She poured his and whether her mother wanted a cup or not, she was going to have one. Maybe she should lace it with sugar to sweeten her. Lottie understood that she wanted to know her past, her father. And Lottie wanted to help, which was a strange irony. Her mother had never given her anything, anything at all, to go on about her own father. But Lottie could be bigger than that.

‘George, why did you and my mother lie to me?’

She handed her mother a cup and tried not to flinch at her tone.

‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’ He sipped his coffee.

‘It’s right here in my mother’s handwriting. Guests staying at Boskenna: George Russell.’ She pointed to the notebook she’d put down on the garden table.

‘I wasn’t here then.’

Her mother pressed her lips together, stood and quietly said, ‘I know you’re lying.’

He shook his head. ‘I met your mother in Cairo.’

She walked to the chair her mother dozed in and leaned down towards her. ‘I will find out the truth. I will,’ she whispered as she left.

Gramps sank back into his chair.

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Lottie, dear, there is nothing to apologise for. Your mother is upset about my Joan dying. She is hurt, she is striking out.’

‘Maybe.’

He reached across the table and picked up the notebook. ‘Where did she find this?’

‘I did, after she found the old photographs in the closet.’

‘Photos?’

‘Yes, a shoebox filled with them.’

‘Oh.’ He put the notebook down. ‘Sometimes it’s best not to look backwards, but it can be hard when you are at the end.’

Lottie jumped up and hugged him. ‘I love you.’

‘I love you, and remember that your grandmother does too.’

She released him and looked to Gran, whose eyes were open now. Gramps pushed himself out of the chair and went to her.

‘My darling.’

‘Yes.’

Lottie walked over and kissed Gran. ‘I’ll leave you two lovebirds alone.’

Gramps smiled, and she heard him half whisper. ‘It’s all coming to a close.’

Her heart constricted. Her mother needed to let go of the past and make peace with Gran and Gramps. And she needed to make peace with the world. It hadn’t been kind to her in many ways, but she had done good and that was what she needed to focus on.

35. Diana

35

Diana

4 August 2018, 10.45 a.m.