Grace went inside and opened her laptop. Before checking her emails, she looked at her Facebook page, which she’d been far too busy to check lately. She was surprised to find there was a message for her from a Beatrice Odford.

Shakily she opened the message to read:

Hello. My name is Beatrice Odford. You say you are searching for relatives of Justin Kenneth Odford. From the full name and date of birth you provided, it sounds like you’re talking about my brother. We have had little contact with him, as we are estranged. After he left for Australia years ago, he cut off any connection with his family. He didn’t get on with our father. But I think my mother regrets not hearing from him. Mum feels he thought we were never good enough for him. My father is retired but worked in the fishing industry at the port. I run a hair salon in Grimsby. I’m sure my mother would like to know how he is. Does he have children? That sort of thing. Our parents are in their eighties and my father’s not well. It would be good for them to know he is doing all right.

If it is the same Justin Odford, please message me with a photo. We won’t bother him. I am sure he is successful, and, we hope, happy in his life. I apologise for taking so long to respond. I don’t use Facebook very often. And, of course, your message surprised me somewhat. I will check my Facebook more often now, though, for your response.

Kind wishes, Bea Odford

‘Mum!’ Grace called shakily. ‘Come and see this.’

‘What’s up?’ Tina raced over to Grace and peered over her shoulder to read the message. ‘Good grief! How sad. Didn’t you write to his mother when Daisy was born? I thought you said you sent photos, and of your wedding?’

‘I did. But I didn’t post them myself. I always gave the mail to Lawrence to send when he went in to the office. I was home such a lot with Daisy, it was easier that way. He probably gave me a fake address and never sent the packages. When we didn’t get a reply, I talked to Lawrence about it and he just said they weren’t close, and not the sort of people who sent presents or photos or that sort of thing,’ Grace said.

‘But didn’t you used to get Christmas cards from them? With the name “Hagen”?’ asked Tina.