‘We did,’ said Grace, frowning. ‘Although, now that I think about it, I never saw the envelope, which is where you might see a surname. Lawrence only ever showed me the cards themselves after he had already opened them at the office – or said he had.’ She looked at Tina in shock. ‘Do you think Lawrence wrote them himself? That would be crazy, surely. What sort of person “fakes” a Christmas card?’

‘Nothing about that man shocks me anymore,’ said Tina, though the tremor in her voice contradicted her words.

‘I used to feel sorry for him that his family were so aloof. Now I feel so sorry for his mother. It sounds like they’re just ordinary people. Probably quite nice.’

‘Not good enough for Lawrence, apparently, so he invented a new family. Amazing that he got away with it for so long,’ said Tina. ‘If he is this Justin Odford, of course. What a bolt from the blue! What’re you going to do?’

‘It’s hard to think straight; I feel quite shaky. I’m not sure if I want to open this can of worms.’ Grace drew a deep breath. ‘I’ll answer her – I have to. But I won’t get involved,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to confront Lawrence with this until he and I are divorced. He’ll have a fit if he finds out what I’ve uncovered.’

‘Not to mention a whole new identity. Who knows what “Justin Odford” got up to before he moved to Australia and became “Lawrence Hagen”?’ Tina said, sitting down next to Grace. ‘Poor Daisy. Seems like he may have intended for her never to meet her other grandparents . . . So what if this lady writes again and wants to get involved with us?’

‘I’ll be firm and tell her Lawrence and I are divorcing. But I can’t help being curious, and I feel I should get to the bottom of it for Daisy’s sake. This could be her family, after all. I’ll see what I can find out. Ammunition is always useful with Lawrence,’ said Grace. ‘I’ll send her some photos and ask for some family history.’

‘Well, good luck. Be careful that Lawrence doesn’t find out,’ said Tina.

Grace rose to get a drink from the kitchen. Sri and Putu had just gone to collect some produce from Nyoman. Tina had gone upstairs to her bedroom, and Daisy was in the garden putting out chunks of fruit for the colourful birds that usually darted around the flowers, although Grace couldn’t see any birds there now when she looked out.

Then the windows started to rattle and Grace cocked her head as she heard a faint noise.

Suddenly Grace wobbled as the floor heaved a little beneath her, and she heard Tina give a sharp screech from her bedroom as everything else around them started moving, too.

‘Mum, Daisy!’ screamed Grace. ‘Get under the big table!’