The next morning Harry had singularly failed to find a B&B to stay in locally, so he switched to Airbnb. He was checking out a place in Box that described itself as sparkling clean when Nicole rang.
‘Just wanted to let you know the school has just gated your son.’
Whenever one of the kids got into trouble, they always became his responsibility.
‘I take it you’re talking about Tim?’ Ben, being the older brother, was usually the more responsible.
‘Who else would it be? He’s only been caught driving the school’s ride-on mower.’
‘Someone left the keys in it?’
‘Apparently, yes. He’s mown down a whole row of daffodils. The ones on the way to the chapel.’
‘Oh dear.’ He tried to keep his tone neutral but Nicole obviously picked up on something because she snapped, ‘It’s not funny, Harry.’
He sobered immediately. ‘No, it’s not. Sorry.’
‘Don’t you dare encourage him.’
‘I won’t!’ he protested. ‘I’m just glad he wasn’t caught dealing cocaine and heroin, that’s all.’
Nicole sighed. ‘You’re right. It could be worse.’
‘I’ll call him in a minute. And I won’t express anything but deep displeasure, I promise.’
‘Thanks, Harry.’ Another sigh. ‘It’ll be pretty awful having Easter without him, but I suppose he’s got to be punished.’
‘Absolutely.’
A small silence fell.
He heard Nicole draw a breath. ‘I’m dreading this afternoon.’
Lorraine’s funeral.
‘I know,’ Harry said gently. ‘Lean on Dave.’
‘And you’ll lean on Jessie.’
‘Yes.’
Another pause.
‘What are you up to?’ Nicole asked. ‘You’re not at work, are you?’
‘Looking online for an Airbnb in Box.’
‘Whatever for?’
When he told her, she sounded horrified. ‘You’re on a death list?’
‘I wouldn’t have told you, except I thought you’d better be aware.’
‘Jesus, Harry.’
‘Hence staying somewhere else.’
‘Why don’t you stay with friends of mine? They run Lorne House, it’s fabulous.’
‘They’ll be booked.’
‘Leave it with me.’ She was brisk. ‘And if they can’t have you, they’ll know someone who can.’
With Nicole on the case of his accommodation, Harry rang Tim.
‘You idiot,’ he said. He tried to sound cross but it came out sounding far too amused.
‘It was too tempting, Dad. The engine was running and nobody, I mean nobody was about and there was this huge stretch of lawn just waiting to be driven down, it was sooooo inviting, I can’t tell you.’
‘And now you’re going to miss Easter with your brother and sister.’
‘I know.’ He sounded glum.
‘Anyone else there with you?’
‘No,’ he said miserably. ‘I’m here all on my own.’
‘For every action,’ Harry said gently, ‘there has to be a consequence. Get it?’
‘Yeah. But it still sucks.’
After they’d hung up, Harry’s phone gave a ting. A message from Nicole.
Lorne House say they can have you as a favour to me. All booked in. Stay safe, Harry x
Harry looked the place up to see it was a large Victorian villa in the village of Box and a stone’s throw not just from Jessie, but his favourite curry house, the Bengal Bear. As he scanned the online brochure he learned it had been converted into a small hotel which, he read, was also available to rent as a whole house. He was immediately reminded of Ethan, and his parents allowing him and his student friends to stay at the very grand, very luxurious Combe House at what he guessed would be minimal rent.
Lucky Ethan, but not so lucky having been tormented by his sister’s rape. At fifteen, he would have felt the full weight of adult responsibility on his young shoulders, and by not telling their parents, they’d created their own sibling circle of dysfunction.
Although Jessie hadn’t met Lorraine, she’d said she wanted to come to her funeral. Harry’s daughter Lottie would be there, Jessie said, and besides, she wanted to support Harry. He didn’t dissuade her. He knew he’d endure it far better with her at his side.
The funeral was held at St John the Baptist Church in the village of Colerne, seven miles from Bath and across the valley from Box. Harry hadn’t known that Lorraine had been brought up there, nor that she, Gavin and the kids attended the church most Sundays before having lunch with Lorraine’s parents, who lived on Watergates – a street just behind the church. It made him think about how well he thought he knew people, but of course you couldn’t know everything about everyone, even if you lived with them.
How well did he know Dave, for example? Doug or Catherine, or Theo? He drove up Bannerdown reflecting on the subject, glad that Jessie was empathetic to his mood and didn’t chat.