annexe. She was almost crying with rage. âDonât you just want to hit them?â
Walter shrugged. âNah. Thereâre better ways.â
âYou didnât â you didnât really curse that man, did you?â
Walter didnât answer, but he threw her a look over his shoulder and raised one eyebrow.
David and Ellie were still sitting by the fire. They werenât speaking. David was drumming his fingers on the arm of the couch, and Ellieâs lips were pressed together.
Ellie attempted a smile. âWho won?â
âWe did,â said Walter.
David stood up. âTheyâre calling our number. Letâs eat.â
T hey left as soon as the meal was finished. âNo point paying for coffee when I can make one just as good at home,â said Ellie; but Sadie knew the real reason was that they all wanted to escape as quickly as possible.
Sadie would have liked to go to bed; it had felt like the longest day of her life. But she couldnât because Walter was there. They sat staring at the football on TV while Ellie and David disappeared into the kitchen to make the coffee.
After a few minutes Walter said, without taking his eyes from the screen, âTheyâre arguing.â
âWhat?â Sadie shot an alarmed glance toward the sliding door that separated the living room from the kitchen. âI canât hear anything.â
Walter stared at the TV. Sadie slipped out of her chair and tiptoed to the door.
She heard Ellieâs voice, a little shriller than normal. âThatâs ridiculous! That was years ago.â
Then Davidâs voice, slightly louder. âSo what do you think was going on tonight?â
âIsnât it obvious? You â and me â some people have trouble with it, you must know that by now.â
âSure, but thereâs more to it than that in this town. I didnât want to go to the bloody pub in the first place.â
âWell, why didnât you say so?â Ellieâs voice rose.
David responded with a furious muttering that Sadie couldnât make out. She crept back to her seat.
A moment later, David emerged from the kitchen, his face stern. He said to Walter, âCome on, mate. Weâd better go; itâs getting late.â
Sadie scrambled up. Ellie stood in the kitchen doorway, her eyes red, her chin thrust up.
âSee ya,â said Walter.
âYeah,â said Sadie.
When David and Walter had gone, Ellie collapsed into a chair and sank her head in her hands. âGrr!â She tore at her hair. âI handled that so well ,â she said in a muffled voice. She looked up ruefully at Sadie. âSorry, sweetheart. Did you hear us?â
âA bit.â
Ellie sighed. âI should probably tell youââ
Sadie gazed at the TV. She wasnât sure if she could handle any more drama today.
Ellie said, âI thought we could all just move on , you know? Let the past stay in the past, forgive and forget. I mean, whatâs the point of dredging up all that old history?â
Sadieâs stomach lurched. What history did she mean, was she talking about what had happened in the 1930s? Was Sadie about to find out how that story ended?
Ellie pushed her hair out of her eyes and sighed. âSee, I used to go out with Craig Mortlock.â
âYouâre kidding!â said Sadie. âHe was your boy- friend?â Was there anyone in this town that her mother hadnât gone out with?
âIt was a long time ago. You know we always came up here for the holidays, and weâd hang around with Craig and the local kids. And one year, Craig and I just â clicked.â Ellie shrugged. âHe was actually pretty hot back then,â she said defensively. âAnd he was a champion cricket player. Well, anyway. These things happen.â
âSo . . .â Sadie tried not to imagine her mum and Craig Mortlock kissing. âWhy did you break
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