Karen smiled. ‘I’ve made your favourite for dessert too. Chocolate mousse.’
‘Won’t be long before you’re out in the world fending for yourself,’ Derek muttered. ‘Be an idea to learn to cook.’
Both Karen and Wills looked at him. Karen spoke first, surprising even herself with her words. ‘Something he’s quite capable of doing better than you, actually. Since when have you known your way around the kitchen? Do tell me, what is the name of your culinary masterpiece? No, wait. I have it. Beans on toast.’
Derek glared at her. ‘You’re the cook in this family. Anyway, I manage okay when you’re down here.’
Karen thought of the empty takeaway packages and pizza boxes she invariably found when she returned after a stay in Devon without Derek, but couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. He was clearly in the mood to pick a fight and she didn’t want to ruin Wills’ first night home.
An uncomfortable silence accompanied the rest of the meal and Karen smothered a sigh of relief when Derek pushed his chair back and stood up. Glancing at the almost empty wine bottle on the table, he took another one from the rack before turning and looking at her.
‘I’m off to Bruce’s. You coming?’
Karen shook her head. ‘I’m a bit tired. I’ll see you later.’ Going to sundowner tonight would mean putting on a show of togetherness with Derek in front of people, and she really didn’t feel up to it.
‘But I do want to talk to you,’ she added.
Derek narrowed his eyes. ‘What about?’
‘I told you before when we agreed to have this trial separation – I’m not happy. We need to… to decide what happens after summer.’
‘Bruce is probably still wallowing in misery over Gabby, so I won’t be late. We’ll talk then.’
‘Gabby’s barely been dead seven months,’ Karen said, looking at him, horrified. ‘Don’t be so insensitive.’
Derek shrugged indifferently before opening the door and stepping out onto the terrace.
‘Trial separation?’ Wills said quietly. ‘Talk?’
Karen sighed. ‘Yes. We both decided… well, I did anyway… that we needed some time apart to think things through and decide what to do now both you and Francesca are all grown up.’ She smiled briefly at Wills. ‘I don’t think either of us has been particularly happy recently.’
‘I don’t know everything you want to talk to Dad about, but promise me you will talk to him – and make him talk to you,’ Wills said, a serious edge to his voice.
Karen looked at him, wondering what he wasn’t saying. She nodded. ‘Okay.’ She started to clear the dinner things, waving Wills away as he went to give her a hand.
‘I’ll do it. I’d say go and join the others for a sundowner but I’m not sure that’s a good idea tonight.’
‘Think I’ll nip down into the village if that’s all right with you,’ Wills said. ‘See if anyone’s about.’
‘I’m sorry your first night back here has been spoilt,’ Karen said. ‘I was so looking forward to it.’
‘Not your fault, Mum,’ Wills said.
Derek wasn’t back by ten and Karen knew the chances of him coming home sober enough to have a rational discussion diminished by the hour. No way was she going to attempt to talk to him when he’d been drinking.
She had a leisurely bath and then went to bed with a book. When she heard Joy and Toby call out ‘Goodnight, everyone’, she closed the book, turned off the bedside light and snuggled down under the duvet, pretending to be asleep when Derek stumbled into the room.
It was Wills who, having realised his parents had failed to talk, twisted the knife at breakfast the next morning with an innocent air. Karen realised afterwards that he’d known exactly what he was doing. Making his father face up to his actions.
‘So, how long d’you reckon it’ll take to sell the house then?’ Wills asked as he helped himself to more coffee.
Karen looked at him, puzzled, before turning to Derek, who’d choked on his own coffee. She waited patiently while he regained his breath.
‘Might have known you wouldn’t keep your mouth shut,’ he said, glaring at Wills.
Wills shrugged. ‘Might have known you wouldn’t do the decent thing and discuss it with Mum like you said you were going to on the way here,’ he shot back at his father.
Derek pushed his chair back and stood up. ‘Your mother was asleep when I got back last night, so I couldn’t.’ He turned to face Karen. ‘I put the house on the market this week. We need to downsize.’
Karen felt her mouth open and fury well up inside her.
‘You can’t just decide to sell up without discussing it with me,’ she said. ‘It’s my home too. My name is on the deeds next to yours.’
Derek glared at her. ‘You’ve got this place – going to share it with me? No? Thought not. I have to leave.’
‘You can’t just leave without discussing it with me,’ Karen protested. ‘It’s our family home. And I’m not signing anything. And I told you I needed to talk to you too.’
Derek shrugged.
‘Like I said – we need to downsize. Anyway, I’ve got an important meeting later this afternoon, so I’ll get my stuff and go.’ He turned and went upstairs.
Speechless, Karen turned to Wills, who shrugged.
‘Sorry – it was the only way I could think of to make him tell you what he’s up to.’
‘How did you find out?’
‘The For Sale sign in the front garden was a dead giveaway,’ Wills said. ‘Sorry, Mum.’
Karen stayed sitting where she was, trying to make sense of the news. What exactly did Derek mean by ‘downsizing’? And why was it suddenly so urgent? Where did he plan on them living in the future?
Derek came back downstairs carrying his overnight bag. ‘Right. I’m off.’
Karen looked at him dully. ‘We need to talk. Now more than ever.’
Derek shrugged. ‘It’ll have to wait until next time.’
‘Wait for how long? End of summer? Or are you planning on coming down to stay for a while?’
‘Thought I’d come down near the end of the month – or even August. Not sure yet. Depends on my schedule. I’ll let you know.’ And he was gone. Leaving her in shock and feeling more than slightly nauseous.
*
5.30 a.m. and Guy, as usual, was awake. Throwing off the duvet he stood for
