‘I’m sorry, but Mum really needs to get on with the rest of her packing.’
Skye knew he was protecting Sandra from becoming too upset and didn’t want to outstay her welcome, especially when the pair of them had been as kind and generous with their time as they had been.
Skye got to her feet at the same time Joe did. ‘Thank you for giving me so much information, Sandra, and to you, Paul, for arranging for us to meet. I’m incredibly grateful.’
‘I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you more,’ Sandra said, sounding as if she meant it.
Skye realised she was still holding the photo and went to place it down on the table.
‘No, please keep it,’ Sandra insisted. ‘It’s yours.’
Skye gasped to have been given such an unexpected treasure. ‘Really? You don’t mind?’
Sandra smiled and shook her head. ‘No. You don’t know how happy I am to be able to help you in this way.’ She stared into Skye’s eyes for a few seconds, making Skye wonder what it was that Sandra was withholding from her, because whatever it was seemed to trouble her for some reason. ‘I feel that by helping connect you to Carlos that I’ve helped my dear friend Annie in some way.’
‘Well, I’ll treasure this.’ Feeling the need to hug Sandra, Skye said, ‘Would you mind if I give you a hug?’
Sandra’s eyes filled with tears again and she nodded, opening her arms without speaking.
Feeling as if she was receiving a hug from the next best thing to her mother, Skye stepped into Sandra’s arms. It was deeply comforting and Skye suspected by the way Sandra was holding tightly to her, it meant as much to the older lady as it did to her.
As they let go of each other, Skye sighed. ‘Well, thank you again and I hope you have a wonderful holiday.’
‘Thank you, Skye,’ Sandra said. ‘And if I think of anything else I’ll ask Paul for your phone number.’
‘Yes, please do that. I’m happy to hear anything you can remember.’ Aware this could include not so happy memories, Skye added, ‘Anything at all.’
They left the house and got into the car without saying a word. Once seated, Joe took her hand in his and turned to her. ‘You OK?’
She nodded, unable to speak without crying.
‘Good. Let’s get back to the farm.’
25
JOE
All the way back to the farm, Joe went over everything that had been said at Sandra’s home. He had hoped Paul’s mum might be able to give Skye some information but never imagined it would be this much. And she had a photo. He glanced at her and saw Skye studying it. How incredible must Skye feel to be looking at her parents together and happy. He wished he had more photos of his own father and his parents when they had first met, but the only time he had asked Faye about them she had admitted she had torn them up and disposed of them.
‘How do you feel?’ he asked, happy for her.
She swallowed before speaking. ‘I think I’m still a bit stunned.’ She held up the photo. ‘I never imagined in a million years that I’d find out his name, let alone be given a photo of him and Mum together.’
Joe had a thought and not wanting to upset her in any way pondered whether to share it.
‘I can see you thinking about something. What is it?’
He looked at her for a second, then straight ahead. ‘I was just thinking that going by the dates Sandra said she took that photo that you’re also in it. In a way.’
She held the photo closer to her. ‘I suppose I am,’ she said, her voice quiet and cracking with emotion.
‘Hey, I didn’t want to upset you by saying that.’
‘You didn’t, Joe.’ She rested her hand on his briefly. ‘What you’ve just said to me is the singular most amazing thing anyone has ever said to me. These are happy tears. Thank you.’
Relieved, but still unsure he was right to have shared his thoughts with her, Joe glanced at her again. ‘You sure?’
‘Yes.’ She sounded convincing so Joe chose to believe she actually might be fine.
