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‘Nearly six months.’
‘Has it been that long? It can’t have been. Are you sure it’s that long?’ Kate glanced at Robin.
‘Yes, almost. It was just before Christmas, anyway.’
‘Goodness, time flies. I’m just thrilled he’s got time to pop down to see us all together.’
‘Yes, aren’t we lucky?’ Robin couldn’t hide the note of sarcasm in his voice.
‘There’s no need to be like that, darling. He’s very busy, as you know.’
‘I’m just saying it’s been a while, that’s all. And you cut him a lot more slack than you allow Flora.’ And just like that the words were out there.
‘I’m sorry but that’s just not true. I mean, how could you say that?’
‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…’ Robin realised his timing was terrible. He needed to get Kate back on side if he wanted to get through the afternoon without her scowling at him every time he spoke. ‘He’s very busy, I do understand.’
‘Yes, he is. His job is very demanding, as you well know. Flora has her hands full too – I’m not saying that what she does isn’t equally important – it’s just different, that’s all.’ They turned into the track leading to Flora and Johnny’s house.
‘Right, come on, darling,’ said Robin. ‘Let’s enjoy our day.’
* * *
Lunch was a jolly affair, despite the empty chair. Billy had finally replied to Flora’s message to say he was running late and to start without him. Flora popped up and down, whack-a-mole-like, fetching plates, grabbing glasses, passing dishes around. Johnny offered to help but, in an unspoken trade-off, agreed with a glance between them that he was on hosting duty. He knew Flora was happy as long as he carried on talking to her parents. The children were on their best behaviour, answering questions politely; Flora’s promise of hot chocolate topped with marshmallows before bed had worked like a dream.
Robin sat at one end of the table, shaded by the branches of the horse chestnut at the bottom of the garden now in spectacular flower. ‘You’re going to have plenty of conkers later this year, by the looks of it,’ he said, glancing up. ‘You must have played conkers at school, Tom?’
Tom looked at his grandfather blankly.
Johnny came to his rescue. ‘They banned it at school, apparently.’
‘Why on earth would they do that?’ Kate was incredulous.
‘Too dangerous, they said.’ Johnny shrugged to show his solidarity.
Robin looked at Pip and Tom. ‘Well, when you come this year I’ll show you both how to make a champion conker. I used to be a demon at it in my day.’ His blue eyes lit up as he spoke.
‘Any news from your brother?’ said Kate.
Flora could sense the effort in her mother’s voice as Kate tried to sound calm, despite her obvious annoyance at her son’s tardiness.
‘Yes, he’ll be here any minute. I’ve saved him some food. Kids, why don’t you go and wait for him out the front, wave him down?’ But before they could get there, a screech of tyres on gravel signalled Billy’s arrival. The children squealed and jumped from their seats, racing to greet him.
‘I’ll just grab his plate.’ Flora went inside, hoping to intercept him. She planned to prime him on the job-news front so that he could at least act like it wasn’t a total disaster – in fact, maybe a blessing in disguise – even if she didn’t quite feel that way about it now she was faced with the prospect of telling her parents.
But Pip and Tom had pulled their uncle from the car, dragging him through the small gate at the side of the house. He walked into the garden, carrying each child like a rugby ball under his arms as they wriggled, helpless with laughter.
‘Look what I found!’ Billy grinned, blond hair falling into his eyes.
‘Put me down!’ Pip protested, beating his chest with her fists.
‘OK, fine… here you go.’ He put them both back on their feet. ‘Sorry I’m late, Johnny.’ They shook hands warmly. ‘Hi, Mum.’ He moved to kiss Kate first, ducking down to reach under the brim of her wide straw hat. ‘Hey, Dad, how are you?’ He kissed his father on the cheek.
‘Finally!’ Flora came out of the back door, walking towards her brother with her arms outstretched. ‘Take your time, why don’t you?’
Billy gave her a bear hug. ‘I’m so sorry, Flo. Traffic was terrible…’
‘You also had a late night, I can tell.’ She spoke quietly so their parents wouldn’t hear. ‘Your eyes are still bloodshot.’
