Summer at the Dog & Duck Read online

  ‘Sorry, we’re closed,’ I called out.

  ‘Ellie, it’s Max. Can you let me in?’

  Quickly, I went across to the main entrance and unbolted the lock, pulling open the door.

  ‘Sorry to turn up so late, but I saw the light on, I hoped you might still be up. Oh hi,’ he said, addressing Josie.

  ‘I was just on the way home,’ she explained, ‘so I’ll leave you two to it.’

  ‘Really, there’s no need. I can’t be long,’ said Max, ‘so if you hang on a moment I can give you a lift home, if you need one.’

  ‘It’s no problem. I was going to walk. It’s not very far.’

  ‘No, really, don't be silly. It's on my way.’

  ‘Ooh thanks, Max, that’s very kind.’

  ‘Is there something wrong?’ I asked, wondering what this midnight visit was in aid of. ‘Did you collect Katy?’

  ‘Yes, she’s at the house now, but she left one of her bags in Spain, the one that contained all her toiletries and make-up. This is a disaster akin to the end of the world apparently. Who knew?’ He rolled his eyes, and shrugged. ‘She tells me she won’t be able to sleep if she can’t take her make-up off. And all sorts of terrible things will happen to her spots. Not that I can see any spots, but it seems quite important to Katy. I suggested soap and water, but that didn’t go down very well at all. I don’t suppose you can help me out, can you?’

  ‘Of course,’ I said, laughing. ‘Hang on a minute and I’ll go and grab some things.’

  Upstairs, I found a spare make-up bag and filled it with some sample beauty products I had lying around in my drawers.

  ‘These should see her through to the morning,’ I said, handing them over to Max, ‘but I’ve got to go into town tomorrow so I could always pick up some bits for Katy if you let me know what she needs.’

  ‘You are my lifesaver, Ellie,’ he said, clasping my face in his hands and kissing me. ‘Do you fancy coming down for breakfast tomorrow. You’ll probably have more of a way with Katy than I do, and honestly, you’d be doing me a massive favour.’

  So, early the following morning, with Digby at my side, we crunched across the gravel leading to Braithwaite Manor, Max’s magnificent country home. I’d been here on several occasions now, but still the sight of the imposing Georgian building was enough to set off butterflies in my stomach. We walked around to the back entrance where Holly and Bella, Max’s rowdy Irish setters, were waiting enthusiastically to greet us, sweeping up Digby in their excitement, the three dogs dashing into the garden, their tails wagging furiously.

  ‘Oh, am I pleased to see you,’ said Max, relief peppering his words. ‘Come in.’ He slipped an arm around my waist and pulled me into his side, the tempting aromas of fresh coffee, frying bacon and the essence of Max competing for my attention. No competition. I’d pick Max every time.

  ‘How’s it going?’ I mouthed.

  ‘She’s not up yet. She was pleased with those bits you provided though. I guess it must be strange for her coming here where she doesn’t know anyone. We’re just tiptoeing around each other at the moment.’

  ‘Has she said anything about what’s been happening at home?’

  ‘Nothing. To be honest, she’s barely said a word.’

  I sat down on one of the oak carvers at the farmhouse kitchen table, cupping my hands around the mug of coffee Max had handed me. ‘She’s probably just exhausted. Sounds as though she’s had a lot going on recently. A few days’ rest and recuperation and I bet she’ll be back to her usual self.’

  ‘I hope so. But I can’t help feeling I’m out of my depth here. I’m used to dealing with mouthy subbies and demanding clients, I know exactly what to say to them, but teenage girls, even if this one happens to be my sister, are a mystery to me.’

  I smiled at Max’s obvious bemusement. ‘Don’t worry too much about it. Let Katy lead the way. I’m sure she’ll talk to you when she’s good and ready, it will all work out fine, you’ll see.’

  ‘Oh…’

  We hadn’t heard the bare-footed approach of Katy who was now standing in the threshold to the kitchen looking at us warily, big brown eyes darting from me to Max, as if she might disappear back where she came from at any moment. A furry onesie with bunny ears swamped her tiny frame.

  ‘Katy! I was just going to give you a shout. Breakfast is almost ready. Come on through. This is Ellie, my girlfriend. We have her to thank for coming to the rescue last night with the toiletries.’

  ‘Hi,’ she said. ‘And thanks.’

  ‘Hello Katy, no problem,’ I said, standing up to greet her, before making a quick decision not to go in for the welcoming hug as, with hers arms wrapped tight around her chest and her gaze averted to the floor, I was getting the district impression she wasn’t ready for such social niceties. Shaking hands wouldn’t have worked either, so instead I wrapped my arms around me, mirroring her body stance. ‘It’s great to meet you.’ In all honesty, I was still replaying Max’s words over in my head, ‘Ellie, my girlfriend.’ It had the most delightful ring to it.

  ‘What happened to Sasha?’ she asked, her question cutting like a knife through my daydreaming.

  ‘We split,’ said Max, matter-of-factly. ‘You knew that? Last year sometime.’

  ‘She was cool,’ said Katy, before padding over to the fridge, helping herself to a glass of milk and pulling out a chair at the table.

  I nodded. Well, she had a point. Sasha was pretty cool. I still hadn’t discovered what business she’d had with Max the other day, but now probably wasn’t the time to ask.

  ‘Come on, get stuck in,’ he said now, bustling around the table. ‘Before it gets cold. There’re pancakes, bacon, blueberries, maple syrup. And some scrambled eggs, if you fancy them. Just help yourself.’ He dropped knives and forks into the middle of the table with a clatter, before pulling out a chair to join us. The dogs had returned from their romp around the grounds and were mooching around between our legs on the lookout for any stray crumbs.

  ‘Well, look at all this,’ I said, trying much too hard, I knew, to inject some goodwill into the kitchen. ‘Usually I make do with a coffee and a slice of toast, so this is a proper treat.’ Katy was half-heartedly running her fork through some eggs, pushing them around her plate. ‘This is your first time at the manor, isn’t it?’ I asked her. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘It’s all right,’ she shrugged.

  ‘Only all right?’ I said, forcing a laugh. ‘I think Max has done an amazing job. Braithwaite Manor is the most beautiful house I’ve ever been in.’ He’d put his heart and soul into restoring the old property, it had been a real labour of love for him over several years and he was rightly proud of the transformation. It saddened me to think that the first member of his family to step over the threshold could be so utterly underwhelmed.

  ‘I didn’t realise it would be in the middle of nowhere,’ she said as though she’d landed in the wilds of a remote island.

  ‘It’s not that bad. There’s a bus that goes into town, every couple of hours I think, and there’s a big shopping centre, with a cinema and theatre, and loads of bar and restaurants. You can get a train into London from there too, it only takes about forty minutes. We’ve got the best of all worlds here and Little Leyton definitely has it charms.’ Although judging by Katy’s reaction, I suspected they were lost on her. ‘Admittedly we don’t share the same amazing climate as Spain, but apparently we’re due a heatwave this year.’

  ‘Well, that would be something to look forward to,’ said Max.

  ‘It gets far too hot in Spain,’ said Katy. ‘That’s something else I don’t like about living there.’

  ‘Oh well, I do hope we have a good summer,’ I said, ignoring Katy’s allusion to the fact that there might be a whole long list of things she didn’t like about Spain. ‘The highlight of the Little Leyton social calendar is the summer fair,’ I told her. ‘It’s always such a brilliant day with lots of different events like a coconut shy, a children’s carouse
l, Punch and Judy show, face painting, a dog show. And then there’re all the friendly competitions that everyone can get involved in; best fruit cake, best sponge cake, best vegetables, biggest marrow, that sort of thing. This year we’re having an evening bash as well.’

  Katy stopped, her fork midway to her mouth, and I detected an almost imperceptible roll of her eyes. Thinking about it, I probably hadn't sold it that well. It was hardly the height of cool to a cosmopolitan teenager.

  ‘It really is exciting as it sounds,’ said Max chuckling, not really helping my case.

  ‘It is!’ I protested. ‘It’s wonderful, just like something from an episode of Midsomer.’

  ‘Don’t they all get murdered in that?’ said Katy.

  ‘Um yes.’ I said, realising it probably wasn’t the best example. ‘We do try and avoid murdering each other, but having worked with the summer fair committee before, I can see how these things happen.’

  Max was still chuckling. ‘Look Katy, don’t worry. You’ll be pleased to hear you’ll be back in Spain by then so you’ll be spared the delights of the Little Leyton summer fair.’

  Katy pushed her plate away, with more force than she intended, as the remains of her eggs scattered over the white tablecloth.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ I said, jumping into action and scooping them up on to my empty plate and taking the dishes over to the sink.

  ‘I’ve only just got here, Max,’ she accused him. ‘And already you’re wanting to send me home again. I knew you didn’t want me here. Not really.’

  ‘Katy, it was a joke. I didn’t mean anything by it.’

  ‘Well, I’m not going back to Spain. No way. I don’t care what you say or what anyone says I’m never going back there.’

  I ran the hot tap filling the sink with water and suds, anything to distract from the tension now crackling across the kitchen table.

  ‘What’s happened, Katy?’ Max edged his chair closer to hers, his voice warm and comforting, but I suspected she wouldn’t want to open up with me there. They needed time alone together, one on one.

  ‘Look, I’m going to go, leave you two to chat together.’

  ‘No, don’t,’ said Max, reaching out his hand to me.

  ‘Don’t leave because of me,’ said Katy sulkily.

  ‘Well,’ I said, uncertain what to do now, ‘I’m sure whatever has been going on is just a misunderstanding and it will blow over. I remember when I was a teenager I was always having big rows with my parents, and storming out of the house, vowing never to return.’

  ‘You really have no idea,’ said Katy, in a withering tone.

  ‘There’s no need to be rude,’ said Max, chastising her. ‘And besides, you’ll have to go back at some point, Katy.’

  ‘No, I won’t. Not if I don’t want to. You can’t make me. None of you can.’

  ‘Oh Katy, Mum’s worried about you. She only wants what’s best for you. For you to be happy. It might not seem that way to you, but it’s the truth.’

  ‘Huh, I doubt that very much. She only worries about keeping Alan happy. She might think the sun shines out of his arse, but I don’t…’

  ‘Katy, please!’

  ‘…and I don’t see why I should take any notice of him anyway, he’s not even my father. They don’t want me there. And you don’t want me here either. Well that’s fine, I’ll go somewhere else.’

  ‘No one’s saying they don’t want you here. Believe you me, if I hadn’t wanted you to come I would have said so to Mum. You’re welcome to stay but you just need to give some thought to what you’re going to do next. That’s all. You must have something in mind?’

  ‘No, not really,’ she said, dropping her defiant gaze as I heard the distinct wobble to her voice. ‘But I’m an adult now. I can do exactly what I like.’

  ‘You’re hardly an adult, Katy. You’re seventeen, for …’ Max just stopped himself from saying anything further, but his frustration, which he’d been doing well to keep a lid on, filled the air.

  ‘Well maybe now’s not the time to have this conversation,’ I said lightly, trying to defuse the bubbling tension.

  ‘I should have known,’ said Katy to Max. ‘You’re just like Mum and… that idiot husband of hers! I don’t know why I expected anything different.’ She pushed back her chair, scraping the legs against the floor, the ear-splitting sound making me wince. ‘Don’t worry, I won’t stay around here where I’m not wanted.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous. Where on earth would you go?’

  ‘I could go anywhere I wanted to, just watch me.’

  Max flashed me a glance. I don’t think either of us was in any doubt that she meant every word she said.

  ‘Look, Katy,’ said Max, his tone more conciliatory now. ‘I’m not being difficult, honestly. I’m just trying to understand. Talk to me. Tell me what this is all about. Something bad must have happened for you to quit school without finishing your exams, it doesn’t make sense. Mum always says what a good student you are and what good grades you were achieving. It’s madness to turn your back on all of that. Isn’t it, Ellie?’

  ‘Max has got a point,’ I said, really wishing I wasn’t party to this conversation.

  ‘Decent qualifications are more important than ever these days. Ellie’s got a degree and an accountancy qualification. Once you’ve got something like that no one can take it away from you.’

  Katy span round from the window where she’d been gazing out over the garden. ‘Well, it didn’t do you any harm, did it?’

  I stood at the draining board, drying the crockery with a tea towel and twisting my mouth in an attempt to stop the smile playing on my lips.

  Max had never hidden the fact that he’d hated school and left as soon as he could. He’d gone straight out to work, picking up jobs on building sites, learning a trade that would hold him in good stead for his future, very successful, career.

  ‘That’s different. I wasn’t academic in the slightest. But you are. Don’t think that any of this has come easy to me,’ he said, gesturing around him, ‘because it hasn’t. It took me years to gain this level of success. I’m not sure if I was starting out today that I would even have a chance of achieving any of this. I’d probably need all sorts of qualifications now.’

  ‘You don’t need to worry about me, Max. I’m really not your problem. I’ll be out of your way as soon as I can and then you can forget I was even here.’

  ‘Don’t be like that, Katy. Of course, I’m going to worry about you. I’m your brother. And I know you may not think so, but I am on your side here.’

  Katy chewed on the side of her fingernail. Her highly charged emotions filling the space around us.

  Up close, she looked even younger than her years. Her pale skin and freckles belied the fact that she’d spent her formative years growing up in Spain. Now with the morning sun filtering through the kitchen windows it caught the warm coppery highlights of her hair. Where Max was tall and broad, Katy was tiny, with not an ounce of fat on her bones, but there was something in the way they held themselves that gave away the family connection. And there was no doubt that beneath her fragile appearance, Katy shared the same strong and determined personality of her brother.

  ‘I’m going out,’ she said decisively, heading for the back door.

  ‘Where?’ asked Max, unable to hide the concern from his voice.

  ‘Just out. For a walk. That is allowed, isn’t it?’

  ‘Well don’t be too long. Why don’t you take the dogs…’

  The door slammed shut before Max could finish his sentence.

  ‘Katy!’ he yelled, turning to dash after her.

  ‘Don’t, Max.’ I grabbed his arm, pulling him back towards me. ‘Let her go. It’ll do her good to get some fresh air. There’ll be plenty of time for talking later.’

  I just wasn't sure whether Katy would be prepared to listen.

  Six

  ‘Hmm, that went well,’ said Max, giving a wry smile, as he watched his sister march off d
own the drive. ‘I handled that completely wrongly, didn’t I?’

  ‘No, I don’t think so. Perhaps she’s not ready to open up just yet. She’s probably feeling completely overwhelmed by everything that’s happened and the realisation that she’s actually away from home now.’

  ‘Well, I wish she’d come with an instruction manual because I honestly had no idea what to do there.’

  I laughed, relieved that the tension had swept out of the building, alongside Katy. ‘Come here,’ I said, beckoning him into my arms. ‘She’ll come round, you’ll see. At the moment she thinks everyone’s against her and she’s coming out fighting. Give her a few days and then, when emotions are a little less high, sit down with her and see if you can talk things through properly.’

  ‘Yes, you’re probably right. Thanks for coming, Ells,’ he said, planting a kiss on my forehead. ‘I can’t tell you how far out of my comfort zone all this is. You being here made all the difference.’

  ‘Did it? I kind of felt in the way a bit. As though I was intruding on personal family business.’

  ‘No.’ Max shook his head. ‘Not at all. I was so pleased you were here.’ Max squeezed my hand. Everything seems much more manageable when you’re around.’ His gaze lingered on mine for a moment.

  Max wasn’t one for huge outpourings of emotion but occasionally his words came unexpectedly, touching me deep down inside with their sincerity and honesty.

  ‘So what did you make of Katy then?’ he asked me.

  I couldn’t help but like her. ‘She seems like a great kid, beneath all that attitude. Obviously she’s hurting inside and that’s so sad to see.’ Honestly I just wanted to wrap her in my arms and tell her everything would be all right. Although I’m not sure how well that would have gone down.

  ‘I’m beginning to get an idea of how things must have been in Spain for Mum and Alan. Katy’s going through, what shall we call it… a difficult phase. And to be honest, I’m not sure what the answer is.’ He let out a heartfelt sigh. ‘I guess we’ll just have to see how it goes and hope we can work out something between us. Anyway, enough about my little sister.’ He tipped my chin up with his finger. ‘Do you have to rush back or can you stay awhile?’