Page 41 of I’ll Be Home for Christmas

‘I am,’ said Meg, ‘And your nanna and Grumps know already.’

She was glad about that. They didn’t need more worry piled on top of them. ‘Are you and Mum ever going to talk properly?’

Meg shrugged. ‘I can’t tell you that, kid. I hope so. But it isn’t just up to me.’ She rubbed a hand against the top of Sarah’s arm, smiled at Jonathan, and excused herself to go and get dressed.

By the time Meg was ready, Sarah had finished another smaller section of the wall.

Meg admired the colour. ‘It looks brilliant, so much better than before. Sorry, Jonathan.’ She grinned when she saw him come out of the kitchen.

‘No offence taken.’ He noted Meg’s coat. ‘Where are you going?’

‘I could do with some fresh air. I need a walk.’

‘I wouldn’t recommend it. Not today.’

‘I’ll be fine.’ She smiled at Sarah. ‘I look forward to seeing the progress when I get back.’

‘Be careful, Meg.’ Jonathan looked worried. ‘The weather can turn quickly.’

‘Honestly, I can look after myself.’

‘At least have a mug of something hot before you go. You haven’t had breakfast yet.’

‘I’ll get something in town.’

He shook his head and muttered, ‘I’ll never understand women,’ as he walked away while Meg pulled on her boots.

Sarah and Meg both started to laugh as Meg opened the front door, and it was those jolly faces Chrissie saw as she stood on the doorstep, hand raised ready to knock.

Meg’s happy demeanour disappeared.

‘I thought you’d left,’ said Chrissie.

With a sigh Meg stepped outside and past her sister, but she turned around midway down the path. ‘Is that what you want?’ she asked Chrissie, who was watching her go.

‘I never wanted to see you again, Meg. Don’t you understand that?’

‘Mum!’ Sarah couldn’t help leaping to her auntie’s defence.

‘Leave it, Sarah, it doesn’t matter,’ came Meg’s voice as she kept going down the path and turned out of sight.

When they closed the door, Sarah shook her head and went to sort the tray and paint roller out.

‘I wanted this visit to be about you and your wedding,’ her mum said when she got back to the hallway. ‘Once again, it’s about Meg.’

‘What does that even mean?’

‘Nothing.’ She shook her head. ‘You clearly think I’m being harsh, but there are things you don’t know, Sarah.’

‘I’m well aware of that. Because you’ve never told me.’ She gestured to the painted walls. ‘I’m a bit busy here, I should get on.’

‘I thought you could use a break.’

Jonathan came back through the hallway. ‘That’s enough painting for today, Sarah.’ He smiled at Chrissie. ‘You go off and spend some time with your mum.’ And he left them alone once more.

‘We could go and get a hot chocolate somewhere, talk,’ Chrissie suggested.

Sarah was about to say she’d rather carry on working. The way her mum treated Meg and still refused to divulge what went on between them was beyond frustrating.