The House of Light and Shadows by Lauren Westwood

Author:Lauren Westwood [Westwood, Lauren]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

19

I plan on being careful. I plan on keeping Izzy away from Rookswood and staying away myself. Even if I wanted to, I’ve no time to do anything else. When Izzy is discharged from hospital, her arm in a cast, we take a taxi back to the gatehouse, at which point my role morphs from that of aunt in loco parentis to that of nursemaid. Over the next few days, I turn Emma’s sitting room into a sick room, planting Izzy on the couch with the TV remote and all her devices. She’s groggy and in pain, but somehow manages to keep up with her Snapchats and social media. Initially, I feel racked with indecision about whether or not to inform Emma about what happened. The programme she’s in is all about rest and recovery, and communications are supposed to be limited to ‘essential’. I’ve taken that as carte blanche not to contact her in the last few weeks. But surely, if I had a daughter, I’d want to know about a broken bone, so I ask Izzy what she thinks. I discover then that she’s already told her mum a ‘porky pie’ – that she got a hairline fracture to her wrist playing netball. I know I should correct the falsehood, but somehow, all I manage to do is send Emma a message that Izzy’s recovering and everything is under control, to which I receive no reply.

I also use Izzy’s convalescence as an opportunity to get her focused on preparing for GCSEs. Since it’s her right arm that’s broken, I act as her PA, getting her assignments off Google Classroom and helping her type and hand in her work. It turns into a reasonable bonding opportunity, and I don’t mind brushing up on her elective topics: she’s doing History, Geography, and Art. I consider showing her the photo album, but in the end, I don’t. For the moment, keeping Rookswood ‘out of sight, out of mind’ seems best for both of us.

As the days go by, my enthusiasm for my own work wanes. One of my transactions closes, another one gets delayed, the volume of Teams calls gradually tapers off. But the biggest demotivating factor is an email from the partnership selection committee, announcing that due to poor results across the firm, the decision has been made not to make up any new equity partners this year. The old me would have been livid. My numbers are solid, and why should I be dragged down by anyone else? The new me goes out for a walk to let off steam, files the email in admin, and watches a Gossip Girl marathon with Izzy.

Afterwards, when Izzy’s asleep, I continue looking through the little book, trying to find out more about Ada and Camile. After their father died, they took over the family business and became photographers in their own right. There are many photos of Camile; Ada clearly loved her sister and enjoyed photographing her. But around the time of the Great War, the photos of Camile come to an abrupt end.

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