‘Hello, you two,’ Sophie says. ‘Jackson’s not here.’ She directs the last statement at me.
‘I don’t think he wants to see me.’
She shakes her head.
‘Do you want a drink, Mum?’ asks Milo.
‘An ice water would be lovely.’ She pats the bed beside her. ‘Ellie, come sit. I want to know all about your new venture.’
I push the blanket covering Sophie’s legs to one side and perch on the edge of her bed. Tippi is curled up in a dog bed by the bedside table.
‘I wasn’t going to go ahead with it, but Milo’s persuaded me to give it a go.’
‘Good. You’ll be brilliant. I’ve seen those photos that adornyour Beach House walls. They are fabulous, you’ll be a great teacher. You have a lot of talent. I’d be doing it myself if I was stronger. Did Sarah, Eve and Tina enrol?’
I narrow my eyes at her. ‘Was that you?’
She laughs. It’s a light tinkling sound and I wonder again how someone can be so at peace with themselves, with everything they know about their future.
‘I thought you might need a nudge to make sure it went ahead. Getting your first customers was my way of helping.’
I want to hug her, but she looks so fragile I’m scared I’d break her.
‘What are you doing here?’ I jump as Jackson’s voice sears through the calm in the room. His tense frame fills the doorway.
‘We were talking.’ My voice is shaky. I can’t bear that he thinks of me the way he does.
‘Jackson,’ his mum begins, but he overrides her.
‘Mum needs peace and quiet. She doesn’t need your negativity.’
He’s walking towards us, and I get off the bed and edge around him towards the door. Milo has joined us now.
‘Bro. Lay off her. Ellie was just saying hello. Mum loves the company.’
‘Mum would like the company of people that want her to get better,’ Jackson snaps.
The brothers face each other and the air between them crackles with hostility.
‘You’re no better.’ Jackson’s voice has risen in volume. ‘Why am I the only one that wants Mum to get better?’
‘That’s because I’m living in the real …’
‘Boys.’ Sophie pushes her blanket aside and lowers her legs slowly over the edge of her bed. ‘Stop this. I’m here. Don’t talk about me as if I’m not in the room.’ She’s walking towards us, each step small.
‘Mum!’ Jackson is next to her in two strides. ‘Mum, be careful. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you.’
Sophie takes the arm he’s offering her. ‘Jackson, you know I love you, but we have to talk. Now.’
He’s lifting her legs back up onto the bed and tucking the blanket around her. ‘No, we don’t. I’m sorry we upset you. It won’t happen again.’
‘You didn’t upset me.’ She holds on to his arm and looks over at Milo and me. ‘Would you give us some space, please? Tippi could do with a toilet break. And close the door behind you.’ She pulls Jackson down to sit where I had been a few minutes earlier.
Tippi trots out on the mention of toilet and Milo and I follow her. He hovers by the closed door, leaning his ear towards it. There’s a muffled sound of voices, but they’re low and it’s impossible to hear what’s being said.
I tug on his arm. ‘We shouldn’t listen.’
He grimaces. ‘I suppose so.’
