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‘Sure.’ Nate noticed her fingering the ring she wore on a chain. He’d noticed it before but hadn’t asked its significance. There were things she wouldn’t tell him – not yet, anyway. He hoped she would, in time. He sensed she wasn’t ready to start another relationship. Perhaps he wasn’t either, but he couldn’t sweep aside the instant attraction he had to Lili. It was her personality too, her openness, her honesty that was so refreshing. She didn’t seem to walk around with a giant chip on her shoulder, like him. She had plenty of reasons not to be upbeat, considering her background.
It made him wonder what he had to complain about. His parentshadgot rid of him, sent him away to stay with his grandfather, but they hadn’t disappeared from his life completely. And his father had come back for him. He’d changed his mind. Not straightaway. It had been several months later when Ray had told him they’d made a mistake, but by then it had been too late. That silly young boy who had thrown his easel and paints in the back of his cupboard in a fit of temper had told his dad he was remaining where he was; that he didn’t want to live with them anymore.
It had been a half-truth. Of course, he had wanted to return to London with them, but even at that age he had realised they couldn’t keep shifting him from one place to another. He knew he’d be back. Their careers had come first. Nate had understood that finding lost art would always come before him. It was what they did. It was who they were. It was the legacy of what had happened to his grandfather; losing his mother when they escaped the Nazis. Through unearthing artefacts that were stolen from the Jews, Ray and Sarah thought, somehow, that they could right the wrongs of the past.
Nate glanced at Lili as he drove along the country road into Aldeburgh. He understood what her social worker, Connie, had meant with her advice. Sometimes, it was better to leave the past in the past. Now, it concerned him what Lili might uncover. He regretted bringing her here. What skeletons might she find, and how would it impact her life? Nate hoped it would be a positive impact, because the Pandora’s box had been opened. And whatever Lili discovered, there would be no going back. He just hoped she wouldn’t blame him for setting the wheels in motion.
Nate pulled the car up at the house and switched off the engine. He took the keys out of the ignition and turned to Lili, resting a tentative hand on her shoulder. He didn’t want to ask if she would be ok after what they had discovered, but he wanted to know if she would consider remaining in Aldeburgh. He craved more time to get to know her and would like to accompany her to Corfu. However, arranging an absence from work and leaving William just then just wasn’t an option.
Nate looked up at the house. He’d only known Lili a short time, but he couldn’t imagine her not being around. The same went for Maisie. William would miss his new friend.
Bella barked.
Lili and Nate turned in their seats, and said, ‘Indoor voices, please!’ They exchanged a smile at their reaction, treating Bella like one of the children.
They got out of the car. Bella ran ahead, barking. William opened the front door and rolled on the floor with Bella licking his face excitedly as though she hadn’t seen him in years. Ray appeared next, rushing down the stairs. ‘Nate,’ he said breathlessly.
‘Dad?’ Nate took one look at Ray’s face and blurted, ‘Bloody hell, what’s the matter?’
Lili noticed it too. There were tears rolling down his cheeks. Lili stopped dead. ‘Where’s Maisie?’
‘I’m here.’ Maisie was standing at the top of the stairs, a paintbrush in her hand.
William sat on the floor with Bella, and said, ‘What’s wrong with Grandpa? He’s been crying.’
Nate looked from William to his father. The last time he’d seen him like this was when he’d told his dad he would not paint ever again. He’d stayed true to his word. Nate replied. ‘I don’t know.’
But Lili did. She looked up at Maisie. ‘Did you show Ray your paintings?’
