Grace got back to the cottage a few hours later, as dusk began to fall. She opened the door with Millie half-asleep in her arms, and was about to call hello, but stopped as she heard Annabel talking. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help but hear what Annabel was saying.
‘Don’t worry, I’ll make the deadline … I got some good stuff today, so I’ll write it up quickly.’ There was a pause, then, ‘Really? Oh, that’s so exciting, I can’t believe I’ll miss it. I don’t think we’re doing anything for New Year – Grace has barely mentioned it. I’m stuck here in this crappy cottage, freezing my arse off. My sister seems obsessed with the place, and it’s beginning to freak me out –’
Grace pushed the lounge door open with a bang and saw Annabel’s shock turn to dismay. ‘Zoe, I’ll have to call you back,’ she said, and hung up. She came across. ‘Look, Grace, I’m sorry – I didn’t mean …’
‘No one is forcing you to stay,’ Grace told her grimly. ‘Why don’t you go if you hate it that much?’
‘What is your problem, Grace? I’m not leaving you …’
‘Annabel, I’m thirty-two, I don’t need a sodding babysitter, thank you. Just go. If that’s how you really feel then I’m probably better off without you.’
Annabel’s temper snapped. ‘Oh, is that so? Fine. If I’m not needed then I’ll get my things,’ she said, and barged past Grace, running up the stairs.
Grace set Millie in her high chair and went to the cupboard, ignoring her unsteady fingers as she collected a jar of food. She was watching Millie eat when she heard her sister clomping down the stairs, her case bumping behind her.
Annabel’s flustered face appeared in the doorway. ‘You’re right, Grace. We need a break from each other. Otherwise you’re going to drive me crazy as well as yourself.’
As Annabel headed for the front door, Grace’s anger disappeared, leaving fear in its stead. ‘I’m sorry, Annabel,’ she said. ‘It’s just – you didn’t write the word LEAVE on my car, did you? As a joke?’
‘What are you talking about?’ Annabel stopped and faced her. Grace saw her sister’s alarmed expression, and faltered.
What was the point in explaining? Annabel would only tell her that it was another reason to get away from this place.
‘It’s nothing,’ she said.
Annabel shook her head, flung open the door and began dragging her case down the path.
Grace tried to tell herself that this was a good thing – it was time to stand on her own two feet, and with everyone gone she could get on. But when she heard Annabel start her engine, she ran out of the cottage towards the garden gate. The little red car had already zoomed off down the road, and Grace used all her willpower to keep herself from running after it and screaming for it to stop. Instead she stood motionless, holding her breath until the noise of the engine had completely faded away.
They were alone.
She looked up at the cottage. It stared at her obliquely, its windows blank eyes. She steeled herself, straightening her posture, and headed inside. She would get through the rest of the work as fast as she could. Once it was done, life would unfold before her again, and she would remember all this as a very small part of her history. She would never have to look back.
Grace lay awake for much of the night, wishing Annabel had come back, while telling herself over and over that she was doing the right thing by staying. She flinched at every strange noise she didn’t recognise, however slight. Thankfully, the clock ticked steadily, but there was definitely some scratching going on in the wardrobe. It sounded like a mouse, but there was no way she would be investigating. Finally, she dozed until the day broke and Millie woke up.
She was tremendously tired that morning. She felt like the air was treacly, slowing her down – everything taking twice as long as it usually did.
She was still in her pyjamas when Ben knocked on the door. She answered it, resigned to him seeing her like this, and straight away his face conveyed his concern.
‘Grace … what’s happened?’
‘Nothing … It’s just that everyone’s gone and it all seems a bit daunting.’
‘You look exhausted.’ He came in and set his toolbox down near where Millie was playing. Millie crawled over and tried to open it.
Ben kneeled down next to her. ‘Hmmm … not sure you’re ready to help me out yet … But what have you been doing here, Millie?’ He indicated the blocks spread out over the floor. ‘Shall we give your mum a hand and put these away?’
Grace sat down on the sofa and watched the two of them together. When Millie began to take blocks back out of the bag, Ben built her a tower, and she gleefully knocked it down. Grace leaned back, and her head began to drift.