“Oscar,” she says, snuggling her head under his arm. He smells of something flowery. Strange how men wear perfume nowadays. He has his own smell, too, one she could never mistake. A clean, wholesome scent that reminds her of when he was a baby.

“Hi, Aunt Lil.”

And just like that all the alarm she was feeling is gone. She forgets how tall he’s grown. Handsome, too. The years he’s been away at school have transformed him into a man.

“What the devil is the matter with you, Lillian?” Edna asks, and Oscar begins to pull away. She clutches him to her a moment longer. Everything is different now Oscar’s here.

“Well?” says Edna, spoiling things as usual.

“It doesn’t matter,” says Lily, finally allowing Oscar to let go.

“It doesn’t matter? You came through the kitchen like you had Old Nick up your nightdress.” Oscar laughs, so Lily does, too. “It’s a wonder you didn’t hurt yourself.” Edna’s added that last attempt at sentiment in order to turn her stinging rebuke into something more considerate. Edna’s always at her best when Oscar is present. She supposes they both are.

“Well, since you’re here now, you can sort the tea. The kettle’s just boiled.”

Oscar offers to do the honors, but Edna pulls him back and catches Lily’s eye.

“It’s fine,” Lily says. “I can manage.” She turns back to the kitchen and hears them whispering to each other before she’s fully out of the room. She pretends not to notice.

She’s calmer now she’s home. After so many years here, the world seems distant, unable to touch her. As she busies herself with a tray of cups and saucers and tea plates, she thinks of the women at the butcher’s. It was only natural. People like to gossip, don’t they? She should know that better than anyone. They must think her mad, running out like that. She’s not even sure why she did it.

But then she remembers the letters. Perhaps there is a reason to be running and hiding. If only she could remember what it is.

There’s a healthy slice of Dundee cake left from the weekend. She tests it with the back of a finger. It’s cold and a little dry, but she knows Oscar will devour it in seconds. It always was his favorite.

Back in the dining room, Oscar takes the tray from her. “Shall I be Mother?” he jokes, and they all three laugh.

“Don’t be silly,” says Lily, and pours each of them their preferred cup. Oscar seats himself on a dining chair, leaving the second armchair for her. He’s always thinking of them. Since he was a boy, she’s never been sure if it was they who took him in or the other way round.

Edna clears her throat to begin what is clearly a carefully staged conversation; she, after all, is the director of this family drama. “Oscar’s just been telling me about the Old Vicarage,” she explains. “There’s been some trouble with the builders, isn’t that right?” She is prompting her lead actor.