He should tell Grace what’s happened, but he can’t. It’s too soon and he’s too wound up, and anyway, it might all be straightened out by Monday with no one any the wiser. He knows how much she worries, understands that her upbringing has made her unduly anxious about money and stability. He has to know the answers to the questions she’s going to ask, before she asks them.

GRACE

Monday, 7 May 2018

I WANDER AROUND THE HOUSE, CARRYING A CUP OF coffee, alone except for Toffee who refuses to let me out of his sight, even scratching at the bathroom door when I have a shower. I have an appointment later, but not until eleven thirty, so I’m rattling around, unable to settle to anything, feeling listless and drained of energy. The spare bedroom is neat and tidy, divested of most, but not all, of Tim and Cora’s belongings, as if they’re telling me not to get too comfortable. In fact, I heard from Cora an hour ago; she sent a text saying that her mother had died in the early hours. They’d be staying for a couple of weeks to have the funeral and deal with everything, but they would be back as soon as possible. I messaged back with my commiserations and urged her to take as long as she needed.

In Lottie’s room, I empty the contents of her rucksack on to the bed and sort out the clothes that need washing from those that just need folding back into her chest of drawers, then I go downstairs to the utility room. My clothes are in the basket. I take each item out and throw it in, checking pockets for stray handkerchiefs or, better still, loose change; and that’s when I find it. The baby wristband. I lay it on my palm and smooth it out. With all that’s been happening, I had forgotten all about it. It has Daughter of WELLS, Anastasia written on it in biro, and the date: 30.07.2001.

Anna had a baby before Kai. That child would be sixteen by now, around the age Anna would have been when she had her. She hasn’t mentioned her, and, apart from this souvenir, I found no clue to her existence in the house. Alex had said Taisie went off the rails, so it could have been some random boy, but I can’t help wondering if Tim is the father. She leaned on him because he was very attractive, he was in control and he made her feel better. He took advantage of an unhappy girl, a girl whose family was reeling from the loss of her sister. He messed Taisie up while his son was steeped in his own personal hell, retreating to his bedroom and locked in depression. What a total and utter bastard.