already dragged Reid away. As they head towards the podium on the other side of the hall, she appears to be talking at him, rather than to him. He looks totally disinterested, like a lost soul.
This isn’t quite the ending I’d imagined for this journey Reid and I have taken together. I thought that maybe tonight we’d be stealing glances over the heads of other people, happy to think that the pressure would be off. Instead, this marks a parting of the ways.
23
The End Simply Heralds a Bright New Beginning
Mum and Judi look up in awe at the rear of the villa, admiring the angular architecture and it’s clear this wasn’t at all what they were expecting. Their reaction mirrors my own, the day Reid first brought me here. I unlock the gate and then lead them around the side of the property and out onto the patio at the front. They stand beside me, rendered speechless as they gaze out over the ocean.
But my eyes are elsewhere. I, too, am unable to speak because I’m in total shock as I stare at the kestrel, my kestrel. He sits off to one side, mounted on a stone plinth set in front of the courtyard wall, the bougainvillea cascading down behind him. It’s a perfect setting, but I can’t believe Reid gave him away to a friend. A favour for a favour? I wonder angrily.
‘I don’t think I have ever seen anything as spectacular as this, Seren,’ Judi remarks, turning to look at me. ‘What’s wrong?’
The smile on Mum’s face is instantly wiped off, as they both hurry over to me.
‘The kestrel. It’s… my sculpture.’
‘Oh, how wonderful! You sold a piece?’ Judi asks excitedly, as she links arms with Mum and they head over to look at it close up.
‘Darling, this is amazing. Truly amazing!’ Mum blurts out, a hand flying up to her face in delight.
‘No. Not exactly a sale.’
They look at each other, puzzled, but how do I explain what this means? I can’t, so I grit my teeth, raise a smile and tilt my head in the direction of the front door.
‘The entrance is around here. You wait until you see inside. The master bedroom is upstairs and there are two guest bedrooms on the ground-floor. Come on, let’s crack open a bottle of wine.’
My heart is in tatters. That little bird might be made of cold metal, but every tiny little piece of him was made with love. Did Reid think he was doing me a favour; hoping the guests of his rich friend would see it here and be inspired to think about commissioning a piece? Setting aside the emotional aspect, this creation was art for art’s sake, not art for money. No one would be prepared to pay what it cost in time to make it and that was the whole point. Which Reid totally missed and that’s what breaks my heart.
As I show Mum and Judi around, I’m on autopilot and do my best to hide just how upset I’m feeling. It wouldn’t be fair to spoil their visit when it’s the only thing helping to keep me going. My whole world is collapsing inwards and each breath I take is laboured, as my emotions threaten to take over.
‘Your father and I have been lucky enough to stay in some wonderful villas around the world, but I can honestly say that this is amongst the most special, Seren. The attention to detail is phenomenal. Every view has been carefully positioned, every angle has a purpose. Contemporary properties sometimes feel slightly clinical to me. I know clean lines and shiny surfaces are popular, but you know me. I’m used to a sprawling farmhouse and I love a little history to a property. But this isn’t space created just for the sake of making it luxurious, if you know what I mean. It was designed to be a home.’
I laugh, hoping she doesn’t pick up on the jaded tone of my voice. ‘It’s just an investment property, Mum, like the other villas on this clifftop. They don’t even rent it out, so it stands empty most of the year.’
‘Oh,’ Judi walks over to join Mum and me as we look out of the patio doors in the kitchen. ‘That’s a shame. But luckily for us, you know the owner.’
I shake my head. ‘No. I know a friend of the owner.’
‘Well, you are mixing in the right circles, girl. I wasn’t expecting your life here to be