Where Everything Seems Double by Penny Freedman (popular romance novels .txt) 📕

police have got her phone and Ellie won’t let her out of her sight – won’t even bring her here for a supervised visit. Milo and Fergus are desperate to talk to her because they know they treated her badly – went all cold on her when David came up here because they were afraid of giving the game away. She’s as sharp as a tack of course, and they were worried she would start putting things together.’

‘As indeed she did.’

‘Exactly. Anyway, I’ve managed to do a deal with Ellie. I’m taking Milo and Fergus to Carlisle tomorrow to catch their plane to Dublin, and—’

‘They’re going home? Does Laura think you aren’t a fit grandmother either?’

‘Oh no. They were due to go back. They’ve been here for two weeks. Laura and Dermott are taking them off on a camping holiday. Anyway, Grace and Ruby are coming with me to see them off and I’ve persuaded Ellie to bring Freda to the airport as well, so they can all say their goodbyes.’

‘How does Ellie have a car?’

‘They hired one at Heathrow when they flew in.’

‘OK. I missed their arriving, of course.’

‘You did. Anyway, I thought you might want to get a lift with them and come too. There’s no more room in my car but—’

‘Nice idea, Eve,’ I say, ‘but I think Ellie would rather run me over with her car than offer me a lift in it.’

‘Are you sure it’s that bad?’

‘I’m sure. And I suppose I deserve it.’

‘They’re flying back to Italy tomorrow.’

‘And I’m going back to London. So no time for mending fences in the immediate future.’

‘You went and fetched her home.’

‘That doesn’t seem to count.’

When she rings off, I go back to the window, where the lake glitters mockingly at me and I can see Venetia and Micky, sitting on bollards, deep in conversation. I get out my wallet, retrieve a card and ring Gary. Then I walk down to the jetty.

And so it is that this morning Gary, undaunted by his previous experience of chauffeuring me, picks me up at eight-thirty, together with Venetia, whose mother seems to think me an entirely appropriate person to chaperone her daughter, and Micky, whose parents seem not to be much bothered about what he gets up to, and we set out on the hour’s drive to Carlisle airport. The teenagers in the back don’t talk much, devoting themselves to their phones, and Gary and I say just enough to each other to be polite, no mention made of the bloodshed and threatening behaviour we encountered on our last trip. It is a very peaceful hour, entirely free from the turmoil and personal drama that I generally carry around with me.

We arrive early, having allowed for heavy traffic which didn’t materialise, and I pay Gary and send him home; there will be two cars here and we can arrange the drive back one way or another.

The airport, as we walk in, strikes me as assertively, if not aggressively, bright and bouncy. There are huge plate glass windows everywhere, colourful paintwork and a medley of bright chairs and tables in the Departures café bar. Offered a drink, Venetia and Micky say they will wait for the others, so I buy myself a Guardian and start reading the book reviews. Not long afterwards Eve arrives with her foursome, and there is much exclaiming, laughing and hugging. Eve and I settle ourselves at our own table.

‘I’m nervous,’ I say.

‘Don’t let her get to you.’

‘Easier said than done.’

‘She’s a teacher. She can’t put all the blame on you. She knows what thirteen-year-olds are like.’

‘Year Nine syndrome?’

‘Exactly.’

At this point Ellie and Freda arrive. Freda heads straight for the gang and Ellie stands uncertainly just inside the giant sliding glass doors. Eve gives me a meaningful look. Go on, it says, don’t be a wimp, so I get up and go towards Ellie. ‘Hello darling,’ I call, and she looks straight past me to Eve.

‘I’m going back to the car, Eve,’ she calls. ‘Will you tell Freda I’ll be there when she’s ready to go?’

Then she turns back and the glass doors open for her and close behind her.

‘Silly girl,’ Eve says as I return to our table. ‘She needs to get a grip.’

‘She’s been terrified,’ I say.

‘But it’s all right now. Is this supposed to be her version of PTSD?’

‘Perhaps it is.’

‘Well she ought to take account of your trauma too. Not to mention Freda’s. Come on, there are delicious-looking things on the counter over there. I’ll buy you cake.’

We go and order cappuccinos with chocolate sprinkles and an apricot Danish each, and before carrying them back to our table we distribute money to the young for food and drink.

‘Forget Ellie for the time being. She’ll have to come round in her own time,’ Eve says. ‘Is Ben a sensible chap?’

‘He’s a sweetheart.’

‘Well, leave it to him then.’

We devote ourselves for a while to enjoying the effects of caffeine and glucose, and then Eve says, ‘There’s news of Susan. She’s conscious and I can take the girls to see her tomorrow.’

‘Does anyone know what he did to her exactly?’

‘It’s all rumour. One of the people who found her by the lake thought she’d been strangled. But the hospital is talking about head injuries and broken bones.’

‘Maybe he half-strangled her trying to get her to tell him where Ruby was and then battered her in frustration.’

‘Maybe. Anyway, she’ll survive and Ruby has decided she’s not doing the audition. She’s staying here to be with her.’

‘She’s not sorry to miss the glamour? I didn’t see the school under the best circumstances, but it’s a pretty fantastic place.’

‘I don’t think she ever really wanted it. She just needed to get away from him. She is a clever girl. Colin says she’s bright enough to do medicine if she wants to.’

‘So he’ll be back to the chemistry coaching.’

‘He will. And if she’s coming to the house, that means I’ll be able to make sure she’s coping. I’m afraid she’ll