Mary Whiting watched in distress as her daughter-in-law sobbed.
“I’m calling the wedding off,” Stella whispered.
“Because of Angelique?” Mary asked, nodding towards the garden where her granddaughter was playing with Sheba’s puppies. The child was small for twelve, and remarkably like her mother in looks. She had the same dark, curly hair and enormous brown eyes.
Stella nodded. “She’s been ignoring me for weeks. She won’t speak to me unless I speak to her first.”
Mary’s sympathy was with her widowed daughter-in-law. It was four years since Mark’s death and Stella deserved some happiness.
“But why? Angelique has never had a problem with Josh.”
Stella looked up with affection; if anyone had reason to be upset about her forthcoming wedding it was this woman. She tried to clear her thoughts, her lovely eyes still shining with tears.
“Josh has been coming round for ages and Angelique seemed very happy about it. I thought she’d be pleased about us getting married. Instead when Josh walks into a room, she gets up and walks out.”
A wry smile flitted across Stella’s face. “I’ve told her that I won’t put up with such rudeness. But she goes back in, and says hello in such a way that it’s even worse than her not saying anything at all.” Her voice cracked. “That’s why I’m cancelling the wedding. I thought we could be happy, but it isn’t going to work.”
“Have you told Josh?”
Stella shook her head. “I’ll tell him this evening. He’ll agree with me. He and Mark were good friends, there’s no way he’d upset Mark’s daughter.”
“Don’t say anything tonight,” urged Mary. “Wait a few days. Maybe Angelique will tell me what her problem is.”
“Oh Ma, I don’t know where I’d be without you.” She hugged the older woman. “You make me feel as if anything is possible.”
“Get away with you. Go on, enjoy your break and leave Angelique to me.”
After Stella left Mary watched Angelique playing with the puppies. She decided to leave it to the child to raise the subject of the wedding.
Opening the doors, she called out: “Shall we go and see what’s showing at the cinema?”
“Yes please, Gran,” Angelique answered, rubbing at her grass-stained knees. “Have you found homes for all of Sheba’s puppies?”
Mary scratched behind the ears of her border collie. “All but the little one you’ve been playing with. He’s the runt of the litter. It’s a shame because he’s a sweet little thing.”
Angelique looked at the tiny bundle of black and white fur, frantically trying to catch a butterfly.
“He’s cute. If he was mine I’d call him Zorro, his black eyes make him look as though he’s wearing a mask. If no one takes him, could I have him?”
“You can ask your mum, but the pups will be staying here with Sheba for a few weeks yet, so there’s still time for him to find a home. Come on, let’s get going.”
On the fourth night of her granddaughter’s visit an unusual noise woke Mary. Creeping along the passage she looked into Angelique’s room, but the bed was empty. Angelique was downstairs, crying. Mary found her curled up in the big armchair, holding her parent’s wedding photograph. She squeezed next to Angelique and took the child in her arms.
“Do you mind so much that your mum and Josh want to get married?”
“Oh Gran, I thought you’d understand. If we move in with Josh, dad will disappear.”
“What do you mean, Angel? Your dad died four years ago.”
“I know that, Gran. But if mum and Josh get married then he’ll take dad’s place and already I can’t remember what dad was like. I can’t remember his voice; I can’t remember anything about him. I’m scared I’ll stop loving him,” she finished on a wail.
“Your dad used to creep out of bed and come down here when he was upset. You look like your mum, but you have your dad’s ways. As you get older, I expect you’ll become even more like him. Is that why you’re being so mean to Josh and your mum, because you’re scared that you’ll forget your dad?”
Angelique nodded.
“But you do like Josh, don’t you?” Mary asked, and received another nod.
“Well, I have an idea that might help. We’ll give it a try tomorrow, but for now back to bed, young lady.”
The next morning the curtains were closed in the sitting room and an enormous bowl of popcorn was on the coffee table.
“Roll up for the Whiting home entertainment centre spectacular,” commanded Mary, settling herself and Angelique on the sofa. She pressed the remote control, and pictures of Mark and Stella’s wedding day filled the screen.
“Your mum and I decided not to show you these videos in case they upset you, but I think we may have been wrong.”
The morning passed in a flash. After the wedding came Angelique’s christening, holidays, Mark playing football for the local team, days out and barbeques at home. When it ended Angelique threw herself into Mary’s arms.
“Thank you, Gran. I remember him again.”
Later that day Angelique asked Mary if she thought her mum still loved her dad.
“I’m sure she does. Why?”
“Because she wants to marry Josh. How can she love dad if she loves Josh now?”
“Angelique, because you love somebody, it doesn’t mean that you can’t love someone else. You love me as well your mum. You don’t stop loving me because you love your mum, do you?”
As Angelique shook her head Mary scooped her up. “There you are then, that proves it.” She kissed the child’s head.
Nothing more was said about the wedding or Josh. Stella arrived to take her daughter home and was surprised to receive a fierce hug.
“Would you and Josh mind if I had a puppy when you’re married?”
Over her daughter’s head, Stella sent Mary a silent, but heartfelt, thank you.
Lorraine Mace 2004
