Page 70 of The Summer Escape

“I don’t know.” She bit her lip and looked to his mum.

“She’ll be absolutely fine,” Mirren told her. “I promise.”

“Okay.” Beth still didn’t look overly convinced by the idea. “If you’re sure.”

Ellie passed Trystan another biscuit, looking thoroughly pleased with herself.

CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE

Beth spent Wednesday evening and the whole of Thursday in a mild panic about leaving Ellie while she went back home. No matter how much she told herself that Ellie would be fine, she couldn’t silence the voice in her head that told her she was being irresponsible.

On the short plane ride on Friday, the feeling only intensified. She forced herself to think of the look on Ellie’s face that morning when she and Trystan had waved her off at the airport. It certainly wasn’t the face of a child who was upset about being left. If anything, Ellie was excited about the time without Beth. She’d no doubt be spoiled rotten by the Trenearys.

During the hour she spent chatting to the manager of the care home, Beth was thankful for not having Ellie there. It gave her the space to concentrate on the conversation. Not that there seemed to be anything new with her dad, except for the slight change to his medication.

Beth had long since given up any hope of her dad recognising her, but the usual pang of sadness hit her when she sat with him in the communal lounge. The first few minutes of conversation were always the worst; she’d learned to tell him that she knew him from years ago and was just calling in to see how he was doing. It was easier than trying to explain. Polite as ever, he smiled and told her it was kind of her to visit, and how nice it was to see her. Conversation flowed much more easily when she mentioned her holiday on the Scillies. He asked her questions and she enthusiastically told him how beautiful it was and described all the places she’d visited.

At lunchtime she declined the offer to eat with them and instead used it as her cue to leave. Walking out of the rather grand red-brick building on the outskirts of Plymouth, she felt a mixture of relief at having the task out of the way – and guilt at thinking of her dad as a burden.

Driving the familiar route back home in the car she’d rented at the airport, she made the usual detour to avoid passing the place where her mum had been killed.

The stale smell of the house was unwelcoming as she shoved at the door, pushing the collection of mail out of the way with the action. Dee had been over earlier in the week to go through the post but the junk mail had built up quickly.

Walking through the house, she opened windows, hoping the fresh air would make the place less depressing.

With no supplies in the kitchen, her only options were black tea or coffee, so she opted for the bottle of iced tea she’d bought at the airport.

The stillness of the house unsettled her and she was happy to hear the doorbell chime half an hour after she’d arrived. Dee had said she’d bring lunch over and Beth couldn’t have been more grateful.

“I missed you so much!” Dee said, barrelling into a tight embrace.

“You too,” Beth replied. “It’s good to see you.”

Taking a step back, Dee’s gaze travelled over Beth. “You look fab. All that sunshine and sex has obviously been doing you good.”

“Dee!” she hissed, rolling her eyes before bending to hug six-year-old Ferne. “How are you, sweetie? I think you’ve grown.”

“I’m still six,” Ferne told her, going ahead of them into the kitchen.

“How did it go at the care home?” Dee asked.

“Fine. It was all very straightforward.”

“I’ll go and visit again next week.”

“You don’t need to.” Beth was slightly put out that Dee actually seemed to enjoy visiting.

“I love old people. I was talking to the manager about volunteering there.”

“Don’t you have enough going on?”

“Yes. But I find it a very soothing place. I get chatting with the old people and forget everything else for a while.”

“I wish I felt like that. Whenever I’m there I end up stressed.”

“It’s different for you.” She laid a hand on Beth’s arm. “It’s your dad. Of course it’s difficult.”

“Where’s Ellie?” Ferne asked loudly.