Page 114 of The Clockmaker's Cottage
‘I see what you did there.’ She laughed as she loaded the dishwasher.
Hearing a knock on the front door, she called out, ‘It’s probably Clemmie with sandbags.’
‘You might be right. You stay there; you can’t be lifting heavy sandbags.’
‘So overprotective,’ she teased, though secretly she loved the way Theo looked after her. She followed him to the door anyway.
Theo opened the door and they both stared.
Standing on the step, drenched but smiling awkwardly, was Sebastian Worthington-Frost, and beside him, holding a broken umbrella and wearing a bright smile, was a woman with long dark hair.
‘Hi,’ Sebastian said, clearing his throat. ‘Um. Sorry to turn up unannounced. I see St Swithin’s Day has struck again.’ He grinned.
Pippa looked at Theo, searching his face. For a moment he said nothing, but then he met her gaze and gave the smallest nod. He stepped back and opened the door wide.
‘Come in,’ he said. ‘Don’t stand out there in the rain.’
They stepped inside. ‘We’re staying in Sea’s End for a few days. Thought… well… since we were nearby… maybe it was time to say hello. This time last year… a lot happened. Can I introduce you to Zara?’
Pippa smiled and welcomed her. Theo shook her hand.
‘Sebastian has told me so much about you both.’
‘I’m hoping it’s all good?’ Pippa gave a guarded smile. ‘Shall I put the kettle on?’
‘That would be lovely,’ replied Sebastian. ‘Thank you for not shutting the door in my face. I know it’s probably what I deserve.’
‘I’ll just make the tea,’ Pippa said, and disappeared towards the kitchen.
‘I felt I needed to come,’ she heard Sebastian say to Theo, and looking over her shoulder she saw Theo gesture to the sofa and their guests taking a seat.
A few minutes later, she returned with a tea tray. As she set it down, she noticed Zara rest a supportive hand on Sebastian’s knee. There was a softness to him now, a calm she hadn’t seen before. He looked relaxed, happy, and, she guessed, very much in love.
She placed a mug on the coffee table in front of each of them.
‘I’m here, because I wanted to apologise… to you both,’ declared Sebastian.
The room went quiet.
‘What I did… The affair… I don’t expect forgiveness. I don’t even know if I deserve a conversation about it. It was selfish, and destructive, and the lowest point of my life. I was angry, jealous, pathetic– pick any word you like and I’ll accept it. I’m ashamed of who I was then. Embarrassed. Theo, I am so, so sorry.’ He pulled in a shaky breath, eyes glistening with tears. ‘I’ve replayed it a thousand times,’ he continued. ‘Every version of it ends with me hurting people who didn’t deserve it. I hate that I became that person. I’ve spent the last year trying very hard not to be him anymore, and thanks to meeting Zara’—he smiled warmly at her—‘I’m becoming a better person each day.’
‘Thank you for your apology. I know that couldn’t have been easy to say,’ Theo replied.
‘The injustice towards my grandfather took over my life in an unhealthy way, and I should have spoken to you both about it from the start. I should have shared who I was… but I suppose there was a large part of me that was scared.’
‘Scared?’ asked Pippa.
‘That if people found out at university that I was the grandson of Andrew Wetherby, especially when I was studying horology, that I would be an outcast. My love for clocks is genuine and I didn’t want to jeopardise my experience at uni. I also know that my all-consuming rage has not made me the best employer over the years, and that’s something I have been working on, too.’ Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck. ‘When everything came out about my grandfather– when the truth finally surfaced– I felt like a huge weight had lifted. I knew that he was a talented designer– I actually have some of his original designs that were passed on to me– and I’m lucky to have inherited his love for clocks. Again, I’m sorry for taking out my anger and frustration on you and other people who didn’t deserve it.’
Zara rested a hand on his arm, and he shot her a grateful look.
‘I’m trying to be better. In fact, I know I’m better,’ he said simply. ‘I just needed to come and apologise.’
Pippa was watching Theo. He smiled warmly. The old rivalry, the resentment, the years of strain… it all seemed to have just evaporated. Sebastian was genuinely sorry.
‘Thank you,’ Theo said. ‘That means a lot, and it’s long past time we all moved forward.’
Pippa groaned. ‘That’s terrible; I hope your dad jokes will be better than that.’
