That was a bit of a jump. It sounded like Dan was clutching at straws, wanting to find more connection between himself and Bill, who’d clearly been more of a role model to him than his own father.

‘You know,’ I said tentatively, ‘those tins were pretty common. My granny had one almost exactly the same that contained what she called her “rainy day fund”. She kept it in a “safe” spot under her bed—a safe spot that everyone knew about.’

Dan’s lips quirked, but then he let out a long heavy breath. ‘Anyway, whoever sent those letters to Bill was definitely married, that’s clear, but they had more than just a love affair. They also had a baby together.’

Chapter 41

41

‘What?’ I blinked. ‘How do you know?’

Dan turned and reached for the tin, opening it and pulling out the very top letter. ‘It’s all in there.’

I took the paper and read the writer’s confession that they were pregnant with the recipient’s child.

‘The next few letters—if I’ve managed to order them correctly—she’s pondering what she’s going to do. She talks about being scared of her husband and how he might react if he finds out the baby isn’t his. I wish I could see Bill’s replies as well; I wish I knew how he felt about the baby and whether or not he wanted her to leave her husband so they could raise it together. But in the end, it looks like she decided she couldn’t choose love over her older children, so she stayed in what sounds like a loveless relationship.’

I frowned as I dried my hands on a tea towel, thinking of my own situation. Was that what I’d been prepared to do for my children?

‘You know, just ’cos the letters are in a tin like the ones your mum collected, doesn’t mean they’re hers. Arnott’s produced thousands of tins exactly like that, probably more. Maybe someone else gave it to Bill? Or maybe he bought it himself?’

‘Maybe. But it’s not just the tin.’ Dan pulled a postcard-size card out of his pocket and handed it to me. ‘This was also in there. At the very bottom. I shoved it in my pocket when I heard you at the door.’