Sister Sister(83)

‘That’s true. Anyway, I need to get on, got some legal stuff for work to check.’

‘Sure, I wouldn’t wanna keep you from your work.’

‘See you Wednesday.’

‘I’ll look forward to it. You can tell me all about your trip.’

‘Yeah. Sure.’ I hang up and close my eyes for a moment, recalling the conversation with all its subtext. It does nothing to settle my already-fragile nerves. I need to get home. I need to protect my family – I’m not entirely sure what from. I can’t pin it down to one thing or one word, all I know is that they are surrounded by lies and deceit.

An hour later, my phone rings and I’m sure it is Luke. However, Leonard’s name is on the screen.

‘Hello, Leonard. Everything all right?’ I find myself asking this question more and more often. Every time the phone rings, I think something has happened. I am becoming a nervous wreck.

‘No. Everything is not all right. When I said take gardening leave, I meant stay at home with your family. Get to know your sister and sort your marriage out. I didn’t mean jet off to America.’

‘Hello to you too. Yes, I’m fine. Thanks for asking. Oh, there was something you wanted to chat about, was there?’ I can’t help myself. Leonard has all the subtlety of a Chieftain tank at times and thinks he can ride straight over me. I swear he forgets I’m a grown woman. An adult. A business partner.

‘Didn’t realise I had to do the polite chit-chat with you, Clare,’ comes the retort, which has the tiniest thread of attrition.

‘And while I’m at it, since when did I have to answer to you as to what I choose to do with my spare time? Spare time that I didn’t want, I might add. Either I’m working and am accountable for my hours or I’m on gardening leave and can do as I bloody well please.’ I feel quite proud of myself for standing up to Leonard.

‘Well, that’s me told,’ he says. I imagine him looking rather startled at the telephone for a moment. ‘So, are you okay?’

‘Yes, I’m fine, thank you,’ I say, the indignation leaving me and experiencing genuine appreciation of the obvious concern in his voice.

‘What exactly are you doing in America?’

‘I needed to sort a few things out. Please don’t worry. I’m flying home tomorrow night. How did you know I was here, anyway?’

‘Your mother told me,’ he replies. ‘She also told me about the new evidence. CCTV footage.’

‘It wasn’t me.’

‘Do you need any help? Legal help or otherwise?’

‘No. It’s okay. I can sort this out myself, but thank you, anyway.’

‘It won’t look good for the business if anything comes of this,’ says Leonard, his voice taking on a more businesslike approach.

‘Nothing will come of it. I didn’t do it. Don’t worry, I won’t sully the reputation of the firm.’ I scold myself at my own tetchiness. ‘I’m sorry, I’m just a bit tired and on edge, if I’m honest.’

‘It’s not like you at all. That’s why I called, really. Your mum asked me to,’ says Leonard softly. ‘She’s desperate for things to work out well with Alice.’

‘I know. All these years, she’s just been marking time, going through the motions of life, as she waited for her daughter to come back. The thing is …’ I stop myself short, not wishing to say what I fear out loud. Not yet anyway.

‘Don’t be quick to judge,’ says Leonard. ‘It’s just as hard for Alice as it is for you. Whatever is it you’re hoping to find by poking around over there in America, will only cause a lot of hurt.’

‘Has Mum changed her will or anything to do with the trust fund?’ I ask, taking the conversation off at a tangent.

‘You know I can’t divulge any information about your mother’s finances. Client confidentiality and all that.’

‘But you could tell me, as your business partner. I take it I am still your partner?’

‘Yes, of course you are, but there’s also conflict of interest. Whatever conversations I have with my client, regardless of the fact she’s your mother and how they may affect you are, at this point, strictly confidential. Not even you can be party to them.’

‘What about Alice? Has she spoken to you about anything?’

‘Alice? No, why would she?’

‘I don’t just mean professionally, but personally. She’s not asked for your advice about anything?’ I close my eyes as I think of Tom telling me he’d seen Martha and Leonard at the café. I can’t bear the fact that Leonard might be lying to me. ‘Even just casually, as a one-off?’