The Almost Truth by Anne Hamilton

Author:Anne Hamilton [Hamilton, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Legend Press
Published: 2024-04-07T16:00:00+00:00

23

‘That was awkward.’ Elizabeth sat down in one of the armchairs by the window and fanned herself dramatically.

‘Brutal.’ Alina was making a desultory attempt to clear the leftovers. Rory was in the kitchen filling the dishwasher and Connie and Morag had gone home.

‘Leave that for a minute, lovey,’ Elizabeth said. ‘Come and talk me down.’

Alina did as bidden, bringing a plate of cold dumplings with her. She could feel the tension in her neck and shoulders and decided feeding it was the best, if ineffective, option. Elizabeth took one and nibbled at it.

‘I should have guessed Morag would be hot on her Laura agenda.’ She sighed. ‘She was spectacularly strange though, even for Morag. Rory should be grateful he got off so lightly. I’m sorry she dragged you into it.’

‘Were they really so friendly?’ Alina couldn’t imagine it.

‘Gal pals of the first order. I couldn’t fathom it either, still can’t for that matter.’ She motioned for Alina to pass the dwindling plate of food. ‘Something in Laura captivated Morag. She couldn’t do enough for her, oohing and aahing and cooing and cawing. And it suited Laura to have Morag running after her like an overzealous PA.’

Alina considered the two unlikely women. ‘I bet Laura didn’t pander to Morag like the rest of us do. Maybe she – Morag, I mean – admired someone standing up to her.’

‘Possibly. Maybe she just replaced Laura’s late mum.’ Elizabeth smiled suddenly. ‘She took all the credit for introducing Laura to Rory. When they got married, she went all mother-of-the-brideish, but Laura hired a wedding planner and Morag had to make do with a few crumbs of wedding cake.’

Alina frowned, trying to remember something. ‘Morag’s name never came up in the adoption assessment. Close friends and family were, present company excepted…’ She flashed a grin at Elizabeth. ‘…fairly thin on the ground, especially from Laura’s side.’

‘It blew hot and cold once Laura no longer lived here. I do know that Morag was Laura’s shoulder to cry on when they separated and divorced. Morag was livid with Rory. It was, according to her, entirely his fault.’

‘Of course.’ Alina murmured before enquiring, ‘So, they’re still friends now, then? Or is Morag just supremely loyal, out to get anyone who hurt her precious Laura? Does Laura even care anymore?’ The potential power of a combined grudge made Alina weak.

‘Your guess is as good as mine, lovey.’ Elizabeth sounded tired suddenly. ‘You can see why I don’t want you and Rory hating each other for ever more, can’t you? It was all a disaster waiting to happen before you went in to do a job. To be honest, I’ve no idea why they got married in the first place. I don’t think Rory was—’

‘Was what?’ Alina’s heart thumped.

But Elizabeth shook her head and grinned faintly. ‘I should shut up. Nobody likes an interfering mother-in-law.’

They sat in silence for a few minutes, before Alina said slowly, ‘Rory and I don’t hate each other. We never hated each other, just the situation we were in.

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