Page 33 of The Key to the Last House Before the Sea

‘Can I play in the garden, Gran?’ asked Lily, eyeing up the swing and slide that Jake and Alan had put up together. Jake had expected a World’s Best Dad award afterwards, Nessa remembered. He was good at putting up play equipment – just not great at being around for broken nights, bumped knees, and first days at school.

But at least he’d be here this weekend to build his relationship with his daughter. Nessa watched as Lily ran back into the hall to retrieve her sandals and headed through the open French windows into the garden. She could go outside on her own here and run around, with no cliff edges to worry about.

Nessa turned to Valerie. ‘What time does Jake—’ She caught herself. ‘I mean Jacob plan on arriving? Presumably he’s on the train from London already?’

‘Well…’

Nessa had a sinking feeling when Valerie wouldn’t catch her eye.

‘There’s been a slight change of plan because Jacob is so busy in his new job. They really can’t do without him. Not even for a weekend. So I’m afraid he’s had to postpone his trip.’

‘A slight change of plan?’ said Nessa, feeling angry but resigned. Of course Jake wasn’t coming; she’d been an idiot to think he was. But what about her daughter? Their daughter? ‘Lily’s looking forward to seeing him.’

‘I’m well aware of that.’ Valerie’s mouth had set in a thin line. ‘He can’t help being in demand at work and he was very apologetic, wasn’t he, Alan?’

‘What?’ Alan looked up from his iPad. ‘Oh, yeah. Very apologetic. Very upset.’

When Nessa raised an eyebrow, Valerie had the good grace to look embarrassed. Nessa doubted that Jake had been upset at the thought of not seeing his daughter. If he cared so much about Lily, he’d pay maintenance more regularly.

Nessa looked into the garden, at Lily hurtling down the slide.

I’m so sorry, darling girl, that I landed you with such a hopeless father.

‘She can still stay for the weekend,’ said Valerie, pushing a strand of ash-blonde hair behind her ear. ‘It would be a shame to cancel that too.’

Nessa was so disappointed on her daughter’s behalf, she was tempted to whisk Lily away. But that wouldn’t be fair on Lily. Or on Valerie, whose hands, Nessa noticed, were shaking slightly. Valerie spotted her staring and folded her fingers together, as if she was praying.

Nessa looked more closely at the older woman’s pale face. Actually, she was the one who looked peaky and not her usual self.

‘So what do you say?’ urged Valerie. ‘I’ve got Lily’s favourite food in, which will go to waste, otherwise. And I was going to take her to the mini-zoo tomorrow. She’ll love it.’

She would adore the zoo, and Nessa didn’t have the transport or spare cash to take her there herself. Cancelling the whole weekend because Jake had let Lily down would be mean, especially as Valerie must feel let down by her son too. Even though she’d never admit it.

Nessa nodded. ‘Of course Lily can stay. But I’ll have to go and break the news that she won’t be seeing her father.’

‘I can do that, if you like.’

Valerie glanced at the photo of her son, on the mantelpiece. He was standing on top of a high granite tor on Dartmoor and laughing, as though he didn’t have a care in the world.

‘Thank you, but I think it’s probably best coming from me.’

Valerie nodded. ‘Please make sure you tell her how disappointed her father is not to see her this weekend.’

‘That’s exactly what I was planning on telling her,’ said Nessa.

Lily would form her own opinion of her father in her own time. Let her have a lovely weekend being spoiled rotten by Valerie. It was more than Nessa could give her at the moment.

Ten minutes later, Nessa had told Lily that she wouldn’t be seeing her father after all – a blow considerably lessened by news of the zoo visit the next day – and she was standing at the front door, slipping her feet back into her ancient trainers.

‘You don’t have to worry about Lily,’ said Valerie stiffly, opening the front door. ‘I’ll look after her.’

‘I know you will,’ said Nessa, building up to asking her ex mother-in-law a very big favour. ‘Um.’ She paused at the door. ‘I wanted to talk to you about something. I know you’re having Lily to stay overnight but I wondered if you might be willing to let her stay here for a bit longer?’

‘Of course. I’d love Lily to stay for longer, and we can tell Jacob so he can come down to see her.’

Nessa nodded, unconvinced that Jake would manage to make it down from Manchester any time soon.

‘When are you thinking of and for how long?’

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