‘Please. Did I tell you Bertie tried to achieve the same black look?’
‘No, you forgot that vital piece of information.’
‘He coloured in his walls with a black felt-tip pen.’
‘Oh God.’
‘Hmm, I salvaged it with chalk paint in the end.’
‘Does Marion know?’
‘No, thank God. But I expect she’ll find out when the letting agency refuses to hand back her deposit.’
‘At least you’ll be out of the firing line by then. Have you heard anything from her?’
‘No. I think she’s tried calling Rob, but I’m not sure he’s answered.’
‘Do you really think he can keep it up, this protest?’
‘Who knows? If it were down to him, I’d guess he’d be running back to Mummy and Daddy as soon as his money ran out, but Nicola doesn’t seem the kind of woman to give in that easily.’
‘Yes, she was a bit of a turn up for the books, wasn’t she?’
‘I know. I really liked her.’
‘Me too.’
‘Who are you talking about?’ asked Bertie, walking into the kitchen and helping himself to a can of Coke from the fridge.
‘Bertie, you need to ask Cass before helping yourself.’
‘Sorry. Can I have a can of Coke please, Aunt Cass?’
‘Of course you can.’
‘So, who were you talking about?’
‘Nicola. I was saying she seems nice.’
‘Yeah,’ said Bertie. ‘She’s cool.’
‘You’ve met her?’ asked Cass.
‘Her and Dad took me to the park yesterday. She let me have a double cone ice cream. You’d best not let Emmy meet her, Aunt Cass. She might get ideas about piercings.’
Cass contained her laughter until Bertie had left the room in search of Jake. ‘He seems to be coping with all this remarkably well.’
‘Yes, but I suppose me and Rob were never a very couply couple. And Rob was always at work, so I think Bertie willactually see more of him now we aren’t together. I’ve spoken to Mel at the school about getting him access to a counsellor, though. He seems completely fine, but there have been so many changes, it would be good for him to talk to someone outside the family.’
‘And you? How are you coping?’
‘OK, I think. I’m just so relieved to be moving forward at last. The thought of going back to Lowen Farm is scary, though. New residents have arrived since I left, and we were so happy there before. I’ve built it up in my mind as some kind of paradise, which, of course, it isn’t. I just hope we can make it work.’
‘It will be fine. And Seb? What’s happening on that front?’
‘Nothing much. We’re on friendly terms, at least. That’s better than I could have imagined a few weeks ago.’
‘Give it time.’
