A Kiss in the Snow - Rosie Green Page 0,65

than I’m expecting – mainly because the path beyond the village is still packed solid with snow. But finally, I’m walking down the little track that leads to their home.

When Becca answers the door, she looks shocked to see me and glances quickly over her shoulder to check her mum isn’t there.

I smile at her. ‘Hi, Becca, I’ve got some news for you.’

She looks alarmed. ‘Is it about Grandma Reenie? Is she okay?’

‘She’s fine. Absolutely fine,’ I reassure her. ‘But she really wants to see you?’

Her eyes open wide. ‘She does? Are you sure? Because I knocked and shouted through the letterbox and she’d never – ’

I shake my head. ‘I’ve talked to her, Becca. She really misses you. I think she misses your mum as well, but she won’t admit it.’

Becca shakes her head gloomily. ‘I feel like bashing their heads together. They’re both so stupid and stubborn.’

‘I beg your pardon, Becca?’ Maggie appears. ‘Who are you talking about? Who’s stupid and stubborn?’

Becca’s shoulders droop. She turns to her mum. ‘You and Grandma, actually. I was saying you need your heads banging together.’

‘Yes, I heard that bit as well,’ says Maggie frostily. She glances at me and forces a smile. ‘Hi, Carrie. What brings you here?’

I swallow. ‘I…um…was hoping we could have a chat.’

She frowns. ‘What about?’ She glances at Becca, who’s looking really guilty, and realisation hits. ‘Oh, right. So Becca’s been telling you things she has no business telling anyone. Not that it’s your fault, Carrie.’

‘I had to tell someone,’ protests Becca, looking close to tears. ‘You won’t talk about Grandma Reenie at all, so what am I supposed to do? You’ve no idea what it’s like for me, being piggy-in-the-middle.’ She sighs in frustration. ‘Why can’t you sort things out between you? Honestly, sometimes it feels like I’m the grown-up, and you and Grandma are the kids, the way you’re both behaving.’

‘That’s enough, Becca,’ warns Maggie. ‘Carrie, do you want to come in?’

‘No, it’s fine.’ Clearly now isn’t the right time for a heart-to-heart with Maggie about Reenie. ‘I’d better be heading back.’

‘Don’t go, Carrie,’ begs Becca. ‘Help me talk some sense into Mum. Please!’

Maggie’s face darkens. ‘Get inside now, Becca.’

‘No! I won’t.’ Becca folds her arms, her eyes flashing angrily. ‘I’m sick of tip-toeing around you, not being allowed to talk about Grandma. I don’t see why you can’t just talk to each other and sort it out once and for all! You’re always lecturing me about communication being so important in a relationship, but you don’t even do what you say. And Gran’s the same, hiding away from the world and refusing to come out and talk, even to me.’ She shakes her head. ‘You’re both as bad as each other, and I’m so fed up with it.’ Her eyes fill with tears. ‘The thing is, Mum, I love you both and I just want our happy family back, the way it used to be.’ She shoots her mum a savage look. ‘Before he moved in.’

Maggie closes her eyes in despair. The spectre of Harvey hangs in the air for a moment, and then Becca flounces away.

‘I’ll go,’ I say apologetically.

‘Wait a minute, Carrie.’ She touches my arm. ‘What did Becca mean about Mum hiding away from the world and refusing to talk to her? She’s gone to her sister’s. Has Becca been phoning her there?’

I sigh. It’s high time Maggie knew the truth.

‘She’s not at her sister’s,’ I say quietly. ‘She never has been. After your argument that day, she took to her bed. I think she might be clinically depressed. Reenie’s barely ventured out of Moon Cottage ever since.’

*****

It’s getting on for four by the time I set off back to the village.

The sky, a clear cold blue, is already dimming. Soon the sun, a ball of fiery orange, will dip below the horizon and plunge everything into darkness. I’m walking as quickly as I can through the snow, hopping onto the snow-plough-cleared road from time to time as there aren’t any cars around. But although the road is clear of snow, the plunging temperature is turning the surface to ice, and I almost slip several times in my haste to get home.

In the end, I stick to the snowy pavement, trying not to be spooked by the dark shapes of the trees rising up on either side of the road.

I’m half way home when a rustling sound from the woods behind me makes my heart leap into my mouth. I don’t