A Bitter Feast(79)

“Oh, right.” Melody felt surprisingly rebuffed. “Well, good luck with it, then.” She nodded and walked on to the church, with no more disturbance than the caws of the churchyard’s resident crows.



Sunday lunch had wound down to a last few guests lingering over coffees and the dregs of their wine. Gemma had done whatever she’d been told by Bea or Ibby or the serving staff, and her feet were beginning to complain.

Viv and Bea had decided that they would close the pub after Sunday lunch service. Bea had been able to cancel the few evening bookings, and had already put the CLOSED sign out front again. She’d then taken over the bar and sent Ibby back to the kitchen so that Viv could go and check on Grace.

“Well, we got through that, at least,” Bea said to Gemma as she racked the clean glasses Gemma had just brought her from the kitchen. She looked shattered, her pale skin almost translucent and the hollows under her eyes almost as dark as bruises.

Gemma chided herself for having been so concerned over Viv’s welfare that she hadn’t thought about Bea’s, especially as she’d overheard some of Bea’s low-voiced conversations with the locals who’d asked after Jack. “This must have been so tough for you today,” she said.

Bea sighed. “Better not to have turned people away. And the locals who’d already heard the news wanted to talk about it. And to offer condolences.” She smiled at Gemma. “But you have been a star today. I don’t know how we’d have managed any of this without you.”

“But, I only—”

“Viv finds you a comfort. I’m sorry you’ll be leaving us. Today, is it?”

“I think the kids and I are going to stay over until tomorrow, at least. Duncan has to sort out things with the car, and, to be honest, I want to make sure he gets those injuries looked at again. I hope he didn’t overdo it, taking the dog up to Mark Cain’s. He should have been back by now.” She’d meant to ask Melody if she’d mind giving him a lift up to Beck House, but Melody hadn’t answered her calls. “If you can spare me for a few minutes, I need to make a phone call.”

“You go right ahead.” Bea summoned a smile. “You’ve done more than enough today already.”

Thanking her, Gemma walked out into the car park. It was almost empty now, and Booth’s Volvo was gone. First, she tried Kincaid, but the call went to voice mail. Then, instead of trying Melody again, she rang Doug’s number. He picked up on the first ring.

“Doug? Melody’s not answering her phone. Is everything okay there?”

“If you mean are the kids okay, they’re fine. They’re having a proper tea party on the terrace with Ivan and Addie.” Doug’s voice sounded strained and starchy.

“Where’s Melody?”

“I don’t know. She left.”

“What? In the car?”

“No, on foot, I guess. I heard her go out. Her car’s still here.”

Frowning, Gemma said, “Doug, what the hell is going on? Why would Melody leave the kids when she said she’d look after them?”

“It’s my fault. I did something really stupid.”

As he explained the whole sorry business, Gemma started tapping her foot in exasperation. “Doug, how could you be such an idiot?”

“Good question. And now I’ve stranded myself. She was going to take me to the station. I’ll feel like a prat asking Ivan or Addie. And wasn’t she supposed to drive you and the kids back to London?”

“We’re staying over. She knows that. I talked to her earlier. But you—I don’t blame her for being furious with you. You’d better stay until you can sort things out with her. If you leave, it’s going to fester, and you may never be able to put it right.”

“But she won’t talk to me.”

“Then keep trying until she does. Look, let me see if I can collect Kit, and find Duncan. Apologize to Addie and Ivan for me. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

She rang off, shaking her head. How could someone as smart as Doug Cullen be such a pillock? He did care about Melody, in his own prickly way, and he probably had thought he was doing the right thing. That didn’t make his interference any less wrong—or damaging. Poor Melody. Poor Andy, for that matter. But there was nothing she could do for either of them at the moment.

She turned and went through the arch into the courtyard, intending to fetch Kit from the kitchen. Viv and Bea were sitting on the bench outside the cottage. Bea had her arm round Viv’s shoulders and Viv looked as if she was crying.

“What’s wrong?” Gemma asked as she reached them.

Viv raised a tear-stained face. “She won’t even speak to me. I don’t know what to do.”

“Grace?”

“You just have to give her time, love,” Bea said, giving Viv’s shoulders a squeeze. “I’ll have another talk with her, shall I? See if I can convince her she’s being unreasonable.” Getting up, she went into the cottage. Gemma sat down in her place on the bench.

“I’m so sorry.” Viv sniffed and fished a tissue out of the pocket of her apron. She blew her nose, then gave Gemma a watery smile. “I promise I’m not usually such a mess. First, Fergus, and poor Nell Greene. And now, Jack. But I think I could cope with all of that if it weren’t for Grace being so angry with me. Thank God she’ll talk to Bea.”