Page 3 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
She glanced at Lucy, whose expression was uncharacteristically bleak.
‘Well, that confirms something,’ said Lucy, passing Jen her cup.
She took a sip, not wanting to talk about things now, especially in front of Liam. But he looked more interested in examining the miscellaneous contents of a pottery bowl. ‘What?’
‘The reason for your being here.’ Jen had forgotten how tenacious her sister could be. ‘Sometimes talking helps, you know.’
Jen released a slow sigh, her shoulders slumping as she considered Lucy’s words. ‘It was Alistair, of course,’ she finally admitted, the words tasting bitter. She shot Lucy a brief smile. ‘But I’m sure you guessed that already.’
A grim smile tugged at Lucy’s lips, her eyes reflecting both understanding and sorrow. ‘Guessed that it was a man? Of course. Isn’t it always?’ she replied, her tone tinged with a weary humour.
Jen managed a half-smile, wondering what lay behind the comment. She realised she hardly knew her little sister at all.
‘Invariably,’ said a voice behind her. Jen swung around to see her mother, Kate, backlit by the kitchen light.
Something tightened in Jen’s throat — halfway between a sob and a laugh — and she jumped up and walked towards her mother. ‘Mum!’
Kate pressed her lips together as if to stop words or a cry emerging — Jen didn’t know which. Instead, Kate held out her arms, and Jen stepped into them. She smelled of comfort — of vanilla and fresh laundry. But as Jen’s arms went around her, her fingers felt the bones of her mother’s back, sharper than she remembered. She’d lost weight. She drew away, realising that nothing was going to be the same as it had been.
Kate’s eyes were watery as she smiled, her fingers gripping Jen as if she never wanted to let her go. ‘It’s so good you’ve come back.’
Jen swallowed. ‘It’s good to be back.’ She gave a half-laugh, and swiped away unwanted tears. What the heck? She rarely cried anymore.
‘It’s OK,’ said Kate. She released Jen and looked down at Liam, bobbing down to his height. ‘And who’s this handsome young man?’
Liam looked up at her with wide eyes. ‘I’m your grandson, Grandma.’
Kate nodded, suppressing any humour she might have felt at Liam’s solemnity. ‘I thought you might be and I’m so glad you’ve come to stay, Liam.’
‘Me too,’ he said, his smile wobbling a little.
‘Something tells me we’re going to be very good friends.’
Liam’s eyes widened. ‘Who told you?’ He shot a glance at Jen, which was edged with fear.
She put her arms around her son’s shoulders, hating to see such timidity. ‘No one, darling. Grandma just means that she knows it without being told.’
Jen’s mum stood up and looked at Liam thoughtfully. ‘Would you like to see your bedroom? You must be ready for bed after such a long journey.’
Jen answered Liam’s glance with an approving nod, and when he reached up and slipped his hand into Kate’s, Jen released a tightly held breath. She hadn’t imagined what a relief it would be to see him trust someone other than herself.
Kate talked gently to him as they walked up the stairs to the upper floor of the villa, the floorboards creaking with each footstep. Jen turned to find Lucy watching her.
‘You can relax now, you know,’ Lucy said. ‘Whatever Alistair did, he can’t get you here. You and Liam are safe.’
She shot Lucy a weak smile. ‘Yes,’ she agreed, relieved that Lucy understood the essentials without explanation. ‘I very much doubt he’ll want to travel to the other side of the world to retrieve the son and wife he despises. Not now he’s got what he wanted.’ She repeated the words, as much to convince herself as her sister.
‘And what’s that?’
‘Just… material stuff.’
‘Material things can be replaced. The important thing is you’re free now.’
Lucy may have understood the gist of what had happened, but there were things — hidden things — which weren’t so easy to leave behind. She didn’t know if they’d ever be free of the distrust, wariness and fear which had taken root in them both. But she knew one thing. She’d give it a damn good try. She had to. For Liam’s sake.
Liam. Jen glanced up, hoping he felt safe with his grandma.
‘He’ll be fine.’
