A Home For Her Baby. Eleanor Jones

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СКАЧАТЬ her cornflower blue eyes open wide with surprise. “You will be back for Bobby’s funeral though?”

      “I...” began Ali. “Well.”

      Lily smiled gently, stepping forward to take hold of her hand with the typical naiveté that Ali found so refreshing. She’d met the slightly “different” member of the Roberts family on the very first night she’d stayed at The Fisherman’s Inn, the pub and guest house Grace Roberts ran with help from the rest of the family, and they’d become friends at once. It was Tom who’d eventually explained why his sister was as she was.

      Ali had been sitting in the bar with Tom, having one of the chats she had come to enjoy, when Lily, who lived and worked at home, approached to collect the glasses. “Are you going to fall in love with Tom?” she’d asked, looking at Ali with a childlike innocence.

      Rather than being embarrassed or annoyed at his sister’s outspoken question as Ali had expected, Tom just smiled indulgently, reaching across to pat her arm. “Lily always says it as it is,” he said. “You’ll get used to it... She’s special, aren’t you, Lil.’”

      “Special,” Lily repeated, her pretty face shining with delight, and Ali had thought in that moment that she did look special, kind of fey and otherworldly...like a fairy.

      After she’d gone Tom went quiet, but then, as if suddenly coming to a decision, he put down his glass and looked Ali straight in the eye. “Lily’s birth was difficult—” he said slowly, twirling a beer mat between his thumb and forefinger “—because the cord was around her neck her brain was temporarily starved of oxygen. It left her...different from other girls; she’s beautiful and kind and incredibly caring but she’ll remain a child forever. We all have to look out for her.”

      He’d looked up at her then, his dark eyes soft with emotion, and for Ali it had been a very special moment. She could see that looking out for Lily was a huge responsibility, always would be, but she also knew without a doubt that he’d never shirk it. When he said that his sister was special he meant it right from the heart. Tom Roberts, she’d decided then, was someone you knew you could always trust.

      Seeing Lily here, at the cottage, was a painful reminder of that moment...of Tom. “Does anyone know where you are?” she asked.

      Lily shrugged. “Ned was shouting so I just walked away. I don’t like it when people shout. Do you shout?”

      “I guess everyone shouts when they get cross or frustrated but some people shout louder than others.”

      “I don’t think it was your fault that Bobby got drowned anyway... Do you have any biscuits?”

      Ali handed her the cookie jar, a cold hand clamping tightly around her heart. “Does everyone else think it was my fault?”

      “Ned does, that’s why he was shouting.”

      “And Tom...does he blame me, too?”

      Lily shrugged, nibbling her cookie, totally unaware of just how much her answer meant. “Well I guess that everyone kind of blames you really because if you’d done as Tom told you and stayed out of the way then you wouldn’t have fallen overboard and Bobby wouldn’t have tried to save you.”

      When Ali’s face fell, Lily smiled. “Don’t worry,” she said softly. “They know you didn’t mean it. Mum says it was just a tragic accident and we shouldn’t lay blame, so does Tom. It’s Bobby’s funeral soon—we’re going to sing him to heaven. Please come.”

      “Oh Lily... I’m not sure that I’d be welcome.”

      “Bobby would have wanted you there... He liked you a lot.”

      For a moment Ali struggled to control a raw burst of emotion. “You really think so, Lily?” she eventually managed.

      “I know so because he told me.”

      “What...what did he tell you?”

      Lily’s forehead puckered. “He told me not to say anything but I guess it doesn’t matter now.”

      Reaching out, Ali took Lily’s small, smooth white hands in hers. “Tell me, Lily...please.”

      “He said that he was falling in love with you but you didn’t love him back yet...and anyway you were already married... Are you really married?”

      Ali nodded. “We’re having a break but...yes, I am still married.”

      “So why aren’t you with your husband?”

      At Lily’s question, so innocently asked, Ali faltered, struggling for words. She wanted to be as honest as Lily herself but what should she say? “We had some problems,” she eventually managed. “We are on a trial separation right now but we’re going to meet up soon, to talk, you know, about the future.”

      “But you won’t go until after Bobby’s funeral?”

      Lily’s earnest expression tugged at Ali’s heartstrings. “I...” she began. “I mean... I’m not sure. Ned definitely won’t want to see me there.”

      Lily shrugged. “We’re all very sad... Mum says Ned is just lashing out... Please come.”

      “Do you think Tom will want me to be there?” she couldn’t help asking.

      Lily frowned. “I heard him say to Mum that he wished Bobby had never brought you here... But he did tell Ned that it was an accident and he mustn’t blame you, and that you probably felt bad enough already... So you’ll come?”

      “I’ll think about it,” Ali promised. “Now you’d better get off home before someone comes to look for you. They’ll be worried.”

      As she watched Lily head off down Cove Road Ali wondered if perhaps she should ring the pub, just in case they were looking for her. Before she could go and get her phone she saw Lily waving excitedly at someone. Tom—it was Tom. Lily pointed back toward the cottage, gesticulating wildly, and Tom followed her gaze. When, just for a fleeting moment their eyes met and held across the distance, Ali’s heart skipped a beat. If only they’d met in another time and place, she thought with a lurch of regret, how different things between them might have been.

      * * *

      LILY WAS SO pleased to see Tom. “Hi, Tom,” she called, flicking her blond braids back over her shoulders. “I’ve been to see Ali.”

      Tom stopped in his tracks, looking toward the row of cottages. “But why would you do that, Lily?” he asked. “And you know you’re supposed to let us know where you’re going?”

      “There’s Ali,” cried Lily, ignoring him. “Look, she’s over there, outside her cottage.”

      Tom followed her gaze to where Ali stood watching them. She looked lost, he thought with a surge of guilt, and so alone. Perhaps he should have checked on her, just to make sure she was okay. When their eyes met across the distance a heavy sadness turned his limbs to lead. Should he go and talk to her?

      No, he decided, it was just too complicated right now; he needed to stay strong for the family and being close to her might cloud his judgment. In fact it really would be easier for everyone if she just went back to where she came СКАЧАТЬ