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‘I’ll check with Ruth,’ says Nelson. ‘She was going to do some soil analysis.’
It’s an excuse, at any rate.
Somehow Ruth gets through the morning. She drives Kate to school and promises to pick her up at three thirty. Judy has said that Kate can still go back to their place but Ruth doesn’t want to bother her. She knows there has been no news of Cathbad.
Last night in Nelson’s cul-de-sac, Ruth had put her hand on Kate’s arm.
‘Let’s give him the card another time.’
‘I want to give it to him now,’ said Kate. Nelson did not glance in their direction. He and Michelle followed George and the dog along the pavement. Nelson was no longer touching Michelle but they were walking so closely together that no daylight was visible between them. Laura and Rebecca followed, Rebecca checking her phone, Laura calling ahead to her parents. ‘Wait for us!’ ‘Walk faster then,’ shouted Nelson. Laughter. Bruno barking.
Kate was looking at Ruth. ‘Let’s go home, Mum.’
Kate was uncharacteristically silent for the rest of the journey home. What did she make of what she had seen? Ruth suspects that Kate is concerned for her. After all, seeing Nelson with his wife is nothing new for Kate. It seems wrong for a daughter to worry about her mother but, last night, Ruth couldn’t find the words to reassure her. Ruth made supper and they watched a Marvel film. Later, Ruth found the wine and drank it all. Now, as she drives the short distance from the school to the university, she still feels slightly hungover and cushioned from reality. Nelson had texted her last night: ‘Michelle and George here. Will explain.’ Well, maybe he would explain but he couldn’t eradicate what Ruth had seen with her own eyes. A happy, united family going for a walk with their dog. Later Nelson had texted, ‘See you tomorrow?’ Ruth hadn’t answered.
Ruth parks her car in its usual space under the lime tree. She takes out her briefcase and walks towards the Natural Sciences building. The banner still hangs from the windows.Save UNN Arch. Dr Ruth rocks.At least, thinks Ruth, feeling slightly cheered, this is somewhere I will always belong. Until her department is closed, of course.
It’s nearly the end of term and the campus is quiet. Lots of students have already left and there’s a melancholy feeling to the empty lecture theatres and the notices offering textbooks for sale. ‘Never used,’ boasts one. Ruth has a marking meeting in the morning and she knows that David wants a ‘council of war’ about their campaign. She’s also planning to avoid Colin until she has made up her mind about the dean’s job.
She’s further soothed by her office and a cup of strong coffee. So much so that she actually answers a call from Nelson on her phone.
‘I’m ringing about the soil samples from Grime’s Graves,’ says Nelson. ‘About matching them to the dust on Emily’s remains.’
So, this is how he’s going to play it, thinks Ruth. Work first, reunion with his wife later.
‘I’ll ring Jamie Stirland at the site today,’ she says coolly. ‘Perhaps I can go over after work.’
‘Won’t you have Katie with you? I don’t suppose she can go back to Cathbad’s house. . .’
‘Kate,’ says Ruth, emphasising the name, as she has done hundreds– thousands– of times before. ‘Kate will find it very interesting.’
Nelson is silent for a minute and then says, ‘Why didn’t you answer my texts yesterday?’
Ruth sighs. ‘What was there to say?’
‘Michelle and George turned up unexpectedly. Laura and Rebecca planned it. As a surprise. For Father’s Day.’
‘How nice.’
‘Well, it was nice to see Georgie,’ says Nelson, sounding goaded.
‘I bet it was. Kate and I drove to London to see my dad. That wasn’t so much fun.’
‘I bet your dad was pleased to see Katie, though.’
‘He was,’ says Ruth, relenting slightly. ‘Kate’s made you a card.’
‘That’s nice. Shall I pop round tonight? After you’ve been to Grime’s Graves?’
It’s the word ‘pop’ that does it. Nelson is allotting them a brief portion of time before rushing back to his wife. Again. ‘How long is Michelle staying?’ asks Ruth.
‘A week,’ says Nelson.
‘Then I’ll see you in a week,’ says Ruth. ‘Bye now.’
Nelson wishes he could slam the phone back down on its cradle. But that’s impossible with a mobile. He contents himself with throwing the device across the room. Really, he thinks, getting more aggrieved by the moment, it’s not his fault that Michelle and George turned up out of the blue. And Ruth was the one who didn’t want to come to the lunch, for God’s sake. He tries not to remember how relieved he had felt about this decision.
The door opens while someone is still knocking on it. Only one person does that.
