‘I gave salt to Ben, paracetamol to Ellie. I made them ill.’
‘Why did you do that?’
Susanna frowned. ‘Everything was crumbling. You’d disowned me. Danny was having an affair. I...needed to feel I had worth. I enjoyed making them better. Looking after them.’ She paused. ‘I was ill myself.’
Kathleen nodded but said nothing. Seconds ticked by.
Susanna grew agitated. ‘Well?’ she eventually burst out.
‘Yes?’
‘You’ve got your confession. Aren’t you going to say something?’
Kathleen closed her eyes. ‘You want me to congratulate you?’
‘No...I...’ Susanna felt her grasp on the situation slipping.
‘Write you a cheque?’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘So I had a hand in the death of my grandson,’ said Kathleen. ‘At least that’s what you told me.’
‘Because it’s true!’
Kathleen opened one eye. ‘Is it? Only, the correct thing to say would’ve been, “I did it but I don’t want your money.” Then I could have given it to you. But now’ – she shrugged – ‘I don’t even know if you made it all up just because of greed. After all, it’s not the first time you’ve sold your soul for money, is it? I’m disappointed,’ she said flatly.
Susanna stared at her mother, steely-eyed. She barked out a laugh. ‘Disappointed,’ she repeated. ‘Well, guess what? It goes two ways. Except I’m not disappointed in you, I’m disgusted.’
‘You watch your mouth.’
‘I cannot believe you are using the death of my son as a bargaining chip. Actually, I think I knew all along what you’re capable of. I allowed myself to go along with this charade to prove to myself just how manipulative you are. Well, thank you, Mother, for showing me yet again that I should have nothing more to do with you.’
Susanna got up from the table.
‘Sit back down. I haven’t finished,’ said Kathleen.
‘We’re done, Mother.’
‘We are not. So, are you lying to get the money or not?’
Susanna looked back at her aged mother and knew it would be the last time she ever saw her.
‘You’ll never know,’ she said, and turned and walked away.
SEVENTY-ONE
Ellie and Abby had feasted hungrily on the tapas laid out before them at a small restaurant in a tiny village lost in the north-western Spanish countryside. It was quiet and there had only been a couple of locals still remaining – elderly people sitting out the front with a coffee, idly chatting away to each other, passing the time of day.
Perhaps even better than the food had been the promise of a hot shower. Abby had seen a sign for rooms upstairs and she’d paid the owner for the use of one for a few hours. Ellie lay on clean sheets with washed hair, as her sister took a turn freshening up. She felt her eyes closing. The comfort of the room and her full stomach wove a calming magic that allowed her to pretend everything was OK for a moment.
It was funny how life unexpectedly spun you around until you were going in a completely different direction...This trip could have all been so different. She could have still been in Elba, diving off the rocks into the Tyrrhenian Sea at the bottom of Abby’s garden. She might have met a handsome Italian man. Or maybe she would have met Fredrik a different way and they’d be in the south of France together – or perhaps she could have joined him on his Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. There was something quite peaceful about the idea of following a trail to free yourself of your troubles. Ellie wondered where he was, how he was getting on. She looked across at Abby’s bag on the floor; then, driven by curiosity, she got up. She could use the phone. He’d left a message once – maybe he would again?
Ellie took Abby’s phone and dialled her own number. She had a message. The corners of her mouth lifted as she heard his voice again. He was now in Spain and wondered how she was doing. He was well into his pilgrimage and if there was any chance of it, he’d love to speak to her before he went back to Norway.
Ellie’s heart gave a flutter of excitement. Should she call him back? There wasn’t any point really. They’d exchange a few words, then that would be it. He’d go home to Norway and their paths would never cross again. Except it would be nice to hear his voice. If only for a few minutes...The shower was still running. Soon Abby would be out and then any opportunity would be lost.
Before she talked herself out of it, she called him. He answered after three rings.
