Page 84 of The Holiday Cottage

Patrick sat back in his chair. “Whatever else, it promises to be an interesting day. And hopefully it will be a chance to get to know Imogen better.”

“I hope so.” There had been a time when she’d known everything there was to know about Imogen. She’d been able to interpret every cry and every laugh. But now Imogen was an adult, and Sara hadn’t been part of her life for a long time. She’d had experiences Sara knew nothing about. She had hopes and dreams that she’d never shared with Sara.

She would need to get to know her all over again.

18

Imogen

“Idon’t normally share a bed with someone just a few hours after I met them, but you’re just so easy to talk to. I’ve never met anyone I connected with so quickly. It’s as if you know exactly how I’m thinking and feeling. I am so, so glad I met you right in my moment of need.” Imogen blew her nose and snuggled under the duvet. She’d lit the fire in the bedroom and it glowed cheerily in the semi darkness. She could have put the light on, but it was easier to talk in the dark.

She hadn’t pulled the curtains, and she could see the soft fall of snowflakes drifting white and silver against the midnight blue sky.

“I’m sorry to go on and on about it, but it’s been a bit of an upsetting day, that’s all. Talking about it helps me process it. Is that okay? The truth is I feel betrayed. How could my mother have lied about her family? I want to believe there has been some horrible mistake, but I know there hasn’t been. And I feel so mixed-up about it. Part of me is really angry, because she basically made the decision to deprive us both of family. And part of me is sad because although I’ve done okay, and actually I’m pretty proud of who I am and what I’ve achieved, it has been hard—” Her voice cracked and she felt him press closer to her. She appreciated the silent comfort. “There have been times when it has beenreallyhard, and knowing now that it didn’t have to be that way is really tough to deal with. I could have had Dorothy and Sara in my life the whole time. Family. I almost can’t think about that because it’s too upsetting. Why did she do it? Don’t bother answering that. I don’t understand my mother, so I certainly don’t expect you to. But it’s outrageous, don’t you think?”

Also mystifying, because unless there was some side to Dorothy and Sara that she wasn’t seeing, they were good people. Why on earth wouldn’t her mother want them in her life? It made no sense at all.

They’d seemed so nervous when they were talking to her, and she knew she was partly to blame for that, because she’d yelled at them when she’d seen the photo. The whole thing had been such a shock.

But once she’d calmed down and listened to what they had to say, she’d known instinctively that they were telling the truth. And it wasn’t all instinct. Some of it was experience. She knew her mother lied when it suited her. She’d lied to Imogen on plenty of occasions. It just had never occurred to her before that her mother would have lied aboutthis.

“Also it doesn’t make a lot of sense. In that last horrible meeting, the one that resulted in me almost losing my job, she told me I was the worst thing that had ever happened in her life.” Saying the words aloud was actually harder than she would have imagined. “But if that’s true, then why wouldn’t she have jumped at the chance to leave me with my grandmother? That would have been the perfect solution, wouldn’t it?”

She saw nothing but sympathy in his eyes and pulled him closer.

“You’re a brilliant listener. Most people judge, or you know they’re just going to go and gossip about what you’ve told them, but you listen and sympathize. You really care, I can tell.” She looked at him and met his gaze. “I shouldn’t be letting you sleep in my bed, I know that. There are probably going to be consequences, but I don’t care. Being with you makes me feel better, and for now that’s all that matters. And how can something that feels so right possibly be wrong?”

Her phone rang and she reached for it and checked the number. “It’s Miles. I’d better take this. Do not make a sound!”

Ralph thumped his tail on the bed and put his paw on her arm.

“Hi, Miles, are you okay? How is the sick cow?”

“He’s going to be fine, but the whole thing took longer than I thought it would.” His voice sounded distant and she could tell he was driving. “I assume you’ve already gone to bed. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

“No. I was just lying here thinking about today.”

“I can imagine. That’s why I called, really. Wanted to check you’re okay. You had a difficult day.”

“I’m fine.” She put her hand on Ralph’s head.

“You’re sure?”

She was touched that he cared. The truth was he was almost as easy to talk to as his dog. “Yes. It’s been great having Ralph here. He’s a real distraction. Thanks for letting me borrow him.”

“You did me a favor. I couldn’t take him on my call. I was going to pick him up on my way home, but is it too late?”

She felt something close to panic. No way did she want to lose Ralph. Not tonight. “I’ve already settled him down for the night, so why don’t you just come here tomorrow for our Christmas tree trip and pick him up then. It seems a shame to disturb him.”

“Are you sure that’s okay?”

“It’s fine.” It was a relief to know Ralph was staying. “Come early if you like and I’ll cook you breakfast.”

“Sounds good. And thanks, Imogen.”

“You’re welcome.”

“One thing—whatever you do, don’t let him sleep on the bed.”

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