Sewing the Shadows Together by Alison Baillie Read Free Book Online Page B

Tom gratefully seized the opportunity for small talk, and found out that Nick and Lottie both worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland, Nick as a project manager, whatever that was, and Lottie in Human Resources. Liam didn’t say much and seemed to do something with computers.
    Flora sat twiddling her fingers and looking bored during this interchange, but as soon as there was a gap in the conversation she seized the opportunity to explain what had happened at her Bridge Club on Wednesday. The back-stories of all the main participants were carefully explained, especially if they had aristocratic connections or successful lawyers in their families. The young ones were obviously used to stories like these as they all nodded attentively. When her mother paused for breath, Sarah offered more vegetables, but Flora carried on as if nothing had been said.
    Tom soon lost track of the conversation and his thoughts returned to Shona. What would she be like today? He imagined her as a mother like Sarah, serving her family roast potatoes on a Sunday afternoon. The image was unbearably poignant.
    Sarah and Lottie began to clear the plates and Sarah came back with a dish of apple crumble – his favourite. Mrs Campbell was telling the table about the difficulty she had finding a blouse to go with the new autumn suit she had just bought at Jenners.
    Lottie patiently gave some suggestions and her grandmother turned her attention to her. ‘You really should do something about that hair – ridiculous for a girl of your age.’ She patted her lacquered white halo. ‘I go to Ricki at the same time every week and it just shows breeding to have a good cut and regular care. Of course, it is very difficult to get an appointment with him. All the best people use his salon, but if I put a word in for you I might just be able to get you an appointment.’
    Lottie winced, but answered politely in an even tone. ‘Thanks, Granny, but actually I like my hair as it is, and so does Liam.’ Her grandmother gave a little snort of disapproval and began to push her crumble round the plate; it didn’t look as if she’d eaten any of it. She looked up and raised her empty wine glass, which Sarah patiently refilled.
    When everybody else had finished Tom helped gather the dishes and followed Sarah to the kitchen. She poured boiling water into the cafetière. ‘I’m sorry. Mum does rather tend to dominate any conversation. She lives alone and I think she saves up a week’s worth of conversation for Sunday lunch.’
    ‘It must have been hard for her when your father died.’
    ‘Everyone thought she would be lost without him, but she immediately got her life very well-organised – always out shopping and going to lunches. And she’s a wizard with finances. That must be where Nick gets it from, because Rory’s hopeless with money – and I’m not much better!’ She laughed. ‘Anyway, we’d better get back and rescue the young ones!’
    When they got back into the dining room the conversation had turned to problems with Flora’s drains, complete with a word for word account of the conversation between her and the plumber. She wanted to start at the beginning again for Sarah’s benefit, but her daughter reassured her she’d heard it all from the kitchen.
    After they’d drunk their coffee, Nick stood up. ‘Right, Gran. I’ll give you a lift home.’
    ‘Oh, are you going already, Nicholas?’ His grandmother looked disappointed.
    ‘Yes, can’t hang about here, places to go, people to see…’ He flashed his grandmother a smile, so like his father’s, and she visably melted.
    ‘I’m sure you’re going to meet a girlfriend. Why don’t you bring her along to lunch?’ She looked round and fixed her eye on her granddaughter’s boyfriend. ‘Liam comes.’ She managed to say Liam in a tone that left nobody in any doubt of her distaste for him. Liam blushed and Lottie stood up, still holding his hand.
    ‘We’ll be away too, Mum,’ Lottie said,