Читать книгу The Last Family in England - Matt Haig - Страница 37

africa

Hal and Charlotte were in their bedrooms when we arrived back home. Kate was downstairs watching the news.

‘We missed that programme,’ she said, as she picked dog hair off the settee. ‘You know, the one we wanted to watch.’

‘Yes,’ said Adam. ‘What programme?’ He was standing in front of her, by the television, and although Kate didn’t notice he had again slipped into a slight trance.

‘The one about that woman, you know, who set up that hospital in Africa.’

‘Oh, yes, right.’ He rubbed his neck, keeping his gaze locked on some indeterminable spot on the settee. And then, from out of nowhere: ‘They’ve sold it.’

‘Sorry?’

‘The house on the park. They’ve sold it.’

It was only the television newsreader who remained genuinely untroubled by Adam’s behaviour now.

‘Uh-huh,’ said Kate, moving her head softly forward as if by doing this she would find the missing link within their conversation.

‘But it’s only been on the market a month and someone’s actually in there now. Living in it.’

‘Uh-huh.’

‘But that’s unbelievable.’

‘Darling, are you OK?’

He wasn’t listening. ‘I saw someone in the upstairs window. They must have moved in today, this morning.’

‘It’s what happens. People buy houses. They move in. It’s hardly a new concept.’

‘Yes, but that house. Have you seen it? It’s like the ugliest construction you’ve ever imagined. It’s got a double garage, for God’s sake.’

‘Well,’ she sighed. ‘It’s lucky we’re not moving in, isn’t it?’

He walked out of the room, taking his coat off as he did so. His voice carried on: ‘But I mean, honestly, would you ever think of moving there?’

‘Adam, why do you always go on about these massive great houses? Jealousy won’t get you anywhere.’

He laughed. ‘Jealousy! Kate, come on. You’d really want to move into a place like that?’

‘We wouldn’t be able to afford it.’

Adam, coatless, arrived back in the room, bringing jealousy-smells with him. ‘I mean hypothetically, if we had the money, if you had all the money in the world would you even think for one second about stepping through the door of that hideous, soulless, excuse for a home?’

‘No,’ she sighed, clearly hoping this was the quickest exit out of the conversation so she could catch the end of the news.

My tail tried to peace-broker the situation. To my satisfaction, Henry’s morning tutorial was a success. Immediately, the atmosphere calmed.

‘There, boy.’ Adam stroked my head, in apparent acknowledgement of my efforts. And then, to Kate: ‘I really wanted to watch that programme.’

‘Yes,’ she said, a soft smile twitching away at the corners of her mouth. ‘So did I.’

Adam sat himself down on the sofa beside her and I felt a warm glow at the portrait I had helped to create. Again, this was a break from the pattern but I couldn’t help but feel it was a welcome one. Adam and Kate, together on the settee, watching the weather forecast. Exhausted yes, but also smelling quietly content.