Page 75 of The Holiday Cottage

“Oh, sweetheart—” Dorothy felt her chest tighten. She didn’t want to relive the past either, but it was a little different for her. Unlike Sara, she’d never managed to block it out. She’d carried it with her and learned to live alongside it. She was almost relieved that things were finally in the open. And she was feeling more optimistic than she’d been an hour ago. At least Imogen hadn’t left. They were going to have another chance at a proper conversation. “It’s going to be fine.” She said it with more conviction than she felt. “We don’t have to go through every detail. Just give her the chance to ask any questions she wants to ask.”

“That’s what worries me. I don’t want to talk about Tina. I don’t want tothinkabout Tina. I’ve worked hard not to give her any space in my life, and I love the life I’ve built. I won’t let thoughts of her spoil it, but seeing Imogen has opened it all up again. I realize that I haven’t moved on or forgiven. All I’ve done is learn to ignore it.” Tears spilled over, and Sara pressed her palm to her cheek. “Oh God, I can’t believe I’m letting her get to me like this. But you lost so much because of her, and so did I. You lost your husband, and I lost my dad. And Imogen—” Her voice broke. “She didn’t care how we felt about Imogen. She didn’t even ask what we needed, or what Imogen needed. She dumped her daughter when it suited her, and she took her away when it suited her. Everything was always about her. She was the most selfish person on the planet back then, and there is no reason to believe she has changed. I’m not sure I can sit there with Imogen and say nice things about Tina.”

Dorothy crossed the room and hugged her daughter. “You don’t have to. We are going to tell the truth. How much of it we tell, we can decide when we talk to her.” She stepped back and picked up Sara’s coat. “I think this could end up being the best thing that could have happened.”

Sara sniffed and took the coat from her. “You don’t know that. You’re just trying to be an optimist.”

“At least everything will be out in the open.” No more sleepless nights wondering if she should tell Imogen who she was.Whenshe should tell Imogen. “Let’s go. I don’t want them to turn up and find we’re not there.”

She picked up her coat and the bags, had a quick check of the kitchen and hurried to the car. It seemed ridiculous to drive such a short distance, but she didn’t want to waste a moment.

Once inside the cottage, she and Sara unpacked the food in the kitchen and put the kettle on.

Then they lit the log burner in the living room and turned on the fairy lights that snaked along the beams so that the place looked cozy and welcoming.

“I wish we’d bought her a tree, or wrapped a garland around the banister.” Dorothy fretted as she looked around. “Something to make the place festive.”

“I don’t think a fir tree and a few decorations are going to make this any easier,” Sara said and then paused as they both heard a car outside. “She’s here.”

Dorothy felt her heart give a frantic pump. “It’s going to be fine.” She hurried to the front door and saw Miles pull the car into the space next to Dorothy’s.

Imogen’s rental car was now covered in a thin layer of snow.

Miles was first out of the car and then Imogen slid out of the passenger seat.

Dorothy couldn’t remember ever feeling more nervous.

She noticed that Imogen was dressed differently. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a sweater in a soft shade of pink that brought out the flush in her cheeks and the blue of her eyes. She looked vulnerable and unsure, and Dorothy had to stop herself rushing across and hugging Imogen tightly, as she’d done when she was a young child.

Imogen was clutching a large bag stuffed with what looked like clothes, and in the other she was holding tightly to the lead of a dog. Dorothy took a closer look.

“Is that Ralph? Has something happened to Valerie?”

“Valerie is fine, but Ralph has had an exciting morning.” Miles strode round the car and bent to pat the dog. “He took himself on a solo countryside walkabout and frightened poor Valerie to death. We’ve agreed that he is going to come and live with me.”

“But—” Dorothy struggled to keep up with this new development. “Valerie said she would never let him go. She felt she owed it to Jim.” And she’d worried about it because she knew Valerie wasn’t coping. “I offered to take Ralph myself, but she wouldn’t have it. How did you persuade her to let you take him?”

“I told her I was heartbroken after Alfie, and I needed another dog.” He gave Ralph a pat. “She took pity on me.”

Dorothy felt a lump in her throat. He’d done that? “But you said you didn’t want another dog after Alfie.”

“I had a rethink, and now I have Ralph. It pays to be adaptable in life.” Miles scratched the dog’s head. “You should have seen him when I pulled him out of the ditch. He was a mess. Imogen got soaked trying to bathe him with me, which is why she’s now wearing Lissa’s clothes.”

By focusing on the dog, he’d successfully smoothed over the initial awkwardness, and Dorothy felt a burst of gratitude. He’d made it so much easier for everyone.

“You’re very generous. Valerie will be relieved. And Ralph is lucky.”

“I’m not sure he agrees.” Miles straightened. “Ralph has fallen madly in love with Imogen. I’m a poor second choice.” He smiled at Imogen, who returned the smile tentatively.

It was a relief to see that smile. Also a relief that Imogen no longer seemed angry. If anything, she seemed nervous.

They were all nervous.

“Well, thank you for bringing Imogen, Miles.”

She assumed he’d leave, and Imogen seemed to make the same assumption because she gave him a strained smile and held out the dog’s lead to him.

“Thanks for everything.”

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