Everything to Gain. Barbara Taylor Bradford

known it. Never mind that it was farther from New York than we had ever planned to have a weekend home. Somehow we would manage the drive, we had reassured each other that afternoon. Andrew and I had fallen in love with the place and we wanted it, and by the end of the summer it was ours, as was a rather large mortgage.

      We spent the rest of 1986 sprucing up our new possession, camping out in it as we did, and loving every moment. For the remainder of that summer and autumn our children became true country sprites, practically living outdoors, and Trixy revelled in chasing squirrels, rabbits and birds. As for Andrew and I, we felt a great release escaping the tensions of the city and he the many pressures of his high-powered job.

      Finally, in the spring of 1987, we were able to move in properly, and then we set out taming the grounds and planting the various gardens around the house. This was some task in itself, and as challenging as getting the house in order. Andrew and I enjoyed working with Anna, the gardener we had found, and Andrew discovered he had green fingers, something he had never known. Everything seemed to sprout under his hands.

      It did not take either of us long to understand how much we looked forward to leaving the city, and as the weeks and months passed we became more and more enamoured of this breathtaking corner of Connecticut.

      Now, as I walked through the sunroom and into the long gallery, I paused for a moment, stood admiring the gentle serenity of our home.

      Sunlight was spilling into the hall from the various rooms, and in the liquid rafts of brilliant light thousands of dust motes rose up, trembling in the warm July air. Suddenly, a butterfly, delicately wrought, jewel-tinted, floated past me to hover over a bowl of cut flowers on the table in the middle of the gallery.

      I caught my breath, wishing I had a paintbrush and canvas at hand, so that I could capture the innocent beauty of this scene. But they were in my studio, and by the time I went to get them and returned, the butterfly surely would have flown away, I was quite certain of that. So I just continued to stand there, looking.

      As I basked in the peacefulness of the early morning, thinking what a lucky woman I was to have all that I had, there was no possible way for me to know that my life was going to change – and so profoundly, so irrevocably it would never be the same again.

      Nor did I know then that it was this house which would save me from the destructiveness within myself. It would become my haven, my refuge from the world. And in the end it would save my life.

      But because I knew none of this, I walked blithely on down the gallery and went into the kitchen, happy at the prospect of the holiday weekend ahead, lighthearted and full of optimism about my life and the future.

      Automatically, I turned on the radio, stood drinking a cup of coffee I had made earlier, while toasting a slice of bread and listening to the morning news. As I did, I studied a long list of chores I had made the night before, and mentally planned my day. Then, once I had eaten the toast, I ran upstairs to take a shower and get dressed.

Three

      I have red hair, green eyes and approximately two thousand freckles. I don’t think I’m all that pretty, but Andrew does not agree with me. He is forever telling me that I’m beautiful. But, of course, beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, so I’ve been told, and anyway Andrew is prejudiced, I have to admit that.

      All I know is that I wish I didn’t have these irritating freckles. If only my skin were lily white and clear I could live with my vivid colouring. My unruly mop of auburn curls has earned me various nicknames over the years, the most popular being Ginger, Carrot Top and Red, none of which have I ever cherished. Quite the opposite, in fact.

      Since I have always been somewhat disdainful of my mother’s preoccupation with self, I have schooled myself not to be vain. But I suspect that secretly I am, and just as much as she is, if the truth be known. But then I think that most people are vain, care a lot about the way they look and dress, and the impression they make on others.

      Now, having showered and dressed in a cotton T-shirt and white shorts, I stood in front of the mirror, peering at myself and grimacing at my image. I realized that I had spent far too long in the garden unprotected yesterday afternoon; my freckles seemed to have multiplied by the dozen.

      A few fronds of hair frizzled around my temples and ears, and I sighed to myself as I slicked them back with water, wishing, as I so frequently did, that I was a pale, ethereal blonde. As far as I’m concerned, my colouring is much too vibrant, my eyes almost unnaturally green. I have inherited my colouring from my father; certainly there is no mistaking whose daughter I am. My eyes mirror his, as does my hair. Mind you, his is a sandy tone now, although it was once as fiery as mine, and his eyes are not quite as brightly green as they once were.

      That’s one of the better things about getting older, I think: everything starts to fade. I keep telling myself that I’m going to look like the incomparable Katharine Hepburn when I’m in my seventies. ‘Let’s only hope so,’ Andrew usually remarks when I mention this little conceit of mine. And it is wishful thinking on my part; what woman doesn’t want those lean, thoroughbred looks of hers, red-headed or not.

      Brushing back my hair, I secured it with a rubber band, then tied a piece of white ribbon on my pony tail and ran down the stairs.

      My little office, where I did paperwork and household accounts, was situated at the back of the house, looking out towards the vegetable garden. Seating myself at the large old-fashioned desk, which we had found at Cricket Hill, a local antique shop, I picked up the phone and dialled our apartment in New York.

      On the third ring my mother-in-law answered with a cheery, very British, ‘Hello?’

      ‘It’s me, Diana,’ I said, ‘and the top of the morning to you.’

      ‘Good morning, darling, and how is it out there?’ she asked. Not waiting for my response, she went on, ‘It’s frightfully hot here in the city, I’m afraid.’

      ‘I thought it would be,’ I answered. ‘And we’re having the same heat wave in Connecticut. All I can say is, thank God for air-conditioning. Anyway, how are my holy terrors today?’

      She laughed. ‘Divine. And I can’t tell you how much I relish having them to myself for a couple of days. Thanks for that, Mal, it’s so very sweet and considerate of you, letting me get to know my grandchildren in this way.’

      ‘They love you, Diana, and they enjoy being with you,’ I said, meaning every word, then asked, ‘And what are you planning to do with them?’

      ‘I’m taking them to the Museum of Natural History, after breakfast. You know how they are about animals, and especially dinosaurs. Then I thought I’d bring them home for a light lunch, since it’s so nice and cool in the flat. I promised to take them to F. A. O. Schwartz after their nap. We’re going shopping for toys.’

      ‘Don’t spoil them,’ I warned. ‘Doting grandmothers have been known to spend far too much money at certain times. Like when they’re on holiday visits.’

      Diana laughed, and over her laughter I heard my daughter wailing in the background. Then Lissa said in a shrill voice, ‘Nanna! Nanna! Jamie’s broken my bowl and the goldfish is on the carpet. Dying.’ The wailing grew louder, more dramatic.

      ‘I didn’t do it on purpose!’ Jamie shouted.

      My mother-in-law had not spoken for a moment, no doubt distracted by this sudden racket exploding around her. Now she exclaimed, ‘Oh God, hang on a minute, Mallory, the fish is gasping. I think I’d better grab a glass of water and pop the fish in it. Won’t be a tick.’ So saying she put the phone down.

      I strained to hear my children.

      Jamie cried plaintively, ‘I’m sorry, Lissa.’

      ‘Pick up the phone and speak to your mother,’ I heard Diana instruct from a distance, sounding very brisk and businesslike. ‘She’s waiting to say hello to you, darling.