‘Erm, last week. Friday, I think. They didn’t see me. I was going to grab a coffee, but they looked so engrossed in their conversation that I detoured to the little café down the road. Didn’t like to disturb them.’
‘Really? Alice never said she’d met Leonard. Wonder what that was all about?’ It seems odd that they would meet up and, not only that, but not to meet at the office either.
‘Maybe it was something to do with the trust fund. Which reminds me, I forgot to say, when I went into Leonard and he was all cagey about those files, I’m sure there was a client’s account statement with your Mum’s name on it amongst those papers.’
‘Well, that’s easily explained,’ I say, feeling the need to put some sort of order and reason behind Leonard’s actions. ‘He’s the trustee for the trust fund; he was probably just checking some figures. Maybe it’s even to do with the meeting he had with Alice.’ My voice reveals a hint of scepticism on my part. Although this is what I want to believe, I can’t help feeling that I’m not seeing the whole picture. It doesn’t explain why the meeting was not at the office or why Leonard, according to Tom, was cagey.
‘I just thought it was a bit odd,’ says Tom.
I sigh and lean back in my chair, tapping my biro on the edge of the desk. ‘I don’t know what that’s all about, but then, that seems par for the course lately,’ I say. ‘Maybe it’s to do with the trust fund. Now she’s back, she’ll be entitled to her share. It’s due to be paid out sometime next year, March I think. Leonard has all the details.’
‘Ah, that’s probably it,’ says Tom.
‘No doubt,’ I say, although I’m not sure either of us is entirely convinced. The secrecy around the meeting is nagging at me. Tom, being the sharp-minded solicitor, is probably struggling with the same point. ‘I really ought to get on.’ I shuffle some papers on my desk, indicating that the conversation has drawn to a close. Tom takes the hint and rises from his seat.
‘So, nothing from the deli, then?’
‘No. I’m good, thanks.’ I don’t look up and busy myself with the papers in front of me. After Tom has gone, I sit back in my chair and let out a sigh.
I know it shouldn’t bother me and technically it’s none of my business, but I’d love to know what Leonard and Alice were discussing. If it was business, I can’t see why they wouldn’t hold the meeting in Leonard’s office. The only reason they’d meet elsewhere would be if they didn’t want anyone to know what they were up to. The thought of those two in cahoots both annoys and unsettles me as once again I feel as if I’m on the outside of something, like I’ve felt from time to time with Mum and Alice.
I glance at the photograph on the windowsill of Luke and the girls, taken on a picnic last summer. Luke is sitting on the ground with Chloe in front of him and Hannah is standing behind, her arms wrapped around his neck, planting a big sloppy kiss on his cheek.
I shake myself from my thoughts. I need to concentrate on work and prepare for this bloody Skype call to McMillan this afternoon. I spend the rest of the day in my office, regularly fending off thoughts of Luke and the girls. The call with McMillan isn’t particularly successful. He’s an arrogant sod and if I wasn’t defending him, I’d relish prosecuting him. How nice would it be to knock him down a peg or two?
I look at my watch and wonder whether Luke and the girls have had a good day at the Sea Life Centre. I’m really missing them today and suddenly, feeling impulsive, I decide to go home early. I just want to be with my family. They can take away my stress. A hug from Luke and a cuddle with the girls can put everything right.
When I pull up in the drive at home forty-five minutes later, I’m pleased to see Luke’s car in the carport. I let myself in and call a ‘hello’ down the hall, but I’m greeted with silence. I poke my head around the living-room door but it’s empty, so I track down to the kitchen. The bi-fold doors are open to the conservatory and I can see Luke sitting at the table with Mum and Alice. Even Alice being there can’t dampen the feeling of relief and happiness that I’m home. The girls are playing on the climbing frame and swing.
‘Hi, everyone!’ I say as I join them and slip my arms around Luke’s shoulders, kissing the side of his face. ‘Hi, you.’
‘Well, hello.’ Luke returns the kiss and, holding my arms, walks me around the side of the chair and pulls me onto his lap. ‘To what do we owe this honour? You’re home early.’
‘Missed you, that’s all,’ I say. ‘Shit day. Just wanted to be home with you guys.’
‘Hello, darling,’ says Mum. ‘There’s tea in the pot; Alice has just made it. You look like you could do with a cuppa.’
I turn around on Luke’s knee. ‘Thanks, Mum.’ Alice is sitting next to Luke and I smile at her. ‘Hiya. You okay?’
For the briefest of moments, I don’t think Alice is going to return the smile. In fact, the look on her face is practically venomous. Before I can say anything, her mouth moves into a smile, although I can’t say the rest of her facial muscles are in on the sentiment. ‘Hi, Clare. I’m fine, thanks. Here, I’ll pour you a tea.’
‘Mummy! Mummy! Chloe comes running in from the garden and I slip off Luke’s lap and scoop her up into my arms.
‘Hello, sweetie.’ I smother her with kisses and blow raspberries under her chin. Chloe giggles and squeezes her arms tightly around my neck. God, this child can lift my mood within seconds. I’m so blessed to have her. ‘Have you had a nice day out with Daddy? Where did you go?’
‘Sea Life Centre. We saw fish. Big ones. Octa-poos.’
‘Octa-poos? Oh, octopus. You saw an octopus? Did he have lots of long wiggly legs?’ I set Chloe down on the ground and take the seat on the other side of the table, next to Mum. ‘Hey, Hannah!’ I wave over at her.
Hannah comes running in and gives me a quick hug and kiss. It wasn’t so long ago that she would greet me with the same enthusiasm as her sister. I guess the more reserved greeting is a sign she’s growing up.
‘Do you want to see my pictures?’ she says, grabbing the camera from the table. She fiddles with buttons and holds it in front of me.
‘Hannah,’ says Luke. ‘Let Mummy have her cup of tea first. She’s literally just got in from work.’
The look of disappointment that crosses my daughter’s face tugs at my heartstrings. ‘Why don’t I have a look at a few now and then tonight, when Chloe’s gone to bed, we can sit down together and go through them all? Just the two of us. You can tell me all about them, then.’
Hannah seems happy with the compromise. I know she likes to have some time alone with me, just as much as I do with her. ‘Okay, look this is the octopus. Chloe called it an octa-poos!’
‘I know, she just said it to me now.’ I laugh with Hannah as we look at the camera. She clicks the button and another image appears. This one is of some sort of eel. ‘Ooh, I don’t like that. It looks like a snake.’ She clicks again. An image, this time of Luke, appears. He’s holding Chloe in his arms and they’re looking into a tank. ‘That’s a nice one,’ I say, although it’s a little dark in there and the flash has reflected off the glass of the tank. Hannah flicks through a couple more photos without stopping, but as she does, one image catches my eye. Something in it is different and stands out from the others. ‘Go back a minute,’ I say. Hannah clicks back. ‘And again.’ She clicks back a further frame. And there it is. A pain spikes at my heart as the two faces look back at me. I look up at Alice. There’s a small, smug look on her face. No one sees it. They’re too busy looking at me.