Sowing The Seeds Of Love Part 38

'You're not going to throw me off your property, are you?'

'I couldn't if I wanted to. It's not my property any more.'

'You've sold the house?'

'No, just the garden.'

He nodded. 'This is a great set-up. I'm delighted to see it being put to such good use.'

'Is that so?'

He looked sharply at her. 'Yes, it is. You remember how fond I was of this garden.'

'Yes, I remember. Fonder of it than you were of me.'

'Now that's not fair.'

'Don't you turn up here after all this time, Martin Prendergast, and tell me what's fair.'

'You're right. I apologize.'

She inclined her head.

They started to walk along together.

'It's been under lock and key, you know, for the last forty years.'

'What? The garden?'

'Yes.'

'Why would you do something like that?'

'So I wouldn't be reminded of you, of course.'

'Of course.'

'How did you know about the party?'

'I saw one of the flyers. I moved house a while back. I'm living quite close now.'

'I know. Lance told me, in case I had the misfortune of b.u.mping into you. You'll forgive me if I don't invite you over for dinner.'

He laughed. So familiar. 'You haven't changed a bit, Marnie.'

'Oh, yes, I have.'

'You know, I have too.'

'A leopard doesn't change his spots.'

'No. But people do.'

'I seriously doubt it. Not where you're concerned.'

'Look.' He stopped walking and they turned to face each other. 'Did Lance tell you I had a heart-attack?'

'He might have mentioned it.' What did he want from her? Sympathy?

'When something like that happens, it makes you think. I know it sounds cliched, but it reminds you of what's important in life.'

He was staring into the middle distance and she took the opportunity to examine his features for any signs of the ravages of ill health.

'There were two reasons for me coming here today,' he said. 'The first was well I couldn't resist taking the opportunity to see this place again. I'm glad I did. And I'm glad I saw you too, Marnie.'

'n.o.body calls me that any more.'

'I'm sorry. Myrtle. Because my second reason for coming today was to say sorry.'

She remained silent.

'For everything I've ever done to you. Every hards.h.i.+p I've put you through. The hitting.' He bowed his head. 'Our baby. All the babies you never had. I'm so sorry, Marnie Myrtle. It's not possible for me to make you understand how guilty I feel. Do you think you'd have it in you to forgive an old man?'

She gazed at him for a while.

And she thought of all those times.

All the bruises.

The hurts.

The scars that still bore witness on her body. The wound across her soul, which at times felt mortal.

Over the years, Myrtle had antic.i.p.ated such a meeting. Rehea.r.s.ed her speech. How she would make him pay for all that he had done to her. Pierce him with her barbed words. But as she looked at him now, the hulking frame diminished, the eyes full of sincerity, all the anger she'd counted on, the anger she'd planned and thought she wanted, it all fell away. As if she was shedding a skin as if she were a giant, upright snake standing right there on the garden path. The old Myrtle slipped away from her and she felt lighter than she had done in years.

'Soup?' she said.

'What?'

'Would you like some soup?'

He frowned. 'All right, then.'

'This way.'

They moved through the crowds to the soup station.

'Joyce. Any left?'

'You're just in time. We're down to the last couple of bowls.'

'That's all we need.'

'Actually, I always think it's the best part myself. All the nice chunky bits sink to the bottom. Here you go.' She handed a bowl to Martin and another to Myrtle. 'I don't believe we've met.' She eyed Martin speculatively.

'Oh, how rude of me. Do let me introduce you. Joyce, this is my ex-husband Martin Prendergast.'

Joyce's eyes popped and her mouth gaped. The ladle fell out of her hand and on to the ground. Everyone in the vicinity stopped what they were doing and stared. Mrs Prendergast clinked her soup bowl with Martin's. 'Cheers,' she said.

The rumour that Mrs Prendergast's husband had been resurrected and was at large in the garden spread like wildfire. But he was already gone before it was fully ignited. His ex-wife looked very smug. Aoife could tell she was enjoying herself.

'Well. You certainly shocked the Union today. You shocked me too.'

'Did I?'

'You know you did.'

'Oh, well. That's what you get when you listen to scurrilous rumours. Although I must admit I'm going to miss my status as the local black widow. Now I'm going to have to find some other way of frightening people off.'

'Where has he been all this time?'

'Spain mostly. Building collapsible apartments. That's where he went after I sent him packing.'

'And why did you send him packing?'

'Because he was a violent drunk.'

'Oh! I'm sorry.' Aoife was genuinely shocked. She'd never had Mrs Prendergast down as a battered wife. Really, the woman never failed to amaze. 'You seem quite friendly with him now. That was him, wasn't it? The tall, distinguished-looking man you were with?'

'Distinguished.' She laughed. 'I suppose he is. Yes. That was Martin.'

'You've forgiven him, then.'

She seemed to consider this for a while. 'It was a long time ago. He's gone through two other wives since me. He's had treatment. I don't think he drinks any more and I know he regrets what he did. So, yes, I suppose I have forgiven him. After all, if it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have Lance.'

'He looks so like him.'

'Yes, he does. And if it wasn't for Martin, I wouldn't be living in this house, with this garden. We wouldn't be having this day, with all the people enjoying themselves.' She smiled. 'In a sense, we have Martin to thank for all this. He was the start of it all.'

'That's one way of looking at it.'

'I've learned recently that it's the only way of looking at it. You know, I heard this saying and it's so true, that not forgiving someone is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. I've decided I don't want to drink poison any more.'

'So you forgive Pearl for using your toilet?'

'You must be joking. Come on, Harriet. You're getting far too excited.'

Aoife watched Mrs Prendergast as she retrieved her retriever. She felt she'd just caught a glimpse of the real woman. It only happened once in a while before the barriers went up again. But it was something worth waiting for. Something special.

49.

The soup and bread had been devoured and all the cakes and produce sold. The band was unstoppable. Aoife, Seth, Uri, Emily and Mrs Prendergast came together for the first time that day. None of them could stop smiling. The Autumn Party had exceeded all of their expectations.

'Is it time for...?'

'I think so. I'll go and get it.'

'Oh, hold on. We have one more thing to do first. Lance!'

'Yes?'

'Can you take the photograph now?'

'Sure.'

'Over by the apple tree?'

'Perfect.'

They collected Liam and Kathy on their way. Then the seven of them arranged themselves in front of the tree. Emily sat on the ground flanked by the children.

'You have to have Rose too.'

Emily's mother handed her the baby, who sat benignly on her mother's lap, still for perhaps the first time that day. Uri and Mrs Prendergast stood behind them to their left. Uri had his arm around her shoulders.

'Oh, we must have Harriet too. Harriet!'

Harriet settled noisily on Emily's feet, a few of the flowers that the children had twisted into her collar still there. Standing behind them to the right were Seth and Aoife, Seth standing directly behind Aoife, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, his head resting against hers.

'Okay. Ready?' said Lance. 'Everybody say "vegetables".'

'Vegetables!'

He took a few shots, just to make sure.

'Right. I'll go straight to the chemist and get this printed. I see they have a new self-service machine.' He looked at his watch. 'I should just make it before they close.'

'Oh, Lance, get a newspaper while you're at it.'

Ever since they'd dug up the time capsule, Liam had been pleading with his mother to bury another. What better time? A crowd gathered around Seth as he dug the hole.

'Right. Who's going first?'