慖t抯 all right, Thing. I抦 home now.?
Judy pulls Thing away and Cathbad is embracing his children, a scrum of love and relief and tears.
When they pause for breath, Cathbad turns to Ruth, who is still keeping her socially approved distance. She and Kate are both smiling and suddenly seem radiantly alike.
慖t抯 wonderful that you抮e home,?says Ruth.
慖 prayed for you,?says Kate.
慣hank you, Hecate,?says Cathbad. 慖t helped. A lot.?
慓o into the house,?says Ruth, 慳nd carry on getting better.?
Cathbad raises his hand and it seems that even the seagulls, high above, are welcoming him home in raucous chorus.
Ruth and Kate drive home still elated by the hero抯 return. Kate talks excitedly about Cathbad. 慏o you think it抯 a miracle, Mum??Ruth doesn抰 feel qualified to judge but she抯 glad Kate is happy when she抯 had so many disappointments recently. It抯 become clear over the last few weeks that the Year 6 trip is not going to happen. 慦e hope to have the children in school for a week in June,?said Mrs Obuya, 慳nd we抣l have some socially-distanced celebrations.?But it抯 not the same as a trip or a disco or a prom. Ruth finds Kate抯 stoic acceptance of this almost heartbreaking.
But Kate does have the excitement of a new aunt and, as they near the little cottages, they see Zoe in the garden. She has cleared the ground and has sown seeds with witchy names like salvia, scabious and zinnia. Sunflowers are growing in pots and Zoe is busy preparing hanging baskets for the summer. Derek and Flint are watching with interest from their respective doorsteps. They need no government directive to maintain social distancing.
Zoe has gone back to work, physically none the worse for her ordeal, but she抯 told Ruth that she抯 having nightmares about the underground room and Hugh Baxter抯 soft voice urging suicide. Ruth finds it both stressful and touching to be receiving confidences of this kind. Is this what it means to be a sister? Simon has never confided in her and most of her friends have families of their own. Now Ruth has gained another close family member. It抯 rather a responsibility.
Ruth told Simon of Zoe抯 existence via Zoom. It was another one of those occasions where the discussion would have been easier face to face. Ruth looked at her brother抯 baffled face on the screen and wished she had been able to give him a hug, or at least a hearty pat on the back. It抯 been a hard time for Simon. Covid turned out not to be a government conspiracy and he抯 locked down at home with his wife and adult sons. No wonder he looks greyer than when Ruth last saw him.
慚um had a daughter,?he kept repeating. 態efore I was born.?
Ruth was glad when Cathy appeared beside Simon. 慣hese things happen,?she said briskly.
慪ou抣l like Zoe,?Ruth assured Simon who, foregrounded against his record collection and abandoned teenage acoustic guitar, suddenly looked rather pathetic.
慏oes Dad know??
慛o,?said Ruth. 慖 think we should tell him later. When we can see him in person.?
She has no idea when that will be.
Zoe comes over to meet them, her hands dark with earth. 慔ow was Cathbad? Everyone at the surgery is so happy that he抯 out of hospital.?
慔e looked a bit frail but he was obviously delighted to be home,?says Ruth. 慔e抯 got nine lives, but I think this has used up one of them.?
慚y time-travelling cat has got ninety-nine lives,?says Kate.
慔ave you written any more??asks Zoe. Ruth listens to Kate telling her aunt about Whittaker抯 latest adventures. It takes her mind off the fact that Nelson is, probably at this very moment, being reunited with his wife.
Nelson has taken the day off work but now he wishes he hadn抰。 The time seems to pass so slowly in the silent cul-de-sac. He can抰 stop thinking about Cathbad coming home from hospital, about Ruth and Katie, about the team back at the station.