Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
Lily and Flynn stayed with Clara for three nights. For the first twenty-four hours, reporters loitered outside, but finally dispersed when they realised no one was going to talk to them.
Twice, the three of them ventured out for walks, seeking fresh air and exercise, but mostly they shut themselves away and tried to make up for all the years of missed conversations.
On their final morning, Lily woke early.
She snuggled into Flynn’s chest to listen to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat while her thoughts raced.
Finally, she felt his breathing change as he drifted out of sleep.
He stretched, then wrapped both his arms around her and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
“How long have you been awake?” he asked.
“Ages.” She shifted to look up at him. “I don’t want to say goodbye to her,” she said through the lump in her throat. “I have a grandmother. An actual blood relative. And she’s nice. I hate the thought of leaving and not knowing when I’ll see her again.”
“You’ll visit each other. And you can speak on the phone.”
“I know, but I’m only just getting to know her.”
“Do you want to stay longer?” He pushed her hair from her face. “I have to go, but there’s no reason for you to rush back if you don’t want to.”
She gave a small shake of her head. “I want to go home.”
“Clara seemed keen to come over for Christmas. That’s only just over a month away.”
“Do you think she really will?” Lily asked, tilting her head. “I don’t know how serious she was about that.”
Flynn smiled softly. “I think she was very serious. She was feeling you out to see what you thought of the idea.”
“I hope she does come. We could invite your mum as well.” She ducked her head, settling back on Flynn’s chest to hide the rush of emotions she felt about having a proper family Christmas.
The previous Christmas had been spent alone in the bedsit she’d been renting in Truro. It was sad to think her grandma had been so close by and she hadn’t even known she existed.
Even before last year, Christmas had always been sedate – just her and her uncle.
At the sound of movement from downstairs, Lily forced herself up.
“I’ll bring you a coffee,” she told Flynn and pulled a hoodie on before heading downstairs.
The kettle was increasing in volume. Clara sat at the table. With her head bowed, she didn’t notice Lily walk in straightaway.
When she did look up, it wasn’t with her usual smile. Dark circles ringed her eyes, and her forehead was wrinkled with a frown.
“I’ve done something silly,” she said, her hands clasped in front of her on the table.
“If you’re angry, I’ll completely understand.
You only have to tell me and I’ll fix everything.
It just seemed like a good idea at one o’clock this morning when I couldn’t sleep, but I don’t want you to feel any pressure. I’d never want that.”
Lily pulled out a chair opposite. “What are you talking about?”
She pressed her hands to her temples. “I can’t stand the thought of you going. And I know we’ll keep in touch and visit each other, but I only just got you back in my life and I don’t want to say goodbye yet.”
“What did you do?” Lily asked.
“I booked a flight to St Mary’s,” she said sheepishly.
Lily beamed. “What’s the problem with that?”
“I booked a flight for today. To come with you.”
Lily’s eyes bulged, and a surge of relief filled her chest. “Seriously?”
“Yes. I want to keep getting to know you. There’s nothing I need to be here for in the next couple of weeks. Or longer, even. So I thought I could come and explore the island. Have a little holiday.”
She reached for Lily’s hand. “You wouldn’t need to look after me or anything.
I emailed a couple of holiday homes. I couldn’t book online at such short notice, but I’m sure I can find a place at this time of year.
I’ll be self-sufficient and we can just spend time together whenever it’s convenient.
I won’t crowd you or be in the way, I promise. ”
Lily squeezed her hand. “I’m not worried about that.”
“Really? If it’s too much, I won’t come.”
“Of course it’s not too much.” Standing, she pulled her grandmother out of her chair and hugged her hard. “I’d love you to come. If I had a spare room, you could stay with me.”
“No. It’d be too much anyway, even if you had space.” She drew back and looked Lily in the eye. “Are you sure it’s okay with you?”
Lily nodded, blinking back tears. “It’s more than okay. It’s perfect. I can’t wait to show you the ice cream shop. And you’ll love Scilly. It’s beautiful.”
“Thank goodness.” She squeezed Lily’s shoulders. “I couldn’t sleep thinking about saying goodbye, and then I booked the flight but still couldn’t sleep for worrying that you wouldn’t like the idea and you’d leave upset with me.”
“It’s a brilliant idea!” Lily beamed. “I have to go tell Flynn.”
“And I have to pack!” Clara said, then rushed up the stairs ahead of Lily.
On the tiny aeroplane, the noise of the engines filled the small cabin, making conversations feel like shouting matches. Happy not to speak, Lily peered across Clara to look out of the window at the rocky coastline below them.
She thought back to the first time she’d made the trip, early in the year.
Life had changed dramatically since then. She’d been alone, and her only purpose in life had been to figure out the truth of her childhood. Now, she had all her answers, and she had family too.
Except…
“I keep thinking about the fire at the ice cream shop,” she said, loudly enough to be heard over the noise of the engines.
Flynn turned to look from the seat in front of them.
“If that hadn’t happened, I’d probably have grown up on Scilly.
” She caught her grandmother’s eye. “Derek and I would have been there when you came looking, and I’d have had you in my life all this time. ”
“I keep thinking about it too,” Clara said. “But I agree with the detective – I don’t know why Vanessa would lie about it. And I also don’t know how she’d have known where you were. Derek didn’t tell anyone where he was taking you.”
Lily nodded. She was starting to believe that it truly had been an accident. It was just a little difficult to accept that the course of her life had been altered by such a random twist of fate.
“The main thing is that we found each other again,” Clara said, patting her hand. “And Vanessa is locked away, so we’re safe now.”
“Yeah,” Lily mused, but it hadn’t been her safety she was concerned about.
“Here’s an idea,” Flynn said, mischief sparkling in his eyes. “How about we settle into a mundane life that doesn’t involve solving mysteries?”
A smile lit her features at how well he knew her. It wasn’t her safety she’d been preoccupied with, but the notion that there might still be a mystery to solve.
She really didn’t like not having the whole story.
Maybe this time she’d put it out of her head. Or at least try to.
“Look!” Clara said, tugging on her arm and leaning towards the window. “We’re almost there. The islands are almost too perfect to be real.”
“They’re real,” Lily said, gazing down at the cluster of islands, ringed by golden beaches and surrounded by turquoise water. “See that long stretch of beach,” she said, pointing to the largest island. “The ice cream shop is right there.”
Staring down, a wave of contentment washed over her.
Her gaze shifted to Clara, and then Flynn.
She had her family, and she was going home.
Finally, she had the peace she’d spent so long searching for.