She felt lighter than she had, knowing now that she had misinterpreted Evelyn’s diary entry, and what had happened to Joan had been entirely accidental. Now she could allow herself to grow fond of Evelyn in a way she might not have done had the doubt been still hanging over her. It was also good to finally understand what had happened to Scarlet, but so unbearably sad that Pip didn’t want to think about it in case it smothered the glowing embers of happiness she could feel in the pit of her stomach.
Evelyn seemed to have gained something from their conversation as well. Pip could tell from the pace of their return journey that their outing had exhausted her although she was doing her best to hide it, but she too seemed lighter in spirit. What she had said about Joan hadn’t been a confession as such, but it must have been cathartic for her on some level. Despite the weariness in her step, Evelyn seemed younger than she had before.
A little girl, who must have been a similar age to Scarlet when she died, ran out in front of them and headed for the concrete steps down to the beach, her mother chasing almost immediately behind. The sudden movement made Pip jump, as all such things did these days, but Evelyn smiled, watching after the child as she made her way gingerly down the steep steps one at a time, always leading with the same leg.
‘It’s so lovely to be out, Pip,’ she said when the child had finally reached the beach. ‘Thank you for bringing me.’
‘My pleasure,’ Pip replied. ‘Now, before we get back, tell me something about Ted. You mention him a couple of times, but not any visits. Did he come to see you?’
Evelyn’s face lit up at the mention of Ted, and her eyes seemed to twinkle. ‘Dear, dear Ted,’ she said. ‘He used to come quite often when I first moved back. And he’d ring for a chat too, when he could. He really was a good friend to me.’
Pip turned her head and eyed Evelyn quizzically.
Evelyn seemed to catch her meaning at once and she tutted and shook her head. ‘Not like that, you mucky-minded pup! I don’t think he was really interested in women, or men for that matter. He told me he’d been married once, but it didn’t last. He devoted his entire life to caring for his mother. They were inseparable. There was such contrast there. Ted would have done anything for his mum. I couldn’t get away from mine fast enough, but I suppose it takes all sorts.’
Pip thought about her own mother, how she tried so hard to do and say the right thing, always treading on eggshells around her, and her stomach tightened. She knew she’d been horribly ungrateful when she was younger. It was little wonder her parents had been upset by her airs and graces. But she’d try harder now, she decided, show her mother she really did appreciate what she had done, and was continuing to do for her.
‘When Scarlet was tiny,’ Evelyn said, ‘Ted was about the only visitor I ever had. Peter came, of course, when she was first born, although babies really weren’t his thing until he had one of his own. But Ted came whenever he could get time off and borrow a vehicle of some sort. He was great with her, used to take her for long walks in her pram so I could get some sleep. Joan would never help with her, because I’d made my own bed and all that. Sometimes Ted would come, and I’d sleep for the whole time he was here. I used to wonder what kind of conversations he and Joan might have had when I wasn’t there, but actually, I think they just avoided one another.
‘And then his mum fell ill and it got harder and harder for him to get away. If he rang when I was out with Scarlet, then Joan wouldn’t pass the message on, so gradually we just drifted apart. He came to Scarlet’s funeral, of course, but we didn’t see much of each other after that. I suppose I just retreated, and he must have given up trying to help. Poor dear Ted. He didn’t deserve the treatment he got.’
‘He sounds lovely,’ said Pip. ‘I could do with a Ted in my life.’
As she said this, she realised that she had one – Jez. He’d been there for her and she had pushed him away. Pip wasn’t sure if the heat in her face was the effect of the wind or her shame. She would make amends, though, with her parents and Jez, or at least she would try. She hoped she hadn’t burned her bridges.
They reached Evelyn’s house, dingy and unloved next to its smarter neighbours.
Evelyn stopped and looked up at it, shaking her head sadly. ‘I have really let things slide, haven’t I?’ she said, but Pip got the impression she was talking to herself more than to her. ‘But this is enough. Something needs to change here, Evelyn Mountcastle. You need to take yourself in hand.’