The Ten Commandments by Anthea Fraser

the press?'
    'No, I suppose it isn't. I mustn't give myself delusions of grandeur.'
    'You'll have to put plants in the audience, Frederick,' Hugh said humorously, 'to ask the questions you're prepared to answer.'
    'Well, I'll be there rooting for you,' Alex declared, 'though I can't speak for Roy. He has his own priorities these days.'
    Edwina's stomach lurched. From the corner of her eye she saw Roy's hand clench on the table, but he said levelly, 'I certainly hope to be; it should be a most interesting evening.'
    'More interesting than your sons' Sports Day?'
    Roy raised his hand and brought it sharply down on the table, making the spoon dance in his saucer. 'I thought you'd find a way to bring that up.'
    Frantically, Edwina lifted the coffee pot. 'Anyone ready for a refill?'
    No one answered; the atmosphere had suddenly become charged. Alex turned to her, her voice vibrating with tension.
    'You know how the boys look forward to Sports Day – specially this year, when, as I told you in my letter, both of them were picked for their house teams. They even persuaded Roy to volunteer for the Fathers' Race. Then what do you think happens? The day before, there's a hitch at some office in Glasgow, and off he flies without a backward glance. Glasgow ! You'd have thought they could have found someone nearer, wouldn't you?'
    Roy said tightly, 'Alex is convinced I arranged it all deliberately, even though I explained it was my programme that had gone wrong, and I was responsible for it. I still hoped to be back in time, but the sorting out took longer than expected.'
    'But it was the weekend, Roy. It could have waited till Monday, specially when you'd something important on.'
    'Even if it was Christmas, it would have made no difference. If I hadn't seen to it at once, they'd have lost millions of pounds' worth of orders. But you wouldn't see that. You took it as a personal slight – as, let's face it, you take most things these days.'
    'It was because of the boys,' she said shakily. 'They won their races, and you weren't there to see them. Toby was in tears afterwards.' She sounded close to them herself.
    Frederick cleared his throat. 'Well, it was disappointing, of course, but it's not the end of the world, now, is it? I'm sure Roy –'
    Alex pushed back her chair and stood up. 'If that's all the support I'm getting. I'll spare you any further embarrassment and take Goldie for a walk.' The long-haired retriever, asleep by Frederick's chair, thumped his tail at the sound of his name.
    'Come along, boy! Walk!' she repeated sharply. The dog sat up, surprised at the break in his routine, then, as she patted her thigh, got to his feet and trotted after her out of the room.
    There was an awkward silence. Then Roy said flatly, 'I'm sorry. I shouldn't have risen to that. We've spoiled your lunch party.'
    He looked round at their grave faces. 'I'm sure you all know we've been having problems. I just don't know how to handle it. I still love her, but she won't let me near her. Everything I do seems to irritate her.'
    'She's very unhappy,' Edwina said quietly.
    'She's not the only one, but she absolutely refuses to discuss it. Do you think one of you could have a word with her?'
    'I have tried, Roy,' Gillian said, 'but I didn't get very far, either.'
    'I think, my dear,' Frederick remarked, 'you'd better try again. Things can't be allowed to go on like this, for the boys' sakes as much as anyone's. And talking of the boys, it's time we went outside to join them.'
    Gillian met Roy's anxious eyes. 'All right,’ she told him, 'I'll have another go.' And, already regretting the promise she'd been forced into, she followed her mother out to the garden.
    It was a day for family meals, but Sonia, whose working week tended to be fraught, found herself resenting the unspoken assumption that each Sunday, month in, month out, Patrick's mother and sister would come to lunch.
    It would be pleasant, she thought, making the mint sauce, to have