The pair left the room without a word, and with much less swagger than they had walked in with. I could see how they would be reeling; their mortgage was huge, Tristan had a penchant for expensive cars and the girls’ schooling cost them a fortune. They had been holding out for a massive windfall that hadn’t arrived.
Toots had shifted to look at Jeannie. ‘You will let me stay here, won’t you, Jeannie?’
Jeannie leaned over and put a hand on her arm and said with the smile of an adder, ‘Of course, Toots, this is your home.’
‘Well, if that’s all,’ said Miles, standing, ‘we’ll be off, too. A friend is looking after the children and we said we’d be back before their bedtime.’
‘We’re going too,’ blustered Fergus as he stood up.
Everyone had filed out into the foyer and stood around awkwardly. George couldn’t have looked any moreuncomfortable. We bade our farewells and thanked Artie Peverill before heading to our cars parked out front.
As we crunched over the gravel, all too eager to get away, we heard Fergus mutter to Clem, ‘Killer instinct? We’ll show her who’s got the sharpest teeth in this family.’ They stormed to their car and flung the doors open, before speeding off in a spray of gravel.
As we drove home in silence, the weight of what had just transpired hung heavy in the air. Miles stared straight ahead, the gears clearly turning in his mind, processing the shock and disappointment of his grandfather’s decision.
‘Are you okay?’ I asked eventually, reaching out to touch his arm.
He flinched slightly, then sighed. ‘I just… I can’t believe it. All these years, I thought…’ He trailed off, shaking his head.
‘I know,’ I said. ‘It’s not fair. But we’ll be all right, Miles. We have each other, and the kids. That’s all that matters.’
He nodded, but I could see the hurt in his eyes. ‘It’s not about the money,’ he said after a moment. ‘It’s the principle. The way he just… dismissed us. Like we don’t even exist. We might as well be invisible, to all of them. All we have ever done is work hard, for ourselves and for the children. And none of them even recognise that, but not only that—’ He shook his head bitterly. ‘They look down on us for it. He’d rather give his money to a murderer. That’s what makes me sick.’
We spent the rest of the three hours’ drive home in relative silence. Miles never really got angry– just deathly quiet, which I always found scarier. When we finally pulled into the driveway, our modest suburban home a stark contrast to the opulence we’d left behind, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of relief and lingering tension. The lights were on inside, a warm glow spilling out onto the front lawn where Callum had neglected to put his bike away.
Miles killed the engine but made no move to get out of the car. His hands did not leave the wheel. ‘You know,’ he said quietly, ‘I always thought Grandfather respected me. My work, my choices. But now…’ He trailed off, his voice thick with emotion. ‘I know that he doesn’t. And neither does my own mother. I won’t ever strive for her approval again.’
I reached over and entwined my fingers with his. ‘Your work is important, Miles. What you do matters, regardless of what your grandfather thought, or what your mother thinks.’
He nodded, but I could see the doubt lingering in his eyes. We got out of the car and walked to the front door, the weight of the day’s events hanging over us like a cloud.
‘You’re right,’ I said softly, breaking the silence. ‘They don’t see us, see our attributes or how hard we try or how much we love each other and our kids. But I’m beginning to realise what a blessing it is.’
He turned to look at me.
‘Think about it,’ I continued. ‘Did you see the look in Fergus’s eyes? The way Clem was practically frothing at the mouth? They’re going to tear each other apart over this.’
He huffed in agreement. ‘Yup. And if Grandma Toots thinks my mother will put up with her living with them…’ He sighed. ‘What’s it like, being part of my insane family?’
I looked up at him.
‘Would you think I’m crazy if I told you… I kind of enjoy it?’ I grinned.
14
CRACKERS AND CORPSES
‘How long?’ I asked Miles anxiously.
‘How long until what?’ he asked. Miles was back in bed, lying under the fresh linen reading his book, as I once again cast an eye over the endless white fields. Further off towards the gates, I noticed someone had built a snowman.
‘How long until they come to clear the snow?’ I studied the landscape as shafts of sunlight pierced through the clouds. ‘It must be soon…’
He turned to reach for his phone.
‘Well, forecast says no more fresh snow. I’m sure it won’t be long.’
I wrung my hands together. ‘It’s driving me crazy. Is it not driving you crazy?’
