Then We Die (37 page)

He glanced at his wife for some moral and spiritual support, but in return simply got a look that said
For God
’
s sake
,
say something
.

‘So,’ Carlyle mumbled, ‘how did you two meet?’ Grabbing a slice of lemon cake from his plate, he took a large bite.

‘Lorna and I have known each other for a long time,’ Walton replied vaguely.

Carlyle gave his mother an enquiring look. ‘Oh, is that right?’

Lorna put her cup back on the saucer and placed a gentle hand on Helen’s forearm. ‘And how is Alice?’ she asked, changing the subject with a lack of subtlety for which the Carlyle family had long been famous.

Helen looked at Carlyle and grinned. ‘She’s not on the best form, to be honest. She’s just split with her boyfriend and things are a bit – well, tense.’

‘It’s just part of the
growing up
process,’ Carlyle remarked.

Head down, Ken Walton gave the cucumber sandwiches his full attention.

‘These things are always hard to take,’ said Lorna, effortlessly ignoring her son’s churlishness. ‘She will snap out of it soon enough.’

Helen smiled sadly. ‘I’m afraid I didn’t help things by getting into a row with the boy’s mother.’

‘Ach,’ said the older woman, ‘the child’s still very young. It’s right that you are still getting involved.’ She glanced at Carlyle with amusement. ‘There will be plenty of time for her to make mistakes all on her own.’

Gritting his teeth, Carlyle said nothing. Instead he scanned the restaurant, hoping to spy some outrageous criminal activity in progress that might serve to rescue him from this latest domestic nightmare. Sadly, this time round, there was none to be found.