41. Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-One
J ust as she’d promised, Marion turned up at ten on the dot. Bertie hadn’t spoken to me since I’d announced our move, and whilst polite, the other residents at Lowen Farm seemed uncomfortable around me, avoiding lengthy conversations and sticking to practical topics if they spoke.
The only positive I could find from the past two weeks was that the new residents hadn’t yet arrived. For their sakes, it was better they didn’t land at the farm whilst me and my black cloud were still there.
I looked out of the window, wondering if Marion and Hugo were going to get out of their car. It seemed not, so I went outside, and Marion wound down her window.
‘I hope you’re ready.’
‘I just need to bring our suitcases down. Would you like to come and wait inside?’
Marion scrunched up her nose and shook her head.
‘Hello, Hugo.’
‘Hello, Olivia.’ My father-in-law seemed unable to look at me, keeping his eyes fixed beyond the windscreen. I wondered how big a part he had played in this scheme. My guess was Marion was the instigator, her husband and son too pathetic to stand up to her. Or perhaps I was giving them too much credit.
‘Right. I’ll get our bags.’
Bertie was in the living room playing chess with Pat. I ducked my head around the door. ‘Five minutes till we leave, Bertie.’ Bertie refused to acknowledge me, but Pat nodded to show he’d heard.
Stephan found me wrestling with suitcases on the staircase. ‘Liv, Maggie asked if you could nip upstairs before you go. Why don’t you pop up there now and I’ll take these down to the car for you.’
‘Thanks.’ I ran up to the top floor, knocking on Maggie’s bedroom door.
‘Come in.’
I walked in and found her sitting in an armchair, looking out of the window.
‘Stephan said you wanted to see me?’
Maggie beckoned me towards her. ‘Look,’ she said, pointing out of the window to where my in-laws were waiting in the car. ‘Something’s not right about all this, Liv. They’ve been sitting out there since they arrived, po-faced and unsmiling. This isn’t a happy family reunion. We’re not stupid. We all know there’s more to your leaving than you’re telling us.’
‘Maggie, I can’t…’
Maggie reached across and gripped my hand. ‘I understand. Well, at least I’m trying to. But I’m worried about you, Liv. You and Bertie have become like family to me, and I know something isn’t right with all this. So, I’m going to call you every Friday at lunchtime. If you don’t answer or send me a message letting me know you’re OK, I’m going to come and find you.’
‘Maggie, you don’t need to do that.’
‘I do and I will. I’m afraid I’m not giving you a choice.’
I bent down and hugged her. ‘I’m sorry, but I have to go.’
Maggie nodded and turned her attention back to the window. ‘Stephan won’t linger to say goodbye. He’s got a thing about goodbyes, but know that he’ll miss you as much as I will.’
‘Bye, Maggie.’
‘Goodbye, love.’
Downstairs, I walked over to where Pat and Bertie were in the middle of their chess game. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt, but Grandma and Grandpa are waiting for us outside.’
‘I’m not going until I’ve finished my match.’
‘Bertie…’
‘Tell you what,’ said Pat, pulling out his phone. ‘I’ll take a photograph of the board, then the next time we see each other, we can pick up where we’ve left off.’
Before Pat had a chance to take the photo, Bertie’s arm swept across the chessboard, sending wooden pieces scattering across the carpet.
‘Bertie!’
‘No, Liv, I understand,’ said Pat. He crouched down beside Bertie’s chair. Bertie had his face in his hands and Pat gently pulled them away. ‘Bertie, we will see each other again, and we will resume our game. Now you need to be a brave boy and do as your mother tells you.’ Pat looked up at me. ‘Perhaps once you’re settled, you could give me your address? I’d like to write to Bertie if that’s all right?’
‘Of course it is.’
Bertie flung his arms around Pat, his shoulders heaving up and down with sobs. ‘There there,’ said Pat, rubbing his back. He pulled Bertie’s arms off and nodded to me. ‘Go with your mother now, Bertie, there’s a good boy.’
I took Bertie’s hand in mine. As soon as we had left the room Bertie snatched his hand away, rubbing it against his trousers as though my touch had tainted him.
‘Liv.’ Harry stood leaning against the doorway of the dining room, a misshapen cardigan covering her shoulders.
‘Goodbye, Harry.’
‘Come here.’ Harry pulled me into a tight hug. ‘You know you are welcome back here any time. Just say the word and you can have your old room back.’
‘Thank you.’
Harry let me go and I walked out onto the drive, Bertie by my side. I looked around for any sign of Seb, but I knew in my heart of hearts he wouldn’t come to say goodbye. Why would he? I’d broken his heart. He owed me nothing.
‘At last,’ said Marion with a sigh.
‘Hello, Albert,’ said Hugo.
‘My name’s not Albert,’ said Bertie with a scowl. He climbed up into the four by four, yanking on his seatbelt so hard it caught.
Hugo started the engine and turned the car towards the track. I looked behind me through the back windscreen. All my friends had gathered to wave us off. At the far side of the building stood Seb, leaning against a wall and staring at the car. I lifted my hand in a wave, but he didn’t respond.
As we drove away from the village Bertie made no effort to hide the tears streaming down his face. I kept my composure, not wanting to give Marion the satisfaction of seeing how upset I was inside. Hugo attempted some small talk, but I kept my answers monosyllabic, and Bertie ignored his grandparents completely. I had no idea what they hoped to achieve by their masterplan, but if it was family harmony, they were failing miserably.