They’d never heard those stories. As far as they knew, none of them was true. But how could they say that to Eliza? She was so frightened, so devastated. She was gathering memories of her mother around her like a comfort blanket.

Maxie took as much leave from her TV series as possible, but after two weeks she’d needed to fly back. Edgar had been so understanding, assuring Olivia that he and the boys were fine in Edinburgh, that she must stay in Australia with Eliza as long as she was needed.

Olivia helped her pack up the house, reducing what had been Jeannie and Eliza’s home into two suitcases for Eliza to take to the university residential hall. She’d surprised them by switching from an arts degree to a business one. They begged her to consider deferring for a year. She’d been adamant: she had to go to uni. It was what her mother had wanted.

Two months later, the coroner’s verdict was announced. Jeannie’s death was declared to be a tragic accident, not an intentional act. The coroner stated his belief that her calls to Olivia and her final email to Eliza showed she was not suicidal. She was making plans for the future.

Olivia had given a long statement. The phone records had shown she was the last person to speak to Jeannie that night. She’d put in writing how happy Jeannie had sounded. How excited she was to be seeing Eliza again. How much she adored her daughter. Eliza had read the coroner’s report. It gave Olivia great comfort to know Eliza had been able to see in black and white how much she was loved.

Olivia gazed at the photograph of the four of them again. Perhaps she’d made a mistake hanging it in her office. She’d thought it would be good to see it every day. Instead, today especially, it made her heart ache. But she’d leave it for now. She knew Eliza would like to see it hanging so prominently.

CHAPTER FIVE

Olivia returned to her desk, forcing her attention back to her working life. Who’d have thought her art history degree would bring her to this point, working full-time as the Montgomery’s guest relations manager? She checked her watch. Ten-thirty. The hotel’s general manager, Lawrence, had phoned earlier, asking for an urgent meeting. They’d agreed on eleven a.m. He was only in his late thirties, but the calmest, most efficient manager they’d ever had. Hired by Edgar in one of his last – and best – business decisions. Barely a day passed without Olivia being thankful for Edgar’s wisdom. Lawrence had been with them for more than three years and nothing seemed to trouble him, be it difficulties with staff, suppliers or guests. So his use of the word ‘urgent’ was important. When she’d asked what it was about, he’d hesitated, then said a name.

Alex.

Of course, Olivia thought.

Alex had always been the trickiest, most headstrong, most difficult of Edgar’s two sons. She’d clashed with him from the first day they met, nearly twenty years ago. ‘You’ll never be my mother,’ he’d shouted at her, aged thirteen. They still clashed. If it hadn’t been for his younger brother Rory – sweet, dreamy, welcoming Rory – she often wondered if she’d have stayed the course as Edgar’s second wife at all.