24. Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Four
‘ R eady for an adventure?’ asked Seb. He was leaning against Harry’s Land Rover, looking smarter than usual with his newly trimmed beard and thick winter coat.
‘Yes,’ said Bertie, running up to him. ‘Can I sit in the front?’
‘As long as your mum doesn’t mind?’
‘No, that’s fine.’
Seb opened the door and lifted Bertie into the passenger seat.
‘Do none of you have your own cars?’ I asked, climbing up onto the back bench seats.
‘No, there’s no need. Between this and the quad, we’re covered for any trips we need to make. We all contribute to fuel costs and any maintenance needed.’
‘It’s such a good system. I’m amazed how smoothly things run here.’
Seb switched on the engine, shouting over its noisy growl. ‘It doesn’t always. Not everyone who comes here fits in. If someone’s too individualistic or has a big ego, they don’t last long. Likewise, people looking for a free ride. It’s why Harry introduced the recommendation system. When she first started up, she’d take in anyone who showed up at her door. That led to a few tricky situations and a couple of scary ones.’
‘I can imagine.’
‘Do we fit in?’ asked Bertie.
‘You do. That’s why you’re still here. All the help you give Harry with the animals and your mum gives me with the lake project, well, that shows the kind of people you are. You’re happy to muck in. That’s what you have to be like to live here.’
‘Why did you come here?’ asked Bertie.
Seb didn’t reply. I looked at his reflection in the rear-view mirror. His eyes were fixed on the road, the muscles straining in his face as he held them taut. ‘It shouldn’t take long to reach Liskeard,’ he said, ignoring Bertie’s question. ‘The roads are nice and quiet at this time of year.’
As the Land Rover picked up speed, the engine grew louder, making conversation impossible. We pulled out of a junction and joined the dual carriageway, smoke spewing out of the Land Rover’s exhaust. Seb clicked the indicator, and we joined a smaller road, until we found ourselves in a residential area on the outskirts of town.
‘I’ll park at the station,’ he shouted. ‘Are you OK to explore for a bit while I run some errands? I need to go to the bank and pick up a few things from the hardware shop.’
‘Of course,’ I shouted back.
At the car park, we parted ways, agreeing to meet again in an hour. All Bertie wanted to do was go to the park and join in a game of football a group of boys were playing. I insisted on at least getting a glimpse of the town, leading him past a series of independent shops and cafes. But after fifteen minutes of exploring, his pestering became too much, and I relented and took him to the park, where the local boys welcomed an extra player.
While Bertie played football, I pulled out my phone and made the call I’d been putting off all week.
‘Hello?’
‘Hi, Marion, it’s Liv.’
‘Olivia? Is this about Rob?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Oh, I assumed he’d have been in touch by now.’
‘No, he hasn’t, and I still don’t know where he is.’
‘Right, well, if you must know, he’s staying with us at the minute.’
‘Since when?’
‘Since two weeks ago.’
‘And none of you thought it might be a good idea to tell me? That, oh, I don’t know, maybe he’d like to get in contact with his son?’
Marion let out a long sigh. ‘There’s no need to be so dramatic. Poor Robert has been through a lot.’
I tried to splutter out a reply, but couldn’t squeeze the words past my anger.
‘If he was here, I’m sure he’d have spoken to you, but I’m afraid he and Hugo are out playing golf.’
‘I see. Well, you know what, Marion? When he gets in from his game of golf, perhaps you could pass on a message for me?’
‘Go ahead, I’ve got a pen and paper here.’
‘Good. Tell him I’ll be contacting a solicitor this week to begin divorce proceedings.’
I hung up the phone, my hand shaking, my breaths ragged. If my three weeks at Lowen Farm had taught me anything, it was that I deserved more than someone who’d prioritise a game of golf over his wife and son’s welfare. Rob didn’t know we’d landed on our feet. For all he knew, we were still squashing into my sister’s tiny terrace, or sleeping in a homeless shelter somewhere. And what did he think we were doing for money? What did he think was happening to Bertie’s education?
By the time we met Seb back at the car, I’d calmed down a little, not least thanks to a call with Cass, who’d confirmed I was making the right decision. She’d led me back over my marriage, reminding me of every time I’d cried on her shoulder about the other women, or how little Rob seemed to like, let alone love me.
‘Everything OK?’ asked Seb, frowning as he looked at me.
‘Yes, fine, why?’
‘I don’t know, it’s just you seem a bit… never mind. I’ve got our tickets. The next train arrives in ten minutes, so we’d better get a move on.’
Bertie spent the entire journey to Looe with his face pressed against the window. Despite growing up fast, he hadn’t lost his wonder at the world around him, and I prayed he wouldn’t change too much in the coming years. He helped me see the world through his eyes, marvelling as a river tripped and stuttered along the base of a tree-lined valley before widening out as it opened itself up to the sea.
‘Wow, what a beautiful train journey,’ I said as we stepped off the train and onto the platform.
‘Yes it is, isn’t it? I never get tired of it. Now, how about we start with the amusement arcade, then have a walk along the harbour and beach, before rewarding ourselves with fish and chips?’
‘Sounds good,’ I said.
‘And even better if we get to have an ice cream,’ added Bertie.
‘Ice cream? It’s freezing.’ I shivered to emphasise my point.
‘Mum, you have to have ice cream at the beach.’ Bertie rolled his eyes then fell into step beside Seb as we began walking towards the town.
I hung back, watching them. It was easier to have fun with a child if you weren’t responsible for the less interesting parts. Even so, as Seb and Bertie chatted away, I couldn’t remember Rob ever being so at ease in his son’s company. It always felt as though Bertie were an inconvenience to Rob, something that stopped him from living life to the full. He played the role easily enough at school cricket matches, or family barbecues, but I’d never seen him get down on the floor to play Lego, or read a bedtime story. Ever since Bertie was born, all practical duties had been left to me, but I’d hoped as Bertie grew older, Rob would connect with his son. I supposed there was still time, although not much could be achieved with zero contact.
In the end, we had to drag Bertie out of the amusement arcade, tempting him with the promise of an ice cream as soon as we reached the beach. Heads down, we tried to ignore the cold gusts of wind as we followed the path of the river toward the sea.
I screamed as something wet landed in my hair. ‘What the…?’ My fingers reached up, coming away caked in green and white slime. ‘Oh no.’
‘What’s wrong, Mum?’
‘I think a seagull has pooped on my head.’
‘Let me see,’ said Bertie. I bent my head, and he laughed. ‘That’s so gross.’
‘A, it’s not funny, and B, being pooped on by a seagull is lucky.’
‘Doesn’t look very lucky to me,’ said Bertie. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get them for you.’
Bertie began chasing seagulls across the beach with gusto. Seb pulled a tissue from his pocket. ‘Shall I?’ he said, pointing to my hair.
‘Yes, please.’
He stood beside me, picking out strands of curls and running his tissue across them.
‘I love your curls.’
‘Even covered in bird shit?’
‘Even then. Hey, are you sure everything’s all right?’
‘Well, it was until five minutes ago.’
‘No, I mean earlier, after you’d been to the park. You looked kind of sad.’
‘If you must know, I’d just told my mother-in-law I want a divorce.’
‘You’re divorcing your mother-in-law?’
I turned to look at him and saw his eyes were glinting. ‘No, of course not, although I would if I could. It turns out my spineless husband has moved back in with his parents but not thought to let me know.’
‘You didn’t speak to him?’
‘No, he was out playing golf.’
Seb grimaced. ‘He sounds like a real catch.’
‘I’m sure he could make someone very happy, but that person will never be me. I’ve realised that since we came to stay at Lowen Farm. We were only together for Bertie.’
‘How will Bertie take the news?’
‘I’ve no idea. I don’t even know where to start with divorce, but I’ll never stop Rob seeing Bertie, whatever happens. Are you nearly done freeing my hair of poop?’
‘Yeah, there’s still some in there, but it will take half a bottle of shampoo to get rid of it. In the meantime, how about we get some fish and chips? And Liv?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’m here for you and will help you in any way I can.’
‘Thank you.’ I reached across and squeezed Seb’s hand. His thumb stroked my palm, and it was only when a seagull dive-bombed us that we pulled away.