Page 46 of The Sunken Truth
“No,” Maria said softly. “I didn’t.”
Lily snapped her eyes open, searching Maria’s face. There was no sign that she was lying. All the other times, Lily had felt certain she’d known when Maria had lied to her.
“I remember being on Porthcressa Beach,” Lily said. “I was young. Maybe four or five. I was with my dad, and I think we were staying with you above the shop. My memories are hazy, but I remember sitting at the table having dinner, and I remember I slept on the couch. I was with my dad, and I remember this feeling that something wasn’t right. I think Dad had told me to keep our visit a secret. I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone we were there.”
Maria shook her head. “You’re remembering wrong. Sometimes the mind can play tricks.”
“The memories feel so real. I was on the beach, flying a kite and my dad was sitting next to me. I’m not sure he was paying much attention. It was windy and I remember being scared that I might fly away with the kite.”
“It was windy,” Maria said. “But there was no way he wasn’t paying attention. Sometimes I think the only thing he ever really cared about was your safety. I told him the same once or twice during arguments.”
Lily’s heart rate increased. “So it’s true. I was here with my dad. You were having an affair with him?”
“No. I told you, you’re remembering wrong.” She looked at Lily intently. “It wasn’t your dad.”
Chapter Twenty
As it allclicked into place in Lily’s head, it seemed suddenly obvious. She didn’t have any strong memories of her dad. The only father figure she remembered was her uncle.
“It was Uncle Derek?”
“Yes.”
“He brought me here after my parents died? That’s why I was sad?”
“Yes.” Maria’s lower lip twitched. “You missed your parents so much. It was heartbreaking.”
“How did you know Uncle Derek?” Lily asked in a rush. “You must have known my parents too?”
She shook her head. “I met your parents. They brought you here for a holiday on a recommendation from Derek. The three of you came into the shop for an ice cream and I showed you around. I sat and chatted with your parents for a while, but that was the only time I met them.”
“How did you know Uncle Derek?”
Maria smiled gently. “We went way back.”
“Tell me,” Lily asked, her voice tinged with desperation. “Please.”
“I met him when I was twenty at a bar in Madrid. He was spending a year there, learning Spanish. I was travelling with friends. Except I didn’t continue with my friends. Derek wanted to show me all his favourite places in Madrid, so I told my friends I’d catch up with them in a few days. I didn’t though. I stayed with Derek in his tiny flat until it was time for me to go back for my final year at university.”
“And he stayed on in Madrid?”
“Yes.” She sighed. “We kept in touch. Our paths crossed every now and again over the following years, but our timing was always a little off. He’d get a great job offer somewhere far from where I was, or the other way around. I adored him, but I also got sick of pining for him quickly. We agreed we’d just be friends.”
Her eyes brightened. “I could go for years without hearing from him and then I’d get an email with a picture or an anecdote of something that had reminded him of me. We’d reignite our connection for a while, but inevitably we’d drift apart again.”
“That sounds horrible,” Lily said.
“It was pretty heart-wrenching,” she agreed lightly. “When I moved to Scilly, he thought it was hilarious that I was opening an ice cream shop. I suspect he wondered if I was joking. He turned up about six months after I’d arrived here. As usual, he only had a few days, and as always, the time with him was bittersweet. Apparently, he went and raved about the Scillies to his brother, and they booked a holiday here. That was when I met you for the first time. Only for an hour, but you were a little ray of sunshine.”
“And my parents?” Lily asked. “Were they happy?”
“Seemed to be. They loved Scilly. Said it was the perfect place to holiday with a child.”
“But did they seem happytogether?Were they happily married?”
“I only met them for an hour,” Maria said, brow wrinkled.
Lily nodded. “I always imagined us being a happy family, but in the last few weeks I was convinced my dad was having an affair and the photo I have of us at the ice cream shop is a lie.”
