‘Of course! Why else would I be here?’ As if Kate was mentally subnormal, Barbara explained slowly and clearly, ‘I said we’d be in Australia for six weeks. It’s been six weeks. And now we’re back!’
She might be back, but she wasn’t making much of a fuss of Norris. Having patted him on the head and looked askance at his reduced bulk, she returned with far more enthusiasm to her holiday photos.
Similarly, having lost interest in his owner, Norris had wandered back to sit beside Kate, his head leaning against her leg.
‘Oh, and here we are on the steps of the Opera House.’ Barbara proudly held the relevant photograph out to Estelle. ‘Look at Bernard’s socks with kangaroos on the sides! Aren’t they a scream?’
Kate definitely wanted to scream. ‘We didn’t know you were coming today.’
‘Well, you know how it is.’ Abstractedly, Barbara shuffled through the photos. ‘I was going to give you a ring, then 1 couldn’t find your number – anyway, I’m here now! Poor old Norris, he looks so
‘He’s been fantastic.’ Terrified that she was about to cry, Kate said, ‘He was overweight before.
We’ve put him on a diet, taken him for loads of walks – his breathing’s so much better now. We-we’re going to miss him d-dreadfully.’
‘Really?’ Barbara looked incredulously across at Norris. ‘Well, that’s marvellous news! Maybe you’ll end up gettingone of your own. OK, let’s get a move on, Bernard’s expecting us back.’ Since no one was showing her photos the degree of interest she felt they deserved, Barbara gathered them together and slid them back into their packets. ‘Norris, come along, we’re going home.’
Kate gazed beseechingly at her mother. Estelle, clearly distraught, could only shake her head. With a quizzical look at Barbara, Norris rose obediently to his feet.
‘Say thank you very much for looking after me,’ Barbara prompted, causing Norris to wag his tail in a bemused fashion.
‘If you wanted him to stay here, we’d love to keep him,’ Kate blurted out, causing Barbara to look at her even more oddly.
‘But he’s ours, dear. Not yours. Right, off we go.’
Crouching down, Kate put her arms round Norris and felt him rest his paws on her knees. Oh God, how could she ever have thought him ugly? Hot tears dripped down her chin as she kissed the top of his broad head. In return, Norris licked her wrist. It was hard trying to say a meaningful goodbye to someone who didn’t understand what was going on.
‘Bye, Norris,’ mumbled Kate as Barbara clapped her hands.
‘Right, let’s get a wiggle on! Say goodbye to Estelle now,’ Barbara ordered bossily.
Unable to watch Norris leaving the house for good, Kate stumbled to her feet and left the kitchen.
It was time to go to work, for all the good she’d be. No more Norris, it just didn’t bear thinking about.
‘Estelle! I forgot to tell you about our visit to the crocodile farm,’ she heard Barbara trill behind her.
Bloody Barbara Kendall, thought Kate, how she’d love to feed her to the crocodiles.
Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, feeling as if her heart had just been squeezed by a giant fist, Kate slammed out of the house.
Marcella couldn’t quite believe she was here at Dartington House nursing home, in the same room as Pauline McKinnon. She especially couldn’t grasp what she was hearing.
Feeling light-headed but far too agitated to sit down, Marcella stared at the wizened, yellow-tinged face of Den McKinnon’s mother.
‘I don’t believe you,’ she said flatly. ‘It’s not true. No mother would ask her son to take the blame for something like that.’
‘I did.’ Pauline McKinnon plucked at the pale blue bedspread.
‘I think you’re just lying to protect him. You don’t have long left to live, so you’re trying to persuade me he was innocent all along.’
‘Why would I? I didn’t want to tell you the truth. I’m only doing it now to prove to Den how sorry I am.’
Marcella took a deep breath. Pauline McKinnon didn’t sound as if she were lying. And if Den had spent the last nine years in Australia, why would he need his mother to make up a story like this?
‘Is this to do with Kerr?’ Marcella was still struggling to take it in. Was this his idea? Does he think I’ll change my mind about him and Maddy?’
‘Maddy who? Your daughter?’ Bemused, Pauline McKinnon said, ‘What’s she got to do with Kerr?’
This time it was blindingly obvious that she had no idea what Marcella was talking about.
‘How did Kerr feel about seeing his brother go to prison for something he didn’t do?’ Marcella was having trouble keeping her voice steady.’He didn’t know. He only found out this week.’
‘Does he despise you?’ said Marcella.
‘He hasn’t said so,’ Pauline McKinnon shrugged, ‘but I’m sure he does. Same as Den. I don’t blame them,’ she added. ‘I despise myself.’
‘You were drunk. You killed our daughter.’ Marcella’s voice began to rise, because she had no doubt now that Pauline McKinnon was telling the truth. ‘You forced your own son to take the blame.’
‘And I’ve suffered every single day since then.’
‘
