Read Online Eden's Garden by Juliet Greenwood - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Juliet Greenwood
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He gazed wistfully up at the long roof of Plas Eden, just visible above the courtyard. ‘Nainie would have hated the idea of Eden going outside the family. I can’t help feeling I’ve let her down.’
‘Nonsense.’ Rhiannon was firm. ‘Nainie was proud of everything you achieved. She knew Plas Eden would never have survived unless you’d worked so hard to make it a success. She’d understand this is not your fault. It’s just one of those things.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Look, if it helps, I can always take over more of the running of the business…’
‘No!’ His scowl was fierce. ‘No. I can’t let you do that, whatever happens.’
‘I don’t mind.’
‘But it’s not fair. Not again. That’s one thing I swore to myself when I was in that Swiss hospital: that I wasn’t going let you pick up the pieces again. You’ve got your own life to lead, Rhiannon. Eden has taken far too much of it already.’ He drained his coffee and began his slow, painful way back towards the sunroom. By the time he reached his chair, his face was white with pain and exhaustion. Rhiannon took his mug as he eased himself down, knowing his pride would not allow him to accept any further assistance.
‘It might only be for a while,’ she said gently.
‘That’s what we said when Nainie had her first stroke.’ He released his stick and leant back, eyes closed, his whole face tense and lined with the effort. ‘How old was I then? Twenty-three ? I was only thinking of myself and Nainie and Plas Eden, not of you. You’d just started to get your work into exhibitions again. You could have had a career by now.’
‘Or maybe not.’
‘Of course you would.’ David opened his eyes abruptly. ‘That guy in London, the tutor at those night classes you’d been taking…’
‘Jason Woodford,’ she supplied. Funny, she noted: at last she could say his name without the slightest twinge going through her. After all this time, it was as if she had finally let go and was free. A touch ironic, really, when you came to think about it.
‘That’s the one. He thought you were good enough to make a go of it, didn’t he? And he’s world famous.’
‘Yes, he did.’ Rhiannon turned her attention to pinching out a basil plant on the windowsill. Funny how your children – even when they were not strictly yours – never quite get their heads around the fact that you might once have had a sex life, and a pretty passionate, can’t-keep-your-hands-off-each-other one at that. There had always been a part of her that had wondered if it hadn’t been the sex that had been the source of Jason’s enthusiasm for her work, rather than her painting skills. And, in any case, it all seemed a bit immaterial now.
David, however, wasn’t about to let up. ‘You gave up one chance when Huw and I were kids, and you gave up another when Nainie became ill. I’m not going to let you give up another one now. You need to do your painting, Rhiannon. I know how much it means to you. Didn’t you say once you only felt half-alive without it?’
‘I never said that to you.’
‘No.’ He shut his eyes once more, the frown between his brows increasing. ‘I overheard you saying it to someone on the phone, once. I knew it was true exactly because you’d never mentioned it once to any of us. I don’t want you to live your life only half-alive. That’s not fair of anyone to ask.’
There was a moment’s silence.
‘The time’s drawing on,’ said Rhiannon at last. ‘I’d better take Hodge for his walk.’
David nodded in silence. Quietly, she fetched a fresh glass of water, which she placed within his reach, hoping he’d give in and take the painkillers next to him on the table. David might not be over-fond of the medicines being pumped into his system, and could prove as stubborn as they come, but there were occasions to just give your body a rest and allow the healing to get on with it. She hoped in her absence he’d see sense and admit
‘Nonsense.’ Rhiannon was firm. ‘Nainie was proud of everything you achieved. She knew Plas Eden would never have survived unless you’d worked so hard to make it a success. She’d understand this is not your fault. It’s just one of those things.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Look, if it helps, I can always take over more of the running of the business…’
‘No!’ His scowl was fierce. ‘No. I can’t let you do that, whatever happens.’
‘I don’t mind.’
‘But it’s not fair. Not again. That’s one thing I swore to myself when I was in that Swiss hospital: that I wasn’t going let you pick up the pieces again. You’ve got your own life to lead, Rhiannon. Eden has taken far too much of it already.’ He drained his coffee and began his slow, painful way back towards the sunroom. By the time he reached his chair, his face was white with pain and exhaustion. Rhiannon took his mug as he eased himself down, knowing his pride would not allow him to accept any further assistance.
‘It might only be for a while,’ she said gently.
‘That’s what we said when Nainie had her first stroke.’ He released his stick and leant back, eyes closed, his whole face tense and lined with the effort. ‘How old was I then? Twenty-three ? I was only thinking of myself and Nainie and Plas Eden, not of you. You’d just started to get your work into exhibitions again. You could have had a career by now.’
‘Or maybe not.’
‘Of course you would.’ David opened his eyes abruptly. ‘That guy in London, the tutor at those night classes you’d been taking…’
‘Jason Woodford,’ she supplied. Funny, she noted: at last she could say his name without the slightest twinge going through her. After all this time, it was as if she had finally let go and was free. A touch ironic, really, when you came to think about it.
‘That’s the one. He thought you were good enough to make a go of it, didn’t he? And he’s world famous.’
‘Yes, he did.’ Rhiannon turned her attention to pinching out a basil plant on the windowsill. Funny how your children – even when they were not strictly yours – never quite get their heads around the fact that you might once have had a sex life, and a pretty passionate, can’t-keep-your-hands-off-each-other one at that. There had always been a part of her that had wondered if it hadn’t been the sex that had been the source of Jason’s enthusiasm for her work, rather than her painting skills. And, in any case, it all seemed a bit immaterial now.
David, however, wasn’t about to let up. ‘You gave up one chance when Huw and I were kids, and you gave up another when Nainie became ill. I’m not going to let you give up another one now. You need to do your painting, Rhiannon. I know how much it means to you. Didn’t you say once you only felt half-alive without it?’
‘I never said that to you.’
‘No.’ He shut his eyes once more, the frown between his brows increasing. ‘I overheard you saying it to someone on the phone, once. I knew it was true exactly because you’d never mentioned it once to any of us. I don’t want you to live your life only half-alive. That’s not fair of anyone to ask.’
There was a moment’s silence.
‘The time’s drawing on,’ said Rhiannon at last. ‘I’d better take Hodge for his walk.’
David nodded in silence. Quietly, she fetched a fresh glass of water, which she placed within his reach, hoping he’d give in and take the painkillers next to him on the table. David might not be over-fond of the medicines being pumped into his system, and could prove as stubborn as they come, but there were occasions to just give your body a rest and allow the healing to get on with it. She hoped in her absence he’d see sense and admit
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