A Tinker with Death by Julia Hughes

Author:Julia Hughes [Hughes, Julia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Julia Hughes
Published: 2024-03-07T00:00:00+00:00

DURING MY BRIEF ABSENCE, Sophie and Max had gotten very cosy. They’d shunted their chairs together, and now pored over a pile of photos on the kitchen table, blond heads almost touching. Puzzled, my gaze travelled to the sofa, where my mum’s empty satchel had been slung. Head held high I marched across the lounge, snatched up the satchel, and stomped over to the table. Max and Sophie jerked upright in their chairs to watch. As I swept the photos back into the satchel, I caught them exchanging glances. Through gritted teeth I said, ‘Next time, ask first. But the answer’s no.’

Sophie’s eyes were perfect circles. I didn’t trust myself to look at Max, certain his face wore a condescending smirk. Equally certain that if I saw it, I’d slap both Max and his collection of smirks into the middle of next week. There didn’t seem anything else to be said, so I swung the satchel’s strap over my shoulder, and walked into the garden. Halfway down the steps, knowing I was hidden from view by rhododendron bushes, I sat down and stared blankly into the woods.

Sometime later Sophie came and found me. Squeezing onto the step, she put an arm around my shoulders, and said simply, ‘I’m sorry.’ The blasted tears started again. Dragging a hand across my eyes, I sniffled. ‘No, I’m sorry.’

Sophie’s arm tightened. ‘Don’t. Don’t apologise. You’ve been through so much. Giving up your old life, the fire ... Leo’s death. And for the first time, you’re having to think about your own mum, and her death.’

All of that was true, but a child should never have to comfort their parent. Except my Sophie was all grown up now, and a better person than I could ever hope to be. I squeezed her knee, realised she wore her work trousers for the third day running, and frowned. ‘Have you got clean trousers at work?’

‘Mum! Heaven’s sakes, of all the things to worry about. Yes, of course. And a clean shirt. But they’ll need ironing, so I need to get on my way.’ She stood, then pulled me to my feet. Her eyes searched my face, then she smiled. ‘But first, I’ve got something to show you.’

‘Really? What?’ I followed her up the steps.

‘A surprise.’

‘A surprise?’ I’d had enough of those to last an entire decade, but guessed anyway. ‘Chocolate?’

‘Nope.’

‘Urmmm ... scrambled eggs?’

‘No! You’ll see. Just around here,’ she said, stepping onto the patio. Instead of ducking back into the lounge, Sophie led me around the chalet, to the tiny frontage where the kitchen door was situated. ‘Tah-dah!’ she held her arms out with a flourish towards a rose bush. Not just any rose either. Its roots were planted in a huge jade green urn, about the height of my knees. Its flowers were white confetti. A lump rose in my throat. I gulped and sneaked a glance at Sophie. She wore the same self-satisfied smirk that seemed permanently fixed on Max’s face.

‘He said you’d looked taken with it,’ Sophie explained.

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