Free The Sea Garden by Marcia Willett

says at once, ‘Gemma phoned. She’s coming home next week with the twins. She says she’s fed up with discussing the question of divorce with Guy, who simply pretends it isn’t happening, and she’s had a terrific row with Mark.’ Cass drags Oliver into the kitchen and shuts the door. ‘Your father is furious,’ she says, speaking quickly, still holding his arm, one eye on the door. ‘He thinks we are sanctioning the separation by allowing them to come here. But what else can she do? She’s made no real friends there and we have to think of the twins. Deep down Tom didn’t believe she would actually leave Guy. He thought it was just one of those blips and that she’d get over it. He says it’s absolutely wrong of her to behave like this with no plans or arrangements made.’
    He releases himself gently. ‘And what do you think?’
    Suddenly she looks frightened. ‘I don’t know any more. Of course I want Gemma and the twins nearer than they are in Canada, and I want her to be happy, but I don’t want her marriage to break up. Guy’s not really my type – he’s too much like his father – but he’s been good with Gemma and the twins. Your sister hasn’t been exactly…’ she hesitates, searching for a word that isn’t too blunt, ‘… easy,’ she says at last.
    Oliver laughs. ‘I thought that was rather what my dear sister has been. Isn’t that how the trouble began?’
    Cass stares at him for a moment. He sees that she doesn’t quite know whether to be outraged on Gemma’s behalf or amused – and then she laughs too.
    â€˜Honestly, though,’ she says, ‘what on earth shall I do?’
    â€˜You’ll welcome them home and give her breathing space,’ he says. ‘Don’t get heavy about this. What has she said to the twins?’
    â€˜She hasn’t told them the absolute truth. She’s said that they will be coming back to live here and Daddy will come when he can. Meanwhile they think they’re having an extended holiday from school.’
    â€˜Fine. So let them go on thinking that.’
    â€˜But what about Tom? You know what he can be like.’
    Oliver thinks about it. ‘It’s a pity that Jess has turned up at this precise moment,’ he says thoughtfully. ‘Gemma and the twins could have stayed in Chapel Street.’
    â€˜But I want them here,’ protests Cass. ‘We haven’t seen them for months. What’s she like, by the way?’
    â€˜Jess? She’s lovely. Rather boho. Definite personality. Look, I still think that this whole Gemma thing needs to be regarded as a time for getting things into perspective. Don’t turn a drama into a crisis.’
    There is a telling little pause.
    â€˜Great,’ says Cass. ‘And shall you tell your father that or shall I?’
    *   *   *
    As she sits on the edge of the bed, brushing her hair, thinking about the day, Jess sees that Kate has put the painting on a specially made, small wooden lectern and placed it on the little chest beside the bed.
    A sign or a portent. Bless you for everything. It’s been perfect.
    Jess gazes at the painting; she feels on the brink of something very mysterious and important. She is touched by the warm welcome she’s been given. It’s as if Kate and Oliver have always known her, accepting her and making her feel easy in an almost casual way while, at the same time, cherishing her as someone special. She’s already texted her two closest friends, who are travelling together in Thailand, to say that she’s arrived. Now she picks up her mobile and stares at it, wondering whether to try to explain to them how great everything is.
    How, she wonders, could she describe the space and silence of the moors where she and Kate walked whilst Flossie ran ahead, tail waving with the joy of it all? In that