‘He thinks religion gives him an excuse for being terribly rude. He judges and disapproves and makes critical remarks like a Victorian Methodist.’
Stephanie had never met this step-uncle, but was altogether open-minded about him. ‘I expect he’s perfectly nice, really,’ she said reproachfully. ‘And Kim’s sure to be lovely, like Meredith.’
‘Last I heard, she was having mega-tantrums and refusing to eat anything but cheese,’ said Jessica. ‘But if anybody can charm her into better behaviour, I’m sure it’s you, Steph.’
‘She can work her charm on Drew’s mother, then, when we finally get to meet her,’ said Thea. ‘Pity we’ll never know the grandad as well. Mind you, I’ve never liked the sound of them, from things Drew has said. They’re pretty unreconstructed about nearly everything. I gather they more or less disowned him when he became a nurse. They still think nurses should be female. And the undertaking was probably even worse. They found him embarrassing.’
‘But he’s so sweet. How could anybody deliberately shun him like that?’
‘Precisely. They’re obviously horrible people.’
Stephanie listened to this with total absorption. The existence of a nasty bigoted grandmother was intriguing and not entirely unwelcome. Her experience of grandparents was patchy anyway. Her mother’s parents had paid an extended visit when Karen had first been hurt, and then again when she died, with infrequent appearances in the intervening years. They called themselves Nanna and Gampy, and were alternately sickly sweet and sharply critical. They hadn’t approved of the undertaking either, and thought Karen’s ways were uncivilised. When the Slocombes moved to the Cotswolds, the grandparents appeared to take this as a sign that they were no longer needed, and promptly took themselves off to live in Portugal. Stephanie remembered them with mixed emotions. ‘You never wash those children’s faces,’ Nanna had complained. Or ‘This carrot’s still got mud on it,’ objected Gampy. Now, from what she was hearing about Drew’s mother and father, Stephanie was concluding that he and Karen had a very similar pair of parents.
‘But now he’s dead, and Dad’s mum must be sad,’ she said. ‘Maybe that’ll make her nicer.’
‘It’s possible,’ said Thea doubtfully, ‘and she and your dad probably think it’s time for a reconciliation, and from here on it’s all going to be lovely.’ She sighed. ‘She’ll meet my mother and they’ll get along famously, and we’ll turn into a classic nuclear family with two grannies.’
‘Don’t knock it,’ said Jessica. ‘It’s evolved like that for good reasons.’
‘Just so long as neither of them wants to move in with us,’ said Thea darkly.
A minute passed as all three contemplated the situation in varying ways. Then Thea shook herself.
‘I’d better answer Drew’s message,’ said Thea. ‘He’ll be wondering where I am.’
‘He’ll be on the road by now. Don’t make him break the law by answering his phone,’ said Jessica.
‘Right. Except he’s far too law-abiding to do that. He’ll give it to Timmy to deal with. I could just send a text, to keep him happy.’
Again, Stephanie was uneasy at the tone, which came over as unduly critical of her dad. The adult currents were harder to ignore when Timmy wasn’t there. The hints and references were just as confusing, but the implications were clear. Even at Christmas, there was something not right between Thea and Dad, as well as Thea and her brother. In fact, Thea seemed to be the problem, making everyone cross and just laughing at them instead of trying to understand their feelings.
Thea composed a quick message and continued to hold her mobile. ‘I might call Gladwin, as well,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘There’s quite a lot to tell her, after all. Except …’ She stopped, clearly uncertain as to what to do.
‘We’ve been over all that. The only thing you can usefully tell her is that Beverley’s gone off somewhere without telling her menfolk. Speaking as a police officer, I should order you to inform the police about that immediately. But as an uninvolved visitor, anxious for a peaceful family Christmas, I would advise you to leave it all for another day or two. Won’t Gladwin herself just want to put the whole thing on hold until Wednesday? Or Tuesday, at the earliest.’
‘I’m hungry, after all that walking,’ Stephanie interrupted. ‘What’s for supper?’
‘Good God, we’ve only just had lunch,’ said Thea. ‘Don’t tell me I’ve got to produce another meal already.’
‘Have a biscuit for now,’ said Jessica to Stephanie. ‘And I’ll do some supper later on. How do you fancy potato cakes?’
‘You’re a star,’ sighed Thea gratefully.
‘Just keep the mince pies coming and we’ll be fine,’ breezed Jessica.
‘Mulled wine!’ Thea said suddenly. ‘I promised that Mrs Yacop in the village that I’d take her some. She asked me to get two extra bottles, days ago now, and drop them round to her. I completely forgot.’
‘Not too late, is it?’
‘I don’t know. You’d think she’d phone to remind me if it was important.’
‘Maybe she did while you were out. Have you checked the landline for messages?’
It transpired that Mrs Yacop was indeed anxious for her wine, and reproachful at its non-appearance. Thea snatched the bottles from the larder and put her coat back on. ‘I won’t be long,’ she said and left the house at a run. Then she came back, opening the front door again and calling, ‘Hey, come and listen. There’s music coming from somewhere.’
Jessica and Stephanie went to the door. Outside it was unusually bright and a faint sound of music wafted up the lane. ‘Must be having a carol service in the church,’ said Stephanie, cocking her head. ‘I wouldn’t have thought there were enough people to make themselves heard all up here.’
‘I don’t think it’s actual people,’ said Jessica. ‘More like a radio somewhere.’
‘It’s coming from Mr Shipley’s house,’ Stephanie realised. ‘How nice.’
‘Do we like Mr Shipley?’ Jessica asked.
Stephanie shrugged. ‘He’s okay. He doesn’t talk to children if he can help it, but he’s not too bad with me and Tim.
