Summer Secrets at Streamside Cottage - Samantha Tonge Page 0,1

led down the right-hand side, one of them for tattoo removals. Steve also did piercings and the shelving on the left, near the front window, displayed rings for an array of body parts. Straight ahead was the reception desk with a scanner by the wall. On top of the counter, in front of the appointment book, were sachets of aftercare cream in a glass bowl next to the consent forms.

Someone once told me that a reputable tattoo parlour should seem more like a doctor’s surgery, with sterilising tools and licenses on display. Kismet Tattoos certainly looked professional and sanitary but not at the price of character with its neon sign outside and exotic reception interior. A middle-aged woman, with a neat bob, sat on one of the wicker chairs, rimless glasses balanced on her nose. She was much less colourful than our usual clients. A bus thundered past outside and puffs of cloud blotted out the July sunshine. I didn’t want to keep her waiting any longer but needed to grab a glass of water after I’d seen to Bill.

Katya looked up from the appointment book. ‘I think she’s come a long way – you’d better go over.’ Her voice was soft, her stare hard and I’d known Katya long enough to realise that combination meant this visitor was the bearer of bad news. Like the time a man had come back to complain I’d spelt his Latin quote wrong. Fortunately, I’d kept the printed out wording he’d brought in. I squinted across the room at the woman who studiously gazed into nothing. Curved arms folded underneath a generous chest causing the opposing buttonholes of her blouse to gape.

I said goodbye to Bill and strode over. The woman looked up and removed her glasses.

‘Aunt Fiona?’ My heart thumped and I blinked rapidly for a few seconds. ‘I can’t believe… it’s so good to… is everything okay?’

Creases deepening, her face screwed up like a piece of paper and she got to her feet, looking shorter than I recalled. The proximity highlighted her smudged eyeliner.

‘How did you find me?’

‘I remembered the name of this parlour and Googled.’ Her voice sounded thick. ‘I would have called but… this isn’t the kind of thing you say over the phone.’

The hairs stood up on the back of my neck. She followed me to the back, past the buzz of tattoo needles and colleagues who suddenly looked busy. Steve patted my back as I walked past. We climbed the wooden flight of stairs and, at the top, entered the flat that I rented, with its open-plan kitchen, the breakfast bar and the lounge – the largest room by far in comparison with the bedroom and bathroom. I grabbed Ash’s pyjamas and my dressing gown off the sofa and told her to take a seat whilst I threw them in the bedroom. When I returned, Aunt Fiona sat amongst my colourful cushions and hugged one tightly.

‘Can I get you a cup of tea? Coffee?’ For some reason I felt sick. She felt like a stranger. More than ever I felt the ache of it having been five years since I’d last seen her and my parents.

Aunt Fiona shook her head, took out a handkerchief and wrung it between her hands.

I hadn’t expected to see a member of my family. Not yet. It seemed too soon, normal time having been skewed by the fall out.

‘Are… are Mum and Dad thinking of moving back to London?’ Aunt Jan doted on her sister and such plans wouldn’t have pleased her. Perhaps… perhaps my parents wanted a reconciliation.

‘I told the investigating officer it would be better coming from me. Now I’m not so sure.’

Investigating officer. What could be wrong? Was Uncle Jack ill? Why were the police involved?

‘It was a beautiful sunny day. Your parents couldn’t resist taking a dip. Nothing pleased them more than swimming away from the crowded beach but they’d misjudged the tides…’

Like hives allergic to words, red blotches appeared on her cheeks. My forehead tightened. Getting back to the beach must have been an Olympic challenge. They would be exhausted. Or perhaps it got late and they caught pneumonia. My mind went into automatic. Katya would give me the time off work. It would only take me ten minutes to pack. Within a few hours I’d be by their side in hospital. I’d stay a few weeks until they were fully recovered – start to make up for the last five years apart. We’d be a family