The Jacaranda House by Deborah Challinor

Author:Deborah Challinor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2020-06-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Sonny had been quite shocked at Polly’s appearance. She was very thin: in that tight dress he could see her hip bones under the fabric, and her legs, though still shapely, were frankly skinny. And her chest – where had that gone? Her face, too, was looking a bit gaunt, especially with her hair pulled back like that. She looked . . . pinched. And suspicious! Mind you, she’d always been like that, always looking for ulterior motives in people, even when there weren’t any. He supposed he couldn’t blame her for thinking he’d come to steal Gina, because that’s exactly what she’d done the previous month in New Zealand. Though could you steal your own child? He’d probably have to ask a lawyer that, which he wouldn’t, because families like his didn’t consult lawyers.

His feet were really sore by the time he reached Polly’s house on Bayswater Road. By then it was well past midnight and he wondered if anyone would be awake, though he could see a light on in an upstairs window. He used Polly’s keys to unlock the front door and went up the stairs and knocked on the door at the top.

After a minute or so an elderly lady answered, wearing the brightest collection of clothes Sonny had ever seen not on a clown. She wasn’t daft, though, because she kept a slippered foot firmly wedged against her side of the door.

‘Good evening; may I help you?’

Sonny stepped back so he wouldn’t frighten her. ‘Hello. Sorry to bother you so late. My name’s Sonny Manaia and I’m Polly’s brother. From New Zealand? I’m over here for a visit. I’ve just seen her in town and she gave me her keys.’ He held them up. ‘Is it all right if I come in? You must be Mrs Carver.’

‘Miss Carver. Emmeline.’ She squinted at him, even though she was wearing spectacles. ‘You do look a lot like Polly, I must say, and Gina, but of course you have the masculine version of their features. You must have very strong genes in your family.’ She took her foot away from the door. Sonny noticed her slippers had rabbits embroidered on the front. ‘Please, do come in. I was just going to make tea.’

Sonny stepped into the flat.

‘Have a seat,’ Emmeline said, heading towards the kitchen, ‘but I urge you to be careful where you sit. There are small animals about.’

There were, too, Sonny noted. A grey kitten lay stretched out taking up as much room as possible on the couch, and a silly little dog of some sort was curled up on an armchair. They couldn’t be Polly’s – she’d never been an animal person. Maybe they belonged to Gina. She’d always wanted a pet of her own.

‘Whose are they?’ he asked.

‘Polly’s flatmates’. Rhoda owns the cat and Star owns the dog.’

Star? Sonny thought. What sort of a name is that?

‘The cat is called Tatiana and the dog Sebastian,’ Emmeline said. ‘Yes, flamboyant, I know, but you’ll understand when you meet the girls.

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