Never Say Goodbye (9 page)

Luckily all visits were at weekends, so she wouldn’t have to miss one for her clinic appointment, but having to go the first Thursday in January would mean taking some time off work. She was sorely tempted to try and change that, since it was one of her caff days, which weren’t as easy to swap around as cleaning for Mr Crover-Keene. On the other hand, Fliss was usually quite good about her disappearing for a couple of hours when she needed to, provided she gave enough notice. She probably ought to text Fliss now, then she’d know it was done.

Once she’d pressed send she gave Jeff a quick call to find out where he was and how he’d got on with borrowing Steve’s car.

No reply, so she left a message telling him to ring back.

If Steve had said yes, she was thinking as she gazed out at the passing countryside, it was going to be a bit of a treat having the Mondeo for a couple of weeks. Even better would be if she could persuade Jeff to take her up to the prison in it. She wasn’t going to hold out any hope for that though, since it was the last place he’d want to go even if it meant making life a bit easier for her.

Wincing slightly as she shifted position, she closed her eyes and rested her head on the seat back. She couldn’t be doing those exercises the doctor had given her very well, because her back was aching. Never mind, she’d take a couple of painkillers when she got home and while they still had gas in the house, she’d put the fire on and snuggle up cosily in front of
Strictly
. There was a good chance her mother would drop in to watch it with her before taking off pubbing or clubbing or whatever she did on a Saturday night in her too-short, too-tight clothes and dangerous heels. She might look ten, even fifteen, years younger than her sixty-five, but in Josie’s opinion she was still way too old to be going about getting pissed and picking up men the way she did. Of course, it was all about loneliness really, Josie understood that, and she felt sorry for her mother, wished she could do something to make her feel happier and more fulfilled. She might have smiled to think of what her mother would have to say to that, had she not known it would come peppered with the kind of cuss words Josie abhorred.

Funny how different they were, hardly like each other at all, either in personality or in looks. While she was growing up Josie used to feel sure she’d been stolen from a well-to-do family down in Kesterly South, who’d one day find out where she was and come to rescue her. She’d even searched back copies of the local papers in the library once to see if any children had gone missing around the time she was born. Tragically, there were quite a few, but none she could reasonably claim might be her. Still, it had kept her going as a child when things had been particularly difficult with her mother, and actually she wouldn’t mind losing herself in that little daydream now. It would be a whole lot better than sitting here worrying about clinic appointments and failed prison visits when there was probably nothing to worry about.

‘HE’S HERE!’ OSCAR
and Nell cheered as their father’s car pulled up at the gates, and leaping down from the window, they dashed into the hall to press the button to let him in.

By the time Bel came through they’d torn open the front door and were running down the steps straight into Nick’s arms.

‘Wow, what a welcome,’ he laughed, swinging them up to his height. ‘And look how you’ve grown, you’re as tall as me already.’

Squealing delightedly, they hugged him as hard as they could, planting kisses all over his unshaven cheeks as they told him how they’d been waiting by the window and how they had made mince pies with Auntie Bel and a Christmas cake and some snowman biscuits that they’d eaten all up, but had saved one for him.

Watching from the door, Bel experienced such mixed emotions that she barely knew whether to laugh or cry. She adored them so much, Nick too, and seeing them together would have been nothing but a joy, were it not for the fact that it should have been Talia sharing this moment, not her.

‘Bel,’ Kristina said, coming to hug her. ‘It’s good to see you. How are you?’

‘I’m fine,’ Bel assured her, returning the embrace. The stunning Kristina was as raven-haired as Talia and Bel were blonde, not quite as tall, but certainly far curvier. ‘How was the trip?’ she asked. ‘Did you manage to unearth something amazing?’

Kristina laughed. ‘Not really, but it was fascinating. I’m glad we went,’ and lowering her voice, ‘as honeymoons go I think I can say it was a success.’

Bel tried to hold her smile. Surely Kristina realised that she, as Talia’s sister, didn’t need that sort of information.

‘Here she is!’ Nick cried, coming to sweep Bel into his arms. ‘Gorgeous as ever and twice as scrumptious.’

Laughing as she hugged him back, Bel said, ‘We ought to go in out of the cold. You won’t be used to it, coming from all that heat. Will you stay for lunch?’

‘Oh, I think so,’ he replied, turning to Kristina.

‘I hope so,’ she responded, ‘if you’re sure it’s no trouble.’

‘We made a lasagne,’ Nell declared happily. ‘I helped, but Oscar didn’t because he was wrapping up your presents. I did the ones from me last night.’

‘You did?’ her father cried, scooping her up again and carrying her inside. ‘Are you going to tell me what you’ve bought for us all?’

‘No, it’s a secret. Auntie Bel’s going to give them all to Santa and he’ll bring them on Christmas Eve.’

‘Oh, but that’s two days away,’ he protested. ‘I can’t wait that long.’

‘He has to, doesn’t he?’ she said to Bel.

‘Absolutely,’ Bel agreed. ‘Come on through, everyone. There’s champagne on ice, in case you feel like celebrating your return, or hot chocolate if you prefer.’

‘I’ll have champagne,’ Oscar informed her.

‘Would that be with one straw or two?’ Bel responded.

Nell screamed out a laugh.

‘She’s funny, isn’t she?’ Nick chuckled, his spectacles steaming up as he nuzzled Nell’s neck. Though he looked and often sounded every inch the archaeology professor he was, as a father, and a husband, he was unfailingly loving and attentive. He was popular with his students too, some of whom had applied to Exeter just to be taught by the legend, as some of them called him, or Indiana Jones as the more irreverent preferred.

‘I know I’ve said this a hundred times,’ Kristina sighed as they entered the spacious open-plan sitting room, ‘but I absolutely love this room. And you’ve even managed to turn on some sun.’

Glancing to where it was sparkling over the still grey waters of the estuary, Bel said, ‘I’ve only been able to get it for the morning. Apparently, our time runs out this afternoon.’

Smiling at the answer, Kristina took off her coat and sank down on one of the sofas. ‘What a fabulous tree,’ she commented, eyeing it with what appeared to be genuine approval. ‘And so beautifully decorated. Did you two help?’ she asked the children.

‘Yes,’ they chorused.

‘And we chose it,’ Oscar added. ‘When are we going to get one for our house, Dad? Auntie Bel was going to order it, but we weren’t sure what size to get. Can we have one as big as this?’

Bel didn’t miss the way Nick glanced at Kristina, as he said, ‘The ceilings aren’t quite as high at the cottage, and I’m not sure we’ll have much of a choice now, with it being so close to Christmas.’

‘But can we go and look?’ Oscar implored. ‘The garden centre’s open till six.’

‘How about tomorrow?’ Nick suggested. ‘Kristina and I have had a long flight, so we’re a bit tired today.’

Though Oscar scowled, he was quickly distracted by the plate of nibbles Bel handed him to pass round.

‘I think I’ll go and use the bathroom,’ Kristina declared, as the plate came her way. ‘Nick, darling, before you get stuck into the champagne, remember you’re driving later. Unless you’d like me to.’

‘We could all stay here,’ Nell suggested. ‘Auntie Bel’s got lots of rooms.’

‘And I’m sure she’ll be thankful to have them all to herself again for a while,’ her father retorted. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll limit myself to one glass,’ he promised Kristina.

By the time Kristina returned, looking as fresh as a spring morning, Bel was sitting with Nell in one of the deep-seated armchairs, allowing her the tiniest sip of champagne as they watched Nick and Oscar battling aliens on Xbox.

‘Already?’ Kristina cried, clearly surprised. ‘We haven’t been here more than ten minutes. Don’t you want to find out what the children have been doing while we were away?’

‘Of course,’ Nick replied cheerily. ‘We can catch up with this later, son. So, Bel, have they behaved themselves?’

‘Yes, we have,’ Nell informed him. ‘I was only naughty once, but Auntie Bel said it was all right, because the lady was horrible anyway.’

Nick looked intrigued.

‘It was just a silly thing,’ Bel assured him. ‘No harm done.’

‘She poked her tongue out,’ Oscar blabbed.

‘You shouldn’t tell tales,’ Nell cried. ‘He shouldn’t, should he, Auntie Bel?’

‘And you shouldn’t poke your tongue out,’ Oscar retorted.

Nell immediately poked it out at him.

‘Enough,’ Nick laughed. ‘I’m sure whatever happened, Auntie Bel had it under control. Now, why don’t you pop out to the car and bring in the blue carrier bag from the back seat? I think you might find a few interesting things inside.’

As they raced off, Kristina said to Bel, ‘They’re just small gifts. It was difficult to know what to bring when you’ve already got so much gorgeous jewellery, and I’m not sure Peruvian wall art is quite your thing.’

Bel’s eyebrows rose as she waved an arm about the room. ‘As you can see,’ she said, ‘I’m easy to please, but you shouldn’t have been thinking about me while you were there. You were on honeymoon, remember?’

Kristina seemed to glow as she looked at Nick who didn’t appear to be listening, so she simply twinkled as she confided to Bel, ‘It was sometimes hard to forget.’

Accepting that she’d walked right into that one, Bel dutifully smiled and tried to remind herself that under any other circumstances she’d probably feel very differently towards Kristina. After all, it was hardly her fault that Natalia was no longer with them and what did she, Bel, want, that Nick should lock himself away and wallow in grief? How was that going to help anyone, particularly the children? All it would do was make him as miserable as she was, and that wasn’t what she wished for him at all.

She just couldn’t get used to seeing him with Kristina, that was all, and the truth was, she didn’t want to get used to it.

A while later, with presents of pan flutes, glow necklaces, roly-poly nativity dolls and embroidered purses spread out on the floor, Bel was serving the lasagne, while Nick opened a bottle of red wine. It was a Merlot that he particularly liked, which was why she’d taken it out of the rack, but now she was worried that Kristina would blame her for encouraging him to drink. Not that he made a habit of overindulging, but he could certainly put it away when he wanted to, and for some reason he seemed to be in the mood today.

Perhaps the honeymoon hadn’t gone as well as Kristina was trying to make out, though why she, Bel, should deduce that from Nick’s eagerness to enjoy some wine she couldn’t really say.

‘It’s OK,’ Kristina said softly, as Nick went to fetch fresh glasses, ‘I’ve already decided I’ll drive later, so I’ll stick with water.’

Feeling bad for always being so ungracious where Kristina was concerned, Bel smiled, and heaped an extra helping of lasagne on to her plate as though to make up for her negative thoughts. Or perhaps it was to try and make her fat?

What ridiculous things go through your head,
she chastised herself irritably as she took her place at the head of the table. Nick was at the other end with his back to the view, which didn’t feel right, but she didn’t want to cause a fuss by changing it so she stayed where she was.

‘So, what news about the girl they found under the viaduct?’ Nick asked, as the children charged off to wash their hands.

‘Oh yes, I’d forgotten about her,’ Kristina piped up. ‘Have they found out who she is yet?’

‘I’m not sure,’ Bel replied. ‘I went to the morgue, the day after the police came here, but she wasn’t someone I recognised.’ She shuddered at the memory of the poor girl’s bloodless face and matted hair. ‘They’re pretty convinced she’d been living on the streets for a long time,’ she expanded, ‘and apparently she had a heroin habit.’

‘Was that the cause of death?’ Nick asked.

‘Mm, it was. I asked them to be in touch if they find her family. Not that there’s anything I can say, or do, but I think Talia would want me to make contact, if only to let them know that someone had cared.’

‘That’s so sweet,’ Kristina commented, watching the children return to the table. ‘Oscar, will you pass the pepper, darling?’ she asked when he was seated.

Passing it for him, Nick said, ‘Imagine dying, and no one knowing who you are. It must have been a pretty desperate existence, out there on the streets. I guess they don’t even know if she’s British.’

Bel shook her head. ‘Which, presumably, is why it’s proving so hard to find out who she is. Now back to you guys, and your trip. Oh, by the way Nick, I kept an article for you from
The Guardian
about Mes Aynak. I thought you’d be interested to see it.’

‘You bet,’ he agreed. ‘Thanks for thinking of it.’

‘I’d forgotten you went to Mes Aynak,’ Kristina put in.

‘Where is it?’ Nell wanted to know.

‘Afghanistan,’ Nick replied. ‘I went there with Mummy and a team of French archaeologists a few years ago. I’ll have to find the photos to show you. Now, enough about me, I want to hear all about what you’ve been up to. I can see from the number of presents under the tree that you’ve been busy shopping, so how many are for me – and the answer better be
all.
’

‘No!’ Oscar shouted.

‘They’re for me,’ Nell cried, banging the table.

‘Don’t do that, sweetheart,’ Kristina chided, ‘you might knock something over.’

Nell’s hands immediately went under the table; her eyes moved to Bel.

Giving her a playful wink, Bel picked up her fork. ‘Bon appétit, everyone,’ she declared. ‘I hope you’re hungry, because there’s plenty for seconds.’