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Lili felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. ‘Maisie didn’t correct that misconception either. I get the impression she loves her Lili very much.’
Lili felt a tear run down her cheek. ‘I love my Maisie very much too.’
Ray squeezed her shoulder. ‘I know.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Lili said again.
Ray turned his attention to Nate and Hannah, who were still standing in the driveway, arguing. ‘So, Nate knows Maisie’s mother?’
Lili sighed. ‘We all knew each other as teenagers.’ Lili was about to add that they didn’t know each other that well, but that wasn’t exactly true, considering everything. Instead, she explained, ‘We went to the same school. Hannah and Nate met at the party.’
‘Ah, the party.’
‘You remember that?’
‘Yes, I do, if for no other reason than Joseph’s rather over-the-top reaction to some kids, presumably drunk, trying to break into the old summerhouse.’
Lili remembered Nate mentioning that. Lili turned around and glanced at William, who was holding Ray’s hand. ‘It turns out my best friend kept something from Nate …’ Lili knew Maisie was Nate’s daughter, which meant Ray was—
‘Why are they arguing?’ Ray asked, looking over her shoulder.
Lili turned around and watched Hannah shaking her head before getting into her car. The car sped off down the driveway, leaving Nate standing there helplessly staring after it. He turned around and stalked back to the house, stopping in front of Lili. ‘Did you know?’
‘Nate, what’s going on?’
He ignored his father’s question. ‘Did you know?’
Lili shook her head. ‘I swear, Nate, I had no idea.’
‘How can I believe you when you lied about Maisie being your daughter? What else have you lied about?’ Nate stormed off before Lili had a chance to say anything more.
‘For god’s sake, will someone shut that hound up!’ Nate exclaimed.
Lili, Ray and William turned towards the conservatory where Bella was shut in the room. She was barking behind the door.
Ray looked at his grandson. ‘William, let the dog out.’
William ran over to the conservatory and opened the door.
Bella came flying out of the room, nearly knocking William over. She bounded towards Lili and Ray. They stepped aside and watched her run outside and some way down the drive, chasing after the car, barking.
William ran after her, shouting, ‘Bella! Maisie’s gone.’
Lili saw Bella stop and turn around at the sound of William’s voice. He caught up with the dog. They both stood there watching the car disappear before turning back to the house. Lili guessed the dog had been watching through the conservatory window and had spotted Maisie getting into the car.
Lili got out her phone to call a taxi. ‘I’d better go.’
Ray heard Nate slamming a door deep in the bowels of the house. He turned to Lili. ‘Will someone please tell me what’s going on?’ Ray furrowed his brow. ‘What did Nate mean when he asked you,did you know?’
‘I swear I didn’t, Ray. All these years, she’s refused to tell me. I thought the reason was that she didn’t know. She was drunk at the party. Everyone was.’Apart from me, she thought.
‘The party,’ Ray repeated, staring at Lili. ‘What did she refuse to tell you?’
‘Who Maisie’s father was.’ Lili cast a glance towards the lounge where Nate had stormed off and slammed the door.
Ray followed her gaze.
Lili sighed. It wasn’t her place to explain, but he had a right to know. He’d find out, anyway. ‘Maisie didn’t inherit her artistic abilities, her talent, her gift from her mother.’
