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‘Don’t you remember? You used to talk about it all the time when you first started the boarding school. It’s where they found you? It must be in your file.’
‘No, the place they found me was Corfu.’
‘Yes, I know that now, but for some reason you called it Flower Island.’
Lili hadn’t thought about that in years. She raised an eyebrow.
‘See, you do remember. I wonder why you called it that?’ Hannah Googled it on her phone. ‘Ah, sometimes it’s nicknamed Flower Island because of the abundance of wildflowers, especially the rare—’ Hannah stopped. She didn’t want to bring up the subject of orchids.
‘Rare …?’
‘Oh, er, it doesn’t matter.’ Hannah took a deep breath. ‘Look, I think it would be a great idea for you to go. In fact, as you are in between jobs …’and relationships, thought Hannah, ‘why don’t you go now?’
‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’ Lili said, pretending the question was asked in jest. She could tell by Hannah’s voice there was something going on.
‘No, not at all. I could lend you the money – if that’s the issue.’
Lili frowned. ‘Now I’m definitely getting the impression you’re trying to get rid of me.’ Since when did Hannah offer to lend her money? Normally, it was the other way round. Hannah and Kyle didn’t seem short of money, but Lili knew that appearances could be deceptive.
Hannah sighed.
Lili looked at her. ‘There’s something going on, isn’t there?’
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘I’m your best friend. We’ve known each other for years. I know when something is bothering you.’
Hannah went quiet.
‘Are you in some kind of trouble, Hannah?’
‘No, er, just relationship problems.’
Lili smiled. ‘Oh, I can relate to that.’
‘Sorry to hear about you and Alex. I thought—’
‘Yeah, so did I.’
‘Look, I want you to stay, but now isn’t—’
‘A great time,’ said Lili, guessing what she was going to say.
Hannah shifted in her seat, avoiding Lili’s gaze.
Lili was convinced there was more that Hannah wasn’t telling her, but whatever was going on, Hannah didn’t want to talk about it.
‘Don’t you want to go to Corfu, Lili?’
‘Money isn’t the issue. It doesn’t cost much to fly to Corfu and stay on the island for a bit.’
‘Then what is it?’
Lili started scrolling through her phone. ‘I want to show you something, Hannah.’ Lili held up her mobile and showed her the photo of a young couple who appeared to be in their twenties.
Lili handed over the phone for Hannah to take a closer look. Her eyes went wide. ‘That woman looks like you.’ She glanced at Lili. ‘Are they …?’
‘They’re my parents.’
