honestly.’ Although I sound more confident than I feel.
‘Okay.’ Sophie gets to her feet. Wraps her arms around herself.
‘I can lend you some pyjamas and fresh clothes later, if you like. And, I should’ve said before, you’re welcome to take a shower.’
‘That would be really nice. Thanks.’ She follows me down the stairs and I walk back into the kitchen more breezily than I feel. Both boys have finished eating and are now fully focused on their phones. Heads down, tapping and scrolling.
‘Hey boys, this is Sophie who I was telling you about.’
After a second or two, Sonny looks up and gives a shy smile. Ryan doesn’t react.
‘Ryan, put your phone down for a minute and say hi.’
‘Hi,’ he says without looking up.
I tut and open my mouth to reprimand him but Sophie’s hand rests on my arm. ‘It’s fine,’ she whispers. ‘Leave him.’
I’m torn between telling him off and avoiding a scene. The latter wins out and I shrug an apology to our house guest.
‘You don’t look like one of Mum’s friends,’ Sonny says, staring.
‘Why, what do they look like?’ Sophie’s more animated around Sonny than she’s been around me.
‘They’re older,’ he says, in that blunt way kids have.
‘Charming!’ I shake my head.
‘Mum, can I have some more cake?’ he asks, trying his luck.
‘No, you’ll ruin your dinner. Maybe later. Sophie, do you want a slice?’
‘I’m fine. I’ll go back up, if that’s okay.’ She eyes the window nervously.
I want to tell her that the kitchen window looks out onto the back garden. That she’s hidden from view. That no one will be peering in. But then I remember that she ended up in my back garden and it wouldn’t be too difficult for someone else to jump the fence or jimmy the gate lock. I give a brief shiver. ‘Okay, sure. Let me know if you need anything.’
She nods and slips away silently, padding back up the stairs.
Now that Sophie’s gone, I should probably have a word with Ryan about his behaviour at school today. I don’t relish the thought, but I can’t just ignore what happened, can I? I gaze over at the top of Ryan’s head, remembering when he was younger with those beautiful dark curls rather than the short French crop he now prefers. Suddenly Ryan sighs, sets his phone down on the table and pushes it away. He glances up at me briefly, scowls and then catches his brother’s eye. Something passes between them.
Sonny frowns and shakes his head.
I walk over and start clearing the table, psyching myself up to question my eldest son. But I need to speak to him on his own, not with Sonny earwigging. ‘Sonny, have you got any homework?’
‘No.’
‘Are you sure?’
My phone buzzes again. I quickly check the screen. It’s another text from Tia. I lay the phone on the table. She’ll have to wait.
Ryan elbows Sonny.
‘Get off!’ Sonny pushes his brother.
‘Sonny,’ Ryan growls.
‘Shut up. You say it.’
I stare from one to the other. ‘Okay, what’s going on?’
Sonny shakes his head, clamps his lips together and folds his arms across his chest.
‘Ryan, why don’t you tell me.’
My eldest son glares at me for a moment, gets to his feet and then storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
‘Ryan!’ I take a few steps after him. ‘Ryan, come back!’ Maybe I should go after him. No. Probably best not. I’ll let him calm down for a few minutes.
Sonny interrupts my thoughts. ‘Mum, why’s he mad all the time?’
‘Oh, sweetie, I don’t know. I wish I did.’ I use my most gentle voice. ‘Sonny, whatever it was he wanted you to say, I’d really like you to tell me, okay?’
He scowls and then sighs. ‘Okay. But it’s weird.’
‘What’s weird?’ I’m starting to feel more than a little freaked out.
‘They’re saying stuff about you at school.’
I swallow. ‘Stuff? What stuff?’
Sonny flushes bright red before replying. ‘Mum, did you kiss my teacher?’
Eleven
FIONA
Seated at the conference table with my sketch pad open, I’m trying to work on my new designs for the Carmichaels’ mill house. However, my concentration isn’t what it should be, as I’m hyper-aware of those two interlopers in my office. Even though I’m purposely facing the opposite direction, I keep imagining that they’re looking over at me disapprovingly.
I’m trying to stay zen about the audit. Que sera sera and all that crap. But the thing that’s worrying me most isn’t what the inspectors might discover, it’s how I’m going to tell Nathan what’s been going on. I don’t