Page 78 of The Holiday Cottage

Even though Imogen had implied as much in the kitchen earlier, it was a struggle not to react. Dorothy reminded herself that this wasn’t about her, it was about Imogen. “I sent you money—”

“She must have kept it.” Imogen looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”

Dorothy noticed the lack of surprise in Imogen’s voice. She sounded more resigned than shocked. World-weary and older than her years.

“It’s not your fault. None of this is your responsibility.” Dorothy was quick to reassure her. “And the money didn’t matter. What mattered was you. It breaks my heart that you thought we’d abandoned you.”

“That was what she told me.” Imogen was holding tightly to Ralph. “I thought I didn’t have a family.”

The words tore at Dorothy. “You do have a family, Imogen. You have a family who loves you very much and would like the chance to get to know you better. But that’s up to you, of course.” Her throat was so thickened by tears it was hard to speak, but she held the emotion back because she didn’t want to make this worse for Imogen. “We can’t do anything about the past, but we can do something about the future. You’ll have questions, I’m sure. You’ll want to think about what I’ve said. Perhaps you won’t believe—”

“I believe you. And I have a million questions, but perhaps for later. Not now.” Imogen looked exhausted, and Ralph lifted his head and licked her hand.

“You should have this.” Sara reached into her bag and pulled out a slightly battered stuffed bunny. “It’s yours.”

Dorothy stared at the familiar bunny. “Where did that come from?”

“Home. I asked Patrick to bring it for me when he came to take the girls. I thought it might—I don’t know.” Sara gave a helpless shrug. “It belongs to Imogen.”

Dorothy hid her surprise. She’d had no idea that Sara had kept the bunny. She knew her daughter had worked hard to block out memories of that time, but still she’d kept that bunny safe.A reminder of Imogen.

Imogen was staring at the toy on Sara’s lap, a strange expression on her face. Then she leaned forward and took the bunny from Sara.

“I remember this,” she said finally. “I didn’t think I had any memories of the time you’ve been talking about, but I remember this.”

Dorothy felt a surge of hope.

“You loved that bunny,” Sara said softly. “I wanted Tina to take him because I knew you’d be upset without it, but she said she’d buy you a new one.”

“I don’t remember a new one, but I remember this.” Imogen gazed at the bunny and then looked at them. “Can I keep this? For now?”

“Keep it forever. It’s yours.” Sara’s voice shook. “It has always been yours. I was just taking care of it.”

Imogen wedged the toy between her leg and the sofa. “I don’t want Ralph to eat it.”

“Neither do I,” Miles said dryly, “or I’ll be the one removing it from his stomach.”

Imogen smiled, as he no doubt intended, but then looked at Dorothy. “Thank you for your honesty. I’m sure that wasn’t easy to relive. And I owe you an apology. I was rude earlier. I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. You didn’t know any of this, and I’m partly to blame for that.”

Sara sighed. “Mum—”

“I know.” Dorothy lifted a hand to stop her saying what she was about to say. “No blame.” Although she didn’t believe that of course. Not for a moment. She knew she was always going to blame herself, but she could do it quietly. “The past is what it is. I do hope you’ll stay, Imogen. Holly Cottage has always been a very happy place. It has been good to me. I hope it will be good to you, too.”

Imogen’s hand was gripping Ralph’s collar tightly. “You’re very kind—”

She was terrified, Dorothy thought. Terrified and overwhelmed.

“I know Ava and Iris would love to spend time with you.” Sara sounded tentative. “You are cousins, after all.”

“Cousins.” Imogen said the word as if it was foreign. “Yes, we are.”

Dorothy felt a rush of relief. She’d been afraid that Sara might hold herself back to protect herself, as she’d done so many times before. But she was reaching out, even if her approach was a little cautious and careful. It meant that she was thinking about a future, instead of focusing on the past.

“And you must get to know Patrick,” she said, and Sara nodded.

“Yes. We live about five minutes from here.”

---