‘Hello Dad.’ Carmen took him in. He hadn’t changed a bit and his face, the face she’d waited so long to see was smiling just for her.
‘Hello pet.’
Stepping forward, just two paces, and she was in his arms, both holding on for dear life and allowing the tears of a lifetime to fall.
To one side, the man she knew to be Sam waited. He was holding a large box. Raising one hand she acknowledged him, letting him know it was okay and he was welcome. He quickly returned the gesture and then wiped away his own tears.
Behind her she felt the hands of her girls resting on her back, and then the sound of footsteps and the voice of an escapee, Darcy, floating along the hall. ‘Is he here? Is our great-granddad here?’
Between sobs, Carmen smiled and before all manner of craziness broke loose she managed to speak, her voice cracked and raw with emotion. ‘I always knew you’d come back. I really did. I love you, Dad.’
Pulling apart, Geordie Wilson held his daughter at arm’s length, taking her in as he replied, ‘Ah, pet. And I love you too. I never stopped. And I never will.’
31
Violetta
Appleton Farm, Cheshire
December 28th
Violetta was having a great time with the pricing gun as she labelled the boxes of fairy lights that were going in the New Year sale. Candy totally understood why her part-time partner wanted to call it a day as soon as possible and she herself was eager to embark on her new adventure on the waterways of England. Which was why Violetta was more than happy to get stuck in at the garden centre and help Rosina out while Darcy ran wild up at the house, keeping her new-found doting granddads on their toes.
Smiling as she stuck half-price labels on the next row of unsuspecting baubles, she wondered what the following Christmas at Appleton would be like because the one just gone would be a hard act to follow. Not only did her mum get her Big Christmas Weekend, she also got two extra guests for dinner and a box of letters from her dad. It had been such a magical time and Violetta cringed at herself for even thinking that phrase, but it was true.
They’d all teased their mum on Christmas Eve that she was like an overtired and overemotional child by the time the Two-Granddads (as they were now known) finally escaped her clutches and went home. While the whole family gathered round the kitchen table, Granddad Geordie had shown them black-and-white photos that were a link to their pasts, their heritage and for her mum especially, filled in the gaps. It took a while to explain to Darcy that in the olden days people did wear colourful clothes not just black-and-white ones. She’d wanted to know who had coloured all the ‘now days’ people in which had made them all laugh.
Her mum had briefly opened the Dr Marten boot box and peeped at the letters but was advised by everyone to leave them until another day because they were running out of kitchen roll and tissues.
Max had secretly touched Violetta’s heart when she’d watched him during Christmas Day, quietly taking in his granddad and while everyone chatted, looking through the naval photos again, squinting at the grainy images and shyly asking questions about his life at sea. Perhaps he was relieved to have two more men around the table after being overwhelmed by women all his life – but whatever it was, she could tell he was glad to have Geordie and Sam there and that’s all that mattered.
It was only natural that they’d come back the next day for Christmas dinner and after a shuffle round, they stayed the night rather than driving back. All her mother’s dreams coming true. And it looked like they’d all be seeing more of the Two-Granddads because they’d been invited for New Year’s Eve and would be staying for a few days afterwards so her mum could show them around the whole of Appleton.
Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Violetta stopped labelling and turned to see the woman herself. ‘Hello, mother dear, and what can I help you with today? Some candy canes perhaps, seventy per cent off? Bargain or what?’
Laughing, Carmen declined. ‘I’ll pass, thank you. The last thing any of my grandchildren require is extra sugar, your daughter especially.’
‘I can’t imagine what you mean but then again, why do you think I’m so eager to drop her off and get down here in the morning?’ Violetta gave her mum a wink. ‘So, if it’s not a box of very nice luxury Crimbo cards, whaddyawant, woman?’
‘Chutney, I’ve run out so I’m going over to the farm shop to get some and I thought I’d say hi. Dad likes it with his stilton and it saves me going to the supermarket.’
‘Ah, I see. It still sounds funny you saying that, you know, dad. But I suppose it’d be weird if I had to call someone dad, and Darcy too. Talking of the bossy one, is she being good?’
‘Oh yes, she has two willing slaves who are happy to play every single one of the games she got for Christmas. I left them immersed in Operation when I snuck out. That buzzer drives me nuts.’ Out of habit Carmen straightened one of the boxes so it fell in line on the shelf then remembered something. ‘Oh yes, before I go. I meant to ask your opinion – an idea that I’d like you to think about.’
‘Okay, hit me with it. You talk, I’ll label.’ Violetta carried on with her task as they walked along the row.
‘It’s about Joel… well, more about the fact he’s looking for a job and it got me thinking about the lake.’
‘What about the lake?’
‘It’s the only part of the estate that I haven’t bothered with. Bern and I just left it to do its own thing but I think it has potential. I’ve had a couple of ideas and was wondering about a nature reserve, you know with hides for birdwatchers, or maybe stocking it with fishanda really out there one, what about a sustainable salmon farm?’ Carmen came up for air and let Violetta speak.
‘Ah, I see where you’re going with this because what better person to take it on than Joel? Isn’t that what he did in Thailand, something to do with water and wildlife, oh and elephants. We should deffo get some elephants, Mum. The kids would flipping love that!’
‘Be serious, Violetta. We are never getting elephants although I suspect their poo would be excellent manure for the roses. But give it some thought. The other stuff, not the elephants. I’m going to run it by your sisters when I see them. Right, I’d better get on. It’s Ker-Plunk next and Darcy is lethal with those sticks. She stabbed all my tangerines yesterday, the little bugger. I’ll see you later.’
Stifling a chuckle at the idea of her daughter jabbing fruit, Violetta waved goodbye and as she was about to start the next row of boxes, saw her mum stop, talking to someone just out of view before pointing in her direction. Suspecting it was a customer in search of ten million cheap fairy lights, she got on with the job and wasn’t surprised when she heard a male voice. Looking up, she expected a question. Instead, from the other side of the display she stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at a face she never thought she would see again.
