December 2004 – Mum's the Word.
The Tangled Web is a story spanning several years and is based on the complicated lives of Sara and Sam, lovers who are brother and sister, and those they live with. Set in the English Midlands, the tale is told through a series of interlocking short stories. Although designed to be read in sequence, I have tried to make each chapter stand as a complete and satisfying story in itself.
Although this chapter is essential to the developing plot, it is a little longer than usual and perhaps not quite as explicit in its content.
I hope regular 'Web' readers will enjoy it for what it is – an important chapter in the lives of two lovers.
*****
It is December 2004 and, although the streets and shops are full of all the brightness and excitement of the approaching season of goodwill, Sara and Sam and their family are finding it hard to take part in the festivities.
Tragically, Sara and Sam's father suffered a sudden and severe heart attack and died during the previous November. Although a considerable shock to all the family, their loss brought their already-close family even closer together, and they took some comfort in the knowledge that it had been very quick and he had not suffered.
Their mother, Helen, had felt it hardest. Although she had been a full eight years younger than her husband, nevertheless Sara and Sam had always felt that it was she and not their father that had been the more fragile of the two. Dad had always seemed so strong; so fit; so much larger than life; and yet it had been he who had left them first. The shock was hard to bear.
The day of the funeral and wake had passed as well as could be expected, with family members gathering from all over the world. Their father had been part of a large extended family, and distant relations Sara and Sam had never met before had arrived at their house and greeted them like long lost friends.
Their mother's relations, though much fewer in number, had also arrived from distant places. Largely unfazed by the large gathering, they had helped to ensure that all the guests were well fed well looked after while the grieving widow, Helen, still a striking and attractive woman despite her 62 years, undertook the necessary formalities with her two grown-up children in full support.
It was only when the house had finally become quiet that the three of them had had time to sit and grieve properly before beginning the difficult task of considering the future.
Concerned for their mother's loneliness, Sara and Sam had insisted that she came to stay with them in Sam's house for at least a week, to recover some of her strength and to avoid being alone in such a large and empty house.
Somewhat to their surprise, she had agreed readily and since then had been sleeping in the guest bedroom for almost a week.
As a result, Sam had been confined to the small study bedroom at the back of the house, the twins naturally having priority in the nursery room. Although not begrudging this sacrifice, it did of course mean that, to their joint frustration, he could not visit Sara in her bed once the twins were asleep, and had to try and actually sleep in the uncomfortable camp bed in the study instead of alongside his warm, soft and beautiful sister.
The therapy, though tough on Sam, was working well on their mother. Helen was obviously rather distracted and upset, but to her children's delight was quickly beginning to focus on the future rather than dwell on the past. Indeed, she talked excitedly of her grandchildren and the glowing, promising future that lay ahead for them.
Interestingly, Helen never talked about the twins' supposed father, David, and still less about 'that woman' Lynn, Sam's ex wife who now lived with her girlfriend in Sydney, Australia.
Meanwhile she was spending much more time with her daughter than she had done since Sara had lived at home. They had shopped together, gone out for coffee together, watched soppy chick flicks together and generally left Sam out of things.
Sam, of course still worked full time for the large manufacturing company he had been with since leaving university. He was now head of the Technical Department, a job which required him to travel the world extensively and gave a good excuse for Sara to live with him, ostensibly as a housekeeper. He was besotted with the children – his children, although still only he and Sara knew this – and took advantage of every moment to be with them.
We join them as their 'Uncle' Sam, after returning from a trip to the play park with Simon and Samantha, is playing noisily with them in the garden despite the cold weather.
Sara and her mother have just returned in Sara's car from another long visit to the shops.
Sara heaved a weary sigh as she dropped the heavy shopping bags on the kitchen table. Her mother followed her into the room, burdened down by her own purchases and, placing them carefully on the counter top, perched herself precariously on one of the high breakfast bar stools.
"I never thought I'd say this, Sara, but there is a limit to the amount of shopping I can cope with these days." She laughed. "I'd say that even you were having trouble today."
"Never!" Sara replied in mock outrage. "I've learned from an expert!"
She filled the shiny chrome kettle from the tap and switched it on. Her face was pink and rosy from the cold.
"Tea, Mum?" She asked.
"Yes please, dear." Her mother replied, peering into the bags' open tops. "We really have been naughty, you know. I didn't really need more shoes or that long skirt."
"Mum, it's not a question of need. It's good to treat yourself. Especially now. You deserve a bit of spoiling. You know Dad would have said the same. He was always generous."
Helen fell silent for a while.
"I know. I miss him terribly. And at silly times too, like now."
Sara crossed to her mother's side and hugged her. No words were spoken. There was no need for them. They understood each other well, as only mother and daughter can.
"Where's Sam? I'm sure I can hear him." Helen eventually asked, diffusing the sadness in the air. Sara crossed to the window and looked into the small garden at the back of the house.
"He's still outside playing with the kids, Mum." Sara replied, laughing. "He's like a big kid himself sometimes. Just look at the faces he's pulling." Her mother joined her at the window and chuckled.
"That double swing was a good idea. They both love it. Or should I say all three of them? Look! Sam can keep them both going at the same time. No squabbles!"
"They hardly ever argue." Mused Sara. "I can't decide whether that's good or bad." She paused for a minute. "Did Sam and I squabble a lot when we were their age, Mum? I can't remember anything much that far back."
Her mother thought for a while.
"No, I don't think you did. You two always got on famously. Until you were both teens, that is. Then the sparks started to fly"
She thought a minute longer.
"I think you disapproved of Sam's girlfriends and he certainly disapproved of your boyfriends."
Sara fell silent, thinking of Sam and their relationship now.
"He'll be cross I've spent all this money." She eventually said, quietly.
"Honestly, Sara." Her mother scolded. "You sound like an old married couple."
Sara's heart missed a beat and she tried to recover quickly.
"I just meant that he's so generous, supporting us all like this." But her mother was making a 'don't worry' gesture.
