Ruth answered after two rings.
‘Darling, did you enjoy the film?’
‘Why did you tell Anna I knew Owen took the money?’
There was a faint noise at the other end, a chair moving or a bag being set down.
‘Anna's told you.’
‘Yes. Now I'm asking you.’
Leah stood beside the bed. She could still feel the warmth of her mother's cardigan against her cheek from Tuesday. It made Ruth's familiar voice difficult to bear.
‘You were in such a state,’ Ruth said. ‘I couldn't add that to it.’
‘I was in a state because he left and I didn't know why.’
‘He took your money. That wasn't your fault.’
‘You let me think it might be.’
‘No, Leah. I told you he wasn't worth asking. I told you you deserved better.’
‘Did you hide it from me?’
‘Yes.’ The answer was sharp. Then Ruth softened her voice. ‘To spare you. You were already hurt. It would only have made everything worse.’
Leah sat down.
‘It made everything worse tonight.’
‘I wish Anna had spoken to me first.’
‘She says she did. She says she told you she was going to ask me whether Owen could bring the money tomorrow.’
‘She was upset. I wanted her to think carefully about it.’
‘Did you send me a message?’
‘What message?’
Leah read it out. Then she read the second one, about the envelope.
Ruth waited until she finished.
‘No, darling. That wasn't me.’
‘Who knew about the envelope?’
‘Anna. Owen. I don't know who he told.’
‘You knew.’
‘I did. I didn't send you a message.’
Leah looked at the phone as if she could see her mother's face inside it. Ruth had had two phones on the table that afternoon. She could have sent it. So could someone Owen had told. Leah did not have a name from the sender, and asking again would only get her mother's same answer.
‘What happened after the ten-day plan?’ she asked. ‘Did you talk to him?’
‘I did.’
‘What did you say?’
‘I said he'd hurt you. I said I wasn't going to have you chasing him.’
‘Did you tell him I knew about the money?’
Ruth drew a breath. ‘I told him you weren't going to be treated like that.’
‘That's not what I asked.’
‘I didn't give him a reason to stay away, Leah. He was offered the chance to come back and explain. He chose to stay away.’
Leah tried to hold that beside Anna's account. A plan to return. A mother saying Leah refused it. Owen sending a final rejection of his own.
‘Then why did you tell Anna I wouldn't let him come back?’
‘Because I hoped you wouldn't. I knew how hurt you'd be. I shouldn't have said it for you.’
‘You made it sound like I'd actually said it.’
‘I was wrong to do that.’
Ruth's admission was quick and nearly soothing. Leah felt herself beginning to accept it because it would mean there was one fewer thing to fight about. She gripped the edge of the mattress.
‘I'm going to ask him what you said.’
‘You're tired. You don't have to do this tonight.’
‘I do.’
‘He'll tell you whatever brings you round. Of course he will. He took the money and now he wants you to forget it.’
‘You don't know what he wants. I haven't spoken to him yet.’
‘I know you're still wearing his ring.’
Leah looked at her hand. She had not thought about taking it off when she called.
‘That's my hand, Mum.’
Ruth was silent for a moment.
‘Let me come over,’ she said. ‘I'll sit with you.’
Leah wanted her. She wanted the arm round her head, the certainty that someone older and less frightened could carry the worst of it. She had wanted that all week.
‘No. I'm staying in my room tonight.’
‘All right, love.’
‘I know about the money now. You can stop deciding when I can hear things.’
She ended the call before Ruth could answer.
The room was quiet. On the landing, a door closed. Anna did not knock.
Leah opened Owen's conversation. There was the message telling her not to wait, then his answer about Bristol. Her question about what he meant had gone unanswered.
She typed, Anna told me about the empty envelope. Did you take our £2,400? What did Mum say to you after you promised to repay it?
She sent it before she could make it kinder.
Owen's reply came while she was still holding the phone.
Yes. I took it. I have it all to give back.
Then another.
What do you mean Anna told you? When?
Leah wrote, Just now. I didn't know until tonight.
His name appeared on the screen as an incoming call.
She let it ring twice. Then she answered.
‘Leah.’
His voice was enough to bring back the flat. His hand at her neck. The shape of him asleep with the sheet caught under his knee. She closed her eyes, angry with herself for how quickly she could want him.
‘Did you hear me?’ he asked.
‘I heard.’
‘Your mum said you knew. She told me you knew everything and wanted it ended.’
Leah opened her eyes.
‘When?’
‘That Monday. After I spoke to Anna. I thought—’ He stopped. ‘I need to come and see you.’
‘You told me you'd chosen to go.’
‘I know what I wrote.’
‘I called you. I asked you. You could have answered me.’
‘I could have.’ His voice was lower now. ‘I should have.’
She waited.
‘Are you in Bristol?’
‘Yes. I'm in the room I took here. I can get back in the morning. I've got the money ready.’
‘How?’
‘My wages and a loan. In my name. I've got all of it.’
‘Why didn't you tell me before you had it?’
‘I was ashamed. And I believed her.’
‘Those aren't the same answer.’
‘No.’
He breathed out. She could hear traffic through his end of the call.
‘I wanted to bring it back and tell you face to face,’ he said. ‘That's what I promised Anna. Then your mum said it was over and I—’
‘Sent me a message saying you didn't want me.’
‘Yes.’
Leah looked at the print on the wall. One of the dancers had her eyes shut. The other was laughing straight towards the camera, utterly unworried about being seen.
‘I'm not agreeing to take you back,’ she said.
‘I understand.’
She did not know whether he did. His voice had the careful softness he used when he hoped they were coming to the end of an argument.
‘You can come here at ten tomorrow. Anna's house.’
‘I'll be there.’
‘Bring the money. And you're going to answer me properly about all of it. I don't want another version where I decided something without saying it.’
‘You won't get that from me.’
It sounded like Owen. A promise with the difficult part still ahead.
‘Ten,’ she said again, and ended the call.
For a while she did not move. She had spoken to him. He was real, and awake, and coming back. He had taken the money. Her mother had told him she knew.
Leah pulled the ring off her finger. There was a pale dent beneath it. She set it beside the lamp rather than putting it away.
Then she went to Anna's door and knocked.
Her sister opened it at once. The sewing machine was covered. Anna had been sitting on the bed with the unfinished sleeve in her lap.
‘He's coming at ten,’ Leah said. ‘He's got the money. He says Mum told him I knew and ended it.’
Anna's mouth opened, then closed. ‘She told me you knew too.’
‘You found out I didn't.’
‘Yes.’
‘I want you here tomorrow. I want to hear what everyone actually said.’
‘I'll be here.’
Leah nodded and went back to her room. The orange jacket was hanging over the chair. Her shoes were dry now; the mud from the river had begun to flake off one heel.
She put her phone on charge and set an alarm. She had asked for the room because she wanted someone to look after her. In the morning, she would be the one asking the questions.