“She was fun, she was kind. I don’t know what else to say. I remember her living here, and I’m not sure I remember a time before she was here. I suppose they took her on to help Mum after Theo died.”
“September 1991, she started working here. You were three, coming up to four.”
“Well, then.” Edwin shrugs.
“Whatdoyou remember about the day Mum died?” I ask quietly, watching him. I’ve asked Edwin this before, of course, particularly when I was a teenager, but he always claimed he couldn’t remember much.
He frowns down at his hands now, and I can see that he is trying. Danny and I exchange a glance.
“I think I do remember that photo being taken, the one you showed me the other night. But maybe I’ve just fabricated that memory, you know?”
Danny raises his eyebrows, and I lift one finger. For all our differences, we’ve always been good at communicating without words. I’ll fetch the photo for him in a minute. He nods. Edwin is still concentrating, trying to remember.
“I think Michael was around that day too. Laura took the photo, but Michael was over by the orchard, and he shouted out—congratulations or something. And I was allowed to have chocolate biscuits for breakfast because of you being born.”
He glances up at me a little sheepishly.
Danny snorts. “Edwin’s famous stomach memory.”
“What else?” I ask. “Which of us was Mum holding?”
“I just don’t know, Seph, I told you. I couldn’t even guess. I remember Mum getting upset at some point, and—and I followed her up to the folly.”
Edwin’s eyes widen as he replays the scene in his mind, andDanny and I sit still, aware of our breathing, waiting for him to go on.
“She was crying. She said someone was coming to steal her baby.”
“What?” Danny and I say in unison.
Edwin takes a moment to return his focus to us, his face stricken. “I don’t know. That’s what I remember. But it can’t be true, can it?”
“Of course not.” Danny frowns. “I mean, I’m sure no one was coming to steal us. But maybe that’s what she believed for some reason—maybe she was having hallucinations or something.”
“What else?” I ask. “What else do you remember?”
Edwin screws his face up, shaking his head.
“Nothing else. Mum told me to go away. I hid in the tower. There was a dead bird. Michael brought me home. I don’t remember what happened after. I don’t remember Laura leaving.”
“What about before that day?” I ask. “When Laura was living here, and Mum was pregnant with us—what was it like?”
“Just—normal, you know. I used to play with Joel a lot, play on the beach.” He thinks for a moment. “I remember getting my bike for Christmas. And having a ride in Uncle Alex’s sports car.”
“Who’s Uncle Alex?” Danny and I ask.
Edwin shrugs. “I don’t know. He had a yellow sports car. I loved that car.”
Danny drains his mug and stretches for thecafetière. “Well, none of that accounts for there only being one baby in the photo. Unless someone did steal one of us”—he looks pointedly at me—“and then brought her straight back when they realized what a nightmare she was.”
“Danny, that doesn’t help,” I snap. “That’s why I thought we should ask Laura. She could tell us exactly what happened that day. She was here.”
Edwin gives me a stern look.
“When you said you found Laura, do you mean you found out where she works, or you actually foundher?”
“Both. I went to her office, and I saw her.”
“Did you talk to her?” Edwin asks, and I can’t tell what he’s hoping the answer will be.
