Loveday pushed the door of the office shut with her foot as she dialled Greer’s mobile phone number. She’d tried her at Tide House but the answerphone had kicked in and she hadn’t dared to leave a message in case Jesse picked it up.
Mickey had come home late last night, annoyed at Jesse’s high-handed idea to give Hal and Freddie a car each for their twenty-first birthdays.
‘It was the way ’e said it. “I’m buying cars for my boys’ birthdays and you’re not stopping me”. As if we can’t afford a car for our own son.’
Loveday had been in bed reading when Mickey had come upstairs and broken this news. She didn’t like the sound of it. My boys? What the hell did Jesse mean by that? She put her book aside and wriggled upright. ‘Well, he is Hal’s godfather and it’s very generous but … was he pissed?’
‘A bit. But that’s not the point. It was the way he said it. As if I don’t have any say. I’m Freddie’s godfather but I can’t afford to buy him an expensive present. And what will he get him for a wedding present? A bleddy house?’
As Mickey spoke, he became more and more agitated. He paced the bedroom carpet, sat on the edge of the bed, then sprang up again and paced the carpet once more.
Loveday watched him, her mind trying to second-guess what Jesse was doing.
‘Did he say anything else?’ she asked.
Mickey stopped pacing and sat down on the bed again. ‘I know he’s the one with all the money now; he’s the boss and all that, whereas I’m just an employee, but I thought he knew us better than this. He knows I’ve always paid my way, but this time it’s like he’s trying to get one up on me.’
Loveday got out of bed and took her dressing gown from the hook on the door. ‘Want a cup of tea?’
Mickey nodded and took her hand as she opened the door to the landing. ‘Thanks, darlin’. Am I overreacting?’
‘Let’s talk about it.’
Dowstairs, Hal was lolling on the sofa watching a police drama on the television, his long legs spilling over one arm. ‘Hey, Mum. Thought you’d be asleep. We had a great night. Fred and I absolutely slaughtered Dad and Uncle Jesse at pool. Did Dad tell you what Uncle Jesse bet us if we beat him?’
‘Ah. It was a bet.’ Loveday relaxed. A beer-fuelled bet tonight wouldn’t be worth the breath it was made with once Jesse sobered up tomorrow and, besides, Mickey and Hal had downed a fair few too by the looks of it. ‘I wouldn’t get too excited.’ She patted Hal’s size 12 feet as she went past.
‘No, he meant it,’ said Hal, grinning with excitement.
‘Well, let’s just wait and see. I’m not sure your dad and I would be comfortable about him giving you a car, anyway.’
Mickey chipped in, ‘Your mum’s right.’
Hal reached for the remote control and switched the television off. He stood up and stretched. ‘Well, you two can think what you like, but Uncle Jesse has always been decent to me. Treated me the same way he treats Freddie, so why shouldn’t I get a car out of him?’
‘That’s enough,’ said Mickey. He took a step towards Hal and jabbed a pointed finger at him. ‘Jesse is a friend, not family. If anyone’s going to buy you a car, it’ll be your mum and me.’
‘Really?’ Hal’s face lit up. ‘For my twenty-first?’
Loveday stepped in before Mickey could reply. ‘Darlin’, this all needs a bit of thinking about. Now go up to bed and don’t wake the girls. They’m got their exams in the morning. We’ll talk about this when we’re all less tired.’
Loveday wondered about what was happening with Jesse. What with that awkward conversation they’d had at the office, plus the drinking … what would Greer be making of it all? Loveday tried to crush the creeping sense of anxiety, but it nagged away at her as she returned to bed and tried to get off to sleep.
*
In the morning, Loveday knew she had to speak to Greer. It took a few moments to connect to Greer’s mobile, and four or five rings before she picked up.
‘Greer, it’s Loveday.’
‘Morning, Loveday. How are you?’
‘Fine. I wanted to talk to you about something.’
‘Sorry, you’re breaking up. I’m in the lanes on my way to Mevagissey. There’s a woman there with the most wonderful antiques. She has a Victorian claw-footed bath, needs restoring and re-enamelling but that’s OK, it means it’ll be a bargain, and a fabulous, huge oak dresser. She reckons it’s seventeenth century, but I need to look at it to be sure—’
Loveday broke into her chatter. ‘Can you hear me now?’ she asked.
‘Sort of, but you’re coming and going. Can I ring you back when I’m on my way home later? Is it anything important?’
Loveday took a deep breath and told her. ‘Jesse wants to buy Hal a car.’
‘What?’
‘For his birthday.’
‘Sorry, I’m only getting every other word. I’ll call you later.’
*
It was just before lunch when the phone on Loveday’s desk went.
‘Hello, Loveday Chandler.’
‘Darling, it’s me, Greer. The dresser was a let-down. Early nineteen hundreds and pine, not oak. The bath has a crack through the middle and will leak through an entire house. Total rubbish, and I told her so. Anyway, the upshot is that I’m ten minutes away from Trevay. Shall I swing by for a coffee and you can talk to me about this car business?’
Loveday’s stomach was rumbling and she needed more than coffee. ‘How hungry are you?’
‘Not at all. I never eat lunch nowadays.’
Loveday’s heart sank. She had been considering a macaroni cheese. She tried her chances. ‘The Fo’c’sle do nice coffee. They’ve put in a team of baristas and everything.’
‘Oh, yes, I’d heard that. OK. See you there.’
*
The new owners had really turned the old place around. Where there had been lines of Formica-topped tables, striplights, and condensation-clouded windows, there were now cosy corner tables, subdued lighting and air conditioning. The hiss and gurgle of the state-of-the-art coffee machine lent the whole place an air of European sophistication. A smart young waitress dressed to look like an early American bartender, with striped waistcoat, white shirt and long apron, welcomed her.
‘Where would you like to sit. Inside or out?’
The spring sunshine was bright and the tables outside in the rear courtyard were inviting with their cushioned chairs and jolly parasols. ‘Outside would be lovely, thank you.’
‘I’ll bring you a menu in a moment.’ The waitress walked back inside and Loveday perused the menu. The macaroni cheese looked so tempting but, fearful of Greer’s disapproval, she settled for a starter-sized portion of smoked salmon.
‘Hi, Loveday. What a glorious day.’ Greer, wearing sunglasses and carrying an enormous leather handbag, was heading towards her. ‘So glad you chose to sit outside. I’ve been cooped up in that huge tank of a car for hours.’ Greer sat elegantly on the chair opposite Loveday and, raising a slender arm in the air, summoned the waitress.
‘Yes, Mrs Behenna, what can I get you?’
Greer looked at her over the top of her Fendi shades. ‘Miri? How lovely to see you. Home from uni?’
‘Yes, just for the Easter holidays.’ The young waitress held her notepad in one hand and searched for her pen, stuck into her straggly bun of hair, with the other. ‘How’s Freddie?’
‘He’s fine. Working on the fishing fleet – and he’s just got on the crew of the lifeboat.’
Miri gave a couple of rapids blinks. ‘The lifeboat? Well done him. I bet he looks good in his uniform.’
‘He certainly does,’ smiled Greer. ‘You should give him a bell.’
‘Do you think so?’
‘Of course. He’d be delighted to hear from you.’
‘Well, in that case, I might … depends how busy I am … Anyway, what can I get you ladies?’
‘Loveday, you first, I’m still choosing,’ said Greer.
‘I’d like the salmon starter and a pot of green tea, please,’ Loveday said with an enthusiasm she did not feel.
The waitress wrote the order down. ‘And for you, Mrs Behenna?’
‘Actually I’m rather hungry. No time for breakfast this morning. I’ll have the macaroni cheese, please, and a skinny latte.’ Loveday couldn’t believe her ears.
‘Well, if you’re having the macaroni, I’ll join you. Thank you.’
‘Great. I’ll be back with the drinks in a minute.’
When Miri had gone, Loveday asked Greer how she knew her. ‘She was at school with the boys. Don’t you remember? Miranda? Her mother lives over at Trevone. Was an actress? I did her conservatory for her. She had a splendid divorce and has plenty of cash.’
‘The one with the suede fringed jacket, blue sports car and the boob job?’
‘That’s the one.’
‘Miri was sweet on your Freddie, wasn’t she?’
‘Very. He used to hide upstairs whenever she called round. Which was frequently.’ Greer laughed.
Loveday did too. ‘And you’ve just set him up again.’
‘She’s turned into an attractive girl. He might thank me.’
Miri arrived with a tray bearing the drinks; as soon as she’d gone again, Greer looked at Loveday. ‘I spoke to Jesse after your call and asked him about this business of giving the boys a car each. And he says he’s serious. He’s always treated them like they’re brothers.’
‘But they’re not brothers,’ Loveday said in a low voice. ‘Mickey and I want Hal to earn his way in the world and not think that whatever Freddie gets, he’ll get too. Life don’t work that way.’
Greer thought for a moment. For once she agreed with Loveday. The boys weren’t brothers and, fond as she was of Hal, Freddie and he were not equals in her eyes. It was all fine when they were little boys, but now they were growing up and it was time for Freddie to move on to bigger and better things. Of course, Freddie loved the relaxed rules at the Chandlers’ house, but it was time that both he and his father thought more ambitiously. If he wanted to buy Hal an old banger, then fair enough, but really his own son deserved something better.
She reached across the table and put her hand on Loveday’s. ‘Darling, I’m sure he’s only going to help Hal out a little bit. It isn’t like it’s a share in the business.’
‘If Hal gets a car, it’ll be an old banger. Remember Jesse’s old Ford Capri?’
‘I do. Filthy smelly thing.’
‘Yeah, but he worked for it and he loved it. He had to look after it because no one was going to buy him another one for the hell of it. You give your Freddie anything you like, but let me and Mick do what’s right for our son.’
Greer pulled the corners of her mouth down and shrugged. ‘Well, in a way I agree with you, but once Jesse has an idea in his head it’s very difficult to shake. I have to pick my battles. But I do understand, and I’ll talk to him.’
*
Jesse was adamant. ‘I want Hal to have the best. He’s a good lad. I’m his godfather and I’m going to get him a car. There’s no need for him to be a second-class citizen.’
Greer poured them each a glass of wine. ‘I don’t know why you feel so strongly about him. He’s a lovely boy and all that, but when it comes down to it, he’s just a godson. You’ve already done quite enough in your role as his father’s best friend. More than enough. He has a good job on the fleet. You’ve got him on the lifeboat and in the next couple of years you’ll give him his own boat to skipper.’ Jesse looked up at her sharply. She raised her hand, palm facing him. ‘I know you’re going to give him his own boat. I do listen to what’s happening in the business, you know. I’m not a fool. But where does your generosity stop?’ She laughed, a light, scoffing laugh. ‘I mean, what are you going to do, give him a share in the company?’
Jesse looked out of the big bay window in the drawing room of Tide House. He could see the cove and the sea beyond. He didn’t answer Greer.
‘Jesse! Tell me you’re not seriously thinking of—’
‘All I’m doing is helping a young boy get on in life.’
‘As long as that’s all?’
Jesse lifted his wine glass and tipped the contents down his throat. ‘What’s for supper?’
*
Later that night, when Greer had gone to bed, Jesse sat alone in his den. The window was open; on the fresh breeze he could hear the waves as they rolled onto the golden sand below the house. Recently he’d been having bad dreams about Grant. Sometimes Grant accused him of murder. Those dreams were the worst. But Jesse knew he hadn’t murdered his own brother. Grant had had a death wish. The injury to his head he’d got when he fell off the cliff into the sea had been what had killed him. Some little weakness in his skull had killed him when they’d scuffled in the bus shelter. I’m not a murderer, Jesse told himself. But, after these dreams, Jesse would feel a tortured sadness. Grant, his own brother, hadn’t been able to take his position in the company. It was Grant’s own fault, of course. He was a destructive headcase. But Jesse still felt tortured with anguish for a brother who was always going to destroy himself. Dying in the shelter like that was inevitable, and Grant was always going to come to a bad end. It was sad. Tragic. But probably best all round. If only Grant had just kept his mouth shut and not said those terrible things. If he hadn’t said anything about Loveday and Hal, he’d still be alive. But he wasn’t, and Loveday and Hal needed protection. Hal deserved what was his by rights. Hal and Freddie were brothers, and if Grant couldn’t share the company with Jesse, then Jesse would make sure that the next generation would. He’d play it carefully. Not let Mickey guess at anything. He didn’t want to break his best mate’s heart, after all. He’d talk to Loveday tomorrow. Tell her how he still felt about her. Tell her that he was going to make sure that he did right by Hal.