‘I’m sorry’ Ellis turns from the balustrade overlooking the lawn as Kester puts a hand on his shoulder. ‘I’m sorry for everything’ he says, his eyelashes still damp from carefully hidden tears.

‘It’s okay’

‘No it isn’t! I listened to that vindictive bitch and I believed everything she sodding well told me! I’ve upset Granny, I’ve upset Dad, I’ve upset everyone who should ever have meant anything to me. I’m pathetic!’

‘No you’re not’ Kester assures, aiming a playful punch to his brother’s chin and smiling encouragement. ‘You’re here now. That’s what matters. Harriet is really pleased to see you’

Ellis turns away again; leaning forward and resting his arms on the balustrade top, his head bowed. ‘How can she do that?’ he asks in a hoarse, unsteady whisper. ‘How can she turn on that smile and hug me like I was only here yesterday? How can she pretend none of what’s gone on matters? How can you?’

‘None of it mattered to her as far as you were concerned…’ Kester stands next to him, resting his hand in the middle of his back. ‘You apologised, that was enough’ he pats ‘And she understands more than you think, she knows what the situation was, she knows that given a choice between maybe upsetting her and definitely invoking the wrath of our dear mother, there was only one choice to be made..’

‘But you didn’t cop out like I did!’ Ellis growls with self-loathing ‘you stood up to her; you got away. Why couldn’t I?’

‘We’re different people, Ellis. Two totally different people’

‘Too right we are but I’m getting out now’ he vows and straightens to face Kester. ‘I’m getting out of the business and her life while I’ve got the chance’ He gives a short laugh ‘A grown man and I have to wait for her to be banged up before I can make my move. Pathetic’

Kester takes a few moments to digest his words. ‘Get away from her if that’s what you want, but don’t give up on the acting, you’re good’

‘Good?’ Ellis scoffs and thrusts his hands in his trouser pockets as he wanders to the end of the terrace. ‘I only ever did what she told me to do, licked a few arses to get known’

‘Doesn’t mean you haven't got talent. You ask Dad’

‘Dad?’ he turns with a look of disbelief.

‘He’s very proud of what you’ve achieved’

‘Yeah, right. If you say so’

‘I do say so’ Kester reaches him in a few strides. ‘Ellis, he couldn’t show an interest, not an obvious one’ he tells him as they both gaze out over the garden. ‘If you’ve read those articles, you’ll know that’ He waits for a response then turns Ellis towards him when he does not answer, gripping him by the upper arms. ‘If he’d fostered your career, you wouldn’t have had one’ He dips his head to look Ellis in the eye. ‘Don’t you understand? She’d’ve made sure of it’

Kester gives Ellis’s arms a brief squeeze and lets his hands drop. ‘Oh, you’d’ve still done the rounds but she would have blocked your every move. As it is, she thinks she can take the credit for your success but you take it from me, and Dad if you’ll listen to him, you got there under your own steam. What, with the calibre of parts you’ve played? There’s no way any casting director would've risked a production by putting a talentless no hoper in just because she’d told you to lick arse! You got those parts on your own merit…you!’

A flush creeps up Ellis’s cheeks and he flashes Kester a grateful smile before turning to grip the top of the balustrade again. They stand for a few moments without speaking. ‘But where do I go from here?’ he groans then gives a short burst of derisive laughter ‘God! Am I feeble or what?’

‘She can have that effect on people’ Kester mutters ‘but you’re strong enough and we’d all be behind you’

‘If I make the break, will she still put the mockers on anything I do?’

‘You really think anyone is going to be influenced by her now?’ Kester grins, knowing the decision to be made.

Ellis takes a deep shuddering breath, letting it out on a smile of relief. ‘No, I don’t reckon they are’

‘Then stick with it kid!’ Kester aims another playful punch, this time to his chest.

‘And Dad, how do I get back to Dad?’ Ellis asks, his smile twisting

‘He never left you, Ellis, believe me’ Kester says with quiet reassurance and offers a hug.

They cling together for a long while, finally breaking with a mutual clap to the other’s back

‘I’m going to be a big brother!’ Ellis grins as he steps back, embarrassed by fresh tears on his cheeks.

‘Yep!’ Kester swallows hard.

‘A sister-in-law, an almost stepmother…and neither of them…neither of them blames me…they accept me. Lynn hugged me, for Christ’s sake! After all I was led to believe and to hate about her, she hugged me!’

‘She’s a lovely woman and she makes Dad very happy’

‘And Helen…you done well there, bro’

‘I know’ Kester answers, touched by the simple designation.

‘What about Immie?’ Ellis asks on a sigh.

‘Im-o-gen, ducky’ Kester grimaces and lowers his eyebrows in mock reproof. He shrugs indifferently. ‘She can please herself. She’s no actress, much as she likes to think she’s up there with the best. Self-doubt’s not exactly in her repertoire, is it? I don’t think she’ll ever be free of Ruth…not until she makes up her mind that we’re right and she’s wrong. We can’t influence that any more than we have done. The truth is there if and when she decides to believe it’ he says tersely ‘Are you coming back in now?’ he asks in a gentler, more encouraging tone.

‘Is Granny all right?’

‘She’s had a cry but she’s fine’

‘Immie’s a cow! I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have started an argument, not here, not now, not in front of Granny’

‘It’s Grandmamma or Harriet unless you want to get shot’ Kester advises with a chuckle. His face grows serious. ‘I gave Imogen fair warning before we came over but she chose to ignore me. You didn’t say anything I hadn’t already. I told her I’d chuck her out if she carried on. So, it was no idle threat’ he shrugs again and smiles. ‘Harriet’s okay…honestly….Come on’ He puts an arm around Ellis’s shoulder to lead him back indoors.

‘I’m buggered now, aren’t I? No lift!’

‘I’ll see you get back if that’s what you decide to do….but maybe now’s the time to make that break?’

‘I’m certainly not running after her, that’s for sure!’ Ellis huffs his determination.

‘That’s the first step made’ Kester grips the back of Ellis’s neck and grins happily. ‘Bruv’

Tawny House, Manor Road

Chapter Twenty-two