He parked the car and Skye took a steadying breath before getting out of the car.
‘You OK?’ he asked quietly.
She puffed out her cheeks and shook her head. ‘Not really, if I’m honest.’ She saw his concern and forced a smile. ‘But I will be by the time we reach the front door.’
‘You’ll be great. And, remember, even if it turns out she didn’t know your father then at least you’ve crossed one person off your list.’
That didn’t make her feel much better. ‘Off my list of two, you mean?’
‘Try to be positive – I’m sure this will be fine.’
Skye wished she had Joe’s confidence, but forced herself to seem calm as they stopped at the front door and he rang the bell.
‘You’ve got this,’ he whispered.
The door was opened by a man who she soon realised must be Paul. ‘Joe,’ he said, tilting his head to one side to see Skye. ‘And this must be the lovely Skye.’
Lovely Skye? She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but smiled and shook his hand. ‘It is. Thanks for inviting me here today, I’m really grateful for any help searching for my father.’
‘I can imagine you must be.’ He stepped back and waved them into the hall. ‘I was happy to help in any way I could when Joe told us your predicament.’ He led the way into the home. ‘Mum is this way.’
Skye walked into the living room where a woman who seemed to be in her fifties went to stand. ‘Please, don’t get up on my account.’ Skye walked over to her and shook her hand. ‘It’s very kind of you to invite Joe and me to your lovely house.’ Realising she hadn’t introduced herself, Skye added, ‘I’m Skye by the way.’
‘I thought you might be.’ The woman laughed, looking from Skye to Joe. ‘I’ve met this handsome chap a couple of times before. Hello, Joe. How are you doing?’
‘Fine, thanks.’
‘I’m Sandra,’ Paul’s mother said. ‘Paul will make you teas and coffees if you’d like them. We have biscuits too.’ Before Skye could answer, she added, ‘I’m sorry everything is a bit of a mess. I’m preparing to fly out this afternoon on a trip.’
‘We’re fine for drinks, thanks,’ Skye said, looking at Joe to check he agreed. ‘We have to return to the farm to be there when our friends come from the maternity wing at the hospital with their new baby.’
‘How exciting.’
‘It is,’ they said in unison.
‘They know you don’t have too long to chat either, Mum,’ Paul explained. Then looking at Skye and Joe, indicated the sofa. ‘Please take a seat.’ Skye happily sat down next to Joe.
‘And it’s very kind of you to fit in seeing us when you’re so busy,’ Skye said when she was settled.
Sandra waved away Skye’s comment with a friendly smile. ‘Now I’ve been through some old boxes of photos from the two seasons I worked at the Bel Amie Hotel.’ Skye leant forward to see the photos as Sandra laid them out on the coffee table in front of her. ‘I was looking at them last night and became very nostalgic for those busy but fun days. Seeing them again brought back so many wonderful memories I’d forgotten. It was rather bittersweet. Made me wonder what had happened to all those people I expected to be friends with forever.’
Touched to think how emotional this must be for Sandra, Skye said, ‘I suppose I should start by telling you Mum’s name really.’
‘Yes, do.’ Sandra rested her hands in her lap and listened, waiting for Skye to continue.
‘Well, she was called Annie.’
‘Not Annie Sellers? From Edinburgh?’ Sandra interrupted, leaning forward eager to hear more.
‘Er, yes. That’s her.’ That was surprising, Skye thought, feeling a little shell-shocked that all she had mentioned was her mother’s first name for Sandra to remember her. ‘Did you know her well?’ she asked, doubting it to be the case. Surely it couldn’t be this simple, could it?
‘We were roommates,’ Sandra said, her voice filled with emotion. ‘But Paul said your mother had passed away and that’s why you need to trace your father, knowing so little about him.’
Skye saw the distress on Sandra’s face and wished she could tell her otherwise. ‘I’m afraid she did. Quite a number of years ago too.’
Sandra gasped and glanced at Paul, who immediately stood behind her chair, his hands on her shoulders to comfort her. ‘But she must have been very young.’
Skye nodded and felt Joe move slightly closer to her, comforting her with the reminder that he was there. ‘She was barely forty.’
