chest out a bit,’ he said taking the flowers from Sophie. ‘They’re lovely, thanks.’
‘Oh and these.’ Lizzie handed him the gift-wrapped box of chocolates. ‘I hope your mum likes flowers and chocolates.’
Angus gave a throaty laugh. ‘Oh, what lassie doesn’t? Please, take a seat, table or otherwise wherever you’re comfy.’
Sophie headed for the sofa. ‘Well, she’s done well if they’ve allowed her to fly.’
‘Oh, aye, it concerned me but, it’s not too long a flight. Perhaps I should have hired a car.’ Angus brushed his hair back. ‘Thanks for coming. Can I get you a drink? Coffee, have coffee, I’m crap at making tea.’
The girls nodded, both grinning. ‘Yes.’
Angus filled up the kettle. ‘I thought the climate would suit her better here for a while so I got her a one-way ticket. I don’t suppose she’ll stay long. She’ll be off as soon as she’s back on her feet. I know it’s now June but I don’t think Scotland has realised yet. It’s so wet and damp.’
‘I think that’s really thoughtful of you,’ Lizzie told him as he brought the coffees over to the sofa and placed them on the coffee table.
‘You don’t get rid o’ me that easy. Where’s my coffee?’ a voice croaked.
Angus looked up surprised and hurried to her side. ‘Oh, I can see we’re gonna have a wee problem getting you to rest. Sit down, Ma,’ he said, leading her to a chair and puffing up her cushions.
‘Stop fussing. I’m not an invalid. Are you going to introduce me?’
‘Aye, this is Sophie who I work with at the university and the salon. This is Lizzie who owns the salon. Ah, the one you spoke to. And this, girls, is my mother, Jackie,’ Angus said and rushed back to the kitchen area.
‘Tried to. So sorry, love. I must have sounded like a pervert with all that heavy breathing down the phone.’
Lizzie gave her an amused smile noting how different she was to Angus. He was tall with thick hair and blue eyes whereas she was petite, albeit with a big bosom, but with brown eyes and thin hair. Her eyes appeared bright though, despite her condition, which Angus certainly had. She also struck her as someone she wouldn’t wish to get into an argument with.
‘I have to admit, I was getting close to slamming down the phone,’ Lizzie admitted.
‘Oh, the switchboard had already done that several times. All I could do was keep ringing. He’s all I’ve got. I didn’t want my sisters fussing. I’m just grateful I found someone being patient, lovey. In fact, I was a bit intrigued by your name, Lambert. Angus mentioned you came from Kent. It’s bizarre and an outside chance but, I have to ask. Your father, is his name Peter Lambert?’
Lizzie’s brows crossed as she shuddered. ‘He’s no longer alive but, yes.’
‘Ooh. I don’t think I was expecting that. He was a farmer, just a farmer?’
‘Oh, no,’ Lizzie said now guessing where this was leading. ‘No. He worked in London. He worked in advertising. That was how he met my mother. She was a brand manager for a short while before she was head-hunted as a beauty editor.’
Jackie shot her hand to her mouth and Angus appeared cross as Lizzie watched him put the coffee in front of his mother.
‘Ma. Please. I think your imagination is working overtime.’ Angus stretched out his neck. Lizzie could feel his embarrassment but, worse, felt way out of her own comfort zone.
Jackie leant her arm on the chair and held her head. ‘Oh, dear, oh, that’s spooky. OK. I’ve dug a hole and it’s now just getting bigger. I don’t suppose you would know if he worked on whisky campaigns?’
Lizzie shrugged.
‘Ma.’ Angus was now highly agitated.
Jackie was looking uncomfortable but she seemed determined to see it through. ‘No. Of course not. You wouldn’t have even been born and I doubt he would have known your mother. This would have been in the late seventies. Oh, I feel such a fool. Now, I’m really sorry. I should come clean with this.’ She gave Angus a helpless glance and held out a palm. ‘I met a Peter Lambert in London. I was training and we went down to London for a weekend conference, and it was the first time I went to a proper club. But he was devilishly handsome…and…well, the upshot is Angus is the product.’
Lizzie tried to contain her shock and looked at Angus who caught his forehead in his hand. Sophie was rubbing her arm and staying very quiet.
‘Oh lovey, I’m sure this was all before your parents met. I mean, Angus must be much older than you. And, I can assure you, if we are talking about the same man, I would never in a million years try to claim a thing. These things happen all the time. I really was just curious. Cross my heart, I didn’t think you would say yes, his name was Peter Lambert. But I tell you this. If I ever had a phone number for him, I would have rung him the next day. He was the bee’s knees.’ Jackie smiled to herself.
Sophie put her arm around Lizzie. ‘Are you OK? I mean, if Angus was your half-brother, you could do a lot worse.’
Lizzie took a deep breath. ‘I’m… I don’t know really. Gobsmacked, shocked. It all sounds a bit surreal. I don’t know what proof you could ever want. Dad died when I was twelve which was fourteen years ago. I doubt Mum would know. I could ask. I think she might be upset. I don’t know. If it was before she and Dad got together, there’s less harm but,’ Lizzie glanced at Sophie, ‘I don’t know.’
‘Mrs Barton,’ Sophie began, ‘could you write down some dates? If Lizzie finds out some facts first, like when her parents met or if her mother knows anything about what work he did or any accounts he worked on, then maybe, just maybe, we could tell her. It’s important that none of this goes beyond these walls. I’m sure you’ll respect that.’
‘Oh dearies, I’m very sorry. I didn’t set out to upset anyone. I was, hand-on-heart, curious. I mean, what were the chances?’
Lizzie stood up and paced the rug, something she had often watched Cal do. ‘I’m sure you meant no harm and I’d probably do exactly the same. I’ve recently discovered my mum’s cousin and I know it’s human nature, an instinctive drive to want to know, particularly if you have a snippet of information from which to work. Please, Angus, don’t be angry with your mum. She’s only trying to do what’s right. And, when you’re an only child, it’s important. I was in Cannes alone this time last year, just Thierry and me, thinking Thierry had not a soul related to him. Sophie was still in Paris and I know she would always take care of him but, taking one small step to see my Mum after five years has meant so much to me and…’ Cal’s eyes flashed before her, making her heart ache, ‘and, since then from just a few documents, we’ve discovered she has family which means Thierry and I will benefit from knowing them and that history, and Angus would make a very sweet half-brother.’ She turned to Angus. ‘If it turns out to be true, then I would be more than happy to tell you all I can about my dad’s family.’ She turned to Jackie who was wiping her fingers under her eyes. ‘Let me find out what I can first without my mother getting suspicious.’
‘Angus, have you got a pen and paper?’
Sophie jumped up. ‘Yes, give Lizzie some time with this won’t you?’
Angus got up and picked up a small pad and pen from a drawer. ‘Yes, yes, of course. This has come as a shock to me too. Ma’s certainly not been idling whilst she’s been ill. I hope you’re not still under the influence of drugs?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. I agree, I should have mentioned my curiosity. I can only apologise. To all of you.’
Lizzie started the car and immediately switched on the air-conditioner. She began their short journey home. ‘Jesus, it’s twelve already.’
‘Gosh, that went quick.’
‘Very. Well, that was interesting.’
‘You took that really well though, Liz. I was ready to explode at her.’
‘At first, I was getting upset. Then I thought of Pheely. She picked up the phone that day, and she listened. Imagine. It was face-to-face and I struggled. She was probably indignant at first but too polite. But she went away and spoke to her mother and called me back. It obviously struck as genuine with Angela. Hearing something like that I now realise how intrusive and insensitive it can sound but, how else could she find out?’
‘True. Life is a box of chocolates isn’t it?’
‘Mmm, yes. I wonder what flavour I’ll get next? Oh Mum, you’re not going to like this.’
There was no point in wasting time with this, Lizzie thought. The suspense was killing her and, by the dates on the piece of paper, she just prayed her parents hadn’t met. Hoping to catch her mother before Angela and Pheely arrived, she dropped Sophie back by the salon and quickly changed.
Angela and Pheely had already sat down however so it wasn’t until they were on the walk that Lizzie could get Caroline on her own and that was brief. As they strolled around, Lizzie searched to find some way of asking, to introduce the touchy subject without raising her mother’s suspicions.
‘All hypothetical but, I’m quite looking forward to having a garden,’ Lizzie said, not sure where it would lead but, ‘I’ve never had my own.’
‘Oh, it’s fun now. I never used to do it. Your grandparents loved their garden.’
‘You didn’t do it when you first lived there then?’
‘No, not at all. I only started after your father died. I began to get an interest. I found it therapeutic. Hard work but the rewards are great.’
‘I feel too young to be gardening. I suppose you did in the seventies.’
‘Well, I didn’t feel ready in the eighties either when I met your father. Gardening was the last thing on my mind. I didn’t realise what I was missing.’
‘At least you can help me with mine.’
‘I think Cal may have a professional landscaper in.’
Lizzie kept the conversation going but decided she would return to Charles’s apartment with her mother and Michael. She had the key ingredient. She could relax and enjoy the afternoon.
As soon as they were in, Michael switched the TV on and Lizzie rushed for the kettle and prepared the tea cups while her mother visited the cloakroom. She returned to the kitchen rubbing her hands.
‘Oooh, tea, well done, darling.’
‘Mum. Did Dad work on a whisky account at the advertising agency?’
Straightening her hair in a small mirror in the kitchen, Caroline said distractedly, ‘Yes, why?’
‘Do you remember Angus, Sophie’s colleague I told you about who is helping us at the salon?’
‘You mentioned him. I don’t…’
‘No, I know you don’t know him, but I met his mother today and we had an interesting conversation.’ Lizzie placed a tea on the breakfast bar where her mother was attempting to get comfortable. She then carried one over to Michael.
‘Oh.’
Lizzie, noting her mother’s frown, came back to the kitchen and, grabbing her tea, sat on the opposite corner. ‘Yes, she asked if my father was Peter Lambert and if he was a farmer, and also if he worked in advertising, on a Scottish whisky account. Apparently, she met him in 1978 in a London club. She’s Scottish by the way. She only met him once.’
‘Well, definitely before I met him then.’
‘Well, that’s a relief because,’ Lizzie pulled a face, ‘brace yourself, Mum, she thinks Angus is Dad’s son.’
Caroline hand flicked to her mouth. ‘Oh no, really?’ Her eyes glazed for a few seconds. ‘How extraordinary. Well, if she knew so much why had she never contacted him?’
‘I don’t know. Distance. She was training to be a nurse. Didn’t want him. Who knows? I don’t think she’s trying to make any claim, she was curious. She was surprised herself.’
‘So, you have a half-brother.’
‘It sounds like it. I don’t imagine there were too many Peter Lamberts with Dad’s combination of careers.’
‘No, quite. Goodness, more family, darling. Three new family members in three days. Do you think we’ll find another one before the week’s out?’
‘You aren’t worried? I know Dad’s not here and there’s no threat but, are you OK with that?’
‘Makes no difference to me. I think it’s lovely you have a brother, and that you already know him. Do you like him?’
‘Angus is lovely, Mum. He’s a great cosmetic consultant, a nice person, very attentive to his mother. You’ll like him. And I think you might like his mum, Jackie.’
Lizzie stretched out, letting the tension unfold and continued to tell her mother all she knew. Walking back to her apartment, she definitely felt a change in the air.
After dropping Thierry at nursery, Lizzie and Marie-Claire returned to the apartment from the supermarket with boxes of drink and bags of food to prepare for the evening party. After her conversation with her mother, Lizzie had spoken to Angus and asked him and Jackie along as well as Jack and a couple of his student friends. Angus was of course very apologetic and charming but told her he couldn’t ask for a better sister and they would love to come along. She rang Rose too, offering to collect her but she insisted she would get on the train. Lizzie suggested she bring a friend along so she wouldn’t be travelling alone. Then she rang Cal telling him he must come along and meet her family. He actually apologised for not ringing her but Lizzie told him she understood he had been busy with Jack and the house but she was really looking forward to seeing him.
It had been a relaxing week spending time with her new family. Lizzie found her mood brightening with each hour. She’d been working on it, hard, determined to keep her spirits up in an attempt to keep her mind on her future and forget the past. So much was coming together. It would take time, but meanwhile, she would stay strong for Thierry, for her mother and, most importantly, for herself.