For years she’d genuinely thought that he’d put up with her parents’ awfulness for her. It wasn’t until she refused the money from her father’s estate that it became plain that all those years of exemplary behaviour had been no more than an investment. Gareth had possessed a fine perception of which side his bread was likely to be buttered. All he had to do was wait it out and half of Diane’s parents’ money would surely come.
She remembered his face, black with fury, when she’d refused Freddy’s offer to share the inheritance. ‘You’re entitled! It’s your right.’ Whereas, it was clear to her now, he’d meanthewas entitled and it washisright.
To force the memories from her mind, Diane admired the green sweeps of Freddy’s lawn, the elegant might of the monkey puzzle tree and the banks of lilies on the shady side of the garden. And she thought of James.
She seemed to be thinking of James every waking moment.
His smiling eyes, the hot sex in the back of his Merc, the way he’d accepted her decision to end things before they began with huge regret but no word of recrimination. It was astonishing how empty she felt without him. Which just went to show – youcouldmiss something you’d never had. Or only had once in the back of –
She twitched her thoughts away at the sound of the front door opening. Her brother blinked at her through his glasses. ‘Diane!’
‘Hello, Freds.’
Freddy grasped her hands and kissed each of her cheeks. ‘It’s been too long since I saw you.’
Diane found she actually had to swallow a lump in her throat at the pleasure in her brother’s eyes, always magnified by his glasses. She wished suddenly that she hadn’t allowed Gareth’s animosity to make it difficult for her to visit her brother.
He showed her to the conservatory that wrapped around the back of the house. One of the doors to the garden was open. ‘This is my favourite spot. I can sit here in all weathers and never get wet.’ He halted suddenly. ‘Anyway, what’s it to be? Cup of tea?’
‘Bring the pot.’ She chose a thickly padded cane chair and kicked off her shoes to settle back and watch the purple sky become lower and darker until smudgy clouds dropped the first raindrops as big as pennies on the yellow York stone of the patio. Faster. Harder. Noisier. Until the rain was pelting the windows. Freddy reappeared. ‘I hoped we’d have a storm – that’s why I was in here.’ He wound up the roof blinds so they could watch the water washing summer leaves from the glass as shrubs thrashed in the blustery wind. From outside came the rotting smell that came with rain after a long dry spell.
Admiring thunder crash and lightning flash, Diane propped her feet on the coffee table. ‘Do you think you should shut the door?’
Freddie poured the tea. ‘I’ll mop up before Sîan comes home.’
Lightning hung among the clouds as the next roll of thunder shook the sky. The rain redoubled, began to hiss. Diane tipped her head to watch it sluicing down the roof.
A puddle began to spread across the terracotta tiling towards them. Gleefully, Freddy lifted his feet to join Diane’s on the coffee table. He had to raise his voice to be heard as the rain lashed. ‘This is exhilarating.’
Diane laughed. ‘I suppose it is. It’s a while since we had an adventure together.’
‘The last one was when you pushed me out of the tree house – ’
‘You fell!’
‘Only because I jumped at you and you moved. I broke my arm and my fingers came up exactly like sausages.’
‘And what about being nearly cut off by the tide at Wells? Do you remember how Dad bellowed?’
‘Missing our lift home after a party in a barn.’
‘Getting drunk on whisky.’
‘Getting drunk on all kinds of things.’
‘You thinking you’d got Miranda Thingy pregnant.’
Freddy choked on his tea, spattering dark drops down his polo shirt, eyes watering behind his glasses. ‘I didn’t know you knew about that. I still come out in a cold sweat when I remember. I used to pray that either she’d get her period or I’d get knocked over by a bus before Dad found out. Luckily it was the former. She finished with me in relief.’
‘I would’ve tried to talk to him for you.’
‘You were always a good sister.’ He pushed back the dark, slightly old-fashioned wing of hair that fell over his eyes. ‘I wish you’d taken your half of the money.’
She sipped her tea. Not bad, but could’ve been stronger. The thunder’s bark moved further away and the rain dropped a note. The puddle on the floor had crept under the coffee table. ‘When I married Gareth I knew I was letting myself in for a lifetime without frills. But I also knew that there were more important things than money.’ She sighed. ‘But I am here kind of on the trail of filthy lucre. Have you still got that jewellery for Bryony? She’s twenty-one in September and I’d like her to have it.’
Freddy turned his head slightly, eyebrows lifting. ‘Of course I still have it. It’s in the safe. I’m glad you’re taking it.’
‘There’s something else.’ She hesitated, feeling foolish. ‘I wouldn’t ask this, except it’s for Bryony. Do you remember Mum and Dad buying her £100 worth of premium bonds for her first Christmas, but not actually handing them over?’
