The Spark - Jules Wake Page 0,107

reminder of our closeness. Bugger, I was being a cow today. Holding him to account for something that wasn’t his fault and still he put me first.

I caught his hand with mine and gave it a brief squeeze. ‘I’m sure. I’ll catch you up.’

The barely-there kiss he brushed across my temple almost made me cry.

‘See you in a minute.’

I knocked on the front door and then opened it with my key.

‘Hi love, excuse me.’ Richard pointed to his dishevelled state and the water dripping down his forearms. ‘Downstairs bog playing up.’ Still talking, he turned and went into the tiny room which had been shoehorned in under the stairs at a much later date. ‘Your aunt’s out at the moment.’

‘Oh.’ Inside I shrivelled just a bit. If I was honest, I could have done with an Aunty Lynn hug and some of her down-to-earth, common sense advice. ‘I just popped into grab my charger. Left it last night. And thanks again for the barbie, it was great.’

‘Yeah, that new marinade worked a treat,’ said his muffled voice as he knelt on the floor with his bottom sticking out of the room. ‘Effing ballcock keeps sticking. I can’t figure it out. Damn, why isn’t this working? The water just keeps flushing. All plastic rubbish these days.’

‘Right. I’d better go.’

‘Aha, gotcha! What did you say, love? Oh, you little…’

Leaving Richard to his plumbing adventures, I left the house and walked around the corner to Sam’s parents’ house. They’d left the door ajar so I pushed it open, assuming that it had been left that way for me and followed the sound of voices towards the kitchen but stopped in my tracks feeling like an intruder when I heard Sally’s aggrieved tone. Now I was stuck, did I creep back out and knock loudly on the door or did I stay here like an eavesdropper not wanting to get involved in a family discussion?

‘You missed the Gledhill Cup, Sam.’ Sally’s voice rang with accusation. ‘The county selectors were all there.’

‘It’s not a big deal,’ said Sam but I knew him well enough to hear the strain he was feeling.

‘Miles, tell him.’

‘There’ll be other games, son.’

‘Miles! That’s not what I meant. Sam, you should have played in that match. And now you’ve missed the chance.’

‘Missed what chance, Mum?’ Sam’s angry snap made me freeze. I’d never heard him speak like that before. ‘You seriously think I have a chance?’ His disgust rang out. ‘I don’t have a cat in hell’s chance at making the team and you know it.’

‘No, I don’t. What do you mean?’ Sally sounded tearful.

‘You’re just encouraging her.’

A heavy silence followed and I caught my breath in my throat as my heart thudded with unease. What did Sam mean?

‘As long as Victoria’s dad is chairman of the selection committee, I won’t be picked. Unless I go back to her. She’s made that quite plain. And as long you continue to support her in that fantasy, she’s going to believe it.’

Sally gasped and I heard her begin to cry.

‘Sam. There’s no need for that. Don’t talk to your mother that way.’

‘No.’ Sam’s voice exploded, and I heard the slam of something on one of the granite worktops. ‘I’m sick of it. Sick of it all. You think I don’t want to play county cricket?’ There was another crash. I took a step backward. ‘I’m desperate to play. This season could be my last chance. It’s the first time I’ve not been selected for at least one game, but my batting average has never been higher. Even my fielding stats are better. But no. I’ve been passed over every time. I have worked my arse off, been to every net going. Done everything I can on the field to get a place. So no, I didn’t play in the fucking Gledhill Cup because I knew it wouldn’t make a blind bit of difference. I’ve wanted this all my life and Victoria is the one that has put the boot in. And don’t bother denying it. She’s pretty much admitted it to my face.’

I tensed, terrified he would come bursting through the door and catch me listening, but he must have gone out into the garden because I heard the slam of the patio doors.

‘Oh, Miles,’ said Sally. ‘I didn’t know.’ She paused and then added with a horrified gasp. ‘Oh God, that means … if he doesn’t play this season, it could be all over for him. He might never get back onto