over.’
‘Right.’
‘I know you didn’t like him much, and to be honest, nor did I. But Sadie did.’
‘So I gathered from the hours of calls, waxing lyrical in your ear.’
‘Yes, but Sadie is my best friend and I have to be there for her. The thing is—’
‘She wants to come and stay here, get away for a few days to mend her broken heart and cry on her best friend’s shoulder,’ William finished for her.
‘In essence, yes,’ Helena agreed.
‘So, when is she arriving?’
‘She’s calling the airline now to try and book a ticket.’
‘Very soon, then.’
‘Probably. I’m sorry, darling, but she sounds dreadful.’
‘She’ll bounce back – she normally does,’ he muttered darkly.
Helena grabbed a platter of cold meats from the fridge, glancing at William as she did so. ‘I know it seems like an imposition, but you need to remember that Sadie and I are like sisters.
We’ve known each other since junior school and she’s the nearest thing I have left to family. I love her, simple as that, and I just can’t say no.’
‘I know,’ William sighed in resignation. ‘And I like Sadie, I really do, but I’m just worried this so-called holiday is threatening to become a few weeks of hard labour,
with the house turning into a free hotel with me, and more to the point, you, running it.’
‘Pandora was made to be full of people. It certainly was when I was last here.’
‘Yes, and I’d bet it had a full complement of staff to cater to the guests’ every whim,’ said William. ‘I don’t want to see you run ragged, that’s all.
You look exhausted already.’
‘I’ll ask Angelina if she’ll help out more, especially with the catering. She used to cook for Angus, and he was dreadfully fussy, so I’m sure she’s very
good.’
‘Okay,’ William acquiesced, knowing it was a done deal. ‘Coming out?’ He offered her his hand, and she followed him into the bright sunlight of the terrace.
The three children were already gathered around the table under the pergola in various states of undress, Fred completely naked.
‘Mum, I’m sorry, but I don’t want to spend my entire holiday minding Fred and Immy in the pool,’ complained Alex, slumping into a chair. ‘Immy just wants to jump in
all the time and I can’t leave her in case she hurts herself or drowns and it’s just . . . boring.’
‘I know, Alex. I’ll come down after lunch and relieve you, promise,’ said Helena, serving out salad onto each of the plates. ‘Guess what? Auntie Sadie is coming to stay
with us.’
‘Another slice gone,’ muttered Alex under his breath.
‘What, Alex?’ asked William.
‘Nothing. Can you pass the pitta bread, Immy?’
‘It does mean we’re going to have to rethink the bedrooms yet again,’ said Helena. ‘I suppose we could clear out the box room, which is full of Angus’ stuff, and
Sadie could sleep in there. It’s not a bad size, but it’ll take some work to do it.’
‘And a skip, from what I saw was in there. He was obviously a hoarder,’ added William.
‘You never know what you might find, Mum,’ said Alex, brightening up. ‘I’ll help you. I love wading through old junk.’
‘We’ve noticed, from the state of your bedroom,’ remarked William.
‘Thanks, Alex,’ said Helena, ignoring him. ‘We could do it this afternoon.’
‘Daddy, when will you take us to the water park?’ asked Immy.
‘Soon, Immy, but I think the water park in our garden is good enough for now.’
‘But it hasn’t got no slides or things.’
‘Eat your ham, Immy, don’t play with it. Daddy’s just arrived. Stop hassling him,’ reprimanded Helena.
‘Unless you want me to take them to the water park this afternoon, get them out of your hair while you clear out that box room?’ offered William. ‘And remember,
Chloë’s arriving tomorrow. I have to fetch her from the airport. And then the Chandlers arrive the following day, God help us.’
‘YES! Daddy! Today!
‘Right.’
‘I know you didn’t like him much, and to be honest, nor did I. But Sadie did.’
‘So I gathered from the hours of calls, waxing lyrical in your ear.’
‘Yes, but Sadie is my best friend and I have to be there for her. The thing is—’
‘She wants to come and stay here, get away for a few days to mend her broken heart and cry on her best friend’s shoulder,’ William finished for her.
‘In essence, yes,’ Helena agreed.
‘So, when is she arriving?’
‘She’s calling the airline now to try and book a ticket.’
‘Very soon, then.’
‘Probably. I’m sorry, darling, but she sounds dreadful.’
‘She’ll bounce back – she normally does,’ he muttered darkly.
Helena grabbed a platter of cold meats from the fridge, glancing at William as she did so. ‘I know it seems like an imposition, but you need to remember that Sadie and I are like sisters.
We’ve known each other since junior school and she’s the nearest thing I have left to family. I love her, simple as that, and I just can’t say no.’
‘I know,’ William sighed in resignation. ‘And I like Sadie, I really do, but I’m just worried this so-called holiday is threatening to become a few weeks of hard labour,
with the house turning into a free hotel with me, and more to the point, you, running it.’
‘Pandora was made to be full of people. It certainly was when I was last here.’
‘Yes, and I’d bet it had a full complement of staff to cater to the guests’ every whim,’ said William. ‘I don’t want to see you run ragged, that’s all.
You look exhausted already.’
‘I’ll ask Angelina if she’ll help out more, especially with the catering. She used to cook for Angus, and he was dreadfully fussy, so I’m sure she’s very
good.’
‘Okay,’ William acquiesced, knowing it was a done deal. ‘Coming out?’ He offered her his hand, and she followed him into the bright sunlight of the terrace.
The three children were already gathered around the table under the pergola in various states of undress, Fred completely naked.
‘Mum, I’m sorry, but I don’t want to spend my entire holiday minding Fred and Immy in the pool,’ complained Alex, slumping into a chair. ‘Immy just wants to jump in
all the time and I can’t leave her in case she hurts herself or drowns and it’s just . . . boring.’
‘I know, Alex. I’ll come down after lunch and relieve you, promise,’ said Helena, serving out salad onto each of the plates. ‘Guess what? Auntie Sadie is coming to stay
with us.’
‘Another slice gone,’ muttered Alex under his breath.
‘What, Alex?’ asked William.
‘Nothing. Can you pass the pitta bread, Immy?’
‘It does mean we’re going to have to rethink the bedrooms yet again,’ said Helena. ‘I suppose we could clear out the box room, which is full of Angus’ stuff, and
Sadie could sleep in there. It’s not a bad size, but it’ll take some work to do it.’
‘And a skip, from what I saw was in there. He was obviously a hoarder,’ added William.
‘You never know what you might find, Mum,’ said Alex, brightening up. ‘I’ll help you. I love wading through old junk.’
‘We’ve noticed, from the state of your bedroom,’ remarked William.
‘Thanks, Alex,’ said Helena, ignoring him. ‘We could do it this afternoon.’
‘Daddy, when will you take us to the water park?’ asked Immy.
‘Soon, Immy, but I think the water park in our garden is good enough for now.’
‘But it hasn’t got no slides or things.’
‘Eat your ham, Immy, don’t play with it. Daddy’s just arrived. Stop hassling him,’ reprimanded Helena.
‘Unless you want me to take them to the water park this afternoon, get them out of your hair while you clear out that box room?’ offered William. ‘And remember,
Chloë’s arriving tomorrow. I have to fetch her from the airport. And then the Chandlers arrive the following day, God help us.’
‘YES! Daddy! Today!
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