Page 86 of Artful Deceit
They fell silent for a few minutes, then Maria spoke again. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you about Derek,” she said softly. “It’s probably a bad time…”
“Tell me,” Lily said.
“I don’t even know if this is helpful, or just frustrating, but the last time I spoke to him he’d decided he was going to explain everything to you about your childhood.”
Lily inhaled a breath. “He must have changed his mind, because he never mentioned any of it.”
“He didn’t change his mind, he just didn’t have a chance,” she said, then paused and took a breath. “The last time I spoke to him was the night before he died.”
Lily whipped her gaze to her. “How do you know? I thought you only found out he died when I came to Scilly.”
“I already knew.” She pushed her hair from her face. “Derek and I hadn’t spoken for ages. We only exchanged a few emails over about a decade. He got in touch when the two of you moved back to the UK, but I was married at that time, so we weren’t properly in contact. Then he called me out of the blue.” She paused and bit down on her lip. “We were on the phone for hours that night. I was divorced by then, and it seemed as though things might finally work out for us. We didn’t exactly make any long-term plans, but he was going to come and see me in Bristol the next day and we’d see how things went.”
“He didn’t turn up?”
“No. I was disappointed, but I thought maybe something had come up and he’d get in touch again. When he didn’t answer my calls, I convinced myself that he’d only said he wanted to meet up in the heat of the moment and had changed his mind. I was angry with him – and with myself for letting myself hope things might finally work out. Eventually, I decided I was owed an explanation, and if I had to turn up on his doorstep and demand answers, so be it.” She inhaled a dramatic breath. “One of his neighbours told me he’d died. I figured out it must have been right after we spoke.”
“I’m sorry,” Lily whispered. “Was that when you moved to Scilly?”
“Yes.”
“I’d argued with him,” Lily said after a moment. “I told him he’d ruined my life by moving me around so much, and that I’d never had a proper home. I was so angry with him.”
“He told me all about it.”
Lily caught a teardrop at the corner of her eye. “I hate that he died when we were angry with each other.”
“He wasn’t angry with you.” She shook her head. “Not at all. He laughed about your argument. Said it was pretty standard that you’d get in shouting matches, but he thought it got everything out in the open, and he said you’d always apologise to each other later.”
“That’s true.” Lily nodded. “That one felt different though.”
“Maybe. He was worried he’d made a mess of your upbringing too. That’s why he decided the least he owed you was an explanation. He really was going to tell you everything.”
“And I was going to apologise for shouting at him, and for the horrible things I’d said, but he was dead when I got there.”
Maria pressed a hand over her mouth. “You found him?”
Lily nodded.
“I’m so sorry,” Maria said, her chin trembling madly.
“It’s okay,” Lily managed, taking Maria’s hand.
“And now I’m doubly sorry because I came to check you were okay, and I think you probably were until I arrived.”
Lily smiled through tears. “I’m glad you came. I know we’re not actually family, but you’re the only link I have to my family.” She gave a quick shake of her head. “You’re not going to leave too, are you?”
“No.” She swiped tears from her cheeks. “After Derek died, this felt like where I needed to be. I wasn’t sure how long I’d stay, but when I went back to Bristol recently, it was to complete the sale of my house, and pack everything up. I was going to look for my own place here, but Glynis is keen to keep me with her.”
Lily grimaced. “Now I feel bad that I have your flat.”
“Don’t feel bad. It’s yours for as long as you want it.”
“Thank you.” Lily glanced at the door, contemplating getting back to the shop, then she turned back to Maria. “Do you think Uncle Derek was right about what happened with my parents and my gran? That it wasn’t an accident.”
She looked thoughtful. “I really don’t know.”
“Did you change your name because of your connection to me and Uncle Derek – did you think you were in danger?”
