Page 80 of The Summer That Changed Us

‘You were a just a kid. I’m not a violent man but if I’d ever got hold of that photographer, I’d have cheerfully punched his lights out.’

‘Listen to him. He thinks he’s Lennox Lewis. Who are you having a go at now?’ Mum was back, carrying a cardboard tray with three plastic cups wedged into it.

‘Katie thinks she’s let us down by not going to university. If anyone let anyone down it was that gobshite photographer.’ Dad tried to hoist himself upwards to drink his tea but gave up. He looked very tired.

‘Pervert,’ Josie sniffed.

Katie was glad she hadn’t mentioned the reappearance of the photographs, not when their feelings were clearly still raw. And now with Dad ill, there was no question of it. Mum had enough to deal with, having her beloved Brian in hospital. Katie vowed she would handle it herself and hope that they never found out.

‘All we ever wanted was for you to be happy, Katie.’ Her mum sipped her tea and winced. ‘I’m glad you didn’t end up as a hotshot lawyer. I watch all the law programmes on telly. They’re all stressed to high heaven and look as miserable as sin. Do you think if me and your dad had double the amount of money we’d be twice as happy as we are now?’

The look on Dad’s face suggested that he’d like the chance to find out, but wisely he said nothing.

‘I know that money doesn’t buy happiness,’ said Katie. ‘That was never my motivation. School pushed us to fulfil our academic potential. Anyone who wasn’t university material got overlooked. It’s only now looking back I see what a narrow-minded view that is. Every student should be encouraged and nurtured regardless of ability. And running a lingerie shop might not have been part of my plan, but I am happy.’

She pushed the blackmail letters to the back of her mind.

‘As long as you’re not lonely.’ Josie gave her a long stare. ‘Especially with Jean gone.’

‘Watch out, Katie,’ Dad murmured. He’d closed his eyes and wasn’t far away from drifting off to sleep. ‘She’ll be angling for another invite to stay with you in a minute.’

‘And she’d be welcome, you both are, any time. I do miss Auntie Jean,’ Katie said. ‘But being single doesn’t mean I’m lonely.’

Josie pinched her lips together in disbelief. ‘I’m glad to hear it. Although I’d love it if you had somebody special in your life.’

A memory of Barney’s lips brushing against her cheek yesterday popped into her head and before she knew it her face was warm.

Josie registered Katie’s blush, and squeezed her daughter’s hand. ‘I’ll say no more about it.’

‘Tell her about Valerie Dunbar,’ said Brian.

Katie frowned. ‘Rose’s mum?’

Josie gasped. ‘Oh yes! Valerie! With all the fuss about your father, I forgot. I had a message from one of the ladies in the choir, day before yesterday. Apparently she died of a massive stroke, poor thing. Must have been just before we went to Malta. The worst thing was that nobody found her for two weeks.’

‘Can you imagine.’ Brian closed his eyes. ‘Bad business.’

‘Fancy not being missed for two whole weeks.’ Katie shuddered; she’d only met Rose’s mum a couple of times, and that had been at parents’ evenings at school.

‘I know Valerie and her daughter had their differences,’ said Josie. ‘But I’d like to think you’d be worried about me if you didn’t hear anything for a fortnight.’

‘I’d know something’s wrong if you’re quiet for more than fifteen minutes,’ said Brian, his lips twitching.

Josie tutted. ‘It was a neighbour in the end, who noticed the post hadn’t moved from the letter box. Apparently, Rose has moved into her mother’s old house for the foreseeable, to sort out her affairs and what-not.’

‘Is it still the same house?’ Katie asked as an idea occurred to her.

Josie nodded. ‘As far as I know.’

Brian’s breathing had slowed, and he was wheezing softly, eyes closed, hovering between being asleep and awake.

Josie reached for Katie’s hand across the bed. ‘It’s meant the world to him, seeing you. He’s already brighter. Are you going to stay the night with us?’

‘Yes please. I think I’m going to see Rose while I’m here. Maybe it’s time to patch things up. And even if we can’t be friends, at least I’ll have offered an olive branch.’

When Katie had first moved to Merle Bay, she’d thought about Rose a lot. She missed her best friend, but at the same time knew that the way Rose had treated her was not how a good friend should behave. She’d waited for an apology, but it never came. As time went by, her school life lost its colour until it was nothing more than a misty memory.

‘You’re a good girl,’ said Josie. ‘And you’re right: kindness costs nothing.’