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“Yet you’ve got time to watch a football match this afternoon. No doubt with Beth.”
“She’s coming, yes. We’re supporting an old teammate. I’m allowed a few hours off.”
“Just not a few hours to visit Dad. Again. Distant family and old acquaintances first.”
Carly tightened her grip on the lead.
Why did every argument lead back to Beth? It wasn’t Carly’s fault Beth was their half-sister, the product of an affair that had happened before either of them was born. If anyone had reason to be furious with Beth after her stunt with Lauren, it was Carly. Not Samantha.
“I’ll visit Dad,” Carly said, because she wanted the conversation to end more than she wanted to win it. “And I’ll have the girls back soon. The rest will have to wait.”
She hung up.
On the playground, her eldest niece hung upside down, pigtails swaying in the breeze. Carly tried to remember what it felt like to be that carefree. Even her leisure time felt like trench warfare.
Maybe it was for the best she’d scheduled the gym equipment move for Friday night instead of agreeing to Beth’s suggestion of apology drinks. Another night out would likely end in awkwardness, humiliation, or conflict with Samantha.
Possibly all three.
“Come on, girls!” Carly called. “If you hurry, I’ll take you for cake on the way home.”
She smiled to herself.
A pit stop at the café would load her nieces with enough sugar to send them home raving about their favourite aunt, and hyper enough to torment Samantha for the rest of the afternoon. Carly wasn’t usually one for cheap shots, but her patience tank was empty. She was ready to pull the pin on a small fuck-it grenade.
With nieces and dog safely returned, and another duty done, Carly drove across the estate to the smart one-bedroom starter home Beth had rented since the divorce. Beth would have to accept it as permanent at some point, but Carly knew there would still be boxes of books behind the sofa. Just as there would be one bowl, one plate, and one spare mug for guests.
No more.
She pulled into the allocated space. Beth was already waiting at the kerb.
“Your timing’s impeccable,” Beth said, leaning an elbow on the car. “We’ve got a problem. The landlord’s been in touch about the roof repairs. I sent three quotes. He’s demanding two more.”
“He’s kidding.”
“No. And your new tenant emailed asking if you’ve looked at her proposal. She wants to start. Now.”
Carly gave a sharp laugh. “Of course she does.”
Beth slid into the passenger seat with a grunt and popped a piece of gum into her mouth. “You could just tell her no. You don’t owe her anything.”
“I know that. It’s not her I want to help. It’s the business.” Carly turned the key in the ignition. “Samantha went to see Dad today and started the conversation about him moving into care.”
“You didn’t go?” Beth asked. “It’s been weeks.”
“Don’t start. I will.”
Beth watched her closely as Carly checked over her shoulder and reversed. Berkeley’s spare lead lay on the back seat, and the sight of it made her heart heavy with sadness and inevitability.
“We can talk about it, if you like,” Beth said.
“No, thank you.” Carly pulled away from the kerb. “I’ll email the landlord. Leave that with me.”
“And Lauren?”
“I’ll read her proposal tonight.”
Beth rolled the gum around her mouth. “I expect she’ll be the first name on the team sheet this afternoon. Unless her ex called.”
