The ladies and Sidney were on their way to Lady Denham at Sanditon House when Tom, his siblings and his children reached their spot at the beach. The Parkers were not the only ones who were hit by the same inspiration that day. The long sandy beach was filled with both visitors and local people enjoying a picnic and a good swim. The children were right to have rushed their guardians to the beach as it was filling up fast to the adults' dismay.
Once the blankets have been put on the sand with the picnic basket on them, the Parker siblings agreed upon their plan of action. It was of course difficult for all of them to go swimming at the same time due to the location of the bathing places seeing that men bathed at a separate place from the women. Therefore, it was agreed that Tom, Arthur and Henry would go swimming and Diana and the girls would go upon their return. This would give the opportunity to the male adults of the family to spend some time with Henry and Diana to indulge her nieces in their wish in building the largest sandcastle on the beach.
Thus, the two brothers and Henry found themselves swimming happily some moments later. The calm water was the perfect temperature. Both Tom and Arthur were keen for Henry to enjoy his swim, so they stayed on the shallowest part of the beach. They could not enjoy a good swim themselves, but the joy of Henry's happy face when he was part-swimming and part- playing in the seawater made up for that.
Neither brother said much to the other one- Arthur was still wary of his eldest brother and Tom was frantically thinking of a way to reconnect with Arthur. Instead they focussed all their attention on the young three-year-old boy making sure that he had the best possible time. Tom told them stories from his childhood and both Arthur and Henry gave him their full attention.
You would think that only young Henry would be interested in his father's stories. That was not true. Arthur was very young when his father had died. He greedily took every chance that he was given to hear anything at all about him. Finding Tom in a story-telling mood was a chance in a million and he would take it. He knew that despite his eldest brother's faults, Tom was one of the very few members of the Parker family who had known their parents the longest. Therefore, Tom had two avid listeners to his tales- a fact that for once in his life he fully acknowledged and appreciated.
This active listening came naturally to Arthur- he had inherited the skill from their mother who was a very good listener and communicator. However, it meant that Tom, who got the short end of the straw, had to make a supreme effort to both be the narrator of his story and to actively listen in order to respond to his small audience's questions. He had to get his clues from both their spoken words, their face and their body language. He was giving his full attention to whoever was speaking. He understood more than ever now what his father truly meant. Yet, he was determined to keep trying.
Tom chose to recount to his audience one of the rare occasions when his parents took him to the beach. It was before any of the other siblings were born. Tom was four years old. He told them that it was their mother's birthday and she wanted for their father to take her on a picnic at the beach. Their father loved her. He could not deny her a thing. They went to a more secluded part of the cove where the Parker patriarch spent a good hour helping young Tom building a huge sandcastle with their mother watching them fondly enjoying her cool lemonade and fresh fruit. This picnic was one of Tom's most cherished and carefree memories.
Aside from the storytelling, the three of them also spotted all sorts of fish, crabs and small creatures. Henry knew all their names, which amazed both adults especially Tom.
Tom felt even more keenly now how he had never really listened to what his son's ramblings and stories in the past. He had dismissed them as childish gibberish and thought nothing of them. He finally realised that his son was a very clever boy indeed listening to him telling them about the names of each species and how he saw a huge crab on the beach the other day.
Henry told them how the crab was rushing to the water to avoid the heat as the book he was reading told him it would have done. He also told them of its vivid red colours, the way it was moving and how strong it looked.
His son was using words that were of a higher level than the other boys of his age. He knew that his son was devoted to his books but hearing the richness of his language blew him away. Henry may well be a small genius and he his own father did not even have a clue. He did not even help him reach his own future potential. What kind of a father did that make him? He was thoroughly ashamed of himself! He noted to spend more time with his son and find out what he was good at. He would start by reading to his children their bedtime story tonight.
The male members of the Parker family were not the only ones who were enjoying their time together. The ladies were having fun as well. Diana, Jenny and Alicia were busy building their sandcastle. Jenny and Alicia went back and forth to the sea to bring sea water to strengthen their castle's walls.
They were in the process of re-building a wall that kept falling when a shadow fell on them. Diana looked up startled to see Dr Levinson lifting his hat and bowing to all three of them politely.
Diana, who was secretly very pleased to see him. She had long concluded that he was very handsome indeed for a London specialist, blushed slightly and said, 'Good morning, Dr Levinson. Girls, say good morning to the doctor.'
Both Jenny and Alicia did so at their aunt's beckoning and exclaimed loudly, 'Doctor, help us fix this wall! It keeps falling!'
Dr Levinson asked permission from Diana who bowed her agreement. This done, he then sat down, wrapped up his sleeves and started helping the children with the said crumbling wall. All four of them, the two adults and the two children, worked on it dilligently until it was secure. Before they knew it, they had built the remaining walls and in record time a sturdy sandcastle greeted their eyes.
The girls were very excited at the sight of the completed sandcastle. They asked their aunt, 'Auntie Diana, we are hungry and thirsty. May we have some lemonade and some cake?'
Diana responded pleasantly, 'Of course you may girls. Sit on the blanket nicely, though'. She turned her attention to their guest and offered him some refreshments. Dr Levinson said, 'I would love some, Miss Parker. All this sandcastle building makes one very thirsty. Your nieces are right about that.'
Diana offered him then a piece of cake and some lemonade to enjoy. She even had some herself as she felt it would have been rude not to. Arthur was not the only one who was partial to sweet treats. She had a terrible sweet tooth herself even though she did not indulge often.
The girls decided to read for a bit and before long they fell asleep. Diana covered them with the other blanket and turned her attention to the doctor. It was truly the first time they were alone together outside Charlotte's sickroom.
Dr Levinson said, 'Miss Parker, I shall miss this fresh sea air and sunshine. London is simply not the place to be for that sort of thing.'
Diana was surprised at his statement, 'Dr Levinson, are you leaving us? How come?'
Dr Levinson noted the surprise and disappointment in her voice and secretly rejoiced. He responded, 'Well, Miss Parker, Lady Susan summoned me to Sanditon to take care of Miss Charlotte. I am meant to check upon her this afternoon to make sure she is completely on the mend. Your brother, Mr Sidney Parker, wanted me to do so. If her health is as good as I expect it to be, then I am to return to London next week. You see, I have closed my surgery there for two weeks, so I fear that my professional obligations there call me back.
As I said though, I will miss this town. It has been such a treat to be amongst such kind people and live so well for the past couple of weeks. London is a very dirty place, Miss Parker. Being healthy there is not as easy as it is here. I wish I could have had my surgery in a place like this. Dr Fuchs is an excellent doctor and he is very lucky to have his surgery in such a wholesome place as this.
I shall also miss the sea. I was born in Bournemouth and moving to London has taken me away from it. I am glad that I managed to enjoy it here. It has indeed been a very welcome respite from the grey clouds of our capital.'
Diana listened to him and wished she could somehow keep him here. She would like to speak more to him as she enjoyed the very few conversations that they have had so far. Dare she suggest it? Would Sidney mind? Why not? She had nothing to lose.
She looked at him and said, 'My brothers will start rebuilding the burnt houses next week, Dr Levinson. If you like it here, would Dr Fuchs mind if you joined him in Sanditon? I dare not presume, sir, but your London patients may even be cured by coming to us here.'
She blushed at her last comment and bent her head to hide her embarrassment. Dr Levinson was so pleased to hear this speech that he dared not shatter this moment. It was far too precious. He was totally smitten with Miss Diana. He dared not hope that she might return his regard. Her current suggestion was of course no proof of that. However, he wondered to himself, whether there was a slight chance that it might.
He put his thoughts aside and said aloud, 'Miss Parker, you are quite right about my patients. They would really benefit by coming here. Half their ailments are caused by the lack of exercise and fresh air.
I have considered it myself. Dr Fuchs is agreeable to me opening another surgery alongside with his if I wished to do so. We specialise on different ailments and ultimately the combination of our skills would benefit both the town's residents' and us. You cannot know what a pleasure it is, Miss Parker, to be able to bounce back ideas with another colleague. It is a true gift!
Do you think your brother, Mr Sidney Parker, would allow me to commission a house/surgery to be built for me? Should I ask him this afternoon?'
Diana was thrilled to hear this. She tried to restrain her joy, but her smile won out, 'You can but ask him, Dr Levinson. I see no reason why he would say no. Discuss it with him. It would be an honour to have you stay in this town.'
Dr Levinson returned her grin, 'I shall then, Miss Parker. May I be so bold and ask you another question?'
Diana nodded and looked at him expectantly. He said, 'I know we have not spoken a lot. You do not know me. However, I have been very impressed with you and I have admired you from afar ever since I arrived in your charming town. You are just the companion that would suit me. I would love to get to know you better and you to know me better. Would you consent to enter into a courtship with me? Whom should I ask for permission?'
She did not hesitate. She knew her response instantly. She simply looked at his brown expressive eyes and said, 'I would gladly let you court me, Dr Levinson. My brother Sidney is the best person to ask.'
He took her hand and kissed it gently. 'Thank you, Miss Parker. You have made me a very happy man today. May I call you Diana? My name is Theodore. I would be honoured if you called me with my first name when we are alone.'
Diana was so overwhelmed with happiness that she could only nod and say a simple, 'I will do. Yes, do call me Diana.' They exchanged wide smiles and went back to enjoying the sunshine with a full and happy heart. They were in public after all and Sidney has not been told of this new development yet.
The two girls woke up from their nap just then which effectively ended any courtship talk. Alicia had some more lemonade- she was always thirsty upon waking up and Jenny opted for a cuddle with her aunt as it was her habit to cuddle with the first adult on sight upon waking up either from a nap or in the mornings. It took little Jenny a little longer to wake up than Alicia. Dr Levinson could only admire how well Diana looked with Jenny in her arms. He had to speak to Mr Parker this afternoon. His future happiness depended upon it.
He smiled at the three of them, bid them goodbye and made his way to his hotel room. He had plans to make for a new surgery and potentially a new life with Diana should their courtship proceed as he expected it to do so.
Dr Levinson was on his way back to the hotel when Tom, Arthur and Henry made it to the spot where Diana and the girls were sitting down. The girls knew that it was the time for their swim. They jumped excitedly when they saw their father, their uncle and their brother approach them. Thus, the exchange of the guard of the picnic basket took place. The ladies went for their swim whilst Arthur attacked the buttered toast, Henry was given some cake to eat and Tom started on his apple. He loved starting his picnics with one as it reminded him of his mother. The three of also spent some time examining every inch of the built sandcastle in front of them. It was a marvel to look at!
Diana, on the one hand, was in a jubilant mood and this was passed on to her nieces. The two girls, on the other hand, did not know why, but they would rather have a happy auntie Diana than a complaining one. They did not like it when she fussed too much. It made her frown more. Therefore, they only looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and took things as they came.
They reached the bathing machines and changed into their bathing costumes. There were three assistants with them in lieu of the age of the girls. Alicia was five years old and Jenny was four. They were too young to be left by themselves in the sea. The Parker ladies enjoyed their swim immensely.
The Parker ladies were enjoying their time in the sea whilst the Parker brothers were struggling to say two words to each other. Poor young Henry who was now exhausted by his exertions in the sea earlier promptly fell asleep after his snack to the dismay of the adults.
This left the two brothers by themselves with nothing to say to each other. It has been a long time since they have been put in such a seemingly dead-end situation and both of them struggled- even the gregarious Arthur.
Arthur decided to be the brave one and ask the question that was in his mind ever since Tom told them the story earlier. He suddenly felt awkward asking such a question, but he really had nothing to lose. Tom would respond to him or not. Off he went and he asked, 'Tom, what were our parents like?'
Tom looked startled at the sudden question. He looked Arthur in the eye to ascertain the sincerity of the request and the gaze that met him was their mother's eyes. He never realised that Arthur had inherited her eyes. Oh, how he missed her!
He nodded and asked his brother for further clarification before responding to the actual question. His old self would normally respond in his normal enthusiastic way. Yet, this time he wanted to give Arthur a considered and proper response. He asked, 'Whom do you want me to tell you about first?'
Arthur clearly did not expect Tom to even indulge him let alone ask what he wanted to know. He was encouraged by the question, 'How about mother? What was she like? I was so small when she died that I only remember her smell. She always smelt of jasmine. Did she?'
Tom gave the first real smile that he had ever given to his youngest brother. Arthur instinctively knew that as he smiled back.
'Yes, she did smell of jasmine, Arthur. You have a good a memory. It was her favourite scent. I remember her asking our father for it at the beginning of every year. She always made the bottle last for a whole year, but alas to her ever-growing frustration, it would not last longer. She used it every day.
Did you know that you have her eyes? I am sorry I never told you before that you did. She had large expressive eyes like yours.'
Arthur grinned at his brother and said excitedly yet quietly in order not to wake Henry up, 'Really? That is great news! I always did wonder what I inherited from her. Anything else?'
Tom smiled slightly and said, 'You are as jovial and happy as she was. She got on with everybody and she also loved her buttered toast. She was also a very good listener. You have inherited that from her as well.'
Arthur was very pleased. He ventured to ask about their father next, 'And father? What was he like?' The moment he asked the question, he saw a sign of sadness in Tom's eyes. He could see that his brother wanted to tell him. Yet, it cost him a lot to do so.
Tom eventually looked at his brother and then straight ahead. He said in a flat voice, 'Our father was a good man. He was complicated. He worked most of the time. In truth, Arthur, I never understood him until the other day.'
Arthur was surprised at the last comment, 'What happened the other day, Tom?'
Tom hesitated before explaining further, 'I was looking through some of my paperwork in my room and I found a letter that he left for me. I never saw it before yesterday. I don't know why. I will give you all the letter to read. It is at home.
He claimed that he was as he was in order to protect all of us and especially me. Apparently, I was the one who was most like him and that we shared the same weaknesses. I have inherited my fault of losing myself in things and situations from him along with other ones such as hurting everyone around me. He was the same.'
The last words came out in a slight sob from Tom that did not escape Arthur. He was genuinely shocked. Even more shocked when he saw a single tear escape from Tom's right eye, which was quickly wiped away. He pretended not to notice.
He merely asked, 'What did he advise you to do?'
Tom has partly recovered his wits by the time Arthur's questions reached his ears. 'In a nutshell, he suggested that I pay attention to the people around me. To listen and to notice. To respect their feelings and wishes.'
Arthur eyed him sceptically and said, 'Have you tried yet?'
The response he received was full of hope, 'I have been trying since yesterday. I tried today. However, Arthur, I cannot tell when to try and when not to. Our father had the same problem. I hope to keep trying. My marriage depends upon this as well my relationship with all of you. I will need help if I am to succeed. I need to be reminded when I get lost in my own world. You need to make me listen when I refuse to do so.'
Tom looked beseechingly at his youngest brother. 'Will you help me, Arthur?'
Arthur bumped Tom's shoulder playfully and gave him a wide smile. 'Yes, Tom, we will help you if we see you make an honest effort to change your ways. Despite everything we do love you. You are just not the easiest person to either deal with or live with at the best of times. You are a truly frustrating person, brother dear!
Remember though no missteps. You are given the last chance to redeem yourself. My advice to you is for you not to waste it. You have a lot to make up for. More than you will ever know.'
Tom gave his youngest brother a watery smile and admitted aloud despite himself, 'You know, Arthur, I underestimated you. Never let me forget that I have done that. You did not deserve me ignoring you all these years. It was not fair. I will do better.
You have really inherited our mother's gift for being both authoritative and soothing at the same time. She was so good at that. Cherish that gift. It will get you to a better place than my inherited genes of ignoring everyone and everything.'
Arthur nodded slightly and responded with a wink, 'Don't worry, Tom. I will certainly remind you when you forget. That was a kind thing to say about mother. That I have this gift. It means a lot.'
The two brothers felt at peace for once. It was as if a black cloud was lifted from their souls bringing them closer together. They were not there yet. Not by far. The intention for a better understanding between them was there, though.
They spent the rest of the time watching Henry sleep, enjoying the sunshine and commenting on what the rest of the people were doing on the beach. Arthur started teaching Tom how to observe, really and truly observe what was going on around him. He started his training both on observation and how to properly eat seed cake. That had to be fixed! There was an art to it and Tom just had to master it if that was the last thing he did!
Diana and the girls found them giggling at one holiday maker's gaff in falling in the sea with his clothes. They were in stitches with laughter. They joined them in laughter straight away as well once they realised what they were laughing about. Even sleepy young Henry joined in.
The merry group eventually quietened down and made their way to Trafalgar House at one in the afternoon after spending a thoroughly enjoyable morning at the beach. Each adult had to carry each child as the poor little mites have had enough by then. They were ready for a rest at the nursery and a bit of pampering from their nurse.
