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Chapter 37
The old lady rang the doorbell. As she stood there on the doorstep, a memory came flooding back, as vivid as if it had been formed the day before, even though it had been many years since Joseph had carried her over the threshold into their new home. The house hadn’t changed.
Maisie answered the door. ‘Hello.’
‘Well, hello there. And who might you be?’
‘I’m Maisie.’
She’d never seen this child before and wondered if Joseph still had a cleaner or a gardener and whether Maisie was there with her parent. ‘Is your mother or father around?’
Maisie frowned and shook her head. ‘They were arrested yesterday.’
‘Oh, I see.’
Maisie showed the old lady the small spray can in her hand. ‘I’m watering Joseph’s orchids. Would you like to see them?’
‘Yes, please.’ She followed Maisie into the house and through the door into the conservatory. Taking a seat in one of the wicker chairs, she looked around the greenhouse. The inside of the house hadn’t changed either. Her gaze shifted to the young girl. She wondered why the child was there alone. ‘So, where is everyone?’
‘William and Lili are upstairs, but the police arrested my family and took them all away.’
‘I know. I heard it on the news.’ She stopped and took a closer look at Maisie. ‘Your father is Nathaniel?’
‘Yes. My mum wouldn’t tell me who my real dad was, then I found out when I came on holiday here with Lili.’
‘I see.’ She didn’t, not really, but didn’t know what else to say to that. ‘Is Lili your mum?’
Lili was towel-drying her hair when she heard Maisie talking downstairs. She walked to the bedroom door, wondering who Maisie was chatting to. Bella was lying on her bed, and William was in the bathroom.
Lili had a sudden thought. Were they back? Had Alex got them all released? Lili had swallowed her pride and phoned him the previous night. She’d thought he’d be in Washington by now, but he wasn’t, thank goodness – she needed his help. He’d been vague when she’d asked him when he was leaving, but not when she’d asked for his help. He was going to do all that he could to get her friends released.
Lili dropped the towel and ran out of the bedroom. William had emerged from the bathroom and glanced at her. ‘Who is Maisie talking to?’ he asked. He’d heard her too. ‘Is Daddy back?’
Lili ran down the stairs with William hot on her heels. They both walked into the conservatory. She looked at Maisie, who was still watering the plants. ‘Who were you chatting to?’
Lili followed Maisie’s gaze to a lady of advancing years. She was very slim, dressed in dark blue slacks, a sweater over a blouse and a tweed jacket. It was hard to gauge her age, although with her grey-white hair and slight stoop, Lili guessed she was at least in her late seventies.
William spotted her too. ‘Great-grandma!’ He rushed over to her.
‘William!’
Lili frowned. ‘Great-grandma? Are you Joseph’s wife?’ Lili assumed she had died some years ago.
‘Ex-wife. I’m Elspeth.’ She gave William a hug. When William drew back, he said, ‘Maisie is my sister.’
‘Half-sister,’ Maisie corrected him. ‘We have different mothers, remember.’
Elspeth stood up and smiled. ‘You have your daddy’s eyes. Come over here and give your great-grandma a hug.’
Maisie put down the watering can and ran over into her arms.
Lili caught Elspeth looking her way. ‘And you must be Lili.’
‘I’m a family friend, not Maisie’s mum.’
Maisie piped up, ‘Mum’s in jail too.’
Lili rolled her eyes at Maisie. It sounded as though she had put Elspeth in the picture regarding where the rest of her family were. Lili didn’t fancy getting into what had happened in Joseph’s shop and why they’d arrested Hannah.
