A Trick of the Light by Ali Carter (surface ebook reader txt) 📕

final glug of bathwater went down the plug. I lay down on the bed and sunk my head into the pillow. Lianne began to hum a tune. It sounded like something off a Pure relaxation CD. She clearly had a gift for melody. I’d better set an alarm in case I drift off.

I could hear my name. ‘Susie?’ It was being called down the children’s corridor. Thank goodness I’d kept an eye on the time. ‘Susie?’ My hair’s dry, my make-up’s applied and my dress is on. Whoever it is, I’m fit to be seen. ‘Susie?’ I opened the bedroom door.

‘Louis,’ I said, with a gulp.

‘I’ve found you,’ he said as he strode straight past me into the room.

‘Oi. Don’t feel the need to ask or anything.’

‘Do you have something to hide?’ He winked and sat down on the bed.

‘Sabbia Rosa. Ooh la la,’ came his best French accent as he read from a paper bag on the floor.

‘Do you shop there?’ I said, amused he knew the lingerie store.

‘Pfft, if they should be so lucky. What a generous boyfriend you must have?’

‘A girl can spend money on herself, you know.’

‘So you go to Paris then?’

‘I’ve been a few times, yes.’

‘I live there.’

‘Really?’ I didn’t believe him. Why would he be here if he did?

‘My father’s English but Maman’s from Paris and we’ve always had a flat there.’

‘So, you still live at home?’

‘Don’t be silly. I have a place of my own there now. Come on, it’s time to go downstairs, everyone’s missing you.’

I went to the window to shut my curtains. There was a blue van outside illuminated in the outdoor lights.

‘Oh no, Louis,’ I joked, ‘someone’s parked right by the front steps.’

‘Oh no indeed.’ He came to the window; our cheeks were now millimetres apart. ‘That’s Ewen’s,’ he said.

‘Wouldn’t he have walked?’ I was confused how Louis could be so sure, but then again not everyone drives around in a van, and Ewen is his friend.

‘Bit dark for that.’

‘Hey…’ I could see two men in the yard. It was Fergus, pointing his finger at Stuart. ‘They look cross, don’t you think?’

‘Bit nosey, aren’t you?’

I turned to pull a face and accidentally tripped over Louis’ foot.

‘Whoops.’

He caught me in his arms and gave me a quick squeeze.

‘Probably just some landlord/keeper disagreement.’

‘I knew he was the keeper.’

‘Course you did, nothing to do with his tweeds or anything like that.’

‘Ha ha. Anyway, how do you know Ewen?’

‘We met on a photography course.’

‘Recently?’ I said as I closed the curtains.

‘About seven years ago. But come on, it’s time to go downstairs.’ Louis linked my arm and marched me out of the room.

In the drawing room we found Zoe and Felicity huddled round the fire, Fergus now standing between them. Louis’ ‘everyone’s missing you’ was clearly an excuse to invade my room.

‘Quick, quick, shut the door,’ said Zoe.

Haggis ran from her feet to mine and Fergus wobbled the bottle of white wine in his hand. ‘Drink, Susie?’

‘Yes please, that’d be lovely.’

A husky, ‘Hello,’ entered the room. I turned to see Fergus’s twin standing behind me.

‘Hi,’ I smiled, trying not to stare. They were identical. I find these genetics absolutely fascinating and almost haunting when two people still look alike when they’ve grown up.

‘This is my brother,’ said Fergus, handing me a glass.

‘The better half,’ said Ewen, closing the door.

‘Equally good,’ said Zoe. ‘Now, would you like a drink?’

‘Yes please.’

‘Louis?’

‘I have one, thanks.’

I sat down on the sofa and just as Ewen was offering me a bowl of nuts Louis pushed him out of the way and sat down beside me.

‘Darling?’ said Fergus, insinuating a drink.

Jane entered the room and caught the tail end of Zoe’s answer: ‘I think I’ll save my one glass for dinner.’

‘I know what that means,’ Jane said, with a sing-song.

Fergus beamed and Zoe confirmed, ‘Yes, there’s a baby on the way.’

‘Congratulations!’ said Felicity and I at the same time.

‘About time too is what my mother would say,’ chuckled Fergus.

‘She sure would,’ said Ewen, his fingers tightening around his glass as he raised it in celebration. ‘An heir,’ he said, under his breath.

‘People leave it much later these days,’ said Felicity. ‘Neither of my daughters are anywhere near motherhood, unlike when I was in my early twenties.’

Jane lowered her bottom onto the largest chair in the room and launched in with, ‘Young women who wear trousers only have themselves to blame.’ Hmm, was she talking literally or metaphorically? Well, there was no stopping her now. ‘My eldest daughter has always worn skirts or dresses and she was married at twenty-three. As for my youngest, I’m endlessly telling her to at least wear a frock for dinner but it falls on deaf ears, which is such a bore as I’m longing for grandchildren.’

Was Jane letting on her eldest daughter hasn’t had a child and is struggling to conceive? Poor her if so. I have friends going through IVF and I know from them how unbelievably expensive it can become if it fails with the NHS and one has to go private.

Felicity grinned at Fergus. ‘Your mother must be very happy,’ she said, and then, taking hold of Zoe’s hand, she added, ‘I do hope you don’t have the trouble I had.’

‘Caesarean I bet?’ said Jane, rather crudely.

‘Did you too?’ said Felicity, letting go of Zoe’s hand and turning to her friend.

‘Only with my second. Enough to put me off for life.’

‘It’s simply dreadful,’ said Felicity, ‘you can’t walk for at least a week.’

‘We don’t want to frighten Zoe at this stage,’ said Fergus. ‘So, moving on then…’ He went silent; he clearly couldn’t think of anything to say, so helped himself to a handful of nuts instead.

Felicity let out a sympathetic moan. ‘Dear me, if twins run in the family, caesarean might be your only option.’

Cough, splutter, cough, splutter. Fergus was choking. Zoe rushed to his side and whacked him on the back. In the commotion, I think I was the only one who noticed Ewen’s fingers curl