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'How could you, Virginia? How could you do such a thing without asking me first?'

'I knew you'd say no,' Virginia said with a s Clare's ht line as she stared at her inia was srey rinse set in a flattering style She carried her years well Anyone looking at her would think that here was a kind-hearted, contented wo years In many ways she was exactly what she appeared to be, but there were other, less attractive forces at work that had caused much conflict within her family Her stubborn, 'mother knows best' attitude towards her son, and her refusal to accept hiee to Clare After his father's death from a heart attack the breach was healed, but after Lee's own death Clare often had cause to regret that Virginia hadn't kept to her original intention of washing her hands entirely of any responsibility for her son or his fae of sixteen, when her ed h to try to live up to the maternal expectations of someone to whom she had no ties but those of duty

'And you knehy I'd say no We've been over and over this, Virginia—'

'Well, you ot a blind spot about this, Clare—'

'I've got a blind spot?' Clare was torn between anger and amusement

'Yes Just because Lee turned his back on his classical training to take up with that awful band' His roup which Lee had foruitarist and vocalist The fact that Kraken had been a raging success inia was an accomplished pianist with very narrow classical tastes Any other for, especially the 'noise' that modern rock bands turned out '—doesn't ive his son a chance to exercise his talent'

'Tiinia's arguments were as narrow as her musical tastes 'He has two lessons a week and he practises every day On top of that he has all his nors you want to throw at him'

'If you didn't live in that God-forsaken place Tio behind your back to give him the opportunities he deserves'

There it was The 'ument Only in this case Clare was the htly

'Rotorua is hardly a wilderness, Virginia It's one of New Zealand's foremost tourist centres—'

'Tourists!' Virginia sniffed disparagingly as she arranged the tea-tray and handed it to Clare to carry through to the lounge 'If you lived here in Auckland you'd have access to the best violin teachers and the best facilities And I could see a bit more of the only family I have left…'

One reason why Clare chose to live two hundred and fifty kilometres away!