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‘Today. I went to the stables and told her it was over, that I wanted to try to make a go of things with you. We agreed that, under the circumstances, it would be best if I started looking for a new groom. She’s going to stay until I find one, and then she’ll go.’
‘Okay, thank you. How do you propose to deal with her in the meantime? I’m not comfortable with you being alone with her, for obvious reasons.’
‘I’m not sure yet, but I take your point. I’ll figure something out and let you know. What else?’
‘You’re going to book a doctor’s appointment and get tested for STDs.’
He looks horrified. ‘Is that really necessary?’
‘Did you and Becky use condoms?’
There is an awkward pause before he answers. ‘No.’
‘I thought not. I don’t know Becky’s sexual history so, for my peace of mind, I’d like you to be tested please.’
‘But what if word gets out, or I see someone I know at the surgery? It’ll be so embarrassing.’
In spite of the seriousness of our conversation, I can’t help smiling at his naivety. ‘Come on, James. This is a village, so the likelihood is that everyone knows already. I expect they’ve been whispering behind my back in the shop for months.’
He smiles ruefully. ‘Oh, God. I’m so sorry. I never even thought of that… I’ll call the surgery first thing.’
‘I’ve also called an engineer to come and look at the Aga.’
‘I don’t know about that one, Soph,’ he starts. ‘Things are really tight at the moment, and we can’t afford any…’
‘Sorry, but that’s bollocks,’ I cut him off. ‘Tell me something. How is it that we can’t afford to get a vital household appliance fixed, but your mother can afford weekly Ocado deliveries, a cleaner, and all the rest of it?’
He pauses again, obviously trying to work out how much to tell me. ‘Dad left a letter of wishes with his will, stating that he expected me to make sure Mum was able to live comfortably until she either died or remarried. He specified a monthly allowance that should keep pace with inflation.’
‘How much does she get?’
‘At the moment, she gets fifteen hundred pounds a month.’
‘Bloody hell, James! That’s a fortune. How does the farm afford it?’
‘We can’t, really, but I feel like I owe it to her. It’s not her fault he died and left her on her own, is it?’
‘So you think it’s okay that she can order in the best of everything, while I’m chasing the guy with the markdown stickers round the Co-op to try to save a few pennies?’
‘No, of course I don’t, but what am I supposed to do?’
‘Be honest with her! Tell her that the farm can’t afford to keep paying her that much, and that you need the money for other things.’
He looks unconvinced, and I know he doesn’t want to address it with Rosalind, so I continue.
‘Look, it’s up to you. She’s your mother. All I’m saying is that it’s not fair to expect me to count every penny and put up with Tony’s bodges on the Aga while she’s raking it in. I’m not saying I’m suddenly going to take up golf or want a cleaner, but I should be able to get stuff fixed without having to beg.’
‘Fine. I’ll see what I can do. Is that it?’
I’ve saved the one I know he’ll hate the most till last.
‘Only one more. I think we should get counselling.’
His face falls. ‘Anything but that, please. You know how I feel about navel-gazing.’
‘I do, but we have to face the fact that something has gone badly wrong here. Think of it like the Aga: we could try to fix it ourselves, but we don’t really know what we’re doing. Doesn’t it make sense to get help from a professional? I rang various places, but the only one that didn’t have a long waiting list was a group session in Okehampton, so I’ve signed us up. They meet on Tuesday evenings.’
‘A group session?’ James looks absolutely horrified. ‘You mean, we have to talk about this stuff in front ofother people?’
