Page 45 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
He didn’t wait for an answer, but strode off towards the workshop and, since he was still carrying half my shopping, I supposed I’d have to let him in.
And perhaps, I thought, itwouldbe better to clear the air and get it over with.
By the time I’d put down my bag, found my key and opened the door to the hall, he was back again and followed me in.
The cottage had been quiet as I approached, but at the sound of the key an unearthly falsetto wail sounded from the living room.
‘What the hell is that?’ demanded Thom, dropping the shopping bag, which luckily didn’t have anything breakable in it.
‘Golightly, of course!’
‘I don’t remember him making any noise other than snoring,’ he said, slightly nervously.
‘He’s been very vocal since we got here, probably because he isn’t used to being left in a strange place.’
This time, Golightly had remained sitting on his favourite chair, but fixed his accusing yellow eyes on me as I entered the room. Then, spotting the visitor, his eyes narrowed before he pulled one of the most hideous faces in his repertoire – the Silent Scream – before jumping down and stalking towards Thom, who recoiled slightly.
But then, to my astonishment, Golightly simply twined himself around Thom’s legs a couple of times, before leading him in the direction of the kitchen.
‘I think he remembers you and he always did quite like you … or as much as he likedanyone.’
‘I’d say it was more toleration than liking,’ Thom said, dumping the big bag on to the table, before starting to unpackit. I washed my hands and then began putting the perishable stuff away.
‘Can you give Golightly a cat treat? That’s what he’s after. There’s an open bag on the worktop in the utility room. Just one, though, because I’ve been overdoing them to try and cheer him up.’
He did so and then sat down at the kitchen table, looking around him.
‘It’s odd to see all the familiar things from your parents’ flat here, but nice, too.’
‘It makes it feel more like home, just like it did my own flat,’ I admitted, putting the kettle on.
‘It has that effect on me too because your parents made me part of your family, especially after Mum died.’
He fell silent until I plonked a mug of coffee down in front of him – I hadn’t asked what he wanted, just went with what I felt like. Then he looked up at me and said, quietly and very sincerely: ‘I’m sorry, Garland. Really, really sorry.’
‘For anything in particular, or just generally?’ I asked.
‘You know what I mean. For leaving London without a word and not keeping in contact with you, though I did have some idea how you were doing, because the Mortlakes passed on any news of you. They mentioned they’d seen you at a party quite recently.’
‘That’s more than I knew about what was happening to you, Thom,’ I snapped. ‘I got back from Scotland, having settled my aunt’s estate as quickly as I could, after seeing the news about Leo, and I was worried to death because you weren’t answering my calls or emails. Then the emails started bouncing and your phone number wasn’t recognized!’
He tried to say something, but the pent-up feelings of the last six years swept me unstoppably on.
‘As soon as I got back I went straight round to your house and it was empty, with a “For Sale” sign outside, and no one could tell me where you were.’
‘Garland—’ he tried again, but I ignored him. It felt good to finally let it all pour out.
‘For the last six years, I haven’t known if you were alive or dead, happy or sad …’ My voice broke. ‘I thought we were as close as any brother and sister – and you just cut me out of your life and walked away.’
He reached out a hand and covered mine on the table. ‘Iknow– and there hasn’t been a single day since when I haven’t thought of you, and wondered if I’d done the right thing.’
‘Butwhydid you do it?’ I demanded.
‘Because I could see when we quarrelled that you were in love with Marco, and nothing I could have said would have altered that. Your future would lie with Marco in London, pursuing the career you loved and … at the time it seemed the best thing was to make a clean break. After Leo died, I wasn’t really thinking too straight. I just desperately wanted to escape and leave it all behind me.’
‘Including me!’
He ran his free hand through his hair. ‘I didn’t want Marco in my life after what happened.’
