sense him, skulking outside in the darkening night. She could feel his eyes penetrating the closed blinds, and was sure that if she drew them back, his face would be pressed hard against the window, his features distorted as they crushed against the glass. She glanced over her shoulder, almost expecting to see him lurking in a dark corner somewhere.
Snap out of it. Her eyes came back into focus, and she surveyed the contents of the fridge. Cheese. They had a ton of it, bought for the dinner party the following night. They could eat some of that too, and she would get some more tomorrow from the deli in the village.
Uncovering dishes and unwrapping cheese, Ellie thought about her predicament. Why wouldn’t he accept that it was over? She just wanted him out of her life.
She knew Leo would help her if she asked. But for the last twenty odd years Leo had been secure in the knowledge that she could rely on Ellie; the one person she believed was beyond reproach. Ellie couldn’t be responsible for destroying the last of her sister’s illusions.
Putting the final plate of food on a tray, Ellie threw a last nervous glance at the closed blinds as she switched off the lights, painted a smile on her face, and went in search of Leo.
3
It was late by the time they made it to bed, but Leo was glad that she had managed to conquer her anxiety and finally set foot over the threshold. It was so good to see Ellie; she’d stayed away for far too long. It had always seemed better to meet up in Manchester or Chester for the day, or invite the whole family over to her place. But tonight she’d done it. She had fought her demons and won. Now all she had to do was prove that she could sleep here. No doubt the wine would help.
She was sleeping in Ellie’s old bedroom, and the tiny box room that used to be hers was now a perfect en suite. Everything had changed in there; the old door from the landing had been plastered over with a new door opening from the bedroom into the shower room. The modern white fittings looked bright and shiny against the dark grey tiles, and twinkling spotlights reflected off the huge mirror that hung behind the sink. No old memories here.
Leo hadn’t been allowed in Ellie’s room when they were growing up, although both girls had sometimes risked incurring the wrath of Ellie’s mother by disobeying. But Leo had never broken the rules when it really mattered – when Ellie had needed her. From the night Ellie realised that their father had gone for good without a word of goodbye, she had grieved alone in the privacy of this bedroom. Leo had lain in her own bed, listening through the wall to the sounds of her sister crying, knowing that she should try to console her. But she didn’t know how. Ellie couldn’t understand Leo’s indifference to his departure, but Leo truly believed that in the last few years of her life in this house she had become devoid of emotion. She had spent so many lonely nights after her arrival here. She had been the one sobbing herself to sleep then, and her father had done nothing to help her. It was contempt for him that had driven Leo to withdraw from others.
Unfortunately, Ellie had this ludicrous notion that once he realised his wife was dead, he would miraculously reappear like the prodigal father. And now that she lived in this house, Ellie believed he would know exactly where to find her.
Leo had to do something about this. She had to find out what had really happened to him.
She thought about her sister. Lovely, bubbly Ellie, she’d heard Max call her - and that was exactly right. There were moments tonight though, when the sparkle had faded slightly, and Leo hoped that her arrival hadn’t somehow put a dampener on anything.
‘Are you sure you’re okay, Ellie?’ she’d asked again. ‘You seem a bit preoccupied.’
Ellie had leaned forward with a frown, while studying the contents of her wine glass and fishing something invisible out with her little finger.
‘Me? I’m fine. Really I am. It’s all been so exciting for the past few months with the renovation and all the changes. Now it’s over, perhaps the adrenalin is fading away. I’m probably just tired, but I’m completely fine. Really.’