Chapter 30: Linda Booth

Ashford: Friday, September 26th

If anybody else felt the awkwardness Linda couldn’t tell. And why would they, she asked herself, forcing a smile as she watched Nelly open the present Richard gave her. None of them knew what she knew.

Nelly held up the blue bed-shawl. ‘Ee, in’t that lovely, pet? Look, Linda, what Mary sent. It’s crocheted – in’t it?’ She dropped the shawl into her lap and waved Richard closer so she could hold his face between her hands, giving him a loud kiss. ‘You pass that on to your mam.’ She formed exaggerated lips around each word as though not sure he would hear.

Richard coloured. Linda wasn’t sure if it was through annoyance or discomfort but was reassured when he smiled at Nelly.

‘Now.’ Her gran settled herself back in the armchair. ‘Karen, I hear you rescued our Richard then? That’s how you two got together? Are you local like? Where do you live?’

‘Gran!’ Both Richard and Linda spoke together.

‘You’ll frighten her off,’ Richard laughed.

Nelly pushed at her teeth with her thumb. ‘Sorry.’ She made a sucking noise. ‘I swear these bloody things are getting looser?’ She worked her chin up and down. ‘I only asked if she was local.’

‘It’s okay.’ Karen looked a little bemused and flustered but answered with a smile. ‘I live over in Mossbridge.’

‘Still in school?’

‘No, college. I’m training to be a hairdresser.’

I’ll have to stop this, Linda thought. She stood. ‘Tea, anyone?’

Nelly jumped. ‘Hey up, pet, you nearly frightened the life out of me, getting up so quick. Where’s the fire? We can have tea and that cake you brought in a minute. Sit down.’ She gave a short laugh which finished in a rheumy cough. ‘Sorry,’ she said again, when she finally stopped.

Richard gave Linda a worried look. She closed her eyes, willing him to understand. Go now, she urged silently. Go now.

She could tell he was puzzled but still he said, ‘Actually, we need to leave now.’

‘You’ve not been ’ere five minutes, pet. And you’ve neither of you ’ad yer cake.’

‘I know. I’m sorry. We’ve arranged to go … to go out, somewhere.’ He added hastily: ‘I’ll call again before I go home. Promise.’

‘When’s that?’

‘When I go home?’

Nelly nodded.

‘As soon as I can book a ticket.’

Linda saw him exchange looks with Karen. She looked surprised; evidently he hadn’t told her. ‘I need to get back. See if there’s any news about Vicky.’

‘She’s a right one an’ that’s no mistake.’ Nelly pushed herself out of her chair. ‘Yer mam must be worried out of ’er skin.’

‘I’m sure Vicky’s fine wherever she is.’ Linda was more worried about her aunt. There’d been something not right in her voice when she’d spoken to her last night. And when she’d asked to have a word with Uncle Peter her aunt said he was out on a call, which was odd; since last year his partners had taken on the out-of-hours calls. And earlier Richard had told her his father wasn’t there again. Linda didn’t believe her uncle would go out, knowing they must be waiting to hear how Richard’s interview had gone.