The Locked Room (Ruth Galloway #14)(38)

Ruth thanks her for the offer and the wine and pushes open her front door which she has left on the latch. She goes to stand by the window and looks out into the darkness. The security light has gone off and she can hardly see Nelson’s white car, parked only a few metres away. Will he come back when he’s taken Bruno for a walk? Is that even allowed? The rules say that you can only exercise within walking distance of your home. Of course, Nelson is, to some extent, above the law but Ruth knows that he doesn’t like using his position for personal advantage. In her obsessive reading of Covid news, she has come across some discussion about divorced parents being allowed to see their children. Perhaps Nelson’s visit comes under this heading? But Ruth knows that Nelson did not come to see Kate.

Flint, who ran away at the first sight of Bruno, now squeezes through his cat flap and meows loudly. Ruth feeds him and wonders about pouring herself another glass of wine. At this rate, she’ll be an alcoholic by the end of the first proper week of lockdown. She compromises by putting the kettle on. I’ll have a cup of tea, she tells herself, and then I’ll go to bed. Nelson will drive home. The whole episode will be forgotten in the morning.

She is pouring boiling water onto a tea bag when there’s a soft tap at the window. Ruth puts the kettle down and goes to the front door.

‘Who is it?’ she says.

‘It’s me.’

Bruno charges in and immediately knocks several books off the coffee table. Ruth shuts the kitchen door. Flint will be safe in there and can come and go through his cat flap. When she turns, she sees Nelson watching her from the middle of the room, his dog at his side.

‘I’m not sure you should be here,’ she says.

‘I’m sure I shouldn’t,’ says Nelson.

Ruth knows that she should tell him to go. It’s a pandemic and they are breaking all the rules, to say nothing of the other rules sanctioned by the state and the Holy Catholic Church. But, instead, she’s the one who steps forward and puts her arms round Nelson’s neck, raising her face to his.





Chapter 20


Ruth wakes up knowing that something is different. For once the new normal worries – Covid, school, work – don’t come rushing into her mind. But there’s something else. And the bed feels different. Warmer. Uneven. Ruth reaches out a hand and sits bolt upright. Nelson is lying next to her. She can see the ‘Seasiders’ tattoo on his shoulder. He is deeply asleep, his dark hair somehow shocking on her white pillow. The last time Nelson stayed the night here, there was no grey in his hair. That was the night Kate was conceived. Kate! She mustn’t come in and find a strange man in Ruth’s bed. Well, not exactly strange – Nelson is her father, after all – but definitely unexpected. Ruth looks at the green numbers on her alarm: 8.04. It’s years since she slept this late. Recently she’s been waking up before dawn. Kate will be awake any minute. She’s starting to sleep later in preparation for being a teenager but it’s rare that she sleeps past eight.

‘Mum?’ The door opens. Just in time, Ruth realises that she’s naked and clutches her sheet to her. The movement wakes Nelson who also sits up.

‘Hallo, Dad,’ says Kate. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘Hallo, love.’ Nelson rubs his eyes. ‘We were just . . .’

‘Are we doing yoga with Cathbad this morning?’ says Kate. ‘It’s five past eight.’

‘Yes,’ says Ruth. ‘Get dressed and I’ll be with you in a minute.’

‘OK,’ says Kate but, instead of going into her room, Ruth hears her feet on the stairs. Then there’s a cry of surprise. Ruth pulls on her best dressing gown and follows.

The door to the kitchen is open and the sitting room is full of shredded cushions. Bruno and Flint are lying on the sofa, side by side. Bruno looks up as Kate and Ruth descend the stairs. Flint pretends to be asleep.

‘I knew they’d be friends,’ says Kate, putting her arms round the dog.

‘They’ve destroyed my Votes for Women cushions,’ says Ruth, looking at the shreds of green and purple fabric covering the floor.

‘That’s because they’re male chauvinists,’ says Kate. ‘What shall we have for breakfast? Dad likes fried stuff.’

Ruth is impressed that Kate knows this expression, though less impressed at the thought that she might have encountered the accompanying attitudes. And she’s rather taken aback by the ease with which Kate has accepted Nelson’s presence in the house.

‘Let’s just make toast,’ says Ruth. ‘And coffee.’ She needs caffeine. About a gallon of it.

Nelson appears while she’s still waiting for the toast to pop up. He’s fully dressed, his hair wet from a hasty shower.

‘We’re having breakfast,’ says Kate from her seat at the table. ‘I told Mum you prefer eggs and bacon. Then we’re doing yoga with Cathbad.’

‘Rather you than me,’ says Nelson. ‘I need to get to work, I’m afraid, love.’

‘Have some toast first.’ Ruth puts a piece in front of him. ‘The coffee’s on.’

‘Thanks,’ says Nelson. ‘You’re a lifesaver.’ Their eyes meet and Ruth quickly turns away to check the percolator.

‘I can do warrior one and two,’ Kate is telling Nelson. ‘And I can almost do crow. Can you do yoga?’