Silent, The Confrontation

Two Years Ago, Lucy

'You're mad, I'm afraid to say,' Arthur said, stepping out of his car and striding towards her. 'Coming back like this and calling on my former daughter-in-law.'
 
'I'm not mad,' she shouted back at him. 'It's you and this family with all its secrets.'
 
She glanced at the taxi, now part of the way down the driveway. The taxi had come out of nowhere, taking her by surprise. The lad from two nights ago had seen her and he would soon work it out.  She needed to get back to the House and talk to him.  
 
Although it no longer mattered, really.  After finding the photo on her bed yesterday evening, she'd fled to the main building, double-locked the main doors and called for a taxi to take her into town where she'd booked into a B & B using her fake ID. She'd only come back today to collect the rest of her clothes. She didn't need the job in the kitchens. She had enough money to stay in the B & B, at least till Maxine and Ash drove over at the weekend, as they'd all planned.
 
She started to sprint down the drive. Arthur followed, catching up.  He was quick for a man of nearly eighty.  'Please, let's talk about this, Lucy.  We've only just met again and I don't want us to fall out.  But you must see that what you're saying is completely unacceptable. That young boy Pete is my grandson, my Terence's youngest. Your father would never have –
 
'Would never have what?  Had an affair?  Wrong.  He had several affairs, actually. One just before my mother found out she was pregnant with me.'  
 
Arthur's face drained of colour. 'What are you talking about?  Who's been telling you these stories?'  
 
'My uncle and aunt.'
 
'No, they wouldn't tell such fibs.'  
 
'You're right, Arthur.  They wouldn't.  But they wouldn't need to either.'
 
'What do you mean, Lucy?'
 
'They might go about whispering at home, but I hear everything.  I'm not stupid, and I know that that boy – Peter – is my half-brother.'
 
She dashed off, ignoring further pleas from Arthur to stop.