The Friends We Keep(109)

“I was just texting with a friend in New York yesterday, and he’s introducing me to someone who lives over here and needs some consulting work, so hopefully I’ll be working soon enough.”

“Your dad would have been proud. He loved his gadgets, although I don’t know if he would have figured out how to use social media properly.”

“It’s not complicated.”

“Snapchat is complicated,” said Topher pointedly. “I have no idea how it works and I’ve tried. Believe me, I’ve tried.”

Jack laughed. “My mom always said the same . . .” He trailed off, embarrassed at having brought his mother up. “Sorry.” He shot a look at Maggie. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“I’m not uncomfortable,” Maggie said gently, for she wasn’t. “How is your mum? Have you seen her since she moved in?”

“Briefly. I’m not sure I know how to get over this and make things normal between us again. Look, she’s my mom, and I love her. I guess I’m still shocked that she was capable of this kind of deceit. I know I’ll get over it, but I don’t know when.”

“Jack.” Maggie shot Topher a worried look. “I know you must be devastated, and I understand why. God knows I feel betrayed as well, but . . . none of us is infallible. We are all human and we all make mistakes.”

Jack looked skeptical. “We don’t all make mistakes like that. I don’t believe you would have kept that kind of a secret.” He paused. “And I don’t think my father would have either. I’m trying to understand but I can’t get there. I just feel so disappointed.”

Maggie set her knife and fork down and took another swig of wine, catching Topher’s eyes as he shot her a knowing look. She hadn’t wanted to tell Jack about Ben’s alcoholism. Of course in time she would have to, but she wanted to allow him to believe that his father was perfect, at least for a little while longer. But Ben wasn’t perfect. The constant lies he told every day were just as destructive as the one big secret Evvie had kept.

“Oh, Jack,” she said softly. “You don’t know the whole story.”

“I know enough of the story to know that she kept a secret that turned out to be far more damaging than if she had been honest. From everything you’ve told me, my father was amazing. She deprived me of not just a father, but of an incredible role model.”

Maggie sighed deeply. She couldn’t let this one slide, could no longer let Jack blame his mother, believing his father was perfect. “That’s not true, Jack. There’s more about your father I haven’t told you.”

Jack stopped eating. “What do you mean?”

And Maggie told him. She told him about the drinking, the ugly truth of the disease. She told him she didn’t blame Ben now, believed, finally, after all the reading that she had done, that he had a disease and he couldn’t help himself. She told Jack about how his father could be unreliable, would disappear, would hide bottles and drink when no one was watching. She told him about Ben passing out, and all the covering up she did.

She told Jack gently, without emotion, and when she finished, she took Jack’s hand in her own.

“I loved him, Jack. He was a wonderful man who was also deeply, deeply flawed. Like all of us, he had so much good, but he wasn’t all good. No one is, and you can’t keep blaming your mother while you put your father on a pedestal.”

Jack nodded, taking a deep breath, as if he couldn’t quite digest what Maggie had just told him.

“I think.” She turned to Topher. “I think perhaps it’s time for me to speak to Evvie.”





fifty-two


- 2019 -



Evvie was in the pub, working, astounded that she was managing to get on with her life, despite losing everything and everyone that mattered to her. No one here would know. She was able to leave her grief behind each time she stepped behind the bar. Bartending was a perfect distraction. The locals were all entranced by her, all buying her drinks at the end of the evening, seemingly amazed to have someone so glamorous working in their little pub.

Harry and Ruby were her favorite regulars. An older couple who had run an old-fashioned tearoom in Bruton for years called, naturally, Ye Olde Tea Roomes, they came to the pub every night, a glass of white wine for Ruby, a pint of lager for Harry. They sat at the corner table, holding hands, not talking much but always happy to be in each other’s company.

Harry came in by himself and sat at the bar, the first time Evvie had seen him without Ruby.

“Just a pint for you tonight, Harry? Where’s Ruby?”

Harry sighed. “She had a fall this morning. She’s fine, but a nasty gash on her leg. We spent the morning up at the hospital, and she’s got to keep her leg up for a couple of weeks.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. Are you going to be okay at the tearoom? I know how hard she works. I could help out if you need it.”

“We’re going to close down. Ruby wanted to close it months ago but I wouldn’t, and now I feel terrible. We closed today.” He blinked, looking lost.

“Oh, Harry. I am so sorry.” Evvie laid her hand on his and squeezed it. “You can’t feel guilty. These things happen.”

“They do. I just wish she hadn’t hurt herself, but it’s clearly time for us to sell up. Ruby wants to do a round-the-world cruise for our fiftieth anniversary, so now she’s on the couch with a pile of brochures.”