appeasing and placating she’d have to get used to. ‘I know it’s not brilliant. It’s just that sometimes I have to work hard and that means being away from the people I love. What’s your book about, Ellie?’
‘Spiders, Mummy.’ She raised the book. The front cover was full of pictures of spiders of all shapes and sizes.
‘Spiders?’
‘It’s for a school project. We each got different animals from all over the world.’
‘And you got the scary ones?’
‘They’re not scary, Mummy. You just have to be careful around them. Some are poisonous.’
Soph shivered. ‘Ellie’s only friends are insects.’ She laughed at her own joke.
‘Be nice. That sounds like an interesting project, how about I help you with it tomorrow night?’
‘It’s okay, I don’t need any help.’ Ellie missed the point of her mother’s offer. ‘You’ve got that important test to study for anyway.’
‘Your schoolwork is important to me too. Maybe I’ll check it when it’s done?’ Ellie was already back to reading her book. ‘Soph, want to help me make your lunches for the morning?’
‘Done it, Mum. Me and Dad made them while you were studying. Lots of mayo in mine and we got some chocolate biscuits from the shop the other night too.’
‘Oh, okay. Next time then.’
Eric Semples brewed a pot of tea. English breakfast—Valerie wouldn’t abide any other kind. He felt the family teapot, white ceramic with bluebirds surrounding the base and matching cups, was the best set to use given the circumstances. The biscuit wasn’t optional. One malted milk on the side of the saucer opposite the handle. He picked up the tray and carried it into the living room, where Valerie received it in silence.
Semples sat down on the deep-red wingback chair opposite Valerie Goddard. Valerie’s living room had an opulence he’d never have known had their paths not crossed. His army-brat upbringing had afforded him a simple life, in the material sense at least. His father, an RAF pilot, had instilled a sense of hard work, duty and loyalty that he wouldn’t have traded for any riches.
‘Please, Valerie, some tea might help.’
She looked down at the tray. He wondered if he’d chosen the wrong set. Or was it the wrong biscuit. She was possibly in the mood for a digestive, but it was impossible to tell and asking would have resulted in that disappointed look he desperately wanted to avoid. Maybe the gold tea set they’d bought on their trip to Marrakesh would have been more fitting. She’d hated the heat and the sweetness of the mint tea, but loved the aesthetic. Back then, she freely expressed her love for things. Now, she expressed only disappointment, regret and, more increasingly, acute anger and bitterness.
‘Your sister called. She wants to visit. I told her I’d let you know.’ Semples didn't like being the go-between for Valerie and her family, but found himself in the role far too often.
‘I don’t want to talk to her. I don’t want to talk to any of them.’ Valerie glared at the wall as she spoke.
‘That was all years ago. In times like these, it can be good for families to come together again. It can make people think about their lives. How short they can be. Maybe it’s an idea to return her call?’ Semples persisted, knowing it was a lost cause. Reuniting Valerie and her sister would help her health. Valerie’s family had cut her off after the divorce and he’d watched as she’d retreated further and further away from the world as the years went on. He’d only recently convinced her to leave the house and go to the hotel from time to time. It was a start, but it wasn’t the reconnection with society he’d hoped for. If anything, for this week at least, she’d have been better off at home.
‘I’ve made my decision, Eric. Keep that woman away from me. And while we’re on the subject of things you shouldn’t ever do again, don’t you dare involve the police in my personal affairs.
‘Spiders, Mummy.’ She raised the book. The front cover was full of pictures of spiders of all shapes and sizes.
‘Spiders?’
‘It’s for a school project. We each got different animals from all over the world.’
‘And you got the scary ones?’
‘They’re not scary, Mummy. You just have to be careful around them. Some are poisonous.’
Soph shivered. ‘Ellie’s only friends are insects.’ She laughed at her own joke.
‘Be nice. That sounds like an interesting project, how about I help you with it tomorrow night?’
‘It’s okay, I don’t need any help.’ Ellie missed the point of her mother’s offer. ‘You’ve got that important test to study for anyway.’
‘Your schoolwork is important to me too. Maybe I’ll check it when it’s done?’ Ellie was already back to reading her book. ‘Soph, want to help me make your lunches for the morning?’
‘Done it, Mum. Me and Dad made them while you were studying. Lots of mayo in mine and we got some chocolate biscuits from the shop the other night too.’
‘Oh, okay. Next time then.’
Eric Semples brewed a pot of tea. English breakfast—Valerie wouldn’t abide any other kind. He felt the family teapot, white ceramic with bluebirds surrounding the base and matching cups, was the best set to use given the circumstances. The biscuit wasn’t optional. One malted milk on the side of the saucer opposite the handle. He picked up the tray and carried it into the living room, where Valerie received it in silence.
Semples sat down on the deep-red wingback chair opposite Valerie Goddard. Valerie’s living room had an opulence he’d never have known had their paths not crossed. His army-brat upbringing had afforded him a simple life, in the material sense at least. His father, an RAF pilot, had instilled a sense of hard work, duty and loyalty that he wouldn’t have traded for any riches.
‘Please, Valerie, some tea might help.’
She looked down at the tray. He wondered if he’d chosen the wrong set. Or was it the wrong biscuit. She was possibly in the mood for a digestive, but it was impossible to tell and asking would have resulted in that disappointed look he desperately wanted to avoid. Maybe the gold tea set they’d bought on their trip to Marrakesh would have been more fitting. She’d hated the heat and the sweetness of the mint tea, but loved the aesthetic. Back then, she freely expressed her love for things. Now, she expressed only disappointment, regret and, more increasingly, acute anger and bitterness.
‘Your sister called. She wants to visit. I told her I’d let you know.’ Semples didn't like being the go-between for Valerie and her family, but found himself in the role far too often.
‘I don’t want to talk to her. I don’t want to talk to any of them.’ Valerie glared at the wall as she spoke.
‘That was all years ago. In times like these, it can be good for families to come together again. It can make people think about their lives. How short they can be. Maybe it’s an idea to return her call?’ Semples persisted, knowing it was a lost cause. Reuniting Valerie and her sister would help her health. Valerie’s family had cut her off after the divorce and he’d watched as she’d retreated further and further away from the world as the years went on. He’d only recently convinced her to leave the house and go to the hotel from time to time. It was a start, but it wasn’t the reconnection with society he’d hoped for. If anything, for this week at least, she’d have been better off at home.
‘I’ve made my decision, Eric. Keep that woman away from me. And while we’re on the subject of things you shouldn’t ever do again, don’t you dare involve the police in my personal affairs.
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