The Family Tree (28 page)

‘You're a sick man, mister.'

‘Yes, but Bertha has taught me a thing or two to add to my repertoire. So if you want to hang around, little lady, I'll fill you in.'

Kate started laughing again. ‘Is that a pun? If so, it's
really
bad.'

‘That's me. Bad to the bone.' Sam wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and then stepped over his clothes and went into the ensuite, leaving the door open. A few seconds later the shower started and then, just as Kate was getting off the bed, he poked his head around the doorframe. ‘Want to join me? You can wash my back.'

‘If you wanted your back washed, you should have brought Bertha with you.'

‘Good idea. I'll remember that for next time.' Sam nodded and then disappeared again.

Kate grinned towards the empty doorway, feeling considerably lighter after the easy, flirtatious conversation. Sam certainly didn't seem as if he was harbouring any grudges, which meant the Eildon trips may well have been exactly what he said – just well-deserved breaks. It still didn't explain why he hadn't asked
her
, or even told her about the barbecue, but everything seemed fine. And she decided to accept it at face value for now. Sometimes it was better
not
to peel the onion.

Kate went out into the kitchen and opened the fridge in search of salad. It was almost empty. At the back of the vegetable crisper she found some yellow-edged lettuce, a tomato and a couple of rather soft carrots, so she piled them on the counter and stared at them critically. Clearly salad vegetables were not a priority any more.

‘Are you using the power of your mind?' asked Shelley, coming in from the decking. ‘If so, no wonder the lettuce is wilting.'

‘Yes, and if you keep it up, I'll turn it on you.' Kate got out a bowl and started slicing the tomato into segments.

Shelley put her hands up in mock fright and then took a tray from the top of the fridge and began loading it with plates and cutlery and condiments. The pungent, charcoaled smell of barbecue wafted in from the decking and Kate felt her stomach rumble in anticipation. She tossed the tomato into the bowl and then added the green sections
of the lettuce, throwing the rest into the compost container below the sink. Then she started grating carrot. Shelley finished loading her tray and took it outside.

‘Wanna hand?' Jacob wandered in and leant against the bench, gazing at the tossed salad with a marked lack of enthusiasm.

Kate looked at him critically. ‘Maybe you should have had a shower too?'

‘Whatever,' Jacob shrugged and then fished a lettuce leaf out of the bowl and held it up. The lettuce drooped. ‘Yum.'

‘Damn it,' Sam came in, his hair wet and spiky at the crown. ‘I meant to grab some salad things on the way back.'

The sliding door opened and Shelley hurried through to grab the highchair. ‘Caleb says the meat's almost ready.'

‘Just do what you can.' Sam waved a hand dismissively at the salad and then headed outside. Jacob flipped his lettuce back into the bowl and followed his father.

‘Do what you can,' repeated Kate sarcastically as she removed Jacob's lettuce and threw it into the compost. Having seen the boy's fingers, she wasn't about to take the risk. She opened a tin of corn and scooped two spoonfuls into the bowl and then added her grated carrot and a splash of French dressing that wasn't too far past its use-by date. Then she tossed the lot with salad servers and took it through to the decking.

Sam had taken over the barbecue and was now piling the meat onto a plate held by Caleb. They were being watched hopefully by Hector, who had been summoned by the scent of food even though he had been fed only half an hour before. Jacob was already sitting at the table and Shelley was securing Emma into the highchair.

‘You would have started back at uni by now, wouldn't you?' Kate asked Caleb as she put the salad down and slid into a seat. ‘How's it going?'

Caleb brought the plate of meat over and sat down. ‘Brutal. I'm glad it's my last year. I've had enough.'

‘Well, it'll all be over soon,' said Sam, turning off the barbecue.

‘Unless I fail, that is.'

‘You won't fail,' commented Jacob expressionlessly.

Kate glanced at him and then sighed, quietly so that nobody else could hear.

Sam came over and stared at the table. ‘Bread! Wine!'

‘And having spake, thus they appeared,' intoned Caleb. ‘While you're at it, could we have the miracle of the loaves and fishes?'

‘I'll give
you
the miracle of the loaves and fishes,' said Sam, heading back inside.

Caleb looked around as his father disappeared. ‘Isn't that what I just asked for?'

‘I would have thought you'd have got plenty of fishes,' commented Kate lightly, helping herself to some steak. ‘You know, up at Eildon.'

‘Nah, too busy. Doing other stuff.'

‘Yeah,' added Jacob helpfully.

Kate looked at them both curiously and then focused on Jacob as her best chance. ‘Like what, honey?'

‘Like just relaxing,' said Sam, shutting the sliding door and then coming over with a bottle of wine and a basket of bread. ‘Jake, can you grab some glasses for me?'

‘Sure. Why not.'

Kate helped herself to some of the limp salad and piled it by her steak. Hector wandered underneath the table and settled by her feet, so she reached down and scratched his neck absently. There was something distinctly odd about these Eildon trips but it was clear she wasn't going to get any more information with Sam here. She would just have to come back during the week.

‘Great news about Mel, isn't it?' asked Caleb.

‘Sure is, and we'll toast her in a second.' Sam levered the cork from the wine bottle and then, as Jacob returned with the glasses, starting filling each one and passing it over. When everybody had a glass, he raised his. ‘To Melissa and . . . what's his name?'

‘Brad,' said Kate.

‘To Melissa and Brad!'

They all repeated the toast and then raised their glasses and drank. Kate put her glass down and started slicing her steak. ‘Did you know Angie's thinking of going over there now? To stay for a year or so?'

Sam raised his eyebrows. ‘Really? Good for her.'

‘Hang on,' Shelley frowned. ‘If she goes over there, what happens to the shop?'

Kate hesitated. ‘Um, I'm not sure. Nothing's definite.'

‘But she won't be able to run it then.'

‘I'm sure she'll have a plan,' said Sam soothingly.

Jacob glanced at his sister. ‘Maybe she'll sell it.'

‘She can't sell it!'

‘Actually she can,' corrected Jacob. ‘It
is
hers, after all. And what choice would she have? It's not like she's got anybody
responsible
there.'

‘God, you're an arsehole!' spat Shelley.

Sam dropped his cutlery with a clatter and glared at Jacob. ‘Now listen, I'm only going to say this once –'

‘Promises, promises,' replied Jacob, staring down at his plate.

‘That's it! Take your damn –'

‘Yeah sure,' interrupted Jacob, standing up with burger in hand. ‘I'm going.'

Emma, who had been watching this exchange with stunned fascination, suddenly reached a clasping hand towards her uncle. ‘Jate, Jate!'

Jacob stopped by the sliding door and stared back at her, his burger dripping splotches of sauce onto the decking. ‘Did you hear that! She said my name!'

‘Say it again, Em!' Shelley grabbed her daughter's outstretched hand, her anger gone in an instant.

‘Come on, Emma!' added Kate encouragingly. ‘Say
Jake
!'

Emma pulled her hand from her mother's and gazed around at her audience. Then she pursed her lips and blew a saliva bubble. It burst against her lips and she chortled proudly before trying again, but this time frothy spittle just ran down her chin.

‘She takes after your side of the family,' observed Sam, glancing at Kate.

‘Actually, that's the exact same expression you had when you told me about Bertha.'

‘Who's Bertha?' asked Caleb.

‘Your father's mistress.'

‘Sounds like a cow.'

‘Don't you knock Bertha,' said Sam. ‘She's the salt of the earth.'

Caleb raised an eyebrow. ‘You'll probably get an STD. Like mad cow disease. Or foot in mouth.'

‘
Foot
in mouth? That sounds like a fetish, mate, not an STD.'

While this banter continued, Kate glanced across to the sliding door, but Jacob had gone, leaving the door half open.

‘Fancy her saying Jacob's name first.' Shelley was staring at her daughter critically. ‘He's probably been spending hours coaching her.'

‘So what made you suspect Dad and Bertha, Mum?' asked Caleb with a grin.

‘All those trips to Eildon, of course. I wasn't born yesterday, you know.'

‘
That's
stating the obvious,' said Sam.

‘Watch it!'

‘Do you think she'll
really
sell the shop?' fretted Shelley, drumming her fingers against the table. ‘Like she'd
have
to, wouldn't she? If she left?'

Kate stared down at her empty plate, cross with herself for having mentioned Angie's plans. She laid her cutlery down and stood up. ‘I brought dessert. Back in a moment.' She went back into the house and fetched her bag of Easter eggs from the main bedroom. Then, going down the passage, she paused outside Jacob's bedroom before knocking lightly.

‘What?'

‘It's only me. I've got something for you.' Kate pushed open the door and went inside. With the blind pulled down, the room was mostly dark except for the computer screen, which glowed before Jacob like some sort of futuristic altar. He had swivelled around in his chair and was staring at his mother. She pulled a couple of eggs and a large chocolate rabbit from the bag and held them out. ‘Happy Easter.'

‘Thanks.' Jacob grinned and took the chocolates.

Kate hesitated. ‘Why do you do it?'

‘Do what?'

‘Deliberately bug your sister like that. You know how it always ends.'

‘With Dad sticking up for her, you mean?'

‘No,' Kate shook her head. ‘With you storming off.'

‘Actually I was
ordered
off.'

‘Can you blame him?'

The side of Jacob's face was luminous in the reflected light. He shrugged. ‘Sure I can. Why not?'

Kate shook her head again. ‘I don't understand you.'

‘Nobody does,' said Jacob melodramatically, but without changing expression.

‘Well . . . happy Easter.'

‘Yeah. Thanks, Mum.'

Kate closed the door gently and sighed again. It was difficult to help somebody who was their own worst enemy. Even more difficult when you suspected, deeply, that they were miserable. With some effort, she put Jacob to one side for now and took the bag outside to the decking, tipping it onto the table. ‘Happy Easter.'

‘Excellent!' Caleb put out a hand to stop a gold-foiled egg from rolling off the table.

Sam stared at them and then glanced up at Kate. ‘I didn't get you anything.'

‘That's okay,' replied Kate lightly. ‘I'm sure you were busy. At Eildon.'

‘He certainly was,' said Caleb.

‘There you go.' Kate passed the cashews over. ‘For you to share with Bertha.'

Sam smiled, rather flatly. ‘Not a chance. She can get her own.'

‘Thanks, Mum.' Shelley picked up a smaller egg and unwrapped the foil from it. Then she passed the chocolate over to Emma, who grabbed it eagerly. ‘Here you go, Em. You know what this is, don't you?'

‘Has she already had some?' asked Kate.

‘Daniel gave her one yesterday. With a big soft rabbit. Really cute.' Shelley stood up. ‘Would you mind watching her for a minute? I've got to make a phone call.'

‘You're ringing Angie,' stated Sam, pushing his plate to one side. ‘Can't you just leave it for now?'

‘No! I can't!' Shelley's voice rose in pitch. ‘I
love
that job!'

‘Okay, okay. We'll watch her.' Kate wondered how Angie would handle this, and whether she would stick to her promise not to offer Shelley the business, just yet.

‘Hey, what's the deal with all Grandpa's stuff?' asked Caleb suddenly.

Kate looked at him defensively. ‘What do you mean?'

‘Well, the great hand-out. Jake's got the lamp, Shelley's got the desk set. What about me?'

‘You're giving out your father's things?' Sam stared at her, clearly astounded.

‘You can have the carriage clock if you like,' said Kate quickly, but with a sense of weariness. ‘You know, the little gold one that used to sit near the candelabra. Or you can have the candelabra. Or both. I don't care. They're in the same box that Shelley got the desk set from. Ask her.'

‘Okay. Thanks.'

Sam was still staring at her, but his surprise had given way to a sort of wary gratification. They made eye contact and he looked away, picking up the bottle of wine and topping up their glasses. He held it enquiringly over Caleb's. ‘More?'

‘Nah, I've got some study.' Caleb stood up, grabbing a few Easter eggs. ‘I'll just take some supplies to help me along.'

Kate watched him leave and then turned back to Sam and stared at him narrowly, daring him to say something.

‘So . . . just you and me then?' Sam leant over and plucked a piece of lettuce out of the salad bowl. The lettuce dangled limply and Sam had second thoughts, dropping it back in again.

‘Seems that way.'

‘What're we going to do about Jake?'

‘What?' Kate frowned, confused by the sudden shift.

‘Jacob. You know, the kid who sleeps till lunchtime and then spends the rest of the day, and half the night, on his computer. Eating everything in the fridge. That one.'