Not a laugh. Something closer to a cough.
“My bed is in storage,” she said. “You told me there wasn’t room for it.”
Julian pressed his fingertips against his forehead.
“Everyone needs to calm down.”
Nora looked at the untouched biscuits, at the four good cups she had brought out because she still wanted an ordinary family afternoon.
“What did you intend to happen when she asked again next month?”
He lowered his hand.
“The house would have gone up in value.”
“And she would have lived where?”
“With us.”
“In the room you called temporary?”
“There’s nothing wrong with that room.”
Ruth lifted her head.
“You kept your exercise bicycle in it. I had to climb over the pedal to get into bed.”
Clara looked toward the window.
Julian said nothing.
The kitchen clock struck four.
Nora had never heard its small chime sound so loud.
CHAPTER 3 – The Signature
Julian pulled his chair close to Ruth’s.
His voice softened so abruptly that Nora felt her shoulders rise.
“Mum. Look at me.”
Ruth did, reluctantly.
“If you tell them it was a gift, this stops. We can work the rest out privately.”
Nora began to speak, but Ruth lifted one finger.
A tiny movement.
Enough.
“How would you pay me back?”
“I’d arrange something.”
“How much every month?”
