Page 161 of Hidden Daughters

‘Oh, a while ago. Boyd was great. He helped me with the application and even wrote a reference for me.’

Lottie swung round to glare over at where Boyd stood with Sergio. He’d interfered with her family, and committed the ultimate betrayal by keeping her in the dark about it. Still, she couldn’t help noticing how handsome he looked in his white shirt, blue suit and tie. She mentally kicked herself for that thought.

Turning back to Chloe, she forced a smile to her lips. ‘Can we talk later? We have to go into this wedding, today preferably.’

Her grandson, Louis, ran to her and she lifted him up. He wrapped his arms around her neck and his legs around her waist, hugging her tightly. She hugged him back, and felt like crying at his innocent demonstration of his love for her.

She watched as Katie helped Rose out of the car. She turned to look at Chloe.

‘Why did you bring your grandmother? I thought we agreed that Betty would stay with her.’ Her tone was rising and she was unable to calm it. ‘You know this is not a place for her. She will?—’

‘Don’t worry, Mam, she’ll come home with us tonight,’ Chloe said. ‘It’s good for her to get out and enjoy a bit of scenery.’

‘It will only confuse her.’ Lottie tried to comprehend how she was going to cope with her mother for the rest of the day, alongwith the swirling emotions already threatening to swamp her. Her head was splitting and she craved a drink, but she knew from experience that would not solve her problems. Still, the thought was enticing.

Chloe laughed. ‘Gran will be grand. Sure she can’t be any more confused than she is already. The sea air will be good for her.’

‘She’ll get a cold… or something.’ Lottie felt like crying. God, she was turning into a whinger, a wreck.

‘Lottie, for God’s sake,’ Boyd said, appearing at her side. ‘Leave them alone.’

‘It’s none of your bloody business,’ she snapped.

Chloe stood open-mouthed as Boyd walked away. ‘Mam? What’s going on?’

‘You really don’t want to know.’ Lottie gritted her teeth in an effort to keep her anger locked in place.

‘Actually, I really do.’

‘Later, then.’

‘Okay. Whatever.’

‘Yeah, whatever.’ Lottie moved towards the car, still carrying Louis, and took Rose’s arm from Katie. ‘Great to see you, Mother. Did you have a nice trip?’

Rose squinted up at her, struggling to place her own daughter. ‘Katie said there’s a wedding. Are you getting married?’

‘No, not me. Not ever.’

Katie looked at her, and then over at Boyd’s retreating back as he made his way to the gate to await his sister’s arrival. She gave Lottie a sad, knowing look. ‘Let’s get you inside, Gran. You might like to meet the priest.’

‘I hate them bastards. They killed my boy. My only son.’

A moment of lucidity in Rose’s dementia gave Lottie cause for a genuine smile. ‘You’re right there, Mother. But this isno longer a consecrated church, and the ceremony is being conducted by a woman.’

‘A woman?’ Rose said. ‘What is the world coming to?’

Lottie laughed then.

Louis lifted his head from her shoulder and asked, ‘What’s so funny, Nana?’

‘Everything,’ she said. ‘You know what, Louis? Sometimes if you didn’t laugh, you’d cry.’

The almost four-year-old let himself down from her arms. ‘That doesn’t make any sense, Nana.’

She watched him join her family. He grabbed hold of his great-grandmother’s hand and they entered the ancient stone building together, without her. She looked over at Boyd. He’d been watching them. He turned away quickly and held tightly to his son’s hand as Bryan drove up in his Range Rover. It had been washed and polished to a bright sheen.

Grace climbed out, a wreath of wild flowers in her hair and Ann Wilson’s hand-made dress snug to her body. She looked beautiful and serene until she latched eyes with Lottie, who flinched under the frosty glare. It seemed Grace had not bothered with the tradition of arriving separately from the groom. Bryan jumped out and flashed Lottie a sad smile.

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