Anna took a tissue from the box beside Ruth's chair and held it out. Ruth accepted it without looking at her.
Leah watched that small exchange. Her sister was hurt and angry and still knew where their mother kept the tissues. Nothing had made them strangers.
‘You can't do this now,’ Ruth said. ‘Not all at once.’
‘I don't know what you mean by do,’ Anna said.
‘Leave. Both of you. Make everything different overnight.’
‘I told you six weeks ago.’
Ruth wiped her eyes. ‘You told me you were unhappy. People can be unhappy and stay. People can work at things.’
‘I've been working at staying for longer than six weeks.’
‘Daniel's a good man.’
Daniel moved towards the sofa. ‘Ruth, stop.’
‘He is,’ Leah said.
Her mother looked at her eagerly. Leah felt the old invitation to become the reasonable daughter.
‘That doesn't tell Anna what she has to want,’ she finished.
Ruth lowered the tissue. Anna looked towards Leah. She did not smile, but her hands loosened.
‘You could be happy there,’ Ruth said to Leah. ‘You were happy there. I've seen you.’
‘I've liked being there. I've liked Daniel. You didn't have to invent things I said.’
‘If you really like him, why can't you let something good happen?’
Leah put both feet firmly on the floor.
‘Because I came to see my sister. I thought I knew what everyone wanted from me. I can't turn this into a home because you got the other man out of the way.’
Ruth leaned back. ‘You're making it sound ugly.’
‘I'm making it sound like what you did.’
The room went quiet. Outside on the stairs, someone carried a bag past the door. Leah heard it knock against the railing, then the steps descending. Ordinary people were still going about their Friday afternoon. She wanted to be one of them.
Daniel picked up Ruth's folded guest list.
‘We can still have the gathering tomorrow,’ he said. ‘For her father. But after that you need to call before you come over.’
Ruth stared at him. ‘For the greenhouse?’
‘For anything.’
‘You've never minded.’
‘I didn't mind you gardening. I mind you arranging a future for me and telling me another person wants it.’
He put the list down.
‘I'll stay in the house for now. I'll decide later whether I want to keep it. I can't promise you my afternoons because you're frightened I'll leave.’
Ruth held the tissue tightly. Leah could see exactly what she was losing. Knowing it did not make her entitled to keep it.
‘And I can't promise you a marriage,’ Anna said.
Ruth turned towards her. ‘I never asked you for that.’
Anna's face went very still.
‘I'll collect my things tomorrow,’ she said. ‘The room's paid for. I'm going.’
‘You don't have to be so final.’
‘I do.’
Leah stood. Her legs were unsteady, and she put a hand on the lamp table before she could move.
‘Mira offered her sofa,’ she said. ‘I'm going to call her.’
‘You'll be in everyone's way there,’ Ruth said. ‘Here you have a proper room.’
It was true enough to sting. Mira had a small flat and a cousin coming. She would be giving up the large clean room at Anna's, with the print she loved. She was choosing something less comfortable.
‘I'll manage that with Mira,’ she said.
Anna picked up her jacket. Daniel moved to the door, then paused beside Ruth.
Ruth looked up at him. ‘You don't have to be alone.’
He took a breath. ‘I have to let people leave.’
Leah watched his face. She had wanted to kiss him less than an hour ago. Part of her still wanted to go towards him and make that expression go away. She stayed beside the table.
Anna opened the door.
‘Tomorrow,’ Ruth said. ‘What am I supposed to say tomorrow?’
Leah turned back.
‘What do they know?’
‘That Owen left you. That Anna's having a difficult time. I didn't tell them everything.’
‘Did you tell them he abandoned me and we didn't know why?’
Ruth looked at her hands.
‘Some of them. When they asked.’
‘Then correct that. They can know he did something wrong and that you and Anna knew about it. They don't need our money spread across the table.’
‘That will be awkward.’
‘Yes,’ Leah said.
Her mother looked from her to Anna, then towards Daniel. None of them made the awkwardness disappear.
Leah followed her sister out. On the stairs, Anna reached backwards and held Leah's hand for one step, perhaps only to steady her. Leah let her.
Outside, the afternoon air was cool against her face. She took out her phone and called Mira while Anna and Daniel waited a little way along the pavement.
‘Is your sofa still free?’ Leah asked.
Mira stopped whatever noisy thing she was doing. ‘Yes. What do you need?’
‘To come tonight. I have bags.’
‘I'm borrowing my cousin's car for tomorrow. I can get you at seven. You can fit your bags on your knee if they're ridiculous.’
Leah laughed once, without pleasure, then felt a little of it anyway.
‘They are.’
‘Of course they are. Which address?’
Leah gave her Anna's house.
‘See you at seven,’ Mira said.
Leah put the phone away and walked towards the two people waiting for her.