Maggie was singing along to the radio to stay awake. Rain had long since fallen asleep, stretched out in the back of the campervan. She wasn’t wearing a seat belt, but Maggie thought it would be worse to suffer a grouchy Rain for the whole of the next day if she didn’t get any sleep at all.
She mumbled the words to some eighties song she vaguely remembered, no doubt from the village disco. She grinned at the memory of the weekly event that got them all so excited. Those two hours on a Friday night were certainly the highlight of her week. She and Claire would shuffle around the edge of the hall, eyeing up the boys who went to the posh school near Wadebridge, waiting for them to ask for a dance. Everyone was holding out for the slow tunes, hoping to get a snog.
She could almost smell the old village hall – a blend of dusty floors, ancient curtains and disinfectant in the grotty loos. Afterwards, she’d sleep over at the farm with Claire, gossiping until the early hours. But then they became too cool for the local disco, especially when the younger kids infiltrated. She’d heard from a friend that Lenni went once, though she could hardly believe she was allowed – such a shy little creature, who probably stood glued to the wall in terror all night.
Maggie approached Exeter and the end of the M5 with a smile on her face. The campervan stopped vibrating as she slowed, taking the exit for the A30. She’d had little sleep before they left – partly down to preparing for the trip, but also because Gino had got talking when he came home from the nightclub he owned.
Maggie’s stomach clenched when she remembered his words. ‘I’m not sure things are working out the way I want,’ he’d said.
Working out between you and Rain, she’d thought bitterly, but didn’t say. Subsequently, she’d loaded the camper with more possessions than she’d normally take away for a week, deciding not to say anything to Rain. She didn’t want her to worry that they could be homeless and virtually penniless yet again.
Rain stirred. ‘Are we nearly there?’
Maggie glanced in the rear-view mirror. ‘Another hour and a half to go. Maybe two, depending on traffic. There’s some water in the fridge.’ She heard Rain shuffling about and then silence as she swigged from a bottle. Then she felt her daughter’s warm breath on her ear as she climbed into the front.
‘It’s going to be all right this week, isn’t it?’
‘Of course,’ Maggie replied, not used to hearing insecurity from Rain. ‘You’ll adore Claire, and she’s got a teenage son too.’
‘He’s a dork.’
‘That’s a bit harsh.’ Maggie’s heart sank. She was hoping the holiday would do Rain good, perhaps strengthen their relationship which, she had to admit, hadn’t been the best over the last few years. ‘You haven’t even met him yet.’
‘We’ve messaged. He didn’t have much to say for himself. I looked at his photos. Trust me, he’s a dork.’ Rain switched on to another radio station, turning it up loud, and Maggie couldn’t help wishing that her daughter was still asleep.
Chapter Thirteen
Claire opened the back door and stepped out into the morning sun. It was a beautiful day and normally she’d have taken Russ for a walk already, but she’d been clearing up from last night and preparing breakfast. Amy stood beside her, clinging onto her legs as the pale-blue VW campervan trundled down the long drive.
‘It’s so wonderful to see you,’ Claire said, as Maggie stretched out of the car.
There was a moment’s pause, a moment of appraisal as each woman stood back and sized the other up without being obvious. Then they hugged fiercely, laughing into each other’s hair about how crazy this all was, how they should have done it years ago, and how time flew by. Finally, they held each other at arm’s length.
‘You don’t look a day older than when I last saw you,’ Maggie said. Her hair was wild around her face.
‘You neither,’ Claire echoed.
They let go of each other as a groggy figure emerged from the other side of the van. The girl’s long hair was highlighted with streaks of pale-copper and blonde, looking stylishly dishevelled. Slim tanned legs stuck out from beneath tiny ripped shorts and Claire noticed that she was already a few inches taller than her mother.
‘Rain,’ Claire said fondly, approaching her for a hug. ‘You’ve certainly changed a bit!’
Rain stood rigid, so Claire just patted her on the shoulder, refusing to be fazed by the girl’s lack of greeting or, indeed, the skimpy top that showed off much of her flat belly. She’d got her own teenager. She knew how things were. ‘Last time I saw you, you were at primary school,’ she said, but there was still no response. Maggie was fussing over Amy, who was bouncing up and down.
‘And doesn’t Amy look just like you?’ Maggie said. ‘Where’s that big lad of yours?’
‘I don’t suppose we’ll see anything of him before midday,’ Claire replied.
‘Lucky him,’ Rain said, swishing her hair back off her face. She pulled a pair of huge sunglasses from an oversized shoulder bag and put them on.
‘Good journey?’ Claire asked, patting the campervan. ‘Marcus would give a limb to own something like this. Some of the surfer lads around here have them.’ Claire noticed Rain suddenly paying attention.
‘It was a bit of an indulgence,’ Maggie confessed. ‘I was seeing this guy who—’
‘Maggie,’ Rain cut in. ‘No one wants to know about all that.’
‘Oh, but I do,’ Claire said, taking Maggie’s arm. ‘I want to hear about it all, in great detail.’ She whispered the last part. ‘Come inside. Let’s get coffee. There’s bacon cooking and fresh bread. Jason and Greta arrived yesterday. I heard them moving about so they must be up by now…’
Claire chattered non-stop until Maggie and Rain were inside sipping on mugs of coffee. She busied about in the kitchen, feeling strangely self-conscious, extremely happy yet nervous all at the same time. After weeks of planning, the reunion was finally happening.
‘I have lots in mind for the week,’ Claire said. ‘And I’ve dug out a ton of old photographs. I thought it might help Dad’s memory if we all went through them together. I’d like us all to take him to the beach often, perhaps play some of the old games he taught us and…’
Claire heard herself reciting plans but was conscious of a sadness brewing inside her. This time next week it would be over. They would all go back to their own lives – her included – and get on with another decade or so. It was that last part that brought Claire down from the high she’d survived on these last few weeks. Didn’t she want things to go back to normal?
‘Is there any fat-free yoghurt?’ Rain glanced disdainfully at the spread Claire had set out on the long table.
‘Rain,’ Maggie said, scowling, but then leapt to her feet. ‘Oh my God, Jason!’ She flung her arms around him as he came into the kitchen.
Claire smiled. Maggie the performer. Maggie the centre of attention. Maggie the one always up for taking a risk. Though she sensed that something had dulled her since they’d last met. Taken the shine off her just a touch.
‘You feeling a bit ropey, bro?’ Claire laughed as Jason ran his hands across his face.
‘Callum’s fault,’ he confessed, before introducing himself to Rain.
She stared back. Her sunglasses were now forked on her head and her full lips sat in a pout, making her appear innocent and childish while giving off an undeniably sexy look at the same time.
‘Yes, this is my mute daughter, Rain,’ Maggie said. ‘She clearly left her voice and her manners at the services three hours ago.’
‘Thank you, Maggie, but I’m quite able to speak for myself.’ Rain held out her hand, almost as if she expected him to kiss it. ‘Delighted to meet you,’ she said in a voice that revealed her boarding school background. ‘You’re Claire’s brother, right?’
‘Indeed,’ Jason replied, not knowing what to make of the kid. He coughed, trying to clear his voice. Callum had got the cigars out late last night.