Page 176 of Where Broken Wings Fly

Her crying increases until she’s hiccupping through every breath. Even Lola’s sunken cheeks are wet with tears. I want to cry. I want to mourn. The mother I needed was taken away from me, but all I feel is regret.

That letter.

That damned letter!

If only I’d had the bravery to follow its handwritten words, instead of allowing fear to dictate my future. I was a kid, but I’d lived enough by then to know better. Katie was at the other end of that desperate call into the darkness.

“I’m sorry he took me from you. When dad died, I was so afraid. The world was a scary place and I convinced myself that I was better off alone.”

Katie’s shoulders shake with heaving sobs. “I looked for you every single day for fifteen years. Every day. I never gave up, and I scoured the entire country in search of you.”

“It’s true,” Lola confirms. “She never stopped.”

“When you didn’t respond to my letter, I wanted to give up.” Katie scrubs the moisture from her face. “But that didn’t stop me from searching. You’re the reason I rehome families for a living. I thought… it might allow me to track you down.”

An invisible string wrapped around my heart is drawing me across the room. Part of me wants to approach her. Get to know her. Throw myself into her awaiting arms and allow myself to be cared for by the one person I always wanted, but never had.

The other part of me can’t forget the memories of my dad screaming, letting me starve, and leaving me alone in the world. Vulnerable and at the mercy of men like Mr Sanchez. As much as I want to, I can’t separate the two.

“Where did you go?” Katie clutches her chest.

“I left England when I was sixteen.”

“Why? With who?”

“It’s a complicated story,” Lola answers for me.

I send her a grateful nod. “It is.”

“Then uncomplicate it.” Katie turns her fury on Lola. “You’ve known about Willow for months now. Christ, you let her sit opposite me and never said a word!”

“I had to. She needed more time.”

“My daughter! You hid her from me.”

“I did what I thought I had to for her sake,” she defends, her tears shining in the warm cabin light. “I was keeping your daughter safe. Surely you can understand that?”

Wrapping my arms around myself, I slam my eyes shut. It’s too much. I spent so long alone, now there are too many people around me. I can’t breathe. Can’t think straight. Can’t remain calm. They’re sucking all of the oxygen out of the room.

Katie’s voice is laced with defeat. “I have a granddaughter who I didn’t even know existed. I can’t get that time back now. I’ve missed out on so much.”

“And you think I haven’t?” Lola shouts back.

“You knew Willow was here and you still lied.”

“I was making damned sure that she’d stay!” she defends.

“Please,” I whimper.

Neither of them is listening to me, yelling over each other instead. My breathing dissolves into constricted gasping. The raised voices and lash of hatred unleashes a pit of dark memories. I can’t back any further into the corner.

“She’s my daughter! You had no right to make that decision. No fucking right.”

“I had every right!” Lola yells back.

“Says who?”

“Says me! I’m in charge of this town. You ought to remember that.”

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