Page 72 of The Holiday Cottage

“I don’t remember much about her, but my sister was—still is—a close friend of Sara’s and I know she hated going round to the house when Tina was there. Tina used to keep alcohol and cigarettes in Sara’s bedroom because she knew her mother wouldn’t search there. She once stole money from Lissa’s coat pocket, but Lissa didn’t tiptoe around her in the way Sara did. She took it right back and Tina never bothered her again.”

“Tina stole money?”

“Yes. And that wasn’t the only thing she stole. She hung around with people who weren’t a great influence, I think. She and one of her friends were arrested once. Then at sixteen she got pregnant and after that everything unravelled.”

Imogen’s mouth felt dry. “That’s the tragedy? You’re saying that the shame of her getting pregnant killed Dorothy’s husband?”

“What? No. Dorothy and Phillip loved that baby and they tried hard to support their daughter too. But Tina didn’t want their help. She rejected them. Left home and didn’t get in touch for four years.”

Imogen felt a flicker of outrage. That wasn’t right. Her mother had told her so many times that it was her family who had rejectedher.They hadn’t supported her or given her a chance.

You ruined my life.

“Maybe she knew they didn’t want her in their lives.” She tried to keep her voice normal. “Maybe she left because she knew they didn’t want the baby.”

“No, that wasn’t how it was.” He looked confused by the suggestion. “And anyway, she didn’t take the baby. The baby stayed with them.”

Those words hung in the air for a moment and then slowly sank into her head.

“Excuse me?”

“Tina didn’t take the baby with her. She walked out on her family and the child too. Just left. Dorothy cared for the baby for four years and not once did Tina get in touch. I’ve never understood how a mother could just walk away from a baby like that. But that was Tina. She just did what she wanted and didn’t care about anyone else. I suppose she knew the baby would be safe with Dorothy.”

Imogen’s head spun.

Miles was saying her mother had left her with Dorothy?

No. That couldn’t be right. She had no idea where he’d got this version of the story, but sheknewit wasn’t right. She hadn’t lived with her grandmother, she’d lived with her mother. It had been just her and her mother against the rest of the world. Her mother had told her that so many times.

But she wanted to hear the rest of his version, so she forced herself to keep listening. “And what happened after four years?”

“Tina came back. She just turned up one day, right before Christmas, and said she was taking the baby.” He shook his head as if the logic behind the whole incident defeated him.

“Took the baby?” Her lips were so dry she could hardly move them. “What do you mean?”

“She turned up without warning, took the baby and that was that. Poor Dorothy.” His voice softened. “I can’t even imagine it. She and Phillip loved that baby. So did Sara. They cared for her as if she was their own. And then she was taken away from them. They were heartbroken. Are you going to finish your sandwich?”

She’d forgotten about her sandwich.

What he was telling her couldn’t be true. She knew it wasn’t true. “Didn’t they try and stop her?”

“Yes, but Phillip had a stroke that night. Everyone assumed because of the stress of it. And that part I do remember because my mother took the phone call from Dorothy. She wanted to go with him to the hospital, but she didn’t want to leave Sara in the house on her own. Sara was in a bad state. Her dad had just collapsed in front of her, and her sister had taken the child that Sara had been doting on for four years. Dorothy asked my mother to stay with her. My father was out on a call and my sister was on a school trip somewhere, so my mother put me in the car and took me with her to Winterbury. I’ve never forgotten that night.”

She felt lightheaded. “How old were you?”

“Nine? And totally ill-equipped to deal with so much emotional trauma. Sara was distraught. She sat on the sofa sobbing, which is a bit disconcerting when you’re a nine-year-old boy. I was relieved my mother was there to handle the brunt of it. Sara just kept sayingshe took Immy. Over and over again.She took Immy.”

She took Immy.

Imogen’s heart was thundering against her ribs. “It’s not true. If it had happened that way, she would have told me.” But even as she said it part of her was wondering. Remembering all the other untruths her mother had told. But not this, surely? This was huge. No. She couldn’t believe it.

But what reason would Miles have to lie? He wasn’t repeating something he’d heard; he’d actually been there that night.

“Who would have told you what?” Miles frowned briefly and then stilled. Understanding dawned. “Imogen.” He said her name softly. “Immy.”

“Yes.” She croaked out the word. “I’m the baby. And this is the first time I’ve heard that story.”

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