A Vengeful Reunion. Catherine George
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up the steep, rising bends of the drive to draw up on the terrace in front of the house. The front door immediately flew open, and Adam Dysart hurtled out, grinning from ear to ear as he sprinted down the path and took a flying leap down the steps to pluck his sister from the car into a bear-like hug.
‘You made it after all!’ he crowed, and whirled her round like a dervish until Leonie begged to be put down, by which time her father and mother were hurrying down to join them. There was a flurry of delighted greetings and kisses as Tom and Frances Dysart welcomed their eldest child home, and, after a swift, incredulous look, behaved as though it were the most natural thing in the world to find Jonah had driven her there.
‘Look out!’ yelled Adam, as a yellow retriever came streaking up the lawn to hurl itself on Leonie. Jonah’s arms shot out to catch her as she tripped, and in the ensuing hubbub any awkwardness was smoothed over as Frances Dysart ordered everyone inside, insisted Jonah came in for a drink, and told her son to go and look for the girls.
‘They took Marzi for a walk,’ she explained. ‘So now they’re probably running round in circles, searching for him.’
Leonie hurried inside the house to breathe in the familiar home scents of flowers and cooking and polish, and the occasional whiff of dog. In the kitchen, which had once been two rooms, Frances waved Jonah to a seat with Tom at the oak table the family used for informal meals, then took Leonie with her to the business end of the room. She filled a kettle, put cakes on a plate and took cookies from a tin as she exclaimed over her daughter’s surprise appearance.
Leonie leaned against the central island, aware of Jonah talking quietly to her father on the far side of the room as she explained about the flu bug and its unexpected bonus, and how she’d met Jonah by accident on the train and accepted a lift from him.
Frances Dysart gave her a searching look, but made no comment. ‘I’m sorry for the flu victims, but it’s so good to see you, darling. Roberto couldn’t come with you?’ she added in an undertone, pouring tea.
‘No, too busy,’ said Leonie guiltily, fondling the excited dog. The idea of suave, sophisticated Roberto Forli at a party with carousing undergraduates had been so unimaginable she hadn’t invited him. ‘Besides, there wouldn’t have been room to put him up if Adam’s crowd are staying the night.’
‘We would have managed,’ her mother assured her. ‘Take these cakes over to your father and Jonah; I’ll bring the tea. Where can those girls have gone?’ she added anxiously. ‘It’s getting late.’
Leonie put the plate on the table in front of the men, then darted to the window. ‘Here they come now. Something’s wrong.’
Adam was striding across the lawn, carrying a small figure in his arms, with seventeen-year-old Kate hurrying after him, wild dark curls blowing in the wind as she tried to keep up with her brother’s long legs.
With her husband and Leonie close behind Frances hurried through the old-fashioned scullery to the kitchen door and threw it wide. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘She fell down and grazed her knee,’ said Adam cheerfully, and surrendered his wailing burden to his mother, while Kate flew into the kitchen to hug her sister in elation.
‘Leo—you came after all. Adam never said a word!’
‘Couldn’t make myself heard above the din,’ said Adam, grinning when the invalid’s woeful sobs stopped like magic as she slithered from her mother’s arms to hurl herself at Leonie.
‘Leo, they said you couldn’t come!’
‘I couldn’t miss Adam’s special day!’ Leonie hugged the little girl, then knelt in front of her, swabbing at her face with a tissue. ‘Now then, Fenny, what’s all the crying about?’
‘I hurt my knee, and it’s bleeding, and it’ll show at the party.’ The blotched, elfin face lit up with a sudden beam. ‘Guess what, Leo! I can stay up—’
‘For a little while,’ warned Frances.
‘And only if you stop crying right away,’ said Tom Dysart indulgently. ‘Come on, sweetheart, let’s wash that knee and see the damage.’
But the invalid had finally noticed the visitor, and shot across the room in delight.
‘Jonah, you came early!’ shrieked Fenny rapturously. ‘Will you dance with me tonight?’
‘Of course I will,’ he promised, smiling at her.
Leonie stared, narrow-eyed, then gave her family a look which threatened questions later. ‘Come on, darling,’ she coaxed, detaching Fenny from Jonah. ‘Let Dad see to your knee.’
When the knee had been washed, anointed, and a plaster applied, the six-year-old charmer promptly settled herself beside Jonah at the table to eat cake and drink milk, going into great detail as she described her party dress. Leonie shot a resentful glare at Jonah as he listened to the little girl, then turned away to talk to Kate, who was watching her apprehensively, plainly on edge about the entire situation.
‘So when’s Jess arriving, Kate?’
‘She’s driving down—should be here any time. You’re sharing Fenny’s room with Jess and me tonight. Leo, shall I unpack for you?’ said Kate, in sudden inspiration. ‘Mother, is there anything else you want me to do?’
‘Not at the moment.’ Frances smiled. ‘Afterwards, why don’t you have your bath, darling?’
Kate agreed with alacrity, and shot off at such speed Leonie exchanged a wry glance with her mother. ‘Desperate to escape.’
‘You know Kate can’t bear scenes of any kind.’
Leonie frowned. ‘And she was worried I might make one?’
‘From the look on your face it seemed a distinct possibility, darling!’ Frances cast a look towards the little girl sitting among the men like a queen bee. ‘I’d better break that up, or she’ll get over-excited. Fenny’s been looking forward to the party for weeks.’
‘She’s obviously a great fan of Jonah’s—and vice versa.’
‘Since he’s been involved with Brockhill he’s been here a few times lately.’ Frances gave her daughter a searching look. ‘Do you mind?’
‘I’m not entitled to mind.’ Leonie smiled a little. ‘Fenny’s obviously expecting to see Jonah at the party, but don’t worry. I promise to behave.’
‘When we asked him we thought you wouldn’t be here, Leo. As it is we can hardly withdraw the invitation. Besides, it’s a long, long time since you broke up with Jonah,’ her mother added gently.
‘True.’ But not long enough to accept his presence in her home with the ease the rest of her family felt, particularly Adam, who was laughing his head off at something Jonah had just told him. Leonie felt oddly left out. And as though he sensed it Jonah caught her eye and got to his feet.
‘Time I was off,’ he said quickly. ‘Thank you for the tea, Mrs Dysart.’
‘Thank you for bringing Leonie home,’ said Tom. ‘We’ll expect you back later. Might be a good idea to come on foot if the weather holds, Jonah, to avoid parking problems.’
Adam looked at his watch and whistled. ‘I’d better get off down to Chepstow to meet some people off the train.’
‘I’ve put containers of sandwiches in your fridge for a snack,’ said his mother, ‘so you can all congregate there to start with while Leo helps me set out the food in the dining room. The boys can get ready in your place, too, but the girls come in here to dress once you’ve fed them.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ said her son, saluting smartly. ‘See you later, Jonah.’
‘Come on, Fenny,’ said Frances, ‘bathtime. You can have supper in front of the TV in the study.’
‘I might