The Survivors(78)

Pendlebury didn’t say anything. She was staring deep into the cave, unmoving. Kieran followed her gaze and for a moment, less than that even, Kieran again had the uneasy sensation of something waiting in the dark, holding its breath. He realised his own lungs were tight and he exhaled. Pendlebury turned suddenly, and the feeling was gone. Kieran had no idea if she’d felt it too.

‘Don’t keep Mia waiting,’ she said. ‘I’ll be a few more minutes yet –’ She held up a hand before he could protest. ‘Literally, a few minutes. I’m not going exploring on my own, don’t worry.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Absolutely. You go.’

She wanted to get rid of him, Kieran thought, as his phone rang this time.

‘All right,’ he said. ‘Be careful, though.’

‘Always,’ Pendlebury said with a smile. He could feel her watching as he trudged over the sand and started up the cliff path. As he neared the halfway point, just before the beach disappeared from view, he stopped and looked back.

Pendlebury had turned away from the caves. She was holding up her tablet once more, standing very still as she stared out at The Survivors.





Chapter 28


Kieran could tell something was different as soon as he unlocked the front door. He and Mia had dissected his conversation with Pendlebury all the way back down the cliff path, pausing only to give Shifty another pat on the head as they passed the cemetery gates. The Surf and Turf had looked close to empty as they walked by, so they had stopped and ordered two takeaway coffees from a waiter Kieran didn’t know.

Now, as Kieran used his free hand to push open the door to his parents’ place, it immediately felt odd. The door swung free and unimpeded, a shaft of daylight illuminating the hallway. Kieran’s footsteps rang out with a strange hollow echo as he walked inside. Mia was right behind him.

‘Oh,’ she breathed.

The hallway was completely clear.

Every sagging half-packed box was gone. Kieran could see the dust streaks where they had stood, and loose sand crunched under their shoes. He had grown used to the front door opening only three-quarters of the way, and to having to edge around a tower of cardboard every time he went in or out. Now, he walked straight through, his steps sounding too loud against the bare floorboards.

‘It’s the same in here,’ Mia said, and Kieran looked past her into the living room. The couch and coffee table were still there, but the small mountain of boxes that he had helped part-fill himself was gone. Brian was sitting in his armchair by the window. He had been gazing out, but lifted his head as he saw Kieran. He frowned as though trying to grasp a thought.

‘Are you all right, Dad?’ No reply. Kieran turned back to Mia. ‘What’s –?’

He stopped and they both turned as Verity came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a tea towel. Her face was mottled pink and she had half-moon sweat stains under the arms of her t-shirt.

‘Oh,’ she said. ‘Hello. Good walk?’

Kieran stared at her. ‘Where are all the boxes?’

‘Some are in the other room. Some are stacked out on the back verandah.’

Kieran waited but she said no more, just folded the tea towel into a square. ‘For God’s sake, Mum,’ he said. ‘What are you doing?’

‘What does it look like? Getting organised.’ Verity went back into the kitchen and they followed her. She had started but not yet finished the process in there. ‘The clutter was getting ridiculous.’

‘You moved those boxes all by yourself, Verity?’ Mia said. ‘You should have waited until we were back.’

‘Most of them weren’t heavy. Cushions and ornaments.’ Verity put the kettle on. ‘I could slide the ones that were.’

Neither Kieran or Mia said anything. As the kettle rumbled, Verity stared at the sink. At last, she turned and looked at them properly.

‘I’ve been trying to pretend this move isn’t happening. But it is. And ignoring it and putting things off isn’t helping. It’s bad enough having to leave here without half my clothes and belongings getting destroyed in the process by your dad trying to help. I need to accept this and make the best of it.’ She reached for the kettle. ‘So that’s what I’m doing from now on.’

Kieran took a breath. What she said seemed genuine, but it was hard to tell with Verity these days. He looked at Mia, who gave a tiny nod.

‘I’ll get Audrey settled,’ Mia said. ‘Then we’ll give you a hand in here, Verity.’

‘You don’t have to. I can manage.’

‘We want to, Mum,’ Kieran said. ‘That’s why we came back. So you don’t have to do it all on your own.’

It was a long afternoon, but by the end at least they could see the main surfaces and floors again. As evening rolled around, Kieran was ready to do nothing more than flop into bed and he could tell Mia felt the same way. He groaned when his phone beeped with a text. Sean.

‘He’s asked if we’ll go for drinks tonight at the Surf and Turf,’ he said to Mia. ‘He says it’s been dead. Julian’s worried.’

‘Is he? I know it was pretty empty earlier, but I didn’t realise it was that bad.’ Mia stifled a yawn. ‘Are Liv and Ash going?’

‘Sounds like it.’