We exchange numbers and I promise to text him my address.
As I drive away, I’m still smiling. And something tells memy high spirits aren’t entirely to do with winning the award...
CHAPTER FOUR
I phone Dad in the car before I leave. I know he’llhave been waiting on tenterhooks for my news.
‘Oh my God, Dad, I did it!’
‘Oh, Martha, love... congratulations. Ihad a feeling you’d do it but I was trying not to get my hopes up,’ he says,sounding a bit choked. ‘I’m so, so proud of you.’
Tears prick my eyes. ‘Thanks, Dad.’
‘You’re on your way, Kiddo. Next step book published.’
I laugh, loving his confidence in me. ‘I’ve only won thelocal heat, remember. I need to beat a lot more talented writers to win thatpublishing deal.’
‘Yes, I know. But the main thing is, your talent has beenrecognised! By people who are successful authors themselves. And that’sincredible.’
‘I suppose it is.’
I hear a female voice in the background and realise he mustbe at home. Our long-time cleaner, Linda, must have been there this afternoon.I can hear Dad conveying my exciting news to her.
‘Linda says congratulations and can she come to the booksigning?’ he says, coming back on the phone.
Laughing, I ask him if she’ll still be there when I getback. I really like Linda and I can tell Dad does, too. They’re similar agesand she’s been divorced for a while now. But the topic of relationships issomething we can never talk about. Whenever I broach the subject, Dad justshuts things down and walks off – so all I can do is live in hope that one day,he’ll accept that Mum is never coming back and move on...
I persuaded him to get a cleaner when I moved out briefly tolive with Geraint. And when I moved back in, the arrangement continued. It’s Linda’scompany. She was a one-woman band when she first came to clean for Dad, but herbusiness has grown and she now employs around twenty staff. But for all she’sthe boss, she still likes to keep her hand in, so she continues to clean forsome of her favourite original clients, including Dad.
‘She’s just finishing up,’ he says. ‘But if you’re quick...’
‘Okay. Back soon.’
I set off, pleased that Dad’s already home. He’s in chargeof the finance department of a popular hotel chain and he works really hard, especiallywhen he’s preparing for the company to be audited as he is at the moment. Sometimesit’s after seven by the time he gets home, but I guess he wanted to be backearly tonight to hear how it went this afternoon.
When I walk in the door, I’m expecting Linda and Dad towelcome me. But the place is strangely silent. Eventually, I hear voices comingfrom the back door, and when I go through to the utility room, they’re standingon the threshold, talking in low voices, and Linda’s smoking. I stop where I am,thinking they’ll turn and say hello, but it seems neither of them have evenheard me come in.
I feel as if I’m disturbing something.
But the biggest shock of all is that Dad’s also smoking.
He gave up in his thirties and hasn’t smoked since. He’salways sworn it was the best decision he ever made. So why has he startedagain?
‘Hi, you two,’ I murmur, and they both turn.
Dad, looking sheepish, quickly drops the cigarette on thepaving stones outside and closes the door, and Linda’s face lights up in asmile. She comes over and gives me a big hug.
‘Oh, Martha. Your dad told me. Well done. You’ve worked sohard on your writing and finally, it’s happening.’
‘Aw, thanks. I hope so. Can you stay for a glass ofchampagne?’ I ask, spying Dad in the background, waving a bottle.
‘Ooh, tempting.’ She smiles at Dad and he nods hopefully.‘But I’d better not. I’m driving and alcohol tends to knock all common senseout of me. But you have a lovely celebration, the two of you.’
A knowing expression passes between them. And then Linda isgone.
I’m puzzled by that look. There was an intimacy in theirbody language when I came upon them unexpectedly. But although I’d like tothinkit was a romantic sort of closeness, it didn’t really seem like that...
We sit at the kitchen table with a glass each, and as thebubbles slip down a treat, I tell Dad all about my amazing day, ending with thenews that I’m going to be interviewed on Kaz O’Connell’s breakfast show the dayafter tomorrow.
