Falling for you

eavesdrop. I came out to see where you were – the girls were worried about you.’

‘I’m fine. Much better now.’ Maddy smiled reassuringly at him, because Dave was giving her a sympathetic head tilt.

‘You know, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being gay,’ said Dave.

‘I know.’ Gosh, it was such a relief, knowing that Kerr wasn’t seeing Annalise.

‘You don’t have to be ashamed of who you are.’

Hmm? I’m not ashamed of who I am,’ said Maddy. Well, slightly embarrassed, maybe, to think that she’d practically stalked the girl, just because-

‘Nuala and Kate don’t know, do they?’

‘God, no, they’d be furious.’ Maddy was completely sick of their lectures on the subject of forgetting Kerr McKinnon ever existed.

As if.

‘Well, that’s just crazy, this is the twenty-first century,’ Dave said crossly. ‘Nobody should have to pretend to be something they aren’t. Right, shoulders back,’ he instructed, linking his arm through Maddy’s. ‘Chin up, and be proud. We’re going to march right in there and tell them now.’

Chapter 54

Coming face to face with his brother after a gap of almost ten years was an emotional experience.

Kerr had almost given up on the idea of hearing from Den again following that initial strained phone conversation. When the days had stretched into weeks without any further word, he told himself that at least he’d done his best.

And then, on Monday, his mobile had rung and Den had asked without preamble, ‘Is she still alive?’

Stunned, Kerr said, ‘Er... yes.’

‘Still want me to come over?’

Stupid question.

‘Yes.’

‘OK. I’m flying from Sydney tonight. I’ll give you another ring on Wednesday, when I reach Bath.’

Den paused. ‘I can stay at the house, right?’

‘Of course.’ Kerr’s chest tightened as he realised Den’s main reason for visiting was to stake his claim on half the property.

‘I mean, I’ll visit her at the old folks’ home, but I don’t want to spend hours there.’

‘That’s up to you,’ Kerr said stiffly, because heaven forbid that Den, who had succeeded in ruining his mother’s entire life, should have to spend a minute longer than absolutely necessary at her deathbed.

‘Fine. OK, I’ll see you,’ Den concluded laconically, before hanging up.

That had happened forty-eight hours ago. And now he was here. It was Wednesday afternoon and Kerr had taken the message on his phone twenty minutes ago. Leaving the office at once, he had driven out to Hillview. As he rounded the last bend of the driveway, he saw Den sitting on the top step, leaning back against the front door.

He was twenty-eight years old. God, unbelievable. Wearing narrow faded jeans, trainers and a scruffy yellow T-shirt, he looked like a typical backpacker. Kerr wondered if their mother’s first comment when she saw Den would be to tell him to get his hair cut.

Exhaling slowly, Kerr switched off the ignition and climbed out of the car. What was he supposed to do now? Before the accident, they had been close, but after it — hardly surprisingly — Den had undergone an abrupt change of personality, cutting himself off from his family and refusing to talk. Kerr had visited him in prison at first, then been sullenly told not to bother any more. By that stage, Kerr had been guiltily relieved to have an excuse not to. Thanks to a single careless moment Den had succeeded in ruining not only the life of the Harvey family, but his own as well. By then, their mother had sunk into alcoholism and was also refusing all offers of help. It hadn’t exactly been the greatest incentive to come home. Yet until the fateful day of the accident, he and Den had been close, Kerr reminded himself. A part of him badly wanted to hug his younger brother and tell him how good it was to see him again.

This was easier said than done.

‘Hi,’ said Kerr, realising that by remaining seated on the step, Den was effectively making sure he couldn’t be hugged.

‘Hi.’ Den waited, his jaw tense. He was very brown, and there were lines around his eyes that anyone else would have called laughter lines. Somehow Kerr couldn’t picture him laughing that much.

‘It’s good to see you,’ Kerr said awkwardly.

‘Is it?’

Kerr nodded, silently conceding that he had a point. Thanks to Den’s actions, he wasn’t allowed to be with the only girl he’d ever truly wanted to be with. When you thought of it that way, he wanted to punch him.

But that wasn’t why Den was here, and what good would it do anyway? Apart from making me feel better, thought Kerr.

Taking out his keys, he stepped past Den and opened the front door.

‘Come on in. There’s hot water if you want a shower.’ Lifting his rucksack over one shoulder, Den said, ‘Why? Do I smell?’

It was so long since they’d last seen each other that Kerr wasn’t sure if he was joking.

‘It’s OK.’ Catching the wary look in his brother’s eyes, Den said with a brief smile, ‘Yeah, a shower would be great.’