Page 73 of You Were Always the One

‘Well done, sweetie,’ I say. ‘That’s brilliant.’ I glance at Max. ‘How was your day?’

‘OK,’ he says.

‘While you’re both here, Rita’s coming down on Saturday,’ I tell them. ‘We’ve been invited to my friend’s house – her name is Charley.’ I pause. ‘I know you haven’t met her before, but I really think you’ll like her.’

Max shrugs. ‘OK.’

On Friday, I take Miles for his first radiotherapy appointment. He says little on the way there. I go in with him, then after he’s called through, wait for him outside. When he comes out two hours later, he looks exhausted.

‘They fitted me for a mask,’ he says. ‘I start treatment next Wednesday.’

I know better than to ask more. If Miles wants to, he’ll tell me about it. ‘Is there anything you want to do on the way home?’ I ask.

He shakes his head. ‘I just want to get back,’ he says.

On Saturday morning Rita comes down, and in the afternoon, we go to Charley’s. It’s a drizzly kind of day, but it doesn’t matter. Charley’s welcome is warm; there’s table tennis set up in one of the barns and a kitchen full of food. I was right about her and Rita – they get on famously.

The three of us sit at a big old wooden table set up near the entrance of the barn. I watch the kids battle each other at table tennis, and it pleases me that even Max seems to be enjoying himself.

Charley disappears briefly, then comes back with a pile of blankets and a bottle of champagne. ‘I rarely drink these days,’ she says. ‘But some days I firmly believe are worth celebrating.’ She pours some into three flutes, before raising hers. ‘To health,’ she says. ‘And to enjoying this life. Fuck knows I’ve spent far too long worrying about it.’

‘I’ll drink to that,’ Rita says as Jake comes to join us.

‘My brother has news,’ Charley says, her eyes sparkling. ‘He’s moving here for good.’ She reaches an arm towards her brother and hooks it over his shoulders. ‘I can’t tell you how pleased I am.’

He winks at me. ‘She only wants me here to look after the place.’

‘It’s great, though, isn’t it?’ I say. ‘For both of you?’

‘I’m pretty happy.’ His face breaks into a smile. ‘And now I’m going to join the youngsters.’

He peels off his jumper to reveal a tight-fitting T-shirt and I find myself gazing at him. There’s no other way to describe it. He’s fit. How come I haven’t noticed before?

Charley gets up. ‘I’m going to join you.’ Taking her brother’s hand, she drags him towards the table-tennis table.

‘That man likes you,’ Rita mutters under her breath. ‘As in, really likes you. Trust me, Holls. I know about these things.’

‘He doesn’t,’ I protest weakly. ‘I’ve only met him a handful of times.’

‘Yeah, right,’ Rita says knowingly.

It’s a blissful afternoon during which our cares feel a world away. A breath of fun and laughter that’s much needed in our lives. After table tennis, our children gather around the table with us, while on the terrace outside the house, Jake lights the firepit and in the kitchen, I help Charley put together a feast for all of us. Plates of grilled corn, homemade pizza, piles of chips.

‘Thank you,’ I say to her. ‘You have no idea how much we needed this.’

‘I think I do,’ she says. ‘Believe me, I know only too well how it feels.’ Coming over, she hugs me. ‘You’re always welcome here,’ she says. ‘Any time you need to escape.’

Emotion wells up inside me. ‘Thank you,’ I say huskily.

I’ve seen it so often over the years, how the toughest times bring out the best in people. We take the food outside and devour it as the sun sinks behind the trees and the air cools around us. Max’s eyes are alight as he talks to Jake, while Grace and Tallie seem to have hit it off. Everything feels effortless in a way I’m not used to.

‘This has been the best day,’ I say, watching Grace and Tallie run off across the garden again.

‘I’ll second that,’ Charley says.

‘So will I,’ Rita says. ‘Will someone tell me why I live in the city?’

‘You like the hustle,’ I remind her. ‘And the noise, and the traffic fumes…’