by Lily Hayden
“Oh, since Christmas,” Frank replied easily. “You didn’t come down this year, Rose.”
“I was working all over Christmas,” she said apologetically, before looking around the room. “The house looks different. What happened to the windows upstairs?”
“Hailstorm.” Frank said by way of explanation.
“Have you got someone coming out to fix them?” Rose asked with concern.
“Linda’s nephew does windows,” Frank nodded. “He’ll be out next week. The whole house needs replacing with double glazing. We’ll get that done first, and then the bathroom and the kitchen after the wedding.”
“All very costly,” Tim raised an eyebrow. “I imagine that will come to a fair whack.”
“I’m probably going to sell off the lower fields,” he responded matter-of-factly. “I rent them out to the Howells’, but it makes more sense to sell them off and get a cash injection for updating the house.”
“Woah, hang on!” Tim interjected. “You can’t sell the land off!”
Frank flushed. “Well, I can’t be expected to do it up on my pension.”
“If you go selling off the land, you’ll devalue the whole property,” Tim cited haughtily.
“Is that what you’ve all hightailed it down here for? To check on the will?” Frank looked incensed.
“No!” Rose gasped. “Of course, not.”
“We came down here,” Tim said with deliberate control. “Because we were looking out for you. How well do you even know that woman? She’s a good deal younger than you and could well be taking advantage.”
“I’m more than capable of looking after myself,” Frank replied stonily. “And don’t patronise me that this visit is out of anything other than concern for yourselves.”
“Oh, Dad,” Rose reached for his hand, visibly distressed. “Don’t say things like that. I’m sorry I’ve not been in contact as much as usual. I’ve had a lot going on with work.”
Frank let her take his hand, softening a little. “You’ve always made more effort, Rose, but I’ve not seen hide nor hair of the rest of them for years.”
“I’ve been out of the country for years, Dad,” Will sounded uncharacteristically irritated at the accusation. “Contact works both ways. I’ve been working six days a week since I’ve been back, so sorry that I’ve not been to see you. You’re retired, Dad; you could come to see us or call us anytime.”
Tim nodded his head in agreement, but Frank flinched.
“Well,” he said finally. “We could go around in circles forever, couldn’t we? You’re here now though, and you can see that Linda’s not some money-hungry widow-hunter.”
Tim made a noncommittal noise in response. “If you are looking to do up the house and you want any advice, you can give Eleanor and I a call. We’ve just had a lot of work done at ours, plus I work in banking so I can give you advice on the best ways to finance any refurb.”
“So, does Linda have any children?” Rose changed the subject when she saw neither her father nor her older brother would back down. “Have you got everything ready for the wedding?”
“She’s got a daughter, but she lives in Spain,” Frank turned away from Tim coolly to address her. “She’ll be back for the wedding. It won’t be a big do, just family and a few close friends from the village. We’ve got a marquee from the Howells’ and someone from the village is catering.”
Rose smiled pleasantly. “Oh, that sounds lovely. We’re looking forward to it.”
Tim didn’t mention the will again, not wanting to antagonise his father further but made a note to contact his solicitor to see where he stood legally. He looked at his watch and then to the door, wondering when his sister and nephew would return. Will and Rose would be happy to sit and chat to their dad for hours now they were here, but even though he hadn’t seen Belle for years and couldn’t claim to really know her at all, he could already sense that she was as loath to be there as he was.
Rose
Rose could sense that Tim was eager to leave and there was a part of her that wanted to retreat too. Seeing so many changes to her childhood home had revived unexpected emotions, leaving her with a pressing urge to be alone to process it all. She could be back at her house in less than two hours, curtains closed and tucked up under a cosy throw in front of the television, but as tense as the atmosphere was she couldn’t deny how comforting it felt to be around her siblings for the first time in years.
In the end, they stayed at their father’s house for about an hour before Linda made noises about the shops’ closing times. The four siblings debriefed over a quick drink back at The Red Lion, but Tim vetoed Rose’s suggestion of lunch and Belle was quick to agree that she had to get going too. Rose’s heart ached with nostalgia at the sight of Will and Belle stood side-by-side next to Tim’s car as they said their goodbyes. She could picture them clearly as small children stood in front of the front door in their back-to-school uniforms, shiny Clark’s shoes on their feet. She could see their Mum cajoling them into smiling for a picture, the click and the whir of the camera winding on. The photograph would have been printed off down at the chemist’s in town and displayed proudly on the mantelpiece of the huge fireplace; one of her and Tim, unsmiling teenagers in their grey blazers, and one of the little ones in their maroon pullovers. Every September, the photographs would be swapped, and the old ones pasted into a heavy red leather album that charted their lives together. It hit her that the proud chronicling of their lives had died with their mother.
Imagine if that was Tom and Jack, Rose thought suddenly devastated by the thought. Imagine her two little boys growing further and further apart until they were practically strangers. It would break her heart and she realised that it would have broken her mother’s. She’d see her siblings again at the wedding, but then when next? At Will or Belle’s wedding if either of them ever got married, maybe.
“Come on then, Will,” Belle was growing impatient, and Will shot Rose an apologetic look.
She could tell that he, like her, had wanted to come today, not just because of their concern for their father, but to try to build a bridge between their disconnected lives. Despite the five-year age gap, she’d always felt that she and Will were the most similar. Tim and Belle had both always been boisterous and quick-tempered compared with their gentler, more sensitive siblings. There was no question that Rose and Will were their mother’s children when it came to their kind nature. It was crazy that they could look and act so similar, yet they were little more than strangers now.
Will folded Rose into a tight embrace. “It’s been lovely to see you. Let’s try to stay in touch.”
Rose nodded her agreement. “Definitely.”
She hugged Belle and little Toby too, before retreating to her car where she sat for a few minutes blinking to clear her misty vision. She berated herself for being so foolishly sentimental, but her siblings darting off back to their lives and partners had emphasised to her how utterly alone she was. She hadn’t had any expectations for today other than to check in on her father but seeing her brothers and sister had made her realise how much she missed that anchor to the past. Blood was meant to be thicker than water, yet their links felt flimsy and uncertain.
Rose turned the key of Jack’s car to start it and it gave a pitiful chug before cutting out to nothing. Used to the temperamental vehicle, she tried again. This time, it didn’t even chug.
Oh, for God’s sake, she banged the palm of her hand against the steering wheel in frustration.
It had started fine this morning, despite sitting unused in front of the house for sometimes months between Jack’s visits home. She crossed her fingers hoping it was just the battery; chances were that someone would have jump leads in the pub, whereas she definitely couldn’t afford breakdown recovery or an expensive garage bill. The last thing she needed was a lengthy Sunday service trip home on public transport. She hurried back up to the pub, her stomach grumbling at the smell of the roast dinners wafting through the air. Despite her lack of
appetite that was one thing she could happily devour, but she hadn’t been able to tempt any of her siblings to stay and was too self-conscious to eat alone.
“Hi,” she smiled apologetically at the young woman behind the bar. “I’m really sorry to trouble you, but my car won’t start. I was wondering if anyone here had any jump leads?”
“Rose Jones?”
She turned quickly towards the sound.
“Gareth Edwards?” A genuine smile of pleasure spread across her face at the sight of her old school friend. He was just as handsome as he had been in their school days, and it came back to her in a flash that all the girls had gone through a phase of having a crush on him to the point where it was almost a rite of passage. He had aged exceptionally well, the touch of grey at the temples of his thick, brown hair and the little crinkles in the corners of his deep, brown eyes only adding to his good looks. “What a lovely surprise!”
“It really is!” He drew her to him in a warm, familiar hug making her flush with pleasure. “Home for a visit?”
“Yes,” Rose remembered the woman still waiting to answer her question and turned back apologetically. “I was just heading home, but my car won’t start.”
“Is it the battery?”
“I hope so,” Rose grimaced. “It’s my son’s car and he’s away at university, so it doesn’t get used very often.”
“I’ve got leads back at the house,” he said. “I walked here today, but I can go back if you need them.”
“Oh,” she could see the menu in his hand, and didn’t want to inconvenience him. “I don’t want to tear you away from your family and your lunch.” She glanced back at the barwoman hopefully. “I’m sure someone here will have some.”
The young woman came around the bar to peer through the bay window at the car park and grimaced. “There’s not that many cars outside- I’ll go and ask Tony in the kitchen.” She glanced back at Gareth. “I’ll be back with you now.”
“Sorry to hold you up,” Rose said embarrassedly. “I’ll be out of your way soon. Hopefully.”
The woman reappeared with an apologetic smile. “No luck, sorry. I can ask around in the restaurant if you like.”
Rose hesitated. She hated disturbing people, but she really needed to get the car started.
“I’ll stick my head in and ask,” Gareth volunteered before she could say anything more, but he returned empty-handed. “Nobody has got any leads to hand. I’ll go back to mine and get my car.”
“Do you want to order first?” The barwoman interjected. “We’re only serving until three.”
Gareth glanced up at the clock and grimaced. “It’ll take me a good twenty minutes to get home.”
“Please have your lunch first!” Rose objected. “I don’t want to put you and your family out. I can wait.”
“It’s fine,” Gareth waved a hand dismissively before admitting. “I’m on my own anyway.”
“You are?” She tried to hide her surprise.
“Sad, I know,” he grinned self-consciously. “I tell you what, Rose, Sunday lunch is my guilty pleasure, so why don’t you join me and then I’ll try and get your car up-and-running?”
She paused, not wanting to trespass upon his weekend treat with her presence, but the smell of roast beef wafting in from the kitchen was enticing and it did mean he wouldn’t feel obliged to rush. “Sure, that’s really kind of you to help me out.”
She had to admit that as embarrassed as she felt to be infringing upon his time, it was lovely to have friendly, uncomplicated company and Gareth was certainly that. He was just as affable and down-to-earth as she remembered, and it was refreshing just to have company outside of working hours. She was surprised that he was going through a divorce, but he seemed to be taking it admirably in his stride. The afternoon passed in the blink of an eye, and Rose was surprised to see that almost two hours had gone by in his company as she sat beside him in his car heading back to The Red Lion car park armed with jump leads.
“So, you’ll be back for the wedding then?” Gareth asked.
“Yes,” she nodded. “It’s funny to think of my dad meeting someone now at his age.”
“Maybe there’s hope for us all,” Gareth joked. “Hopefully, I won’t be waiting until I’m retired though.”
Rose laughed. “I’m sure you won’t have any problems meeting anyone.”
She blushed as she heard her own words aloud.
“Same to you,” he smiled cheerfully, not noticing her embarrassment. “It’s difficult with the hours I work to date anyone. Everyone our age has either got loads of emotional baggage or is too busy with their kids and their jobs.”
Rose could honestly say she wouldn’t know as it hadn’t even crossed her mind to start dating. She didn’t even know where she’d start; times had moved on from pulling someone on the dancefloor of a smoky bar to all these apps and websites. It felt too scary and potentially humiliating; she definitely didn’t have the confidence to put herself out there to be rejected by balding, beer-bellied blokes. She couldn’t say this to Gareth though, so she changed the subject. “I bet it’s so interesting being a police officer though. It sounds so much more exciting than my new job.”
“I love it,” Gareth admitted. “It’s hardly the wild, wild west out here though.”
He mimicked picking up a radio from the dashboard. “Ten Four copy that, Sarge, we’ve got a flock of sheep loose on Walker’s Lane. Suspect is a white male from out-of-town wearing hiking boots who doesn’t understand the importance of shutting gates. Possibly armed with a flask and National Trust map.” Rose giggled, and Gareth grinned at her. “If only it were that exciting.”
He started her car with relatively little fuss, and she realised she’d been enjoying his company so much that she was almost sorry when the engine roared to life.
“Thank you so much for your help,” she beamed as they parted ways. “I’m sorry I’ve stolen so much of your day off.”
“Honestly,” he grinned back. “It’s been lovely to see you and to have some company. You know where I live now, so if you’re ever back visiting your dad feel free to pop in.”
Even though she knew it was an empty gesture, she felt warm and fuzzy from the offer and his kindness, and for the first time in weeks, she found she was still smiling when she climbed into bed exhausted and happy that night.
Belle
Belle turned the key in the door and pushed it open, feeling the resistance of the junk piled behind it. The one lone screw holding the coat rack on the wall had finally given way sending jackets, coats and bags stuffed with miscellaneous items tumbling to the ground when she had left for work last night. She should have known that it was too much to hope for that Ben would have put it back up without being asked. Belle held back a growl of anger slamming the door shut behind her. She could feel her blood simmering already and knew that she should go through to the bedroom to give herself some time to calm down. She’d been in a constant state of aggravation since Toby’s revelation, and as much as she’d been trying to keep a lid on her anger, she knew she was just one insensitive comment away from completely losing it. A fug of smoke hung thick in the air and Belle stormed past his snoring body on the sofa to yank the heavy curtains back to open the window. He opened his eyes and groaned at the rude awakening.
“It stinks in here,” she said in as level tone as she could muster. “Can you open the windows if you really have to smoke.”
“What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing,” she tried not to snap, conscious that things were already strained between them. “I’m just tired from work and you know Toby’s had a bad cough again. Just have some thought.”
Belle snatched up the empty can that he’d been using as an ashtray carrying it out to the kitchen bin. The kitchen worktop was littered with empty bottles and plates, and she fought the urge to scream. It was five in the morning, and the only thing she wanted to do was crawl into bed, curl up in a ball and fall asleep. She’d have to get To
by up in a couple of hours for school, but she knew that once she was asleep, she would struggle to get back up. She didn’t like Toby seeing the flat in disarray, but today it felt too overwhelming and she gave up, crawling into bed still fully dressed.
“How was work?” Her head had barely touched the pillow when Ben appeared, slipping between the sheets.
“Fine,” she stiffened as she felt his hands reach for her beneath the covers. “I’m really tired, Ben.”
He ignored her, wriggling closer and she grimaced. If she were honest with herself, she had gone off Ben a long time ago, but she had been lonely and broke, and at times he could be good company. They’d only moved in together because it had been convenient. She had been looking for a new place as her rent had increased again for the third time in less than two years and he’d just so happened to be between places. It made sense to have someone to share the bills with, he’d reasoned, and it also meant on-tap childcare which allowed her to finally take the job that Katie’s sister had been trying to talk her into for months. With two incomes, she had dared to imagine that she might be able to start making inroads with her mountain of debt. She was barely surviving as it was; if she kicked him out, she had no idea how she would keep her head above water.
“Ben, don’t,” she warned him as she felt his hot breath on the back of her neck. “You’ve got to get up in an hour for work. Just go to sleep.”
“I’m not going,” he said not taking the hint and pulling her back to him. “Two jobs got cancelled.”
Despite her exhaustion, she spun around to face him. “Are you joking? You didn’t say anything yesterday?”
“I forgot,” he shrugged reaching for her again.
“Get off, Ben,” any diplomacy was out the window as thoughts of their bills filled her mind. “How is Darren paying you then?”
“I’ll have to sign on,” he looked completely nonplussed. “He said he’ll give me a call when he’s got work for me.”
Any chance of sleeping had disappeared with his revelation and Belle pushed his hands away, wriggling to sit up. She looked at him with undisguised contempt. “Ben, you need to be able to pay half the bills. That was the agreement when you moved in. It’s your turn to get the food shop this week. How are you going to afford that with no pay?”