#the ghost fields

I finished The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffith and The House in Dormer Forest by Mary Webb.

He knows that he has no excuse for resenting Frank or anyone else in Ruth’s life. He made his decision; he elected to stay with Michelle and their daughters. It’s none of his business if Ruth has another relationship. In fact, if he were a nice person, he should be pleased for her. Frank is single (he checked) and is clearly eligible in every way. But Nelson has often examined his conscience (it comes of being brought up as a Catholic) and has come to the gloomy conclusion that he’s not a very nice person. He feels jealous. He wants Ruth and Katie for himself, waiting for him in that little house on the edge of the marshes. But he does at least acknowledge that he has no right to think this way

Barry looks at them under lowered brows. Ruth once told Nelson that most Europeans have four per cent Neanderthal DNA but clearly this is only an average.

It doesn’t seem too bad to Judy, having someone fussing over you and offering you tea. Cathbad adores her but he’s more likely to build her a ceremonial fire than put the kettle on.

As for Ruth, she feels that her faith in Cathbad has been rather shaken by his inability to predict both his daughter's birth date and his friend's homicidal tendencies. She's rather relieved about this, to be honest. It's not safe to endow another mortal with too many powers.

[Sic] Frank's not coming round for tea any more because Mummy's afraid of commitment.

To her knowledge this is the fourth time Paul has checked that she’s there. He’s either got a very bad short-term memory or advanced OCD.