The Christmas Postcards by Karen Swan

Author:Karen Swan [Swan, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Published: 2022-08-22T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Frome, Thursday 8 December

‘Darling, can you pass the butter?’

Natasha looked up to find Rob with an arm outstretched over the breakfast table and a slightly pained look. The prospect of cold toast always stressed him out. That and tepid tea.

She passed the butter, noticing his bare hand. No ring.

‘Rob, did I see you wearing a signet ring last night?’ she asked him as she poured herself some orange juice. Mabel was sucking on a tube of fromage frais, Bella parked beneath her chair in the well-judged expectation of falling food.

He looked at her. ‘Me?’

‘Yes.’

He thought for a moment. ‘I don’t know. Maybe.’ He shrugged. ‘Why?’

Maybe? It seemed an odd response. Either he had one or he didn’t. ‘I’ve never seen you wear one before.’

‘Haven’t you?’ he frowned. ‘Huh.’

She waited for a further explanation but nothing appeared to be forthcoming. ‘. . . Well,’ she asked impatiently. ‘When did you get it?’

He shrugged. ‘I’ve always had it. An eighteenth birthday gift from my parents.’

‘What?’ She stared at him. How could she not have known that? ‘But then, why don’t you always wear it? Aren’t they supposed to be left on?’

He sighed, sounding irritated. ‘Oh, I don’t know, Nats. Sometimes it’s a bother and I take it off, other times I don’t think about it. I don’t see why you’re making a fuss about it.’

‘I wouldn’t say I’m making a fuss!’ she protested weakly. Perhaps it upset him? If it had been a gift from his parents, perhaps it reminded him of them too much. The wound was still very much open, especially as it had been compounded by the bitter fallout with his siblings. ‘I just think it’s odd that I’ve never noticed it before when you’re saying you’ve had it since you were eighteen, that’s all.’

‘So then it’s my fault you don’t have an eye for the details?’ he asked. His tone was arch and he immediately looked up, taking in her shocked expression. Both of them glanced at Mabel, who was oblivious. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said quickly. ‘I shouldn’t take it out on you. I’m so . . .’ he sighed wearily. ‘You’re right. Why should you notice when you’ve always got so much going on, what with chasing after Mabel and whatnot. It’s just a ring. I wear it, I don’t.’ He shrugged. ‘Please let’s not fight. My bandwidth is already taken up with today’s calendar and I don’t know how I’m going to get through it. I’m on site in Bristol this morning, then in back-to-back meetings all afternoon till seven.’

Natasha stared at her plate. Meetings till seven meant getting home after eight thirty. It would be another lap tray supper for her tonight.

‘. . . Darling, what is it?’

She looked up to find Rob watching her, the piece of toast held in his hand as he chewed. ‘What?’ she echoed.

‘What’s wrong? You look . . . distant.’

She swallowed and picked up her spoon, trying to find the appetite for her porridge. ‘No, I’m here.’

They both

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