Page 93 of Coming Home to Sturcombe Bay
“Who said you couldn’t? But you had a thing with that girl . . .”
“Ten years ago.”
“Ten years ago. And since she came back . . . I’m your mother, Liam. I can read you like a book.”
“Okay. Well, yes, since she came back it’s stirred up some of the old memories. But I’m not going there, Mum. Once was enough.” He put the teaspoon down. “I think I’ll go and watch KrazyKat. That’s about as much as my brain can cope with at the moment.”
* * *
It had been raining since Sunday afternoon. Cassie sat on the window seat in her bedroom, Barney snuggled up beside her. Outside, the view of the bay was obscured by the darkness and the thick raindrops trickling down the glass, distorting the glow of the coloured lights along the Esplanade.
It perfectly matched her mood. So much hope, so quickly destroyed.
For a moment she closed her eyes, then opened them again to look down at the piece of paper in her hand. Her airline ticket, her return ticket to New Zealand. Dated the day after tomorrow.
She had kept it tucked in her poetry book for the past six weeks, with that strip of old photographs. She had known it was there, but she had chosen not to think about it, not to mention it. But now . . .
“Hello, dear.” Her mother appeared in the doorway. “I’ve brought you a cup of coffee and these last few bits from the wash.”
She smiled thinly. “Thanks, Mum.”
“You haven’t finished packing yet?”
“Not quite.”
Helen came over and sat down beside her on the window seat. “You’re really going?”
“Yes, Mum.”
“It’s just . . . I wondered . . . with Liam . . .”
“Nothing with Liam.” It was a struggle to keep the bitterness from her voice.
“It’s just . . . You were with him on Saturday — at the wedding. And?”
Cassie laughed without humour. “Nothing gets past you, does it, Mum?”
She got one of those patented ‘mother’ looks. “I’m your mum.”
Cassie was silent for a long moment. “Yes, we stayed the night. At the hotel. And in the morning when I woke up, he was dressed and ready to leave. He didn’t say a word. So . . .” She shrugged in careless dismissal.
“You’re not going to give him a chance to explain?”
“What’s to explain? It’s been three days. Three whole days. More than enough time, however busy he might be, if he wanted to speak to me. Clearly he doesn’t.” Her mouth quirked into a crooked smile. “I chose to walk away ten years ago. I could hardly expect to come back and pick up where we left off. So, message received and understood.”
Her mother nodded slowly. “Please don’t stay away for ten years again.”
Cassie reached over and took both her hands, squeezing them tightly. “I won’t, Mum. I promise.”
* * *
“Okay, that ought to do it.” Liam carefully withdrew the nasogastric tube and dropped it into the disposal bag. After endless weeks of sunshine, the weather was catching up with itself. It had rained continuously for three days, and was still pounding heavily on the corrugated roof of the stable.
He stood for a few moments watching the pretty roan. She had got to her feet, and already she seemed a little more settled, her breathing beginning to slow to a steadier pace. He tucked the earpieces of his stethoscope into his ears and put the diaphragm against the horse’s heart. The rhythm was almost back to normal.
“Are they going to be all right?” Penny asked anxiously.
“They should both be fine in a few days. Give them warm, clean water, with the electrolyte. If they won’t drink it, make up a dilute bran mash and try them with that, two or three times a day. Put a few bits of apple or carrot in it, if you like.”
