The Dead Wife. Sue Fortin
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‘No. It’s OK, I’ll be fine. Thanks.’
Harry made his way along the row of stables, stopping as a big bay stuck his head out the half-opened door. ‘Hello, Billy.’ Harry rubbed the white blaze on the horse’s face. ‘Long time no see, eh? You’re not looking bad for an old boy.’
‘Same could be said for you,’ came a voice, and Harry looked up and grinned at his younger brother.
Owen wore a V-neck jumper, cords and a checked shirt, and his dark blonde hair flopped down into his eyes. ‘Unlike you, who looks like they’re just about to do a photo shoot for Horse & Hound.’ Harry strode over and shook Owen’s hand, before giving him a brief hug. He realised as he did so he had taken a moment to monitor for any smell of alcohol on his brother. Old habits die hard, he thought, but was relieved that today Owen only smelt of aftershave. ‘How are you, mate?’
‘I’m good, thanks. You? Or should that be, ça va?’ Owen said with a French flourish.
‘Very good – you’re practically bilingual.’ Harry followed his brother into the yard office.
‘Good to see you,’ said Owen, giving a small sniff as he took his seat and plucked a tissue from the pack on his desk.
‘You OK?’
‘Yeah, a bit of hay fever, that’s all.’ Owen wiped his nose and dropped the tissue into the bin. ‘Mum’s really been looking forward to you coming home.’
Harry pushed his hands into his pockets. ‘Yeah, so I hear. I’m not home though. This isn’t my home any more.’
‘You try telling Mum that.’ Owen moved a riding hat from the desk and picked up the diary. He spun it round so Harry could see. ‘Look, she even made me cross today’s rides out. HARRY COMING HOME. See, capital letters as well.’
‘I’m here for the week, then I need to get back. Things to do.’
‘Yeah, I know. Things to do.’ He didn’t want to alert Owen to the fact he was going to have to change his plan. ‘People to see. Money to make.’ Owen took out a pouch of tobacco from his pocket and began rolling himself a cigarette. ‘Isn’t that what the old man used to say?’
‘Something like that,’ said Harry, not missing his brother hurriedly poking a small plastic bag back into the pouch. ‘Along with, don’t answer me back, didn’t you hear what I said and all the time I’m alive we’ll do it my way.’
Owen gave a small rise of his eyebrows. ‘If you can’t say something nice …’
‘Jesus, you’re full of quotes today.’ Harry blew out a long breath. ‘Sorry, but that’s what being back here does to me. Makes me bloody miserable.’
‘Well, just keep up the pretence for the next seven days and that will keep Mum happy, eh? Then you can wave bon voyage and head off back across the Channel and not have to think about us for another six months. That’s how it works, isn’t it?’
Harry gave a shrug and turned to look out of the window at the stables. ‘How’s it all going with the yard?’
‘Good. Really good.’
‘Billy is still going strong, then.’
‘I think he’s a bloody donkey really. He’ll outlive us all,’ said Owen, standing up. ‘Fancy a stroll? I can smoke this once we’re out of the yard.’
‘Natalie and the kids OK?’ asked Harry as they walked across to the gardens at the back of the house.
‘Yeah, they’re all great. You’ll see them tonight.’
‘I’m looking forward to it,’ said Harry honestly. ‘Everything else OK? How’s things with Dominic?’
There was a notable pause before Owen answered. ‘How everything always is with Dominic,’ he said eventually. ‘He still treats me like I’m some junior employee. Really pisses me off at times. I want to get more involved with some of the other aspects of the business, but he keeps knocking me back. I don’t think he can bring himself to even say what I want to do is a good idea, let alone agree to it going ahead. I’ve got a great idea for this place.’
‘Like what?’
Owen lit his cigarette as they wandered around the formal gardens. ‘We’ve got the water sports pretty much sewn up. We’ve loads of things going on there but I think we’re missing a trick with the outward-bound things. Hiking and Nordic walking are both OK, but what about survival weekends? You know, proper boy-scout stuff for adults as well as kids. Spend a night out under the stars, learn how to start a fire, collect water and all that.’
‘Sounds good to me,’ said Harry. ‘But Dominic’s not interested, I take it?’
‘Not in the slightest. If it was his idea, it would be a different story, of course.’ Owen scrunched his nose up and sniffed again.
‘You want me to speak to him?’ offered Harry.
‘Would you? He’s more likely to listen to you, and if you think it’s a good idea then he can’t really say no.’
‘He probably could, but I’ll give it a try. What does Mum think to it?’
Owen drew hard on his cigarette. ‘She’s not sure. Said she’d have to think about it, look at insurances, et cetera. Basically, she just agrees with Dominic.’
‘If I get a chance, I’ll speak to him.’
‘Thanks. I appreciate it.’
‘It will cost you, though,’ said Harry, stopping and turning to face his brother.
‘What’s that?’
‘Stop putting that shit up your nose and I’ll back you one hundred per cent.’
Owen’s eyes widened and he took a step to the side, the back of his hand automatically going to his nose. ‘What? I …’
‘Don’t even try to deny it. I’m not stupid. I saw the little white packet in your baccy. And you’ve never in your life suffered from hay fever. The sniffles are from the coke.’ He shook his head. ‘You’re such a fucking idiot at times.’
‘It’s not what you think,’ said Owen, his eyes darting around. ‘It’s just now and again.’
‘What, just like the alcohol was now and again?’
‘Hey! That’s unfair.’ Owen looked embarrassed. ‘Seriously, it’s not really any of your business anyway. You don’t even live here any more and you’re only back because of Mum, so don’t pretend you care about my well-being or anything.’
Harry sighed. Owen’s sulky expression made him look like a kid again. He placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder. ‘You of all people shouldn’t underestimate me or how much I care. Just because I’m in France, it doesn’t mean I’m not here for you – if you need me, that is.’
Owen looked away and Harry gave him time to contemplate his response. Finally, Owen spoke. ‘I’m sorry. It’s just I’ve had Dominic on my back this morning already and now you. Look, I promise I’m not doing coke or anything like that. One of the guests left it in their lodge and one of the cleaners handed it in. Dom wasn’t about, so I took it. I meant to flush it down the toilet, but I forgot I’d put it in my baccy pouch. I didn’t want anyone to see it.’
Harry wasn’t entirely convinced by his brother’s story – after all, it wouldn’t be the first time Owen had lied about his habits.
‘OK, sorry if I jumped to conclusions,’ Harry said, making a mental note to keep an eye on Owen while he was in the UK. They began walking again. ‘What was the beef with Dominic?’
‘Oh, nothing really. Just Dominic being Dominic. I think he forgets that I don’t actually work for him