‘I don’t know,’ she said eventually. ‘I’m not sure I can forgive him for the hurt he caused Mum and me. Mum might have wanted me to lay the ghosts as she put it, but I’m not sure whether she knew he was still alive. One thing I forgot to tell you. He’s back living in our old cottage with Helena. She’s actually looking after him. Now, her, I definitely don’t want to see.’ Belinda could feel tears starting to break through and rubbed her eyes hard. ‘I cried an ocean of tears years ago. How can I possibly have any left to cry over him?’

Alain gently and unexpectedly put his arms around her and held her tight. ‘If you decide to go and see your father, I take you. Don’t go alone.’

‘I lost my father years ago. This man, Enzo Belrose, is a virtual stranger.’ Belinda lost the fight with keeping the tears at bay and they soaked into Alain’s jumper, but she didn’t want to move. ‘Sorry I’m making you all wet.’

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Standing there secure in Alain’s arms, Belinda had a flashback to her father holding her tight when she’d been crying after her grandmother had died. She was shocked to realise the feeling of security she felt now with Alain’s arms around her resembled the same sense of belonging she’d felt when her father hugged her.

‘He lost you and your mama,’ Alain said. ‘I doubt he expected Helena to ever turn up again, let alone lay claim to ’im after all those years. Peut-être that was foolish of ’im, mais I think he’s been a victim in all this as much as you and your mama.’ Alain held her tightly as he said softly, ‘Even if you can’t forgive ’im, he might want to see you one last time.’

34

After their late-night patrol, Alain had accompanied Belinda back to the house and made her a hot chocolate.

‘Things, they always look better in the morning,’ he’d said, handing her the drink. ‘Take this and go to bed and try to sleep. I told Hervé that I’d make sure the vide-grenier signs were all in place tonight for the morning. Twenty minutes and I return.’