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“It tickles.”
“What does?” He was funnelling the ashes from the dustpan into the urn but stopped when he saw Ellie’s nose twitching violently.
Her sneeze sent a cloud of ash rising up around Trystan. He closed his eyes and froze for a moment. Eventually, he blinked a few times, then locked eyes with Ellie. Neither of them moved, and the only sound was the rush of water in the pipes, until that came to an abrupt stop.
“I’ll be down in two minutes!” a voice called from upstairs.
Ellie’s eyes filled with big fat tears.
“Don’t cry,” Trystan said in a rush. Gently, he brushed a sheen of dust from the front of her T-shirt. “We’ve almost cleaned it all up. I don’t think your mummy would be cross with you anyway.”
Turning back to the urn, he poured the remaining ashes in and replaced the lid.
“It goes up on the high shelf,” Ellie said, pointing.
He frowned as he returned it to the cereal shelf. Maybe it wouldn’t be the cereal shelf any more. In fact, he probably wouldn’t put any food on that shelf from now on.
After wiping down the surfaces, he returned his attention to Ellie. “It’s all clean.” Hesitantly, he followed when she pulled him back through the living room. “I should stay and explain to your mum,” he protested at the door.
She shook her head. “Let’s not tell her.”
“You shouldn’t keep secrets,” he said, not comfortable with the thought of leaving without making her mum aware of his presence. “I can explain if you want.”
“I don’t want to make Mummy more sad.”
“But—”
She cut him off, shoving at his leg. For a tiny thing, she was forceful in pushing him outside.
“Bye,” she said as she closed the door on him.
He stood still on the path, wondering whether he ought to be more adamant about staying to explain the situation. But maybe it was fine not to; the ashes were all cleaned up as though nothing had happened. Did he want to get more involved? Not really. What he wanted to do was get back to his jog.
As the sun broke through a gap in fluffy cumulus clouds, he glanced down at his navy-blue T-shirt, which was covered in grey ash. He brushed it off as best he could, then set off along the lane at a steady pace.
CHAPTERFOUR
“Who were you talking to?” Beth asked, towelling her shoulder-length hair dry as she came down the stairs.
Ellie didn’t look up from the picture she was drawing while kneeling at the coffee table. “My new friend.”
“Who’s your new friend?” Beth assumed they were a figment of her daughter’s imagination. Although after the way she’d invited Noah in for a tea party last week, it was hard to know.
“I don’t know his name, but he’s very kind.”
“Okay.” Beth smiled dismissively and continued rubbing her hair as she perched on the edge of the couch. “We need to go and talk to Mirren to settle the bill this morning. We have to pack all our things today too. I might start on that now while you’re busy. Then we’ll be able to enjoy the beach without worrying about having to come back and pack later.”
Ellie remained engrossed in her picture, and Beth realised she may as well be talking to herself. Slinging the towel across the end of the couch, she crossed the room and once again opened the cupboard where she’d stashed her mum’s ashes. If she was going to scatter them on the island it had to be today, but her stomach clenched at the thought of parting with them.
“Are you okay, Mummy?”
She smiled down at Ellie. “Yes. I’m okay.”
“Do you miss Granny?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her bottom lip quivering. Her throat felt like sandpaper, and she had to swallow hard before she could speak. “I think it’s a very good idea to come back here again next year.”
“Will we bring Granny with us again?”
