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the rental of your dad’s flat – wouldn’t discuss it with me of course.”
    “No? Right – no, I don’t suppose he would.” I was never very sure why Michael and Tom had fallen out. They’d been friends as medical students at Edinburgh University. That’s how I’d first met Tom – at a party in Michael’s student flat. But around the time that the twins were born they began avoiding each other. Then Michael emigrated. “What time did he call? Have I to call him back?”
    “It was first thing in the morning in Sydney. Yes you’ve to give him a call. I know it was your dad’s flat but finance is really my department isn’t it?
    “Yes, I know!” Tom did handle all the finances, and I got bored very easily by all that money management stuff. But he had a way of making me feel helpless sometimes. “I’m not a complete idiot you know. It won’t only be the financial details. He’ll want to know if the new tenancy is working out. I’m sure I can deal with it. I do manage a demanding job and looking after the house and family.” I wanted to add – ‘with precious little help from you’ – but I stopped myself.
    Tom shrugged. “Andy called too. He went to the supermarket to see if your mystery boy is the one the girls know.”
    “Oh, Tom, the girls asked you not to go to Andy. Could you not just leave it?”
    Tom merely shook his head slightly, as if I hadn’t spoken. “And the plot thickens,” he continued. “It’s him - Robbie - and he’s admitted to hanging about the house. It seems the lad wants to talk to us, all of us, together. Andy’s going to bring him round tomorrow evening around seven. He wants to apologise, apparently. More likely Andy’s told him he has to apologise!”
    “Is that it? Who is he? What does he want with us all? I thought it was Jenny he was interested in.”
    “Andy didn’t say, but I hope he’s warned him to stay away in future – away from the house and away from the girls!”
    “He’s probably harmless you know - got a crush on Jenny, or maybe Sam – as she seems to think.”
    “Well, he’s not welcome here – it’s not harmless stalking a young girl.”
    “Oh, for goodness sake – he’s not a stalker - you sound like Max!”
    I left Tom in the kitchen and phoned my brother. It was lovely to hear Michael’s voice. He’d been living in Australia for about sixteen years. He’d only been home for two short visits in all that time - the last occasion being for our father’s funeral four years before. On neither occasion did we get a chance to talk properly, and I don’t really know why. Whenever I suggested a trip to Australia, Tom always came up with some reason why it was not a good time. He wasn’t even keen on Sam spending her gap year at Michael’s home. But, of course, Sam got round him in a way that I never could. Michael hadn’t been as close to me as Heather, but he was my big brother and I loved him.
    As always, it was good to hear his voice. “So, Rick’s working out as the new tenant - looking after the flat?” he asked.
    “Yes, yes it’s fine – much neater than when the students had it. I did a check a couple of weeks ago. Rick wasn’t there, but it all seemed in order. Being Lucy’s brother, he’ll not want to risk her wrath by abusing the place!”
    “Mm, I suppose not. Upsetting both you and your best friend is probably something best avoided.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
    “Yes indeed!” I laughed. “He’s away working at the moment. Taking photographs up in Skye I think.”
    “ And it’s not too much for you – being a landlord?”
    “No – not at all – I wish all my responsibilities were so straightforward.”
    “You do too much, Rosie. God knows how you coped looking after Dad the way you did, on top of everything else – all that going back and forward to Edinburgh and then having him to live with you. I do appreciate all you did back then. You know I do. That’s why I wanted you to have