The Holiday Cottage: Time with family can be murder by Maria Frankland

Author:Maria Frankland [Frankland, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Autonomy Press
Published: 2024-09-20T00:00:00+00:00

DAY FOUR

22

ERIN

‘Thanks for coming to pick us up,’ I smile at Rylan as he ducks under the doorway. ‘Sorry – I haven’t got around to folding that back up yet.’

He heads around the side of the lumpy Z-bed I’ve spent the night on. ‘You look shattered,’ he says.

‘Gee, thanks. Anyway, I didn’t expect her to be discharged so early, not that I’m complaining – it’s been a lo-ong night.’ As he stands in front of me, with his hair still shower-damp, wearing Levi jeans and an expensive-looking jumper, I’m aware of how dishevelled I must look in comparison. I rake my fingers through my hair, still matted from when the wind whipped under it yesterday when we were out on the bikes. Kelli forgot to put a hairbrush in our bag.

‘No one else has surfaced yet. Not even Mum.’

‘How’s Nathaniel been with it all? Dare I ask?’ I pull a face. Am I even bothered anymore?

‘Let’s just say I wouldn’t like to have his head this morning.’ Rylan lowers himself into the chair beside mine at Alice’s bedside and gestures at the crinkled sheets. ‘Where’s the patient anyway?’

‘She’s just gone to get a wash. She’ll be over the moon to see you. She can’t wait to get out of here.’

‘I bet.’

‘How’s your Mum doing? Has she let on where she got to yet? I was texting with Kelli last night and she seems a bit baffled to say the least.’

‘Mum’s acting really strangely, to be honest.’ He shields his eyes from the sunlit glare from the windows facing us. It’s even brighter because it’s bouncing from the stark, white walls. ‘She was at some mystery woman’s house last night and when I had a drink with her before I went to bed, she was making weird comments about escaping. It’s the first time I’ve heard her talking like that. Has she ever said anything to you?’

I shake my head. ‘Maybe she’s finally seen the light.’

As Rylan takes a breath ready to say something, I quickly add, ‘I’m sorry – Karl’s your dad. I do forget myself sometimes.’ My face is burning.

‘Don’t worry about it.’ He laughs. ‘You’re right. Maybe this week has brought things home to all of us.’ For a moment, Rylan has a faraway look in his eyes. Then he looks straight back at me. ‘We can’t exactly call this a holiday, however a break from the usual routine can be quite enlightening, can’t it?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Oh look, ignore me, I’m warbling on again – it doesn’t matter. Oh look, she’s here.’ Rylan smiles at Alice who’s now standing in the doorway, looking comfy in her joggers and hoodie. ‘How are you doing sweetie-pie?’ He stands from the chair again.

‘Uncle Rylan.’ Alice rushes over to hug him. ‘How come you’re here?’

‘Well I wasn’t going to leave you to eat hospital food all day, was I?’ He goes to ruffle her hair but must suddenly remember the bang to her head she had yesterday for he stops himself.

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