Bill frowned as he regarded them too, then he took a deep breath, gesturing to the spare stool next to Grace. ‘First get a Byatt breakfast in you.’
It was a tradition, the famous ‘Byatt breakfast’. Every month, after Patrick and Melissa’s regular ‘date night’, Bill, Patrick and Lewis would prepare a fry-up. The three generations of Byatt men were as tight as you could get, playing football together in the local park each Sunday, always joking around. They were all so similar too, with their tall strong frames and feline brown eyes. Lewis really looked up to his grandad, in awe of the years he’d spent as a soldier, often grilling him about what had happened as he prepared breakfast. Grace would join in, wanting to know all the gory facts as Lilly grimaced in disgust.
There was no animated talk now, though. They were all wordless and exhausted as a breakfast probably none of them would be able to finish was made.
Melissa noticed then that Lilly was wearing an oversized T-shirt from the production of Wicked they’d gone to see the summer before.
‘Oh God,’ Melissa said. ‘Your role in The Sound of Music. Did you get it?’
Lilly paused a moment then nodded. ‘I did!’
‘That’s just wonderful news!’ Bill said. ‘I knew you’d do it! Our talented, beautiful Lilly, true Byatt genes at work there,’ he said, gesticulating at her with his spatula, grease flying everywhere. ‘Your dad will be proud.’
Melissa did her best to ignore the slight from Bill; she was used to it, after all. She leaned across and encircled her daughter’s hand. ‘Dad will be proud.’
Lilly’s hand tensed and she pulled it away. Melissa frowned. What was going on with these kids?
When breakfast was ready, they all ate silently. Bill, who usually devoured everything on his plate, picked at his food.
‘I really think you should get some sleep, Bill,’ Melissa said, desperate to question the children. ‘Go and have a couple more hours of rest. I’ll tidy up and wake you if there’s any news.’
Bill didn’t answer at first and Melissa began to worry he’d insist on staying awake. ‘Maybe I should grab a couple of hours,’ Bill finally conceded, placing his fork down and sighing. He stood and kissed each of his grandchildren on their heads before waving at Melissa and walking upstairs. When Melissa heard his bedroom door click shut, she turned to the kids.
‘I know the knife was moved.’
She waited to gauge their reactions. They just dropped their gazes to the table, not saying a word.
‘It was there, on the kitchen floor,’ she continued, ‘then it was gone.’ She leaned forward, heart thumping. ‘Did one of you move it?’
They continued to keep their eyes on the table.
She looked at them in surprise. ‘Kids, this is serious. Really serious.’
‘We know, Mum,’ Lewis said, peering at her from under his dark fringe.
‘So tell me what the hell happened,’ Melissa snapped, unable to comprehend why they were being so tight-lipped about it all.
‘We told you,’ Lewis said. ‘We found Dad like that.’
‘I’m not asking about that, I’m asking about the knife!’ Melissa said.
Lewis blinked at her then shrugged. ‘Don’t know.’
But he did. She could tell he did!
She jumped up. ‘Don’t know? Don’t know? Your dad is lying in hospital clinging to life, and you hid the bloody knife used to stab him. I know you did, because how else did it disappear?’
The three children looked at each other but still didn’t say anything.
‘Jesus Christ,’ Melissa said. ‘What’s going on? Why are you not telling me? I’m your mother, you have to tell me!’
‘Calm down, Mum,’ Lilly hissed.
‘I will not calm down. Tell me right this minute. Right now.’
Still that heavy, impenetrable wall of silence.
‘Fine,’ she said, her voice trembling with anger as she reached for her phone. ‘I wanted to give you a chance to tell me but looks like I’m just going to have to tell the police about the missing knife.’
‘We did hide it!’ Grace shouted.
‘Grace!’ Lewis said, glaring at his little sister.
‘No, Lewis!’ Melissa shouted at her son. ‘Let her speak.’ She placed her phone down and put her hand on her younger daughter’s arm. ‘Tell Mum what happened, darling,’ she asked, softening her voice.
Grace opened her mouth then she shook her head, shoulders dropping. ‘I can’t.’
Melissa’s mouth dropped open. She turned her attention to her older daughter. ‘Lilly, do you have anything to say?’
Lilly shifted in her chair, uncomfortable, but didn’t say anything.