Free Unfinished Business by Heather Atkinson Page A

to truly epic proportions, her head joining in the dance of her arms and legs. When Maggie saw Brodie regarding her daughter curiously she stepped up and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
    “All this unpleasantness is playing havoc with poor Lauren’s nerves. Come on love, let’s go home and get you settled,” she said, leading her to the door, throwing Brodie an accusing look, as though he was responsible for Lauren’s mental health. He thought she should be looking closer to home for the cause. It took time to become a neurotic mess like that.
    “Lauren, it’s okay,” said Sarah kindly, reaching out to take her trembling hands but she jerked away and turned her back on her.
    Seth was still standing nose to nose with Brodie but he’d been so interested in the exchange between Sarah and Lauren that he’d forgotten he was there. Brodie focused on him again. “Mrs Creegan has made her feelings clear, so I suggest you all leave.”
    “Or what?” barked Seth.
    Lauren released a squeak and rushed for the door, Maggie hurrying after her. She threw her daughter-in-law a parting glare, who hung her head. Clearly Sarah was intimidated by the redoubtable Maggie.
    Seth huffed, embarrassed by his sister’s weakness.
    “Come on Son, we’re getting nowhere like this,” Maggie called over her shoulder as she steered Lauren out the front door.
    “Do as Mummy says,” grinned Brodie. He was never one to be intimidated but there was something very dark in Seth’s eyes that told him this man had done bad deeds. He’d met plenty of them in his time, especially the Judas bastard John Lyons. Seth’s arrogance reminded him all too well of his ex-friend. They possessed the same superiority complex and dark intensity. The comparison made him even more keen to take this wanker on.
    Sensing this, Seth’s body seemed to expand again, as though he was trying to smother Brodie without actually moving.
    “Me and you will talk again,” said Seth.
    “I look forward to it,” retorted Brodie.
    Seth was momentarily confused. His big, dark presence usually reduced people to jelly, so why wasn’t this prick a mess on the floor?
    Seth slowly walked away, eyes never leaving Brodie until he’d disappeared out the door.
    “Oh my God, I thought they’d never leave,” exhaled Sarah. She hurried to the window to watch them go, the Ford Escort rolling down the drive, Seth pausing before he reached the bottom to throw them a killer glare from the driver’s seat.
    “I bet Christmas Day around here is a barrel of laughs,” said Brodie sarcastically.
    “Oh yeah, it’s a hoot,” she replied. “Lauren usually ends up drinking herself into a stupor even though we try so hard to keep her away from the booze because she can’t drink with her medication. Somehow she always manages to get hold of some and necks it before we can stop her. Seth and Mark argue constantly and Maggie sits there like the buggering Queen of Sheba drinking Midori and insulting my cooking. It’s hell.”
    “I wouldn’t use the word ‘buggering’ like that, it could be misunderstood.”
    Sarah thought about it and giggled. “You’re right. I’ll never get the hang of this swearing lark.”
    Lauren’s pale face watched them through the back window of the car as it hesitated at the bottom of the drive to allow a car to pass. Seth must have lost patience because the Escort shot out into the street, narrowly avoiding slamming into an orange four by four driven by someone so small they could barely see over the steering wheel.
    “That’s Mrs Wilkie, she lives two houses down,” explained Sarah. “I don’t know why she bought that thing, she’s hopeless at driving it and she’s five foot nothing. She shouldn’t even be driving at her age, she’s eighty if she’s a day.”
    “She’s a mess,” commented Brodie.
    “Mrs Wilkie? She’s old but I wouldn’t say that.”
    “I meant Lauren.”
    “Oh. You’re right there. She’s had all sorts of