‘No,’ he said eventually. ‘No, I don’t think he was, but from what I can remember, there was always an element of jealousy in him. He would accuse my mother of ridiculous things and god forbid if any man wanted to talk to her.’

I shifted in my seat, suddenly wishing he’d stop.

‘Sometimes there would be a big blow-up and I’d think that was it, she’d leave, but she never did. She always believed his promises that he’d change, but before long something else would trigger him and then it would all start to build up again. In the end, I left them to it.’

I didn’t want to hear any more. Some of what Beamish had said reminded me a little too much of the ‘big blow-up’ I’d had with Jonathan but at least enough time had passed now to ensure that I could be certain he would stick to the promises he had made me.

‘I know the situation with your parents is completely different,’ Beamish finished up, ‘but the reason I’ve just told you all this is because I really don’t want you to end up like me. I should never have left the situation as it was. I’ll never forgive myself for not doing more for Mum, for not making her see sense.’

‘I’m really not sure you would have been able to do that,’ I said softly. ‘You can’t blame yourself, Beamish.’

‘Perhaps not,’ he said, ‘but the point I’m trying to make is that I still wish I’d tried harder, I shouldn’t have wasted the chances I had. I kept thinking there would be more time but before I knew it, it had run out.’

His words were doing nothing to reinforce the lid on the emotional box marked ‘do not open’ I’d already almost let my parents escape from.

‘I’m guessing the rift with your parents runs pretty deep, Hattie, but I hate the thought of you letting it get in the way of trying to make things right.’ He drove on. ‘If something happens to either of them when you’ve moved and you haven’t even tried to make contact, you’ll be filled with regret for ever. This time, right now, is the perfect opportunity for you.’

Deep down I knew he was right.

‘Whatever it is that’s holding you back,’ he said forcefully, ‘please don’t let it.’

Chapter 9

Chapter 9