“Yes.” Kivi’s teeth gritted at the doubt she could hear in her mother’s voice.
“Isn’t she a bit… up-market for your sort of life? She looks like someone who’s more comfortable in a high-rise flat in the city. Not a… guest house in deepest Cornwall.”
Her mother wasn’t known for her tact. Something she shared with Eva, at times. Eva now rolled her eyes, silently telling Kivi to take the comment with a pinch of salt, and Kivi shrugged.
“It works, Mum,” she said, letting a little more edge into her voice. “That’s all I can say. That’s all Ineedto say.”
“Well.” Her mother sounded chastened. “Well. I’m glad you’re happy. It’s nice to hear from you again, Kiera.”
More silence, so Kivi decided enough was enough, and carried on through to the guest house. She could hear Eva wrapping up the call, but focused her attention on Toto, who had met her at the door with a toy in his mouth in the classic Golden Retriever greeting. But she got the sense that he was glancing behind her, despite his enthusiasm – and why wouldn’t he? He was probably looking for Saskia.
“She’s gone, mate,” she said, scratching his ears while he continued to wag. “But not forever, okay? She’ll be back.”
“She will,” said Eva from behind her. And then her sister’s arms were around her, and her knees were starting to tremble, and she let out a soft sob.
“I miss her,” she managed. “I really miss her already.”
“But she will be back,” Eva said softly. “You just said it yourself.”
“But I don’t believe it,” Kivi said. “Whywouldshe come back? Mum’s right. She’s not made for this lifestyle.”
“She’s made foryou,” Eva said, and held her as the sobbing took hold. “I could see it. Anyone could see it. She’ll be back, if nothing else because you’re waiting for her.”
“…Promise?” Kivi managed weakly, and let her sister take care of her.
“I promise.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Saskia
“Thanks for coming back,” Leo said as he let her in.
It had been one hell of a day. What had started as an easy drive through the Cornish countryside had eventually descended into motorway tailback hell, despite it being a Sunday. Saskia had contemplated giving up several times and finding a cheap hotel in which to spend the night, but the knowledge that her family needed her kept her going. Even through bouts of road rage (“Why do you NEED to hog the middle lane anyway?”she had shouted at one point), anxiety and distress at leaving Kivi, she had gritted her teeth and kept her feet on the pedals. Every fibre of her wanted to come off the motorway, swing the car around and head straight back for Cornwall. But she would have had to leave at some point anyway. She still had her life up in Derbyshire to sort out. A landlord to sever ties with, belongings to clear out or pack up, family to appease…
But not tonight. None of that tonight. Leo looked exhausted, and she grabbed him into a rough hug.
“All good,” she said, the two words completely inadequate for how she felt. “Where is she?”
“In bed,” he said, leading the way. “With Gilly.”
“Ooh la-la,” she murmured at the insinuation, but he didn’t pick up on it. “And how is she?”
“She’s okay. Bruised, but okay. You’ll see.”
They got to the top of the stairs. Lydia and Gilly had lived in this house for such a short time that Saskia hadn’t actually been upstairs yet. The doors to the bathroom and second bedroom were shut, but the master bedroom door was ajar. Soft voices could be heard coming from it, and Leo headed for it, knocking once before opening it up.
“Look what the tide washed in,” he said, and stepped forward so that Saskia could enter the room behind him.
Lydia was laying on the bed in her nightdress, a far cry from her usual glamorous, dolled-up self. Her arms and legs were covered in bruises, and she wore no make-up. But her face lit up when she saw Saskia – just for a second, before she covered her mouth and let out a soft sob.
“My baby,” she said, as tears began to fall from her eyes. Gilly, smiling, vacated her spot beside Lydia on the bed so that Saskia could replace her. In an instant, Lydia pulled her in for a tight hug, a total opposite to the awkward, aloof woman who’d raised them growing up. Saskia hugged her back carefully, scared of hurting or damaging her, and she felt Gilly place a supportive hand on her back.
“It’s more accurate to say ‘what the cat dragged in’,” Saskia said after a moment, extricating herself from the hug and running a hand through the bird’s nest she was sure adorned the top of her head. “I look a fright.”
“I don’t care,” Lydia said, pulling her back in to smooch the top of her head. “But – my God, what are you doing here? I thought you were in deepest bloodyCornwall!”
“I was,” Saskia said. “But Leo called me and-”
