‘Dad says that, too. He says we have to respect Mum’s decision. There are some people at school who are really carefree. Nothing bad has ever happened to them. Their parents are happily together, all of their grandparents are alive, the families don’t have money troubles, they go on nice holidays and get what they ask for at Christmas. They have this aura of confidence. I envy them.’
‘I know people like that, too, even at my age, so I know exactly what you mean. But at some time they will experience loss and hardship, that’s the nature of life. You have just had to go through it when you were very young.’
‘It’s not fair, is it?’
‘There you are!’
Jules jumped at the sound of Lance’s voice.
‘What’s not fair is you enjoying yourself while I’m working hard!’ he said teasingly, flicking Erin’s plait.
‘Sorry!’ she mumbled through a full mouth. ‘Jules bought me cake!’
‘I can see that!’ He smiled at Jules. ‘How are you doing?’
And she immediately wondered how much he knew. What Carrie might have told him. How he might be judging her. She leaned forwards and altered the angle of the teapot slightly.
‘I’m fine, thank you,’ she said stiffly.
If he noticed her defensive tone, he certainly didn’t give anything away.
‘Your bowl is drying nicely because you made it quite thin. It might be ready for glazing in a few days. That is, if you want to glaze it. Are you still planning to be around?’ He didn’t wait for her to reply. ‘If not, you can take it with you and maybe finish it back at home.’
‘Or I could finish it for you and post it,’ Erin added.
‘I’m not actually sure how long I’m staying,’ she murmured.
Where was Carrie? Why hadn’t she come back? Suddenly Jules felt as if she needed rescuing. He was loitering, obviously not in a hurry. She was going to have to ask him to sit down and get engaged in a conversation.
‘Jules has just been up to the Longstone.’
‘Ah, what did you think?’
‘Interesting.’
Goodness, that sounded bland. She could do better than that. He was an ordinary man. Not all men were the enemy. Not all people. She’d be hopeless back in the labour ward if she couldn’t cope with meeting people.
‘Amazing, I mean. Awe-inspiring.’
Now she sounded like a vacuous teenager.
‘I can’t really describe it properly.’
She shrugged, felt heat creeping through her body, her cheeks beginning to flare. He smiled. She’d never met anyone who smiled as much. It was disconcerting.
‘The best things often can’t be described. As long as it made you feel good.’
She focused on a trio of sparrows scooping up some dropped crumbs from underneath the next table.
‘Some people find the burial mound to be a bit of a downer,’ he said.
‘Understandably.’
He gazed at her for a moment, as if trying to work something out before turning to Erin.
‘Right, you. Finish that and let’s get going. Jules has got better things to be doing than having us taking up her valuable time.’
She half stood up, as if to try and prevent them leaving. How ridiculous. One minute she didn’t want to mingle and the next she didn’t want to be left on her own. Her emotions were all over the place.
