‘I don’t even remember this one.’ She held it up so Tom could see more clearly. He, Andi and Liam sat on the sand with their father. Tom couldn’t recall it either. They had very few photos of the three of them together.
‘I’m not even sure where it was taken, though I’d guess here or Porthkenan beach.’
‘We looked happy,’ said Andi. She sounded sad.
She put the photo on the top of the bureau. From the space below the central drawers, she picked up an old, pale blue cardboard box, decorated with small yellow flowers. It was the type of box that would originally have housed a brush, comb and mirror set, or perhaps fancy notepaper and envelopes. Andi opened the box and within the yellowing white silk were papers. Some were letters, on paper so thin it felt they would crumble if handled too much, greetings cards, and wrapped in a colourful silk scarf were a few photos.
They carefully unfolded one of the letters. The spidery writing was hard to decipher so Andi turned to the last page to see the signature. ‘It looks like it’s a letter to Mum from her mother.’
‘I’ve never seen this box,’ said Tom. ‘Mum must have given it to Liam at some time. It wasn’t in the stuff I went through after they died.’
They recognised some of the photos, pictures of grandparents they barely remembered. Both their parents were only children.
‘I’ll take it back to my place and put it with the other things of Mum and Dad’s, that’s unless you want it.’
‘No. Maybe one day I’ll go through the things you’ve got, but at the moment I don’t want to. Sophie and Kristen might be interested when they get a bit older.’
Tom left the box on the sofa and closed the top part of the bureau. Below that were three drawers. The first contained several clear plastic folders with papers for the sale of the cottage to Liam, and a few receipts. The bottom two drawers were empty.
Tom walked to the open door and stared at the garden. ‘It’s like the apartment. There’s nothing personal left, as if he were trying to remove all trace of himself, and yet that’s not like Liam.’
‘I agree with you there. He always needed to be the centre of attention.’ She looked across at Tom, but he nodded. ‘What do you want to do about the cottage?’
‘Nothing at the moment. We’d have to arrange for an inquest before we could sell it, and I’m not ready for that yet, unless you want something.’
Andi shook her head. ‘Leave it as it is until you decide differently. I told you, I don’t want anything from Liam.’
When they finished, Andi carried the box of letters and photos as they sauntered back across the field to Tom’s house.
He didn’t think Steven would have someone follow Andi. The whole thing seemed a bit far-fetched. He believed she thought there was someone, but it wasn’t the type of thing that actually happened to people like them. He wouldn’t tell her about the solicitor’s letter and Liam’s cryptic message. It would be something else to add to her list of grievances against Liam, and he couldn’t cope with one of her tirades about him at the moment. She was probably just overwrought about Steven and the twins.
‘Have you told the police about being followed?’
‘No. I don’t want anyone to think I’m crazy. It could go against me in a custody fight. I’m sure there is someone, but I don’t know if anyone, other than you, would believe me. I can’t get beyond the thought it must be Steven.’
Sophie, Kristen and their friends had been down at the beach boogie boarding all afternoon.
The house was different with their happy chatter and laughter. The girls soon noticed the box from Liam’s cottage, and pored over the letters and cards. Later, they asked if they could see photos of Tom and Andi when they were young. Tom let them wheedle and plead for a few minutes before he got out the old albums.
Andi added the photo she had found in the cottage, and they sat at the table and looked through the albums. Sophie and Kristen giggled over photos of their mother, and teased her endlessly about her teenage hairstyles and clothes.
‘They were fashionable then,’ said Andi. ‘Everyone wore that.’ She pounced on a photo taken at a party. ‘See, not just me.’
‘Uncle Liam was good-looking, wasn’t he,’ said Kristen.
‘Yes, he was.’ Andi looked at the photo Kristen held. ‘Everything came too easily. He never had to work hard at anything.’
For once Tom didn’t think she sounded angry or resentful, just matter-of-fact.
*
They visited St Ives the following day. The girls pulled off their shoes as they strolled across the beach. Later they looked around town, and stopped for a Cornish pasty when the twins said they were hungry.
Tom sat on a bench in the town while Andi, Sophie and Kristen went in and out of the shops. He knew the geographical distance between him, Andi and Liam meant he didn’t know every detail of their lives, but he always thought they had a close relationship. He’d certainly been wrong about that with Liam. Andi seemed more relaxed than when she arrived, and he pondered whether he should tell her about the note, and his conversation with Greta Powell.
Andi laughed at one of Sophie’s jokes. He didn’t have children, and wasn’t sure how she would feel if she couldn’t see them every day. He tried to imagine how he would feel, but it was impossible. He was used to his life.
Back at his house, Andi helped him prepare dinner. After they’d put the chicken in the oven, he and Andi went into the living room where the twins were in the middle of a conversation.
‘Well, I think it’s romantic if he killed himself over a love affair,’ said Kristen.
‘That’s rubbish,’ interrupted Andi.
‘No, it’s not,’ said Sophie. ‘It shows he had a soft side. Maybe someone finished with him, and broke his heart.’
Tom hadn’t seen Andi lose her temper for a long time, but she was certainly angry now.
‘You don’t know the real Liam,’ she said.
‘Andi.’ Tom cut in.
She looked at him and shook her head. ‘No, I think it’s time they knew a bit more about their dear Uncle Liam. They’re not children any more, and it might be a good warning to them.’
Tom sighed, he guessed what Andi was about to say. He didn’t mind if Sophie and Kristen knew, but he wasn’t sure of Andi’s motives.
‘My best friend at school was Jenny,’ said Andi. ‘She fancied Liam, even though I told her what he was like. They went out together for a while, then one night she came to see me. She was really upset. Turned out she was pregnant.’
The twins glanced at each other as if they were women of the world, and had already guessed this would be the destination.
‘Jenny said she’d told Liam, but he’d dumped her and said he didn’t want to see her again. That evening Liam told me to back off, but I told Mum and Dad. They wouldn’t believe me. Said I had made it up because I was jealous of Liam. He denied the whole thing.’
Andi was silent for a moment, and then took a breath. ‘Jenny wasn’t at school for a couple of days, then on Saturday morning her parents turned up at our place. They’d gone out the night before, and when they got back they found her unconscious. She’d drunk all the spirits in the house, and taken her mother’s sleeping pills. They got her to hospital. Pumped her stomach, I think. She was okay, but lost the baby.’
Sophie and Kristen stared at their mother.
‘Jenny never said whether she’d tried to get rid of the baby, or kill herself. Mum and Dad had a huge row with her parents. Mum wouldn’t accept that Liam was involved. She even told Jenny’s parents that Jenny was a slut and probably didn’t know who the father was. After they’d gone, Mum kept on about how wonderful Liam was, and how awful I was to agree with Jenny’s parents.’
‘Maybe it wasn’t his baby,’ said Sophie quietly.
‘He owned up to it later,’ said Tom. ‘Jenny’s parents came round again with Jenny, and Liam couldn’t deny it to her face, but Mum said they bullied him until he admitted it.’
‘I know you’ve always thought he was the fun, exciting uncle, but there was another side to him.’ Andi seemed smaller, as if recounting this episode had taken something from her. ‘Come on, you need to pack. Dinner will be ready soon, and we have to leave early tomorrow.’
Chapter 11
Andi
Andi felt as though she constantly looked over her shoulder that week, but she didn’t see the maroon car or the man from the mall.
She still felt an unpleasant sensation at times, as if being watched. It must be her imagination. Thank goodness she’d only told Tom.
When she met Steven on Saturday, she wanted to ask if he was having her followed, but it seemed such a stupid thing to say with the twins there. She watched him hug the girls and smile at her, and couldn’t believe he would do such a thing. Who then? Or was it ridiculous to have such thoughts?
She hadn’t put off the date with Vincent, more through indecision than choice, which wasn’t like her. She’d missed his phone call, and he left a message to say he’d pick her up, and to dress casually. Andi would have preferred to know what he’d planned, but quashed her controlling impulse. It was a novelty to have something arranged for her.
Vincent drove them to the tenpin bowling centre in the new entertainment complex. Good thing she’d worn her jeans. She hadn’t bowled for several years, but neither had Vincent so they were evenly matched. He narrowly won the first game.
‘Want to play again?’ he asked.
‘Definitely, I had improved by the end.’
She was glad he didn’t try a clichéd let me show you how to stand kind of move to get close. She won the second game with a strike on her penultimate bowl.
‘Good one,’ called out Vincent. He seemed genuinely pleased. ‘How about a drink and something to eat?’
There were several bars, cafés and clubs in the centre, which catered for all tastes. Vincent stopped at a pizza restaurant. ‘Is this okay?’
Andi nodded. ‘Certainly smells appetising. The complex opened about six months ago, but it’s the first time I’ve visited.’
The bowling had been fun, almost like an evening out with a work colleague, but as they shared a pizza and a bottle of wine, Andi’s doubts and insecurities rose quickly. She still hadn’t answered her initial question – was this a good idea? Vincent was obviously well over his divorce, but she wasn’t even close to a decision on what she wanted to do.
She’d been furious with Steven when he told her about the night at the conference. Her anger ran white hot, and she hadn’t considered the fact he had come home to her, and not stayed the second night. It took time for her to realise his betrayal brought back the feelings of rejection she’d felt through her childhood.
With time away from Steven, she knew she still loved him. When she thought about it now, she found it harder to rouse herself to anger.
Vincent grinned at her, and she realised she had no idea what he’d said.
‘Sorry, I was miles away.’
‘What did you get up to at the weekend?’
She told him about the trip to Poldrayth to see Tom, and Vincent asked if she missed living there.
‘No, not at all. It’s a beautiful place to visit, but I don’t see myself ever living there again.’
‘Must admit I’m a city boy.’ He gave a mock shudder at the thought of the country. ‘Your older brother obviously loves it. What does he do?’
She told Vincent about Kalina and the tourist trips, and the team-building activities for corporates.
‘I’m glad to say I’ve never done any of those type activities. You should know whether you can trust someone or not without a silly exercise.’
Andi laughed. ‘Tom would agree with you, but I think it’s good money.’
They left the entertainment complex, and Vincent caught hold of her hand as they walked along the street. He stopped under the branches of an oak tree, and tugged her round to face him. His hand was warm and gentle on the back of her neck. He tilted her head slightly, and their bodies touched as they kissed.
Andi’s thoughts were all over the place as they drove home, and Vincent pulled up outside her house before she realised it.
He got out of the car almost as soon as he parked, and walked Andi to the door. She had to find the words to tell him that while she liked him, this would not go any further. Before she could say anything, he put his arms around her and kissed her again.
He ran his hand lightly across her cheek. ‘How about we go somewhere tomorrow for the day?’
‘I’d like that.’ The words came before she had time to think.
‘I’ll pick you up at ten?’ He kissed her again, and went back to his car. As she stood in the open doorway, he blew her a kiss and then got into the car.
Now she was really confused. His kisses tonight were more intense, but he hadn’t pushed any boundaries at her house.
*
The following day she suggested they go to Bath. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d gone there, and Vincent had never visited the city. She considered a conversation about her confusion, or what Vincent might want from the relationship, but that sounded as though she was ready to be serious. In reality she felt the opposite. This was hard. The whole thing was probably a mistake.
They strolled along the riverbank, and she tried to think what to say, but it was no easier than it had been lying awake through the night. They were discussing where to go for lunch, when Andi’s phone rang.
She pulled it out of her bag, intending to cut the call rather than answer, but saw Steven’s name on the screen. He’d always respected her request not to call unless it was important. Her heart did a funny thump. There must be something wrong. She’d only left Sophie and Kristen with him the previous day.
She jabbed at the screen.
‘Steven, hello, is everything okay?’
‘There hasn’t been an accident or anything like that. The girls are fine.’ She heard hesitancy, and worry, in the few words. ‘But something has happened.’
Even though Steven said they were okay, all she could see were the girls injured somewhere. What else could it be?
Steven gave a grunt of surprise, and then Sophie spoke.
‘Mum, Kristen was caught shoplifting.’
She relaxed slightly at the sound of Sophie’s voice, but sighed as the words sank in. ‘I’m in Bath at the moment. It will take me a while, but I’ll be there as soon as I can.’
She pushed the phone back into her bag. ‘I’m really sorry about this, but I’ll have to give lunch a miss.’
‘I got that impression. Don’t worry about it. Problems?’
‘Sort of.’
She was relieved the girls weren’t hurt, but as Vincent drove back to Bristol the relief turned to anger. Was Kristen deliberately trying to ruin her life? She and Steven had brought her up to be better than this. Truancy, forged notes for the school and now shoplifting. Her jaw ached from gritting her teeth, and her neck and shoulders were stiff. She tried to relax, but every time she thought of Kristen her muscles tightened. Occasionally, Vincent made a comment or glanced in her direction. He didn’t seem to be upset with her monosyllabic replies.
As they approached her house, she attempted a smile. ‘I’m sorry I wasn’t the greatest company.’
‘It’s all right, I understand. You can ring me later if you need some light relief.’
She nodded, and shot out of the vehicle almost before he stopped, keys in her hand. She jerked her car into gear and pulled out into the road. Anger fizzed in her, and as she drove to Steven’s place she tried to calm herself.
He opened the door, and she recognised the expression on his face. This had happened on his watch.
Sophie and Kristen sat at either end of the sofa, like a pair of bookends. Steven followed Andi into the living room.
‘What happened?’ She was surprised how calm her voice sounded.
Sophie and Kristen glanced at each other.
‘We were at the
mall,’ said Sophie.
‘I took some mascara,’ interrupted Kristen. ‘And got caught.’
‘And you?’ Andi nodded at Sophie.
‘Sophie’s got nothing to do with it. It was just me.’
‘Sophie phoned me on her mobile,’ said Steven. ‘They weren’t together when the store detective approached Kristen, although she went to the office with them. I got down there, and we managed to sort it out without involving the police.’ He turned to Kristen. ‘But if you get caught again it will be a different story.’
Andi felt exhausted. ‘Have you done this before?’
‘Yes,’ said Kristen, after a moment. ‘But I told the store manager it was the first time.’
Andi closed her eyes for an instant and wished she could fall asleep. Forever. She opened her eyes quickly at the thought. That’s not an answer.
She noticed the girls’ bags at the side of the sofa. They obviously expected her to take them home.
She stood up briskly, and hoped this pretence of energy might fool her body. Kristen and Sophie both moved to get up, but Andi shook her head. ‘No need to come to the door. I’ll see you next Saturday as arranged.’
Steven opened the front door for her. ‘Thank you for letting them stay.’
‘It’s not your fault. You heard what Kristen said, it’s not the first time.’ She walked past him and out of the house.
‘I miss you,’ he said.
She turned and looked at him. Really looked, as if for the first time. She managed a little nod in acknowledgement, and bit her lip. If she tried to say anything she would cry, and she didn’t want to do that. Not here.
She drove like an automaton, blinking back tears. She wasn’t sure who she was crying for, or why.
When the twins were young, Steven had travelled a lot for work. Most weeks he was away for three or four days. She had been the disciplinarian, and only used threats of telling Daddy as a last resort.
Her father had been a jovial man, who played football and catch with them. He taught them to swim and keep themselves safe in the risky currents around the coast. When it came to discipline and decisions, it was her mother who came to mind. She and Andi had always argued. As a teenager Andi had been hurt and frustrated her father didn’t stand up for her, but now she realised how he had quietly talked her mother round if the punishment was too harsh.
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