Eliza replied immediately. Yes please.

In the meantime, she began walking along the tree-lined path. Rows of Edinburgh’s distinctive stone buildings were visible through the branches. The air was cool, her coat warm. She passed dog-walkers, two joggers. She did one full circuit of the park, the movement helping her thoughts to settle. As she began a second circuit, she allowed herself to think about her mother again. To think about all the questions she wanted to ask her. There would always be so many.

A list appeared in her head. A long list.

Can you please tell me about that night, Mum? Tell me why you wanted to sleep with him?

How did you feel the next day?

How did it feel when you found out you were pregnant?

Were you scared? Did you think even for a minute about not going ahead with it?

Did you ever wish afterwards that he had met me?

What was he actually like?

What were his favourite bands, books?

Could he sing?

Was he funny?

Did you have any good conversations with him?

I don’t think you had time to love him, and it doesn’t matter if you didn’t, but did you like him?

Would I have liked him?

So many questions. No chance of answers. She kept walking. A minute later, she abruptly stopped.

Yes, she knew Sheila would never speak to her about Hugh again. But perhaps someone else would.

She took out her phone and dialled. It rang once, twice, three times. As he answered, she could hear the sounds of his pub in the background.

One hour later, she was on her way back to the Montgomery. She’d spoken to Emmet for less than five minutes. It was all the time they’d needed to make the arrangements. She’d spoken to Rose for much longer.

By the time she said goodbye to Rose, she felt calmer. She had also made a decision. She knew that Olivia would ask her to stay longer in Edinburgh. That Maxie would ask her to come to New York soon. She knew it would be hard to say no to them both, but she’d done all she’d come here to do. It was time to go home.

Her phone rang as she reached the steps of the hotel. It was Olivia. She had more big news to share.

Chapter Thirty-eight

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Once again, the three of them sat around the table in Maxie’s room. Olivia shared every detail of the meeting with Deirdre, Lawrence, Alex and Rory. She didn’t seem tired any more. She was almost exhilarated.

It had been an hour of bombshell news, she told them. She shared it in the order she’d heard it.

Firstly, Lawrence had resigned.