Page 78 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

Isla tilted her head and gave her a straight stare. ‘Yeah, right. Like you talk to me about everything that’s going on in your life.’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

The newspaper fell from Caitlin’s lap but she left it on the floor. Her sister had got out on the wrong side of the bed this morning and seemed up for a fight.

‘I mean that there’s all sorts of things going on with you but you don’t tell me about any of them. I know we’re not close any more, but…’

When Isla opened her arms and shrugged, Caitlin felt her heart break. How could she have grown so far apart from this young woman whom she’d once loved so fiercely.

‘I’d like us to be close again,’ she said quietly.

‘Then talk to me, Cait.’ Isla shook her head. ‘You shut me and Gran out of your life for years.’

‘I still saw you,’ protested Caitlin.

‘Very occasionally, and you never spoke to us about anything important. It was all inconsequential stuff, about your big house and your friends who I never met and your perfect life. You kept us at a distance.’

‘That’s because I felt guilty about…everything,’ she blurted out.

‘OK, I’m not surprised. But I’m also not stupid. I know there’s other stuff going on at the moment that you’re not telling me.’

Isla wasn’t going to let her off the hook and Caitlin didn’t blame her. She’d screwed up big time.

She sighed and clasped her hands in her lap because they appeared to be shaking. ‘The truth is, I haven’t told you what’s going on because my perfect life has turned out not to be so perfect after all.’

When Isla said nothing, Caitlin continued: ‘Stuart has a gambling problem and owes so much money that we need to sell the house immediately to pay off his debts.’ Isla’s mouth had fallen open. ‘And I’ve just learned that he’s been cheating on me for at least the last few months.’ She swallowed, her mouth as dry as a bone. ‘Anyway, the cheating thing is good, really, because it means I can leave him with a clear conscience. Having abandoned you and Gran, which was unforgivable, I didn’t feel able to do the same to him, even though we haven’t been getting on for a while. But his infidelity solves the problem. So, like I say, that’s good. Really good. And I’m fine with it.’

She stood up quickly and walked to the window. She could hear her heart hammering in her chest and a rushing noise in her head.

‘I’m sorry,’ said Isla, getting to her feet and taking a step towards her. Was she going to come over and hug her? Caitlin would fall apart. She folded her arms defensively and Isla stepped back. ‘Is that why you sent Maisie to us at Easter? Because you and Stuart weren’t getting on?’ When Caitlin nodded, she frowned. ‘I wish you’d told me.’

‘Well, I’ve told you now.’

‘Does Maisie know about everything that’s going on?’

‘Yes, but she only found out very recently so I’d rather you didn’t say anything to her.’

‘Of course not.’ Isla thought for a moment. ‘Is that why you’re so keen for me to sell Rose Cottage? To pay off Stuart’s debts?’

Caitlin shook her head, feeling close to tears. ‘The money wouldn’t be for Stuart. Maisie and I will be going it alone – if she wants to stay with me, which she probably won’t, actually.’ Caitlin pulled in a deep breath. ‘So, the money would be useful, that’s all.’

‘I can’t believe that Stuart would be such a…such a…’ Isla’s face was flushing pink with indignation. ‘How dare he betray you like that! Did you know about the gambling?’

‘I gradually realised that he had a problem but he refused to do anything about it and I didn’t realise how bad it had got. But then he lost the house. He owes money to some pretty unsavoury characters, by the sound of it, so the house will have to go.’

‘Are you and Maisie in any danger from these people?’

‘God, no. I don’t think so.’ Caitlin felt a shiver run through her. ‘I hadn’t really thought about it. Stuart seems sure that the money from the house will get them off his back.’

‘And as if that wasn’t bad enough, you’ve stood by him and then he goes and cheats on you.’ Isla was going pinker still. ‘Who with?’

‘With a young woman in his office, which isn’t terribly imaginative of him.’

‘You sound so calm about it all, Cait.’

‘I am now. But I wasn’t.’

‘No, I bet.’

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