Three’s a Crowd by Dianne Blacklock

okay, Tom,’ said Rachel. ‘I can see myself out.’
    He ignored that. ‘I’ll be right back, girls.’ He ushered Rachel out onto the landing, pulling the door to. ‘Do you really have to go?’
    She hesitated. ‘Well . . . no, but I think I should, Tom. The girls might need some time with you,’ she said. ‘Sophie’s coming out with some strange stuff, and I’m not sure how Hannah’s taking it.’
    He listened, nodding faintly. ‘Okay, I’ll talk to them, but they’re going to crash any minute,’ he said. ‘They’re both beyond exhausted.’
    â€˜You must be too,’ said Rachel.
    â€˜Yeah, but I haven’t been sleeping that well,’ he shrugged. ‘And I’m going to need to wind down from today.’ He looked at her directly. ‘Would it be too much to ask for you to hang around till I get them settled?’
    Rachel didn’t know what to say.
    â€˜Please, Rach,’ he added. ‘I don’t think I can face being alone right now.’
    â€˜Of course,’ she assured him. ‘Whatever you need, Tom. But take your time with the girls, okay? Don’t rush them. I’ll be here.’
    â€˜Thanks, I appreciate it.’
    She headed downstairs to the kitchen. The furniture was back in place, but everything looked a little bare. She carried the two chairs in from the hall and placed them either side of the table, then she went to inspect the contents of the fridge. She found an open bottle of wine and took it over to the sink, where a solitary glass stood draining. Rachel gave it a quick rinse under the tap and poured herself a glass of wine. She gazed out the window into the dwindling light and Annie’s garden. At least the hired help had left that alone. Rachel wandered over to the screen door and pushed it open, it squeaked as she stepped outside.
    There was nothing restrained or formal about the garden, in fact it rather ran riot. Plants had to be hardy this close to the ocean to survive, so there were rosemary and lavender bushes, seasidedaisies, some pretty funky-looking cacti, and here and there a quirky little statue peered out from behind the foliage: fairies and goblins and gnomes, put there when the girls were little.
    At least half an hour must have passed before Rachel heard Tom moving around in the kitchen. She came to the back door.
    â€˜No, stay out there,’ he said. ‘I’m just gathering supplies.’
    â€˜Are the girls okay?’
    â€˜Yeah, Hannah was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.’ He took a couple of glasses from an overhead cupboard and turned around to look at her. ‘When I went back in to check on Soph, she was plugged into her iPod. I took the hint. They haven’t had a minute to themselves the whole week, and Sophie likes her privacy.’
    Rachel nodded. ‘Do you want a hand there?’
    â€˜Nuh, coming now.’
    She held the door open as Tom walked through, his arms laden with bags of chips, a bottle of Scotch, glasses and an ice bucket. He set it all down on the outdoor table.
    â€˜Let’s get drunk,’ he said.
    Rachel eyed him dubiously.
    â€˜Don’t give me that look, not you, Rach,’ he sighed, dropping into a chair. ‘All day, the “looks” I’ve been getting, you have no idea.’
    â€˜Sophie said something about that.’
    â€˜If I cry, people are uncomfortable; if I smile, they’re uncomfortable. I spent the day contorting my expression into what I thought people could cope with. It’s exhausting.’
    â€˜You didn’t have to do that, Tom.’
    â€˜Oh, but I did. I have a responsibility to everyone to grieve the way they want me to grieve.’
    Rachel watched him loosen his tie and undo the top button of his shirt. ‘I haven’t cried,’ she said suddenly.
    He glanced at her. ‘I won’t hold it against