Page 129 of Don't Believe A Word

‘What was she hoping to gain from going down there?’ Connor asked, coming out of the kitchen with a coffee and his holdall. ‘After what she was accused of yesterday, why would she want any more to do with her aunt?’

Following Connor into the hall, David’s mother said, ‘Whatever we might think of that, Mia’s clearly in the throes of some sort of breakdown, and Sadie will know that better than anyone. I grant you, finding out her aunts were involved in what happened to her mother will have changed things considerably for her, and will continue to as the reality of it sinks in further. Nevertheless, the Sadie I know isn’t capable of simply turning her back on her aunt, especially when she’s found so much happiness for herself.’

‘You surely don’t think she’ll stay with Mia?’ Connor said doubtfully.

Cynthia shook her head. ‘I don’t see how she can now, but she’ll know already that if she decides to join her father in the States, it’ll be really hard for Mia to cope with losing her.’

Dismally, Anna said, ‘I want everything to work out for Sades, obvs, but I’ll really miss her if she leaves. Trouble is, this island doesn’t hold so many good memories for her now, and whateveryou say, Granny, I can’t see her ever being able to actually forgive what Lottie and Mia did to her mother.’

Knowing she wouldn’t be able to if it were her, Cristy said, ‘There’s also Jasper. Would she leave him?’

Anna considered it. ‘I reckon he’d go with her to the States. He doesn’t always show it, but he’s as besotted with her as Dad is with you.’

Startled into laughter, Cristy turned to David as he said, drolly, ‘They’re pretty serious then.’

‘Is the right answer,’ Anna told him, with a playful nudge. ‘Now, come on, or we’re going to be late and I don’t want to miss this.’

‘What about your mother?’ Cristy asked David, as they started out to the cars.

‘She’s going to stay here with Rosie and Laurent,’ he replied, dropping her bag into the boot of Connor’s rented Captur. ‘I’ll take Anna in the Smart.’

‘Give me a minute,’ Cristy said, and running back inside she found Cynthia in the kitchen with Rosie, no sign of Laurent. ‘I’ve come to say goodbye,’ she said, hugging Cynthia first, then Rosie. ‘Thanks for taking such great care of us – me and Connor. Any more of it and we’ll be moving in.’

Laughing, Cynthia said, ‘You’re always welcome, you know that, and I’m glad you and David have sorted things out.’

‘Me too,’ Rosie told her, holding onto the dog. ‘Dad was really grumpy when he thought you wouldn’t be coming back. Now he’s all smiley and happy like he’s got sweets in his pockets and wind in his sails.’

Adoring her, Cristy pulled her in for another hug, saying, ‘Good luck with the new boyfriend, and the new play, and don’t forget to stay in touch. I love getting your emails.’

Beaming, Rosie watched her go while Cynthia said quietly, ‘Something’s not sitting right with her, I can feel it.’

‘What did you say, Granny?’ Rosie asked.

Cynthia smiled, ‘Nothing for you to worry about, my angel, now, let’s get you ready for rehearsals.’

*

CRISTY: ‘We’ve just left the Fermain Valley Hotel where Sadie’s father and uncle are staying, Evie too of course, and we’re heading for the south east coast. There are three cars in our small convoy, with no one going very fast, staying within the island’s speed limit of thirty-five miles an hour. The sun was shining gloriously earlier, making it the perfect sort of day for Sadie’s farewell to her mother – if such a day can be perfect, and of course it can’t. Clouds came rolling in about fifteen minutes ago though, and the wind is starting to pick up, let’s just hope it doesn’t rain.

‘I can’t help wondering how Sadie’s feeling right now …’

To Connor Cristy said, ‘We should have put a mic on her and tried to talk to her on the way.’

‘It wouldn’t have worked,’ he told her. ‘Too many trees to break the signal and look at the size of those boulders.’

Accepting that some were indeed almost mountainous, she continued.

CRISTY: ‘This is a journey Sadie might well have done countless times over the years, but it must be feeling very different today, knowing where she’s going and why. It won’t be easy for her father either, or her uncle, but hopefully all three of them will be able to take comfort from the fact that they’re together for this last goodbye.’

CONNOR: ‘We’re starting to catch our first glimpses of the sea through a heavily wooded hillside, sparkling and grey-blue, with the island of Sark on a close horizon …’

He broke off suddenly, narrowly missing a protruding rock as they rounded a bend.

CONNOR: ‘The going is a bit hairy in places, definitely not for the faint-hearted, but thankfully there’s not much traffic around so we’re not having to stop to let someone pass. Let’s hope it stays that way. Being a Sunday there’s a chance it will, but I’ve got to tell you, it’s starting to feel asthough we’re heading into some sort of nether world … If I could explain what I mean by that I would. How about you, Cristy, how’s this working out for you?’

CRISTY: ‘I agree there’s an odd sort of feel to this road … Maybe because we know what happened towards the end of it …’

CONNOR: ‘How far do you reckon we are from the villa?’

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