It was only a two-word response, but it was a start.
Today, wearing what looked like exercise clothes, Susanna looked a little more relaxed, but Gayle knew her mood could change in an instant. The smile, however, was golden because it reminded Gayle of the girl she’d seen emerge every now and then over the years, in the moments when she went with the flow, or when she forgot to put up a front. All those years fighting being here must have taken a toll on her oldest niece, but a moment ago when she smiled she’d looked so pretty, it soothed her seriousness as well as her features, showed off lovely straight teeth from those braces she’d hated so much in her teens, and it lit up her eyes too.
That was another thing she wouldn’t change – being a guardian to Harry’s girls. As hard as it had been all round, she was glad he’d entrusted her. What she would change, however, was the way they’d left the island and how she’d played a part in it, even though she’d felt she had no choice.
12
SUSANNA
Susanna had thought Gayle would’ve gone to work by now and, not ready for a confrontation, was caught by surprise when she went into the kitchen to find her aunt sitting at the table.
‘Did you sleep okay?’ Gayle asked, flicking on the kettle and finding a tea bag to drop into the awaiting mug.
‘Fine.’
‘I thought you’d sleep in,’ she said, as she passed Susanna the mug of tea.
‘I wanted to get outside for some fresh air.’ Rather than shower straight away she’d slipped on yoga leggings, a T-shirt and a zip-up hoodie. She wanted to get out of the confines of the cottage before she had to deal with any of it. Unfortunately, the fact that her aunt was still here had ruined that idea.
‘I’ll get the milk for you,’ said Gayle.
‘No need.’ Susanna opened the fridge before her aunt could do it for her. ‘I thought you’d be at the café by now.’
‘Nancy is the early bird these days; the arrangement suits us. Mind you, I’m still up before most. It’s just a habit I suppose.’
Susanna reluctantly sat down at the table.
‘How are you this morning?’ Her aunt watched her cautiously.
‘Apart from the shock of finding you alive?’
Gayle didn’t flinch; she’d likely expected the terse reply.
‘You wouldn’t have come if I’d have invited you to a party.’ Gayle waited but Susanna wasn’t going to deny it. She was right. ‘It’s nice that you and Addie came here together.’
‘You already said that last night.’ She was being pedantic, but she couldn’t help it. ‘And why wouldn’t we come together?’
‘I wasn’t sure how much you saw of each other.’
‘We both have our own lives, but we’re still close.’
‘Sometimes siblings drift apart, that’s all.’
‘Like you and Dad?’
Aunt Gayle declined to answer and instead asked, ‘Is your sister up and about yet?’
‘She used the toilet then went back to bed.’
‘She always slept well here. I think the sea air helps.’
‘Maybe.’
‘Do you ever see the sea?’ Gayle asked.
‘I live in Cambridge,’ Susanna sniped, then immediately felt petty in her rudeness. It was the same way she’d been the day she arrived on the island, waiting for Aunt Gayle to put a foot wrong, waiting for her to say something she could latch on to and criticise.
The sound of the post dropping onto the mat took her aunt from the kitchen to the hallway and gave Susanna a brief reprieve, although it didn’t stop her memories from flooding back.
