The Visitors by Caroline Scott

Author:Caroline Scott
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2021-12-08T13:00:00+00:00

* * *

Mrs Pickering knocked again towards the end of the morning. ‘Esme? May I come in?’

‘I’m not very presentable. I’m still being sick.’

‘Would you like me to call a doctor? Have you got a temperature? Please, will you open the door?’

Esme didn’t want to let her in, but she also didn’t want her to summon a doctor.

‘You do look washed out.’ Mrs Pickering sat on the edge of the bed and peered at Esme a little too closely. But she placed a cool hand on her forehead and there was something motherly and tender in that gesture. Just for a moment, Esme wanted to lean towards Mrs Pickering’s hand and to tell her all of it.

‘I feel wrung out.’

Mrs Pickering had occasionally come into her room at Fernlea. Esme remembered that she had once picked up Alec’s photograph. Did she not recognise him? But Esme saw that she had no idea.

‘Does anything hurt?’

‘It’s probably a bug. Perhaps it’s influenza?’

‘You poor girl. They’ve all gone swimming. It would have done you good to have the company of some people your own age.’

Esme imagined Alec splashing in the sea, his laughing face in the sunshine. She pictured him holding on to Zoubi in the water.

‘You do look glum.’

‘Don’t linger. I don’t want to give you my germs.’

‘Zoubi hoped to meet you. Rory talks about you all the time, you know. He’s given you star billing.’

‘Please, do pass on my apologies.’

‘Actually, there are small mercies. They’ve brought a photograph album and are threatening to take us through their children’s early years tonight. Perhaps I’ll come up here and say I need to nurse you? I’m really not up for first steps and potty training over the amuse bouche.’

Esme had forgotten about the children. How could she have done? The thought of it made her feel light-headed.

‘How many children have they got?’

‘Two. But I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a third en route and an announcement is made tonight. She’s got that look about her. You know? Like a lioness after a kill.’

She and Alec had talked about children, they’d agreed that they wanted a family, but then the war had come. She wondered if they looked like him.

‘Miles must be delighted.’

‘Smug.’ Mrs Pickering laughed. ‘Gilbert suggested that it might be nice if each of the boys could take a turn to be a godfather. Imagine, she’d have to have a brood!’

‘Five?’

‘Zoubi’s face sank at that, I can tell you.’

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