“Do you have to go?” Donald was beginning to enjoy himself. He was about to follow when his wife grabbed him by the belt.
“No, darling. You’re an old man. They’re here to meet Jean-Paul. Sit down and act your age.”
“I thought it would be jolly to watch the grandchildren.”
“No, you didn’t.” She smiled as he sat beside her and crossed his arms. “You read her sweater and took her at her word. I think it’s for the Frenchman’s benefit and, by the look of him, he’ll have no trouble lighting her fire.”
XV
The cold crisp mornings of winter. The scent of burning leaves. The sight of our breath rising on the air.
Ava watched the two girls flirt and giggle with Jean-Paul. He stood, leaning on a pitchfork, his shirt roughly tucked into jeans that emphasized his slim hips and long legs. He had rolled up his sleeves, baring brown forearms and hands already rough from laboring in the garden. He gazed at them arrogantly, his mouth curling in amusement, clearly enjoying their attention. Ava stood with Toddy, pretending to be watching the children, but she could see him in her peripheral vision. Lizzie and Samantha leaned towards him, their body language leaving no doubt that they found him attractive. Ava was fascinated by this flirtatious dance and was reminded of her first meeting with Phillip. It felt like a long time ago. In the company of these two young creatures she felt old and dowdy—a partridge beside birds of paradise.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” said Toddy, letting Mr. Frisby jump off her shoulder to run about the vegetable patches.
“I doubt it, Toddy,” Ava replied drily.
“Lizzie and Samantha make me feel uncomfortably grown up.”
“Yes, I know what you mean,” she agreed with a sigh.
“I never thought I’d be this old. They’ve got their whole lives ahead of them. Courtship, marriage, children. They can still pick their man. They still have choices. It makes me sad to think I’ll never flirt like that again, or make love for the first time.”
“We have new things to look forward to,” said Ava, not quite certain what those things were.
“Like extramarital affairs and divorce.”
“Don’t be so cynical, Toddy.”
“I’m not married to Mr. Wonderful. Sometimes I’d rather like to have another round. People shouldn’t stay married for so long. In the old days we died at thirty. Now we live so long, it’s like two lifetimes. I think one should be able to call it quits halfway through and enjoy another marriage when it starts to grow humdrum. Do you know what I mean?”
“Sort of.” Ava laughed affectionately.
“I won’t leave him, you know that. Just enjoy thinking about it sometimes. You know, if I was honest, I wouldn’t mind an affair. If I could guarantee it would remain a secret. That no one would ever know or get hurt.”
“Anyone in mind?”
“No. That’s the other hurdle, of course. There’s no one in Hartington. But I do miss the buzz of those first, intoxicating encounters. My marriage is a bit too comfortable, like a trusty old slipper I can’t be bothered to wear anymore. The desire’s gone. Do you and Phillip roll about a lot?”
“Toddy, you can’t ask me that!” Ava was embarrassed.
“Come on. Is it the same for all of us? Are we all in the same boat?”
Ava crossed her arms. “I’m sorry, Toddy. Phillip and I have a very healthy marriage.”
“Oh.” Toddy sounded disappointed. “No affair for you, then?”
“No.”
“Well, there’s always a silver lining. At least we won’t be fighting over the same man!”
“That is true,” Ava agreed. “I’m pleased to say that I’m happy with the one I’ve got.”
Ava went inside to check on Mrs. Marley, the cook. A scrawny little woman with gray hair tied into a neat bun and a kindly smile that she bestowed on everyone indiscriminately, she was at the sink straining the summer peas and broad beans that Ava had picked and frozen. “Can I send Phillip in to carry?” Ava asked. Mrs. Marley smiled at her through the cloud of steam.
“That would be good, Mrs. L., if you wouldn’t mind. These beans are a treat. I had one or two to taste.”
“Would you like to take a bag home for your dinner?”
“Oh, Mrs. L., would you mind?” She went pink with delight.
“Not at all. I’ve got so many.”
“Stanley will be so pleased. He loves his food.”
“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, Mrs. Marley.”
“That’s the way to keep them, too,” she added with a grin. “Sadly, that’s not the way with children, is it? Feed them up and watch them go. My Nigel’s nearly fifteen now. He’ll go without his tea to have fish ’n’ chips with his girl. Never thought he’d prefer a girl to meat ’n’ two veg at home.”