Summer of Secrets by Cathy Cole

Author:Cathy Cole
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic UK
Published: 2014-07-31T16:00:00+00:00

Her father’s new home was a three-storey climb from the street, and Rhi found herself a little out of breath as he pulled out a set of keys.

“Home sweet home,” he said, pushing the door open.

The flat was sweet, with low ceilings and an open-plan layout. Paintings were stacked against the white plastered walls, and stacks of paint supplies and sketchbooks cluttered every available surface. There was a large bedroom and a small box room, with a view over the town roofs and just enough space for a desk and a bed. In the main living space, two small windows looked out towards the sea. Her dad had set up an easel in the sunniest spot in the room, where light poured into the small space from a skylight.

There was what looked like a half-finished painting of a woman on the easel. Before Rhi could get a proper look at it, her dad hastily covered it with an oily bit of tarpaulin.

“What do you think?” he said, spreading his hands.

“It’s bigger than I was expecting.” Rhi gazed curiously at the covered easel one more time, then walked over to the pile of paintings stacked against the walls. She picked up the first one: a still life of pebbles and driftwood. Around the edge of the image, her father had captured the foamy frill of seawater as it swept towards the pebbles.

“This is really good, Dad,” Rhi said, staring at the image.

“Do you think so? It was really hard to do that one. The pebbles kept drying out when I was trying to capture their colours. But I’m pleased with the end result.” He smiled with pride. “I’m painting so much at the moment, you wouldn’t recognize me.”

He looked happier than Rhi could ever remember. Life in this place suited him. She set the pebble picture aside and picked up another one of a beady-eyed gull on a barnacled rock. Its expression was almost comical.

“You’re an amazing artist, Dad,” she said in wonder. “Why don’t we have more of your paintings at home?”

“Your mother was never very keen,” he said wryly.

Rhi had a flash vision of going back home tonight, having to face more questions and arguments from her mother. She closed her eyes, hoping to somehow ward off the image.

“Can I come and live with you?” she said, opening her eyes again. “I could have the box room.”

Her father looked anxious. “Rhi, we’ve talked about this. There isn’t room and you need peace for your exams—”

“Peace?” Rhi echoed incredulously. “There’s no peace around Mum. You should know that better than anyone. Please can I move in? I don’t need much space, honestly I don’t.” Her eyes darted around the little room, settling on a long red sofa against one wall. “Polly has said I can study round at her house. I can’t go back home. I don’t want to live there. I want to live with you, and look after you.”

Rhi’s father started pacing restlessly from side to side. “It’s impossible, Rhi.

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