Page 111 of Paper Roses

“Ma,” I interrupt. My eyes widen at her serene countenance. “Oh mygod. You already knew?”

She gives me a smile. “Laura did like to talk about her stepson. We all felt terribly sorry for the poor boy to be saddled with her. She liked a drop of red wine or a couple of bottles, and then she’d tell me and Martha Henshaw all about what she’d done with her will. I told Martha I didn’t want to talk to Laura again, and she agreed.”

“When did you guess?” I say hoarsely.

“Almost immediately. You and Artie weren’t terribly good at getting your stories completely straight, dear.” She tuts. “It’s a good job you became a policeman, because you’d never have made a good criminal.”

I slump in my chair, feeling like I’ve just been punched. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

An enigmatic expression crosses her face. “I wanted to see it play out.”

“See what play out? We’re not at the test match.”

She just shrugs and says, “And I presume he has the house now?”

“Yes.” I clear my throat.

“So, he’s gone to Germany, and you let him?”

I gaze at my brother helplessly, but he doesn’t interrupt. Typical. Theonetime in our lives it might have been welcome, and Adam just sits there staring at me like he’s at the theatre.

“I couldn’t actually have stopped him.” I swallow. “We wanted different things from our marriage.” I pause. “I just want him to be happy,” I say quietly. “More than anything, hehasto be happy.”

They exchange a look of relief that I pretend I don’t see, and then my mum gets to her feet. “Well, that’s good, then.”

I blink. “You’re not going to try and persuade me to get him back?”

She widens her eyes innocently. “What would be the point? You’ve made your mind up, haven’t you?”

“Well, er, yes. Yes, of course,” I say more forcefully. “I’vetotallymade my mind up. He’ll be happy in Germany, and probably… He’ll probably meet someone there.”

“That’s lovely, then.” She claps her hands. “While you’re here, can you help your brother? A fence panel has fallen down and cracked. I’ve bought a new one, but I need you to put it in.”

“Not another one?”

“It’s the wind, dear, and Mrs Frederick’s dog keeps getting in the garden. It’s peed all up my tulip bulbs.”

She vanishes into the lounge, and I hear the TV come on. I turn to Adam, who’s watching me with a smile on his face.

“What just happened?”

He shrugs. “I really don’t know.” He jumps to his feet. “Ready?”

I look outside, where it’s blowing a gale. The clouds are heavy and dark with rain. “Not really.”

He claps me on the back. “That’s the spirit.”

We grab our coats and our boots from the laundry room and edge into the garden. The wind hits us, and we stagger slightly.

“Remind me why we’re doing this in a gale-force wind,” I say grimly.

“It’s to get us back for the time we set fire to the tree house.”

I shake my head and look at the sky worriedly. “I hope the weather improves, or they’ll cancel flights.”

“Going somewhere?” he asks innocently.

I glare at him. “To Germany to see Artie,” I say with as much dignity as I can manage.

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