The Legacy, Caroline Bond [popular books to read txt] 📗

the files on the bookcase by the desk in his room. Be my guest.’ And she’d actually stepped aside, as if ushering Chloe towards her father’s room. That had been cruel. Megan knew Chloe hadn’t been able to set foot inside the room since the night he died.

The only person who had any sympathy was Noah. He phoned most evenings and although he was very little practical help, he was at least a welcome distraction. His witty riders in response to Liv’s big-sister bossiness were funny. As always, Chloe felt slightly guilty about their childish sniggering behind Liv’s back, but it didn’t stop her texting Noah regularly to update him on the latest in the saga of Liv vs Megan. No matter where he was or what he was doing, Noah always made time for her, even when it was obviously inconvenient – like at Malaga airport. Chloe cherished her relationship with Noah, puerile as it was. There was no judgement – at least not of her – and that was a relief.

If it hadn’t been for Noah and her job, she really thought she might have lost it.

She’d gone back to work a couple of days after her father’s death, despite her supervisor telling her to take as much time off as she needed. But being busy was better than the alternative, and the kindness of her colleagues and customers had been preferable to Megan’s sealed-off, flinty sadness. As Chloe sat at her till in Marks & Spencer, exchanging chit-chat about the weather and the erratic bus service with a steady stream of shoppers, at least her hands were occupied, if not her brain. At work she was useful, competent and appreciated, especially by the regulars. Her favourite was an old gent called Harold, who came into the store most days. He made a point of coming to her till. He always wore a shirt and tie with a proper coat and a hat – a fedora in the winter, a straw boater in the summer. His basket normally contained a small white sliced loaf, a pack of ham or a piece of mature Cheddar and a single-serve ready meal, most often a shepherd’s pie. Chloe wanted to tell him it would be much cheaper to shop at Tesco, but that would have been disrespectful. Instead she smiled and scanned his paltry selection of groceries. He always tipped his hat to her as he walked away.

Since her father’s death that one small gesture had taken on a whole new meaning and significance.

At long last Friday finally came round.

As Chloe finished her shift her mood was better than it had been all week. Liv and Angus and the boys were due to arrive at 6 p.m. Noah had been less specific, but Chloe wasn’t too worried; she knew he wouldn’t let her down. The thought of the house being full made her happy. All of them back together. It would shift the balance.

Instead of heading straight home, she went back down onto the shop floor. She picked out three bottles of decent wine, along with a couple of bags of sweets for the kids and some posh chocolate for the adults. A basketful of treats. Just like the old days, when Friday night was ‘eat as many sweets as you like’ night. Eloise had been strict about their schoolwork and their bedtimes, and surprisingly lax about everything else.

Megan walked into the kitchen as Chloe was unpacking. The way she glanced at the shopping, but didn’t say anything, irritated Chloe.

‘It’s only some extra bits for tonight.’

Megan blinked. ‘Thank you.’ It was, as always, an odd response. The treats were not for her.

Chloe opened the fridge, intending to chill the wine, only to be confronted by shelves groaning with food. The door compartments were already fully stocked with wine, milk, fresh juices. On petty principle, Chloe extracted one of the existing bottles and replaced it with one of her own. Despite her back being turned, she could sense Megan watching her. The fridge started to beep. Chloe kept it open, on purpose.

‘Have you heard from Noah?’ Megan asked.

The beep was truly irritating. Chloe shut the door. ‘Yeah.’

‘Has he said what time they’ll be here?’

‘Not for definite.’

Chloe heard the puff of Megan’s breath. ‘It would help to know, so I can decide what to do about the meal. I don’t suppose you know whether he wants Lily to eat with us or not? I think Liv’s planning to feed the boys earlier and get them up to bed before we sit down.’

Chloe turned round to face her. ‘You know Noah. They’ll be here when they’re here.’

She looked past Megan and saw the collection of pans on the hob and a covered tray on the side. It was like being on a Martha Stewart set. Megan must have been cooking all day. She was such an odd contradiction of a woman. Chloe softened, slightly. ‘You could always plate them something up, if they’re really late.’

Megan nodded. She picked up a tea towel and pointlessly rehung it. Once again they had exhausted their conversational reserves. Chloe left Megan to her martyred preparations, desperate for the arrival of her siblings.

Chapter 9

LIV AND her brood arrived, as promised, at 6.05 p.m., in a flurry of noise. The boys, Arthur and Freddie, shot into the house and proceeded to run around like animals released from captivity. It was remarkable how different they were. It was as if Liv and Angus’s genes had taken it in turns to make a child. Freddie, at six, was the eldest, though he was not much taller than his younger sibling. He was unequivocally Liv’s offspring. Slim, fair-haired, with delicate features that looked set for life to be just a little too feminine to be handsome. In contrast, Arthur, at three and a half, was a mini-Angus. Ruddy-faced, solid, scabby-kneed, quintessentially a boy.

Angus enveloped Chloe in a hug and she immediately felt better. Liv’s embrace lacked the same power, but it