Chapter Six
Fern
Fern handed Everett the shirt she’d brought back up to the bedroom. He’d ironed it this morning but left it downstairs when she was on the phone and he darted upstairs to avert a crisis. Their sons were fighting because according to Cooper, Jacob had used his toothbrush and according to Jacob the only thing he’d be using his brother’s toothbrush for was to clean the dirty marksout of the toilet bowl.
Everett leaned in to kiss Fern and picked up on her tension. ‘They’re siblings, they fight, nothing to stress about.’
‘They didn’t used to fight this badly.’ She put in one of her earrings and took the other from her palm. ‘They once got along well.’
Everett did up the buttons of his shirt and turned up the collar to loop over his tie. ‘They still do, but bickering isa fact of life.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ She’d been applying her lipstick in the mirror but turned to face her husband now.
‘Nothing.’ He took position in front of the mirror, secured the knot in his tie and shifted it up to the buttons. ‘But we have been bickering more lately, haven’t we? I suppose it happens in every marriage.’
‘Not in our marriage.’ Or at least it hadn’t been happeninguntil recently.
‘I’ve got to go, Fern. I’m late as it is.’ He looked at his watch as though to prove a point. ‘We’ll talk more later.’
‘You’re miffed I’m going to Butterbury.’ She didn’t want them to stop talking, not yet.
He sighed. ‘I’m notmiffed.A little surprised, that’s all.’
‘I’ve said I’ll come back for the Christmas party the day before, get everything sorted and then return to Butterbury.’It wasn’t ideal but it was the only practical solution. ‘And besides, perhaps some time apart might do us good.’
Her remark had scared him more than she’d intended. ‘You want time away from our marriage?’
‘That wasn’t what I said, it’s a few weeks, that’s all.’
‘I get the feeling there’s something you’re not telling me. Is there?’
‘Of course not. I’m worried about my grandad, I told you.’
What she hadn’t told him was that she was worried about so much more. In the middle of the night she’d woken up with a desperate need to pinpoint exactly when she’d last felt herself in control but not in an over-the-top kind of way. And she’d realised it had been years ago. Before her dad died, before her life was smashed to pieces and her family was tugged this way and that. Ever since, she’d graduallybecome more and more focused on doing every little thing right. Because staying on top of things, giving her life structure, meant she was ready for anything bad to come her way and it wouldn’t knock her sideways if it did.
When the doorbell went, Fern dashed downstairs and took in a delivery.
Everett followed her down soon after. ‘What did you order this time?’ He eyed the box while she pouredthe fresh coffee she’d had brewing into a Thermos and handed it to him.
She was grinning. ‘You’re going to love them – I ordered some festive booze balls, kind of a bonbonniére for the guests at the party – adult guests. I’ll fill each one with red wine.’
He thanked her for the coffee and set it onto the side table while he put on his shoes. ‘We’ve plenty of the Shiraz from the last wine order,use that for the bonbon things,’ he said, tying the second lace as he sat on the bottom stair.
‘I was thinking the merlot.’
He shook his head and looked as though he was biting down on his lip when he stood up.
‘Everett, if you’ve got something you need to say just say it.’
‘I wouldn’t dare.’
Did he have to make it worse by using such a condescending tone of voice? With the frustration stilllooming from last night, his attitude this morning, Fern felt the pressure inside her head rise.
The next thing she knew she was hissing at him in a low voice so the boys couldn’t hear. ‘You know what, sod the party this year! You clearly don’t want it, it’s obviously an issue. So I am done.’
‘Fern, calm down.’ He put on his coat and picked up his coffee. Clearly her losing her temper wasn’tenough to stop him getting to work on time.
‘I mean it, the party is off, I’ve had enough.’
