To Dream of the Dead

positive. How terrifying was that?

‘Separate rooms,’ Jane said. ‘That would be part of the deal.’

‘It would?’

The issue had been raised after they’d eaten, washed the dishes and made some tea.

‘OK, let me be totally frank and upfront.’ Jane pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and sat down, arms folded. ‘Adult to adult.’

‘I hate it when you say that. Can’t help feeling you’ve not been one long enough to qualify for the badge.’

‘The point about Eirion,’ Jane said, ‘is I do need to know where we stand. I’ve hardly seen him since he went to university. I mean, people change, don’t they?’

‘Sometimes.’

‘When they’re mixing in like a different milieu.’

‘Erm… good word.’

‘What I’m trying to say, is that if he thinks he’s coming here to start where we left off.’

‘Left off,’ Merrily said. ‘Mmm.’

This was adult to adult, was it? She knew, of course, that Jane and Eirion’s relationship had long been consummated. In fact she knew precisely when — Eirion, in an honest, innocent and rather touching moment, having told her himself, the morning after. A summer morning, here in the vicarage kitchen, sitting at this same refectory table. Seemed a lifetime ago. It was, what — eighteen months?

Hell of a long time for teenagers, though.

‘So I said I’d ask you,’ Jane said. ‘And I have. And it’s your decision, Mum, and if it’s inconvenient or you say no for any other reason, I’m not going to take it any further. I am not going to argue.’

‘In other words, you’re saying you want me to make the decision for you.’

‘’Course n— Well, I mean your advice would obviously—’

‘Do you want to see him?’

‘Probably.’

‘Probably?’

‘Well… yeah, I do. But I just… I just feel it may not be right. That I might be looking back on it in years to come and thinking, that was when it all went wrong, that Christmas. Because Christmas is an intense kind of time, isn’t it?’

‘It can bring things to a head.’

‘Like in Hereford last night.’ Jane raised an eyebrow. ‘Head? Never mind.’ She twitched her nose. ‘Bad taste.’

‘You heard about that, then.’

‘All over the school by lunchtime. Lots of sick jokes. You know what kids are like.’

‘Erm… yeah.’

‘So what I’m really thinking is, like, are we too young to have been together for so long? That’s it, really.’

‘Sorry?’

‘That’s the dilemma.’ Jane’s mind was like a pinball machine. ‘Also, I’m thinking… you and Dad?’

‘That was entirely different.’

‘How was it different?’

‘Because we… because we’d known each other for a lot shorter time than you and Eirion and there were a lot of things about him I didn’t know, and… are you trying to embarrass me?’

Jane grinned.

‘And because you and Eirion will not, unless you’re incredibly stupid or incredibly drunk, have to get married. So unless, at some stage, you…’ Merrily slumped at the table. ‘Sorry, flower, been a difficult day. Has there been anyone else in the interim I don’t know about?’

‘He says not.’

‘No… I meant you.’

‘Me?’ Jane’s eyes widened. ‘Listen, I don’t do that any more — I mean go behind your back. And if you were thinking Neil Cooper, I quite fancied Coops. Especially when I— All right, maybe we shouldn’t be talking like this.’

‘Especially when you what?’

‘When I… found out he was married, I had a weird little fantasy about being the Other Woman. But I didn’t do anything, Mum, I didn’t make any approach and neither did he, and I’ve got past it now.’

‘Erm… good.’

‘Have I shocked you? Anyway…’ Jane sprang to her feet. ‘Let’s bring it in, shall we?’

Meaning the too-big Christmas tree that Merrily had called for at a farm shop outside the village. She’d forgotten. She prised herself to her feet as Jane went out to untie the tree from the roof-rack of the car.

‘Jane…?’ Merrily thought for a moment and then called after her. ‘OK, tell Eirion I’d be happy for him to come.’

It was a time for commitment.

She watched Jane turn and bow — ‘Thank you, single parent’ — as the phone starting ringing in the scullery.

‘Always liked Eirion. Just didn’t like to say it too often.’ Going back into the house, alone, murmuring, ‘In case it put you off him.’

‘Four television crews!’ Sophie said with distaste. ‘Marching up and down, filming the house from various angles. Reporters knocking on doors, reporters under lights, talking to the cameras. Satellite dishes! It’s quite unbearable.’

The rain chattered inanely on the window pane. Merrily shifted the Bakelite phone from one ear to the other, switching on the Anglepoise at the same time.

‘So when did they reveal his name?’

‘I don’t know. Early this evening, I think. How long will this go on, Merrily?’

‘It’ll seem like for ever, I’m afraid. But I suppose tomorrow will be the worst day. Surely they have police with Helen Ayling now?’

‘No, Merrily, she’s here.’

‘Where?’

‘Helen’s staying with us. It was, in the end, the obvious solution. The press have been encouraged to think she’s left the area, with unnamed relatives.’

‘God, Sophie, is this a good idea?’

‘It was either that or some family liaison officer in the house. Besides, I’ve discovered I’m fairly competent at driving the media from my doorstep. Wanted us — neighbours — to talk about Clement. On television.’

You could feel the shudder in the phone.

‘I noticed you went off with the police,’ Sophie said.

‘Bliss.’

‘And what did you learn?’

‘He seems to be looking for a connection with Clement Ayling’s council work. Fairly obvious, I suppose. Councillors make enemies.’

‘Yes.’ Sophie sounded calmer. ‘You were right. They begin by eliminating the spouse. And then they get to the heart of it.’

‘Which is… what?’

‘It seems that Clement had been receiving abusive letters and phone calls. In relation, as you say, to his council work. Or a particular aspect of it.’

‘What — rage against school closures? That kind of thing?’

‘Road rage, actually,’ Sophie said.

Jane insisted that a Christmas tree should only be borrowed from the earth. By the time Merrily finished on