37. Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Seven
A ll week I’d been walking around in a daze. I’d only slept in snatches of one or two hours each night, pacing our bedroom floor while Bertie snored away, oblivious to the change hurtling towards us.
I’d expected Beryl to want to discuss the ins and outs of my situation, but much to my surprise, she didn’t mention it once. The only reference she made to my breakdown in her living room was telling me she was there if I needed anything. I’d never imagined the hardened gossip could display such sensitivity.
Seb knew something was wrong and I couldn’t keep the pretence of a migraine up all week. I found excuses not to spend time with him, only attending meetings about the project when I knew Harry would also be there. At mealtimes, I kept catching him watching me, trying to figure out what it was I wasn’t telling him.
Harry had asked a few times if I was ready to talk, but each time I’d put her off. I knew if I admitted what was happening to anyone at Lowen Farm, they’d try to come to my rescue. The work they were trying to achieve was so precarious; putting any time, energy or money into me was a distraction they couldn’t afford. An announcement was due from the planning department any day now, and if we got the go ahead for our ambitious plans, it would be full steam ahead.
Knowing I wouldn’t be around to see the project through broke my heart. Over the two days Cass had been at the farm, we’d looked at my mess every which way. We’d even consulted a solicitor Cass knew, but the outcome of that meeting was much as I’d expected. I would qualify for legal aid, but there was a waiting list, and besides, any lawyer I got access to for free was unlikely to compete with whoever Marion could afford to hire.
I wished Marion and Hugo had lost more when Rob’s business went under. It turned out they’d quickly bounced back from the initial financial shock, moving investments around and calling in debts until their bank balance was as buoyant as it had ever been.
The thought of Marion invading the shop again was horrific, so I’d arranged to meet her in the churchyard. Beryl had given me the morning off without question. After dropping Bertie at school, I walked to the church, welcoming the chance to take the weight off my feet as I sat down on a bench.
It was a dreary day, mirroring my feelings. The wildflowers in the graveyard bent their heads from the weather, as though not wanting to witness my downfall. Spits of rain mingled with gusts of wind, and I was grateful for my warm waterproof coat, despite it being early summer.
The clicking of high heels on the path signalled Marion’s arrival. I listened as she looked for me, hoping exposure to the rain would frizz up her neat hair.
‘There you are,’ she said, rounding the corner and walking towards me. ‘Why you had to choose such a ghastly place to meet is beyond me. Then again, you always were a strange one.’
And you were always a spiteful cow , I thought, but didn’t say. I couldn’t afford to be too honest, not when Marion held so much power over me. I stared straight ahead at the grave in front of me, wondering if the person buried there had lived a happy life.
‘So, you’ve come to a decision?’
I nodded.
‘What will it be? Are you going to fight me in the courts, or do the sensible thing and come back to Rob?’
I couldn’t bring myself to say the words out loud.
‘Olivia?’ said Marion, tapping her foot against the path beneath her. ‘I’d rather not wait all day. It’s raining, if you hadn’t noticed.’
‘I’ll come back.’
‘Pardon? I didn’t catch that.’
‘I said, I’ll come back. I’ll come back to Rob. I’ll cancel the divorce proceedings. If that’s what it takes to keep Bertie with me, I’ll do it.’
‘What a sensible girl,’ said Marion, patting my knee. I wanted to grab a flannel and wash the invisible imprint of her hand from my skin. ‘I thought you’d make the right decision, so I’ve already put various arrangements in place. We’ll come on Sunday to collect you and take you both to your new home.’
‘New home? I assumed we’d be living with you?’
‘Goodness no, we don’t want to be getting under each other’s feet like that. No, Hugo and I have rented you a house on your old estate. It’s not as large as your last house, but big enough. Living somewhere smaller should encourage Rob to get his new business off the ground faster. We don’t want to spoil him too much, or he’ll get too comfortable.’
‘What about Bertie’s school?’
‘His old school has agreed to take him back. We’re covering the fees, of course.’
‘Of course.’
‘I expect he’s excited about getting back to his friends.’
‘I haven’t told him anything about this yet. I assumed you’d let us stay here long enough to see out the school year.’
‘Whatever for? The quicker you’re out of this dump, the better. Bertie should get a proper education, not some airy fairy curriculum in a backwater school.’
If I’d had any sort of weapon with me, I can’t say I wouldn’t have used it on Marion. I wanted to punch the cheery, smug smile from her face. In fact, at that moment, I would have been quite happy to see her with a gravestone of her own.
‘What time will you come on Sunday?’ I asked, standing up but still not looking at her.
‘You can expect us at ten sharp. Make sure you’re ready, we don’t want to be waiting around for you.’
I walked away from Marion, determined not to cry. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing she’d broken me, even if it was true.