Chapter 22
IZZI
‘Related?’ Izzi gasped, staring at the woman’s hand. Her heart was pumping so fast she could barely hear anything above the rush of blood in her ears. She sucked in a breath trying to calm herself and took another step forward.
Now Izzi was closer, the light was better, and she could see the shape of the woman’s jaw was similar to hers.
It wasn’t enough on its own, but there was something about her eyes that looked familiar too.
There was a definite resemblance between them and Izzi understood why people in the village had told her they felt like they’d met.
‘I believe we could be anything from fourth to sixth cousins, on your father’s side,’ Lorraine explained and Izzi nodded, feeling numb.
‘My dad,’ Izzi said. She hadn’t met anyone related to her father before and as far as she knew, he’d been alone in the world. ‘You wrote to me. It’s why I came to Honey Haven,’ she said.
Her head felt foggy and she wondered if it was due to shock. She’d been searching for this person for weeks, now they were face to face, she could hardly take it in.
‘We were supposed to meet in Carnferry last night, what happened?’ She took her cousin’s hand and shook it slowly, studying her fingers – did they look similar?
This was her relation, probably her only flesh and blood in the world now that Regina was gone, and it made her want to hold on extra tightly.
‘I’m sorry about the pub. I was unexpectedly delayed.’ Lorraine frowned, dropping Izzi’s hand before glancing around. ‘I heard you’ve been working on a surprise for Maud. This looks brilliant.’
‘Thanks,’ Izzi said, feeling a puff of pride.
‘It wasn’t all me,’ she added. ‘The Candy Apple Lassies and Cameron Buchanan have been heavily involved, Lachlan Dunne too. A lot of people in the village have helped. Maud’s really popular and she’s had a terrible time recently.
’ Izzi suspected that having her money stolen had knocked her more than she’d admitted.
Lorraine’s forehead pinched. ‘I heard about that.’ She paused, frowning.
‘I’m sorry for just turning up like this,’ she said.
‘When I saw your car parked outside, I decided to stop in. I probably should have left it and given you some notice. Expecting you to meet me with no prior warning was inconsiderate. This must be a shock.’ She shook her head.
‘I’m not here to make you uncomfortable, I think I was just overexcited to meet you. ’
A gust of wind rattled the windows and made one of the dust sheets quake and Lorraine’s eyes widened. ‘We are alone, aren’t we?’ she asked anxiously, her attention bouncing around the room. ‘Because there are no other cars outside. I thought—’ She looked distressed.
‘Of course we’re alone,’ Izzi soothed, feeling a wave of sympathy. It was clear Lorraine was easily spooked. ‘There are no ghosts or people waiting to jump out, I promise.’ She waved a hand at the windows. ‘It’s just the wind.’
‘Ah okay, that’s good.’ Lorraine’s shoulders loosened and she smiled, emphasising their physical similarities again. ‘Is there somewhere we can sit and talk? I’ve got so much I want to ask.’
Her eyes shone with emotions Izzi understood, because she was beginning to feel a ball of them in her own throat. For the first time since finding the mystery letter, she felt hopeful. She had family – perhaps more than just Lorraine? And it seemed her cousin was just as keen to connect as she was.
‘When I heard there was someone who looked like me in Honey Haven, I couldn’t believe it,’ Lorraine continued, her voice breathy. ‘I’ve been wanting to speak to you for so long but then I had to go away unexpectedly and– well, I knew it would be a while before we got to talk properly.’
‘I know how you feel.’ Izzi glanced around.
‘There’s nowhere comfortable for us to talk here, and it’s going to get cold.
’ She snuggled her chin into her scarf. ‘We haven’t organised heating, we didn’t think anyone would be in the castle for long enough.
How about we go to the pub? It probably won’t be busy, there’s no quiz on. ’
Lorraine pulled a face. ‘I’ve been out of the village for a while. If we go somewhere public, we’re going to be interrupted by people who want to catch up. Is there anywhere more private we could go? I’d invite you to my place, but it’s a long drive. It’ll mean a late night.’ She pulled a face.
Izzi frowned. She still had cooking to do for the festival. She didn’t really have time for a road trip, but didn’t want to let Lorraine out of her sight. She had so many questions. ‘I’m staying at Cameron Buchanan’s house,’ she told her. ‘Of course you knew that. You dropped the letter there.’
Which had been odd. Why hadn’t her cousin knocked? There was so much Izzi wanted to ask. Including why she’d wanted their relationship kept secret. If she was going to get answers, it would be better if they spoke in private.
‘We could go there? I don’t think he’d mind.’ Not once he knew Lorraine was the relative Izzi had been searching for. She’d call and warn him now, but the lack of signal in Lockton meant it wasn’t possible. She’d explain when he got back.
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Lorraine said, pulling a face. ‘I mean I don’t want to intrude and the thing is, I’ve heard he’s got a really large German Shepherd.’ She cleared her throat. ‘I’m really not keen on them. They’re scary.’ She gulped.
Izzi thought about the huge, furry dog. He was a pussycat once you got to know him, but he’d terrified her at first too.
‘I get it,’ she said sympathetically. ‘But Cupcake isn’t there.
Neither is Cameron. He drove to Lockton today and won’t be back until late this evening.
’ She checked her watch. ‘I honestly don’t expect to see him for at least another couple of hours. ’
‘Lockton,’ Lorraine echoed, her forehead creasing. ‘That’s a long way. Does he have friends there?’
‘It was for work I think,’ Izzi confided. ‘If we go to his house now, I’ll make us coffee and I’ve got cake. We can catch up and you can leave before Cupcake returns, then we can organise another, longer meeting.’
Perhaps Lorraine would invite her to her place next? She wouldn’t mind driving if it meant she got to see where she lived.
Her cousin stared at her and for a moment Izzi wondered if she was going to say no.
Her fear of dogs must be serious, but in the end curiosity won out.
‘That sounds great,’ she said finally. ‘Do you mind if I meet you there?’ She glanced over her shoulder.
‘I left my car a couple of streets away. I know where the house is, so I’ll pick it up and come straight over. ’
‘Sounds good,’ Izzi said, glancing around. ‘It’ll give me time to lock this place up.’ She’d have to do another walk through tomorrow to see if they needed anything. Spending time with her cousin was too important an opportunity to pass up.
A black car was already sitting on the road outside of Cameron’s driveway when Izzi parked and Lorraine got out and was by Izzi’s side before she’d shut the driver’s door.
She joined her on the walk around the back of the house.
‘It’s pretty here,’ Lorraine observed, glancing at their surroundings as they walked through the side gate and into Cameron’s garden, crunching on the fresh orange and golden leaves sprinkled across the grass.
‘I was staying in the cabin.’ Izzi pointed towards the back of the garden.
‘But the roof leaked. Cameron put in a temporary fix.’ Which in truth was holding up well and there was no reason why she couldn’t move back in, but he hadn’t asked her to and she was happy in his bed.
‘He’s planning on fixing it properly soon,’ she shared.
Lorraine nodded, but there was a glint in her eye that told Izzi she suspected something was going on between them. ‘He’s a good man,’ she said quietly.
‘You know him?’ Izzi asked as she put the key in the lock and stepped inside the hallway, taking off her coat and shoes.
‘I know of him,’ Lorraine explained, as she did the same. ‘You know how it is, word travels in Honey Haven.’ She gave Izzi a small smile. ‘It’s how I found you.’
As they navigated the hallway, Izzi switched on lamps and lights, filling the house with a cosy glow.
The underfloor heating was on, and she wriggled her toes as she trod on the tiles, pausing to admire the kitchen.
This was the first place that had felt like home since her mother died.
The first place she’d really felt like she belonged and she loved it here.
‘Please sit.’ Izzi waved at one of the bar stools. ‘I can make coffee or would you prefer a glass of wine?’
‘Wine’s good, thank you,’ her cousin said as she sank into one of the barstools and leaned her elbows on the marble counter making herself comfortable.
‘Tell me more about yourself,’ she said as Izzi opened a couple of the drawers searching for the corkscrew.
‘Where did you end up? I tried to find information about you, but Descendants via DNA refused to share details. They wouldn’t even tell me where you lived.
’ She sounded unhappy. ‘Tell me about your family.’
Izzi opened one of the larger drawers she’d seen Cameron dump his paperwork into.
She sighed when she finally spotted the corkscrew tucked between a pad of paper and some paperwork.
She pulled it out and chose a bottle of red.
‘There’s not much to tell. It’s just me.
Dad died when I was young, Mum when I was twelve and I went to live with my aunt.
Regina passed three months ago. That’s when I found your letter.
It’s why you hadn’t heard from me – she hadn’t told me about it.
’ She poured wine into a couple of glasses and placed them on the breakfast bar, before sinking into one of the squashy chairs.
‘That’s harsh.’ Lorraine sipped the wine and nodded as she studied Izzi. ‘Any idea why?’
Izzi shrugged, unwilling to speculate. Regina hadn’t been loving, but she’d taken Izzi in when nobody else had. She wasn’t willing to put her in a bad light.
‘I did wonder why you hadn’t got in touch before now.’ Lorraine narrowed her eyes. ‘People are right, you do look like me,’ she said. 'I wasn’t expecting that. I suppose it’s a good thing, or I’d never have put things together.’
‘That’s true,’ Izzi said, sipping some of her wine.
‘So you’re all alone in the world. Do you have your own house somewhere? Did you leave it all behind to find me?’ she asked eagerly.
‘I don’t have a set place to live.’ Izzi shook her head. Even when she returned to London in the new year, she’d have to stay with Lottie until she found somewhere. ‘My aunt’s house and business are being sold and—’
‘You’re going to inherit?’ Lorraine clapped her hands excitedly.
Izzi swallowed. ‘Not exactly,’ she said. ‘It’s a long story.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Lorraine flushed. ‘I’m being rude. I’m just interested in finding out more about you,’ she explained. ‘That was nosy. You hardly know me.’
‘No, it makes sense that you’d ask,’ Izzi said. ‘Look I have questions too, like why did you want me to keep us meeting a secret?’
Lorraine stared at her for a beat and then her shoulders slumped.
‘I’ve had problems with a man. An ex.’ She grimaced and her eyes dropped to her glass.
‘He’s been spreading terrible stories about me – ruining my reputation.
He was in love with me and he didn’t like it when I told him I didn’t feel the same way.
’ She looked distressed and Izzi felt a thump in her chest. ‘I’m trying to keep a low profile.
If he heard someone was looking for me, well let’s just say it would be better if he didn’t.
I’ve been avoiding going into the village because I need things to die down and I don’t want to bump into him.
It’s why I’ve been away so much. I hope you understand? ’
Izzi nodded. It was clear her cousin was recovering from a bad situation, and she was going to support her if she could. ‘Do you want something to eat?’ she asked, changing the subject because Lorraine looked uncomfortable.
‘I’m fine,’ her cousin said as Izzi grabbed a tin from the cupboard and got out a piece of shortbread for herself.
‘Are there more of you?’ Izzi smiled, imagining meeting more relatives, a house filled with family.
Lorraine shook her head. ‘Nobody else came up on the DNA search and I have no one else in my life, but I could draw you a family tree, put in the people I do know about? They aren’t around anymore, but it would give you some context,’ she said.
‘That would be amazing. There’s a pen and some paper in the drawer.’ Izzi went to open the one she’d found the corkscrew in and Lorraine got up so she could help. They were both shuffling through it searching for paper and a pen when Izzi heard the click of a lock and then a bark.
‘What’s that?’ Lorraine squeaked as Cupcake came bounding into the kitchen before coming to an abrupt stop.
‘Don’t worry, he isn’t going to hurt you!’ Izzi blurted because her cousin was clearly terrified.
‘I thought you said they weren’t going to be back?’ Lorraine snapped, as Cameron followed the dog into the kitchen and stopped abruptly at the threshold as the smile that had been lighting his face fell.
His gaze zigzagged between them and widened when he saw the pile of paperwork in Izzi’s hand.
‘Cameron, this is—’
‘Sophie, my ex-partner,’ he growled, as Cupcake let out an angry whine.