She’d answered the phone and now she wasn’t sure she should have. She couldn’t take any more buffeting. But she wasn’t one to walk away. ‘Ben. Hello.’ He was hesitating too. He needed to think what to say. ‘I’m so sorry. All the things I did and said, I’m sorry. I can’t believe I just let you go like that.’ What was that, fluttering inside her? Hope? For a fleeting second she felt like the old Kelly, ever optimistic and generous. ‘You were upset.’ ‘That was no excuse. I was stunned, yes, but – how must you feel? You came back to us, and we drove you away.’ ‘I did spring it on you out of the blue.’ ‘It was a lot to take in. I wanted to tell you I’ve taken it in now. I’ve talked about it with Mum. She’s – you do understand, don’t you? It was so much to hit her with, the way we did. She just needed time. She’s getting there. And I’ve told Dad. He’s – look, I know it’s a lot to ask, after the way we treated you, but can you come back to Lyford?
