Stella took his hand and pulled him up the stairs. She took him into her bedroom and said, ‘Sit down, close your eyes and hold out your hands.’
While he perched on her bed, she fetched a pair of book ends and placed them in his open palms.
‘Now open your eyes,’ she ordered. ‘Walter made them and I painted them. Not very well – it’s supposed to be Dal Lake on this one and The Raj-in-the-Hills on the other.’ She watched him turn them over. ‘Anyway, I wanted you to have something from me – you can put your school books between them.’
He sat staring at them, his face flushed. ‘Thank you.’ His voice was husky. ‘They’re . . . really nice.’
She sat down beside him and put an arm around his shoulders. He bowed his head and she could see him swallowing hard. ‘Don’t be upset.’
‘I’ll miss you, Stella,’ he croaked.
She kissed his head. ‘I’ll miss you too – very much. Andy,’ she said gently. ‘Is this what you really want – to stay with your mother and go to school in Durham?’
After a pause, he nodded. ‘I like it in Ebbsmouth. I feel proud of being a Lomax here – of knowing where I come from. I didn’t expect that. And I like Durham and being with Noel and the other boys – I think I’ll be happy at Dunelm School. I know it’s not India, but . . .’
‘And you’re happy about living with your mother and grandmother?’ Stella asked.
He glanced away. ‘I’ll be living in Durham most of the time.’
‘I’m sorry, Andy. I feel so guilty about leaving you here with your mother.’
‘I know you don’t like Mamma but she’s been a lot nicer to me since we’ve been away in Durham. She really wants me to stay – I think she needs me . . .’
‘You shouldn’t be staying just because she’s making you feel somehow obliged to – that’s not fair on you, and it’s wrong of her.’
He shifted away. ‘At least she tells me the truth and doesn’t pretend to be someone she’s not.’
Stella retorted. ‘Like pretending to still be in love with your father?’
Andrew was defensive. ‘Maybe she is still in love, but Esmie did her best to come between her and father.’
‘You can’t really believe that?’ Stella cried. ‘It was your mother who chose to desert your father and come back to Scotland – none of that was Esmie’s doing.’
‘How do you know?’ Andrew asked in agitation.
‘Because Tibby told me,’ said Stella, ‘and I remember what it was like when your parents ran the Raj in Pindi. I don’t think your mother ever loved your father.’
‘That’s not true! Mamma said she was devastated when Dad left her and went back to India to be with Esmie.’
‘That’s your mother twisting the facts again. Your dad wasn’t unfaithful to her – she was to him! Your mother was having an affair with an army officer.’
Andrew sprang up. ‘I don’t want to hear any more. I thought you’d understand why I want to stay here – but I don’t care if you don’t. It’s my choice and that’s that.’
‘Sorry,’ Stella said, quickly getting to her feet. ‘I do understand. I just think you’re being unfair to your father and Esmie. I don’t know what I’m going to say to your father – I feel responsible that you’re not coming home with me and I know he’s going to be so sad—’
‘You’re not responsible for me,’ Andrew said. ‘And you don’t need to worry about Dad – I’ve written a letter explaining that it’s my decision and I want to stay in Britain. No one is forcing me.’
‘And Meemee?’ Stella questioned. ‘Have you written to her too?’
He glared. ‘She’s not my Meemee any more. She came between my parents.’
‘Don’t say that,’ Stella rebuked him. ‘She couldn’t have been a more loving mother to you. She’s loved you your whole life. You’ve only known your mamma for a few weeks.’
‘Only because I was stolen away from her,’ Andrew replied.
‘Those are your mother’s words,’ Stella said in exasperation. ‘If you want the truth, she could have kept you here in Ebbsmouth years ago but she chose not to. She sent you back to India with your ayah when you were a baby. Esmie has always loved you ten times more than she has!’
He gave her a fierce look, his blue eyes accusing. In that moment he reminded her of Lydia. He thrust the book ends back at her.