Carol put two mugs of tea on the worktop.
‘So how have you been?’ asked Lorna. ‘How’s James?’
Carol hesitated. ‘Fine.’
They weren’t, Lorna could tell. ‘Has something happened?’
Carol appraised her. ‘You’re not about to rush off, are you?’
The implication was that Lorna didn’t have enough time to listen. Lorna was offended but buried it. ‘I’ve got all day,’ she lied.
Now she had her attention, Carol seemed to slump. ‘Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s nothing.’
‘What’s nothing?’
‘James. Never around. And when he is – he’s not “here”, if you know what I mean. His mind is on something – or someone – else.’ She paused, as if debating whether to say any more. ‘And the other day, I went into the front spare room. The sheets were different.’
‘Sorry?’
‘When I last changed them, I used the blue ones. But the sheets on the bed were white.’
‘So maybe you changed them again without remembering?’
‘I’d remember.’
‘Maybe James changed them.’
Carol looked her straight in the eye. ‘And why would he do that?’
Lorna’s jaw dropped. ‘What, you think he’s having anaffair?’
Carol shrugged, the pain obvious in her eyes.
‘Who with?’
‘I don’t know. I don’t even know that he is.’ Carol sighed heavily. ‘Maybe I should just get away for a bit. Go on a world cruise.’
Lorna’s first reaction was one of alarm. ‘What? No!’
‘Why not?’ asked Carol, taken aback.
‘Well, I mean, it sounds lovely,’ said Lorna, hurriedly backtracking, ‘but I’d miss you – the kids would miss you.’
‘I’d come back. Eventually. Marian – my friend on the call just now – she’s living in Bermuda. Perhaps I should spend the rest of the winter out there with her. She’s thinking of chartering a yacht around the Caribbean.’
‘Sounds expensive.’
‘She has the funds. Her divorce payout was substantial.’
‘But you don’t. Have the funds, I mean.’ What Lorna really meant was that her mother’s rental income was not supposed to be frittered on a luxurious trip lasting months. It would cost thousands! No, that wasn’t what she had in mindat all.
‘Don’t I?’ said Carol.
Lorna was starting to panic. ‘Well, I mean, you might. But it wouldn’t be wise to spend so much money. All in one go.’
‘Why not? It’s my money.’
Lorna could feel the situation slipping away from her. A sense of desperation made her agitated and she spoke without thinking: ‘But I was hoping you’d come round. About the school fees. For your grandchildren.’
