How could anyone be trusted to make a life-changing decision when clearly still in the grip of such a tragic loss?
There was nobody about on the ground floor of the house, just the appetising smell coming from the kitchen of bacon having recently been cooked, and so, taking Alastair’s lead, they ventured upstairs. They’d made it to the top of the stairs when a door to their right opened and Valentina appeared, followed by Nikolai and Irina. As the two of them took up a position either side of their stepmother, it felt weirdly like a stand-off with all six of them facing each other.
It was Irina who spoke first. ‘Alastair,’ she said, her voice low and husky, her expression pained, ‘how is Rachel? You must have all been so upset and concerned. Is there anything we can do? We feel just awful over what happened.’
She was either a very good actress, or she meant what she said, and she and her brother were genuinely contrite. Danny’s opinion made a sharp U-turn though when Nikolai spoke.
‘If I’d known how drunk Rachel was,’ he said, ‘I would never have allowed her to get into the boat. Or to go swimming.’ His affected smooth tone left Danny in no doubt that he didn’t give a damn about Rachel; he was only interested in exonerating himself and shifting the blame entirely onto her.
‘If you’d rather we left,’ said Irina, ‘please say and we’ll go.’
‘Yes,’ drawled Nikolai, ‘we would hate to make anyone feel uncomfortable, as I believe we have already.’
‘I’m sure there’s no need for that,’ said Valentina, her gaze on Alastair, ‘isn’t that so, darling?’
‘Of course not,’ he said.
‘There,’ said Valentina to her stepchildren, ‘I told you there was no need to overreact. Now why don’t you come downstairs with me and I’ll make you some coffee? Is that all right with you, Alastair?’
‘Of course,’ he said. ‘As I said before, you must make yourselves at home here. I’ll join you in a bit; first I want to see Rachel.’
‘Please tell her we were asking after her,’ said Irina.
All very cleverly stage-managed, was what Danny thought of their performance, as did Frankie, judging from the inscrutable expression on her face. But at least they were playing at being conciliatory, which was something.
Alastair led the way along the landing, his glance straying fleetingly over his shoulder to watch Valentina and the others go downstairs. It was anybody’s guess what he was thinking.
Sorrel opened the door to them after Alastair gave it a discreet knock. They crowded in and Danny was particularly pleased to see Rachel sitting up in bed looking better than he expected her to.
Alastair went straight over and crouched down beside the bed. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘How the hell do you think she feels?’ snapped Simon.
‘Dad, remember what I said. No blaming anyone else, it was my fault. And I couldn’t be more embarrassed, or ashamed. I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused.’
‘Don’t apologise,’ said Alastair. ‘We’re just all so relieved you’re okay. So how do you feel?’
‘Wrecked. Like my chest has been kicked in and my lungs stripped out with bleach. But apart from that, just fine. I know I was lucky, Uncle Al. Maybe luckier than I deserve.’
Behind Alastair, Sorrel tutted. ‘Don’t say that, Rachel. Not ever.’
‘Your mother’s right,’ Alastair agreed. He looked across to the other bed, to where Jenna was sitting. ‘You did well, Jenna, that was incredibly brave what you did.’
‘I just did what I had to,’ she said. ‘And Dad needs to take his share of the credit, if he hadn’t come to see what we were doing, and picked up Blake on the way, well …’ her voice trailed off and she pursed her lips, then chewed on a thumbnail.
‘You’re right,’ Alastair said. ‘Danny’s instinct to go out looking for you was spot on, and I think we should find a way to thank your friend Blake properly.’
Rachel smirked. ‘Best way to do that would be to let him performCPRon Jenna.’
Alastair smiled. ‘Oh, it’s like that, is it?’
Jenna glared at Rachel. ‘No it isn’t! And I think the lack of oxygen must have got to a certain person’s brain.’
Rachel sniggered, causing Danny to look askance at his wife. This was news to him that there might be something going on between Blake and their daughter. But then that was typical Jenna; she rarely gave away more information than she considered necessary. Frankie gave him a small shake of her head. Plainly she didn’t know anything either.
‘I think Rachel should have some proper rest now,’ said Sorrel.
‘Do I have to, Mum?’
