by Jane Bidder
‘Did you find anything else?’ She’d asked the policewoman when they’d rung to say they’d found some ‘goods’ at the home of Mandy Smith. She’d glanced at the Boots card, wondering if the girl had used all the points on it. ‘I know this sounds silly but there was a small shell in my bag that had great sentimental significance.’
‘Like this one, you mean …?’
‘That’s pretty.’ Lyndsey now leaned over to take a closer look. Her friend’s hair was growing back again. It was a slightly darker shade of red but colour could change apparently, after chemo. It rather suited her.
‘Where did that come from?’ she added.
The small pink and white shell lay in the palm of her hand. It whispered of an island; heat; and a beautiful young woman who had found her at the airport.
‘My sister gave it to me.’ As Georgie spoke, she could almost hear Georgina’s voice. ‘There’s something I need to ask you.’
‘She gave it to me,’ she added, ‘years ago. Before I knew of our connection. And I’ve always kept it. It sounds silly but I always felt, despite everything that happened, it was a lucky charm.’
‘That doesn’t sound silly at all.’ Lyndsey took her hand in hers. Lyndsey. Her childhood friend. The one who had always been there for her.
‘You know,’ she added gently, self-consciously touching her hair, ‘one of the doctors told me something at the hospital that’s stayed with me.’
Georgie waited.
‘He says that if someone dies, he always tells the person that’s left behind that no one – not even death who is perhaps the biggest thief of all – can take away the memories.’
A huge lump rose in her throat. ‘That’s lovely.’
Lyndsey smiled. ‘It is rather, isn’t it?’ Then she reached across for her glass. ‘To Georgina.’
Georgie swallowed back the tears. ‘To Georgina. The real one.’
‘By the way,’ added her friend. ‘When did you say you were going to visit your mum again?’
‘I didn’t. But actually, I’m going to drive up next weekend. And Sam’s coming with me.’ She paused. ‘There’s something else, too.’
There was a nod. ‘I thought there might be.’
‘Sam’s found someone who specialises in finding people. And we’ve got a lead.’ Georgie could hardly speak. ‘It’s not definite but it’s a possibility …’
‘Your dad.’ Lyndsey spoke flatly.
‘Actually, no.’
She’d given up on that one a long time ago. Her mother’s memory was either deliberately obtuse or simply not there. There were some things, as Sam said, that just had to be accepted.
‘Who then?’ Lyndsey was frowning.
Georgie twisted her fingers. ‘Ellie’s mother. Yes, I know it’s going to be difficult. But it’s something that Ellie wants. And I don’t want my daughter to go through life without understanding her roots, like I did.’
Lyndsey reached across for her hand. ‘You’re a good woman.’
‘No.’ Georgie felt embarrassed. ‘But every person is entitled to know who they are. And no one has a right to take it away.’
She shivered. ‘Now how about a top up?’
Anything for a distraction. Georgie’s hand shook as she poured out the lemonade. She’d just been about to give away something, had almost confided in Lyndsay that she’d received a postcard, just before they’d left. A postcard in an envelope with a Philippine stamp.
On one side, were the words of a poem she had always loved. Kipling had got it spot on.
‘If you can keep your head …
And at the end, had been a single initial, indicating the identity of the sender.
J.
Of course there was nothing in it. Joly might seek solace in the breast of a dusky maiden but he would always love Georgina. Just as she had learned to love Sam and leave Joly behind.
Yet the postcard had sent a warm feeling through her; a message that the only person she really needed to be true to, was herself.
‘No need to tell anyone that Joly’s got in touch,’ she could hear Georgina saying in her head. ‘After all, every girl needs her secrets.’
Finally, she could see why! A secret is the one thing that no one can steal.
But only if you keep it safe.
Also by Jane Bidder
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Published by Accent Press Ltd 2015
ISBN 9781783751402
Copyright © Jane Bidder 2015
The right of Jane Bidder to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
The story contained within this book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and certain places are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publishers: Accent Press Ltd, Ty Cynon House, Navigation Park, Abercynon, CF45 4SN
