Page 72 of A Family Affair
Levi nodded. ‘She said so, didn’t she? Before we left. That when she held your hand she felt a connection but thought it was because she’d heard so much about you from me. God, it’s just all so freaky but in a nice freaky way.’
‘Not as freaky as the fact that we are now related! What are you, my step-cousin once removed? I can’t even be bothered to work it out because my brain hurts.’ It was true. Honey’s head was crammed with so much stuff. Like she was about to sit an exam and had information overload.
Levi laughed. ‘Well, let’s thank our lucky but slightly warped stars that we didn’t just find out we’re brother and sister because with our lot, nothing would surprise me. But there’s no getting away from the fact that my great-grandma is now your great-grandma! That’s a proper mind bomb.’
At this Honey managed a bit of a giggle because he was right, and even though the blood connection didn’t matter to any of Levi’s family, the word ‘step’ had saved them from a world of pain.
As they headed further out of the city they once again lapsed into quiet. Comfortable and calming. Honey sorted through her mental inbox that was piled high with tatty pieces of paper bearing scribbled, haphazard notes to self. Then a question for Levi escaped.
‘What about Clarissa? I wonder if she’s still alive.’
Levi answered, ‘I was thinking that earlier. Maybe we could look her up, but I bet she married some lord and moved away. Let’s face it, I’d have wanted to get away from her father soon as, wouldn’t you?’
Honey’s answer was emphatic. ‘Hell yes! I’d have married the frog prince if it meant escaping that horrible man. She might be dead though… she’d be nine years older than Grandad and not everyone lives as long as your great-gran. Poor Clarissa. I feel like she’s the totally innocent party in all this because she was only little when Eleonora left and would have no idea her sister was alive, and what a total basta– nasty man her dad was.’
‘Hmm, but what if she’s still alive? She’d be about ninety-one, so you never know. I think we should look for her and once your grandad’s been reunited with my Grandma Pins, perhaps she might want to make her peace with Clarissa, too. Before it’s too late, because the way I look at it they’ve all been apart for too long.’
Again, Honey agreed. ‘You’re right. But from what I’ve heard and seen of Eleonora it will have to be her decision and we’d have to respect that, hard as it will be. I’m just so flipping glad I told Grandad the truth now… and met you obviously. It’s like the fates were aligned. Do you believe they were?’
Levi lifted her hand and kissed it. ‘I do now.’
And then from nowhere, in the middle of a tender moment came a surge of panic. ‘Oh god, Levi. What the hell am I going to say to grandad…? How will I say it… Do you think I should make him sit down and get him some brandy… I don’t think he’ll have any… What about a can of pale ale? You know, for the shock. Would that work?’
He was laughing as he pulled onto a roundabout, ‘I think you shouldn’t overthink it and just say what comes into your head at the time because whichever way you look at it, you’re taking him the best news ever. He’s going to see his mum and once he gets over the shock… with or without a can of pale ale, he’ll be the happiest man in Marple, I reckon.’
Honey relaxed a bit at Levi’s words. He was right, this was good news. And then she thought of Eleonora and her answer to a very simple question.
It was Iris who’d asked, once the hoo-ha had died down and cups of tea were brought, and the other guests reassured everything was fine and all would be explained very shortly. As she’d passed Eleonora her drink, she’d asked, ‘So, Mum. What do you want to do now? About Ernie, I mean.’
Eleonora placed her cup on her lap and answered, ‘I want to see him. I need to see my son as soon as possible so,’ she looked to where Levi and Honey were seated by her side, ‘will you go and tell him that his daft old mum is alive. And if he wants to see me, will you bring him today? I’ll wait up all night if I have to.’
A wash of panic and love and relief flooded Honey’s body as she replied, ‘Of course I will.’ Then she looked at Levi. ‘Will you come with me?’ And of course he’d said yes.
They were almost there, climbing upwards, passing Marple Locks and, once they’d turned the next corner, they’d be on her grandad’s street. Honey checked the clock on the dashboard. Had it only been three hours since they’d arrived for Grandma Pins’ big birthday party? Because in that short space of time it felt like she’d lived another lifetime through the eyes of a woman badly wronged, yet so understanding and, in parts, forgiving.
Turning to Levi, Honey confessed that something that had been niggling away since they’d set off. ‘You know after I’d told everyone about Molly, and they were all asking questions – perfectly natural and fair ones by the way – there were moments when I wanted to defend her. Do you think that’s wrong, knowing what she did to your great-grandma?’
Levi shook his head. ‘No, not at all, because Molly wasn’t there and couldn’t speak for herself and it’s natural, especially because she’s part of your family, that you’d want to protect her… or at least stick up for her. It’s not a simple case of black and white, is it? There are so many grey areas and none of us will ever know what she was going through back then. And most of all, we can’t change what happened, only what happens next, so let’s focus on that.’
‘How did I get such a wise and kind boyfriend? You always know how to make me feel better; but right now I think I need a sick bucket. I’m so excited to tell him you know, but nervous too. It’s huge, all this, isn’t it!’
They’d pulled up outside her grandad’s house and she could see the lights on in the lounge and bizarrely hoped he’d had his tea. He hated his evening meal being interrupted and would grumble and tut when the doorbell rang.
Levi switched off the engine. ‘Yes, it is. But it’s not going to be like when you had to tell him about Beryl’s letter. This is thetotalopposite.’
‘Yes, you’re right. I think I’m getting my knickers in a twist because I remember how awful that was, which is stupid.’
Levi smiled. ‘Exactly. And if he agrees to come back with us, the rest of the night is going to be huge too, but happy. And this time we’ve got each other to lean on and Ernie to support. We’ll be okay, okay?’
Honey nodded. ‘Okay.’
‘Now, I think you should go in on your own and I’ll wait here until you’ve told him.’
‘Why? Don’t you want to be there when I tell him?’ Honey had envisaged them both being part of a really special moment.
‘No, because Ernie isn’t one for a fuss, and if he gets upset he won’t be too pleased about having an audience, will he?’
Even though Levi had got her grandad to a tee, she was adamant they told him together. ‘No, he probably won’t but if he does get upset you can sneak off and put the kettle on or something. But this is such a big part of us, our history because two families are about to become one, and we’re the link. This is about me and you, as well as Grandad and Eleonora. So please come with me.’
