‘No, I’m sure you don’t want to embarrass him,’ she cut in. Although I’m pretty certain that wasn’t what he was going to say. ‘Let’s go for a stroll.’ She turned to me. ‘You carry on. We’ll be fine.’

She ushered him outside and people went back to their books. I glanced over at Farah and her expression was sympathetic but then she looked away and carried on reading to the kids.

‘Now tell me, Tom,’ said Alice. ‘Would you buy these bras in pink or white?’

34

MAGGIE

Maggie decided a stroll to the church was probably a good option. Whether you were religious or not the church came with a certain aura and she hoped it would calm Paul down.

‘He’s a cracking lad is your Tom,’ she said.

‘I know,’ said Paul. The hostility was evident in his voice. ‘I want him to move back in. It’s not right him staying with…’ Maggie eyed him as he searched for the right words.

‘An old woman,’ she offered.

He nodded and then seemed to check himself. ‘Someone who’s not family,’ he corrected.

‘I completely agree,’ she said and was pleased to see him look confused by her response.

‘Right. Well. That’s good then.’ He shoved his hands in his jeans pockets, exactly how Tom did when he was uneasy.

They walked a bit further in silence. When they reached the churchyard gate Maggie opened it and stepped through. As she held it open for Paul she realised he wasn’t following her.

‘There’s a bench with a nice view,’ she said. ‘I thought we could sit there while we wait for Tom to finish.

‘I’ve not…’ He tipped his head at the churchyard and realisation dawned on Maggie.

‘Ah, I’m sorry. How thoughtless of me. We can go somewhere else.’ She held the gate and waited.

‘No it’s all right.’ He followed her through.

‘I’m terribly sorry about your wife and your baby,’ she said.

‘He told you about that.’ Paul was blinking fast.

‘Yes. We talk quite a bit. It doesn’t do to bottle things up.’

Paul snorted his derision. They followed the path to the bench and Maggie sat down. Paul hesitantly perched on the opposite end.

‘You’ve not had it easy, have you, Paul?’

Another snort. ‘I’m fine.’

‘Oh, I know you are. I’m merely saying you’ve gone through a lot. Tom has too.’

‘He’s fine.’

She was starting to see a theme. ‘No he’s not, Paul. He’s not fine at all. He is scared witless of losing you.’

Paul’s mouth was already open to protest but her last sentence seemed to hit him like a sledgehammer. His eyes searched her face for a few moments. ‘He’s the one who left,’ he said but the vehemence had gone from his words.