No Way to Say Goodbye - Anna McPartlin [75]
“My God,” Mary had said, a little overwhelmed. “Why?”
“My grandmother used to say that her brother had thought it best to carry the pain of two.”
When they got to the car, she said, “Let’s open a bottle of wine when we get home.”
“You celebrating?”
“No, but I think it’s only fair to raise a glass to Tim.”
“I’d like that.”
17. I hate to say I told you so
Ivan went straight home as Sienna had promised she’d call in at the end of her shift. The place was a mess and he wanted to clear up before she arrived. He did it using the hiding and stuffing system he had perfected as a teenager. As long as Sienna didn’t open any cupboard, she’d believe him to be a neater, and therefore better, soul than he was. He spent a maximum of two minutes dusting and banged the large rug against the back wall rather than hoovering. Mrs O’Connor of the O’Connor Murphys would be annoyed by his shoddy efforts to maintain her high standard of cleanliness in her two-week absence. Although she would chastise him, much as his mother had done many years before, he was most definitely looking forward to her return.
He was sitting by the window, reading the paper and listening to Dave Fanning debate the hundred greatest rock stars on 2FM. A hot tea, an interesting article and ACDC’s “Thunderstruck” suggested that a good night lay ahead. The phone rang as Brian Johnson was beginning the second verse. Ah, Christ!
He was surprised to hear his ex-wife on the line. Her tone was decidedly frost-free.
“Do you have a minute?”
“Of course,” he said, a little alarmed – perhaps she was about to discuss his budding relationship with Sienna and, if so, a part of him prepared to be annoyed. After all, what right had she to talk to him about his relationships?
“The kids had such a good time this Easter,” she said.
Here we go. But her voice sounded more relaxed than it had in months. She almost sounded like his wife.
“Justy’s cheeks are still rosy. I’d forgotten what that looked like.”
He found himself smiling. “She ate me out of house and home.”
“She’d live on your mother’s brown bread alone,” she said, with warmth. “And Chris can’t stop talking about that salmon he caught with you.”
“It was a big one.”
“I’m glad you’ve met someone,” she said.
“Thanks,” he replied.
“I’m really sorry about everything.”
“Right,” he said, which was stupid but he’d been unprepared for kindness.
She laughed, knowing him well. “I wish you both the best.”
“Thanks,” he said, but something in her tone made him consider asking if anything was wrong.
“I have to go,” she said suddenly.
“Are you OK?” he asked, but she was gone.
It was a minute before he replaced the receiver. The conversation resonated as it was the first light one he’d had with his wife since she’d walked out on him, but he’d found it a little disturbing. What the hell is going on over there?
Sienna arrived a little after nine. They settled together on the sofa.
“What’s on?” she asked.
“Me.”
“I was talking about TV,” she said, and blew her nose.
“I was talking about me.”
“Will you still want to be with me when the first thing you don’t want to do is jump me?”
“I can’t see that happening.”
Sienna punched him playfully. “It will.”
“And I will,” he said, which was a smoother response than she had anticipated.
His pants were around his ankles when the phone rang again.
The plane landed in Gatwick just after eight a.m. Ivan was up and out of his seat before the seatbelt light flickered off. Sienna grabbed his hand and squeezed it. “It’s going to be fine,” she said, trying to soothe him but instead tears of anger sprang to his