‘Yes, she does,’ Rita agreed. ‘But still, I don’t think I could live with her.’ She took another sip of Ovaltine and felt the heat spread through her body, easing the emotional knots little by little. Then Max told her something he had never told anyone else, not even his sister.
‘When I arrived here as a little boy I was frightened of her but that first night I lay awake. I heard her come into our bedroom. It was late. Very dark. I closed my eyes because I did not want her to see that I was not sleeping. She stood over me for a long while. I don’t know what she was doing but I felt a very strong feeling of warmth and love. Then she drew the blanket over me and tucked me in. She bent down and kissed my forehead. When she left, after doing the same for Ruth, I cried. Not because I was frightened but because I was grateful. My own mother had never been so tender.’
Rita blinked at him in amazement. Suddenly she appreciated the enormous impact that losing his family must have had on him She had always known that he had no one, that Megagran had adopted him, but not once had she really considered the tragedy of his past.
‘Oh, Max. That is the nicest story. Have you ever told her?’
‘No. You know what she’s like. I think she would feel uncomfortable.’
‘She’d be touched to know that it meant so much.’
‘I’m sure she knows that.’ There was a pause while Rita watched him carefully and, because he felt the intensity of her scrutiny, he took a big gulp of Ovaltine, which burnt his throat.
‘Do you miss your family dreadfully?’ she asked softly, knowing that this was probably one of the only moments of real intimacy Max had ever had with anyone besides Ruth and Megagran.
‘Yes, sometimes. I wonder how different my life would be if I had stayed in Austria. If they had survived.’
‘What a bloody thing this war has been!’ she snapped, thinking of George. ‘It’s destroyed so many lives and I don’t just mean those who died!’ Max looked at her quizzically.
‘Ruth and I are lucky.’
‘And unlucky too. I still have my family.’ She fixed him with an intense stare, then her face crumpled. ‘But I’m losing George,’ she added in a small voice.
Max, against whose nature it was to show much emotion, hopped down from the stool and crouched beside her chair. He took her hand in his and looked at her with tenderness. ‘Why do you think that?’ he asked and his sympathetic look made her cry all over again.
‘The war has changed him. He’s unhappy and restless so he wants to leave behind his old life and start afresh. I’m part of his old life.’
‘He loves you. He’s always loved you.’
‘I don’t think he does any more,’ she whispered and allowed herself to be drawn into his embrace. She rested her face on his shoulder and sniffed. ‘I was so sure of my future. Now I don’t know any more.’
They remained in silence, both alone with their thoughts until the sound of the kitchen door opening interrupted the moment. Reluctantly Max pulled away. Mrs Megalith hobbled in with Ruth.
‘Now, my dear, put the kettle on immediately, it’s blasted chilly out there.’ When she saw her granddaughter sitting beside the Aga with a tear-stained face she feared the worst. ‘Those damned dead cats. I knew it!’ she muttered, closing the door behind her.
‘Rita, come into the drawing room. Ruth will bring me a nice cup of tea, won’t you dear?’ Rita caught eyes with Max and pulled a rueful smile. He smiled back, full of energy and happiness for he had held her close and she had confided in him. Rita followed her grandmother down the corridor.
‘I knew this would happen. Felt it in my bones. They may be old but they are most sensitive. Never let me down.’ She entered the drawing room to find cats draped across the sofas and on the window seats. She waved her hand to shoo them away, but it was as if they hadn’t seen her. ‘Now, let’s sit comfortably and you can tell me all about it. What the devil is going on?’
Rita told her everything. She also disclosed the advice that Maddie had so carelessly given her. ‘I’m worried that he’s grown tired of me because I haven’t slept with him.’ Mrs Megalith was unshockable. She frowned irritably and shook her head.
‘Absolutely not. What a foolish girl your sister is. There’s nothing wrong with making love as long as it is with love. The trouble with Madeleine is that she gives it away to any Tom or Dick who’ll have her. I’m afraid she’s turning into a slut. But we’re not discussing Madeleine, we’re discussing you. Sex has nothing to do with it, Rita, my dear.’