Page 18 of In at the Deep End

Matt didn’t interrupt.

“If Owen already knew he was attracted to men…” She sighed. “Part of me wonders whether Cyn ever really had a chance.” Her brow was furrowed, her lips tight. “I hate even thinking that, because Owen was one of the kindest people I knew.”

“But?”

“But Cyn loved him.” She gave a small shrug. “I suppose I’m trying to work out whether he broke her heart, or whether they were both victims of something neither of them understood.”

Matt was quiet for a few moments. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“When you and Dad got together… did either of you know exactly who you were going to become?”

She huffed. “Good Lord, no.”

“People spend years working out who they are.” He shrugged. “Sometimes they spend just as long trying to be who everyone else expects.”

“Maybe.”

He went over to the kettle and filled it. “If everyone around you is telling you what a normal life looks like, how do you know you aren’t supposed to want it too?”

Mum let out a breath. “I don’t know. Maybe your father’s right and I’m overthinking it.”

Matt squeezed her shoulder. “Or maybe there are bits of the story none of us know yet.”

That earned him a smile. “Maybe.”

Matt glanced at the clock. “I’d better get my act together. Owen wants to go to B&Q.”

She looked amused. “‘B&Q’?”

“And IKEA.” He grinned. “It seems I’m now his unofficial furniture consultant, as well as his gardener and pool guy.”

She laughed. “I remember that look.”

“What look?”

“The one people got after spending half an hour with Owen. He had a way of making you volunteer for things.”

Matt chuckled. “I don’t think he had to work very hard. All he did was ask if I’d go with him, and I said yes.” He grinned. “It seemed the sensible response.” The kettle clicked off, and Matt made himself a coffee. “I’m not sure what to make of him yet.”

“What do you mean?”

Matt searched for the words. “Yesterday he was Dad’s old friend.”

“And today?”

“Today…” He frowned. “Today I realised I know almost nothing about him. There’s the version you knew at university. Then there’s the version Dad met yesterday.” He gave a small shrug. “I can’t work out how you get from one to the other.”

“Life,” she said simply.

“Maybe.”

All he knew for certain was that Owen had a lot of history.

And history had a habit of becoming more complicated the deeper you dug.

“Would it be okay if I leave you two to talk gardens while I go and look for supplies?” Callum said as they headed into B&Q. “There are a few things I need for work tomorrow.”