THE HOUSE AT SEA’S END

We both know that.’
    Would it be different? Ruth doubts it somehow. A single Nelson would never have looked twice at her; he would be off searching for a blonde Michelle clone. It was only circumstance, proximity and a host of other words meaning the same thing; meaning that she and Nelson were never really meant to be together.
    ‘I know you’re married,’ says Ruth, trying to keep her voice calm. ‘I’ve always respected that. I’ve never made any demands on you, even with Kate. Have I?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Well, then. It’ll never happen again. I’ll make sure of it.’
    Nelson sighs. Ruth doesn’t know if it is with relief or regret. They both sit in silence for a moment, looking out across the endless white marshes. Then Nelson starts the engine.
    Judy’s jeep is parked outside the house, next to Clara’s snow-covered Mini. Ruth leaps out of the car as soon as it stops. She doesn’t look back to see if Nelson is following.
    She opens the door to a bizarre domestic scene. Clara is sitting at the table, earphones in, reading. Judy is in the kitchen and Cathbad is lying on the floor playing with Kate.
    Ruth rushes over and grabs Kate, holding her so tightly that she squawks. ‘Hallo, sweetheart,’ she whispers.
    ‘Hallo,’ answers Cathbad, still lying on the rug.
    ‘Cathbad! How come you’re here?’
    ‘Ask Judy.’
    Still carrying Kate, Ruth hurries over to Judy and hugs her awkwardly, the baby between them.
    ‘Thank you so much for coming over.’
    ‘It’s okay. All part of the service. I was just making toast. I hope you don’t mind.’
    ‘Of course not. Have anything.’
    ‘Well, there wasn’t really anything else. Just cat food and baby food.’
    ‘Where’s Flint?’
    ‘Asleep on your bed. He gave me the fright of my life last night.’
    Nelson has come in and is talking in a low voice to Cathbad. Ruth walks over to Clara who is watching her rather quizzically.
    ‘Thanks so much for staying last night, Clara.’
    Clara takes out her headphones. ‘That’s okay. You didn’t really need to send the cavalry over. I was quite capable of looking after Kate for one night, you know.’
    Ruth smiles, slightly embarrassed. In the light of the day, her fears seem rather stupid. But then she remembers the diary.
I hate his wife. I want to kill him.
No, she’s still glad that Judy was here last night. And Cathbad too. But why
is
he here?
    Before she can ask him, Nelson cuts in. With his height, dark clothes and unsmiling face, he is incongruous in the small, cosy room. He seems determined to add to this impression, speaking in a brisk, businesslike tone, not making eye-contact with anyone.
    ‘I’ll drive you home, Clara,’ he says. ‘You still wouldn’t want to risk the roads round here.’
    ‘You can give me a lift too,’ says Cathbad, who has taken a piece of toast from Judy.
    ‘No,’ answers Nelson brusquely. ‘You go with Johnson.’
    I’m Johnson again, am I, thinks Judy. But the boss had thanked her when he rang earlier. There’s no doubt she’s one up on Clough.
    ‘I’ll take you home, Cathbad,’ she says, not looking at him.
    Nelson and Clara head for the door. Ruth thanks Clara profusely, trying to make up for last night’s lack of trust. Nelson says nothing.
    Judy gathers up her phone and bag. ‘Coming, Cathbad?’
    ‘There’s no need to rush off,’ says Ruth. She rather likes the idea of sitting here with Judy and Cathbad, eating toast and talking about the marvels of Kate.
    ‘We’d better be off,’ says Judy. ‘I’ve got lots to do.’
    ‘Yes, the wedding’s in a couple of weeks, isn’t it?’ says Ruth, wanting to seem friendly. ‘You must be so excited.’
    ‘If you say so,’ says Judy. Rather rudely, Ruth thinks.
    As soon as the door shuts behind Cathbad and Judy, Kate starts to cry. Having been angelic all night (‘She only woke up once,’ said Cathbad, ‘but I sang to her and she went back to sleep’) she now transforms into Damien from
The Omen
. Ruth tries milk, food, dancing round the room, singing. But obviously her singing isn’t a patch on Cathbad’s because, after the first few bars of ‘The Wheels on the Bus’, Kate howls louder than ever. In desperation, Ruth switches on the TV, jiggling Kate up and down as she fumbles with the remote. She flicks between sonorous church services and black-and-white films, trying to find something child-friendly. Eventually Kate stops sobbing and stares entrancedat the screen which is bright